Rotate a Cartesian point counterclockwise around the origin. Review the symbolic equation, substituted values, interpretation boundary, and result in one guided workspace.
01 Calculated in this tab
02 Values stay in this browser tab
03 Use boundary
SAME RADIUS / NEW BEARING
Rotate the point without changing its distance from the origin
Use this explainer when you need to see what a 2D rotation preserves, not just the matrix entries. With the reviewed default inputs, the point (3, 4) rotates by 30 degrees to (0.59807621, 4.96410162). The calculator returns x-prime = 0.59807621 as the main result, y-prime = 4.96410162 as the first supporting metric, while the radius stays 5.
Worked default example
Entered point and angle
x = 3, y = 4, theta = 30 degrees.
Returned coordinates
The rotated point is (0.59807621, 4.96410162). Its direction moves from 53.1301 degrees to 83.1301 degrees.
x-prime working
x-prime = x cos(theta) - y sin(theta) = 3 x 0.8660254 - 4 x 0.5 = 0.59807621.
y-prime working
y-prime = x sin(theta) + y cos(theta) = 3 x 0.5 + 4 x 0.8660254 = 4.96410162.
Radius check
Before rotation: sqrt(3^2 + 4^2) = 5. After rotation: sqrt(0.59807621^2 + 4.96410162^2) = 5.
What to enter and how to read the result
Enter the point's x-coordinate, y-coordinate, and a rotation angle in degrees. Positive angles rotate counterclockwise, negative angles rotate clockwise. The main result card shows x-prime, the first metric below it shows y-prime, and together they describe the rotated point about the origin only.
What the calculator actually does
Nirmion applies the standard 2D rotation matrix to the entered Cartesian point: x-prime = x cos(theta) - y sin(theta) and y-prime = x sin(theta) + y cos(theta). In the reviewed default example, cos(30 degrees) = 0.8660254 and sin(30 degrees) = 0.5, so the point direction changes from 53.1301 degrees to 83.1301 degrees while the radius remains 5.
Where this model stops helping
This page rotates one point around the origin in a conventional Cartesian plane. It does not rotate around an arbitrary center, it does not accept radians directly, and it does not model screen-coordinate systems where positive y points downward unless you convert that convention first.
Reference and next checks
The geometry follows the standard rotation formulas summarized in the linked OpenStax section. If you need to validate the radius, convert the angle first, or continue into a broader coordinate problem, use the related calculators below.
Does this rotate around any center or only the origin?
Only the origin. To rotate around another center (a, b), translate the point so that center becomes (0, 0), rotate it here, then translate the result back.
How do I enter a clockwise rotation?
Use a negative angle in degrees. For example, enter -30 instead of 30. The calculator treats positive angles as counterclockwise and negative angles as clockwise.
Why does the radius stay 5 in the worked example?
A rigid 2D rotation changes direction, not distance from the origin. In the example, the point moves from 53.1301 degrees to 83.1301 degrees while staying on the same circle of radius 5.
Use boundary
Calculation path
Rotate a Cartesian point counterclockwise around the origin. The page evaluates the displayed equation from your supplied values and presents both symbolic and substituted KaTeX working so the arithmetic can be checked.
Calculation path
x_prime=x cos(theta)-y sin(theta)
What you provide
What you provide
Point x-coordinate, using the same scenario as the other inputs
Point y-coordinate, using the same scenario as the other inputs
Counterclockwise rotation angle expressed in deg, using the same scenario as the other inputs
What you receive
What you receive
Rotated x-coordinate from the stated equation
A symbolic formula plus substituted working with your values
Visible assumptions, field guidance, and an authoritative learning reference
Use boundary
Choose the maximum decimal places shown. This does not increase source accuracy.
The coordinate system is Cartesian and positive angles rotate counterclockwise.
Use internally consistent units and retain extra precision when carrying the result into another calculation.