Question

Do either of the below approaches use the correct mathematics for rotating a point? If so, which one is correct?

POINT rotate_point(float cx,float cy,float angle,POINT p)
{
  float s = sin(angle);
  float c = cos(angle);

  // translate point back to origin:
  p.x -= cx;
  p.y -= cy;

  // Which One Is Correct:
  // This?
  float xnew = p.x * c - p.y * s;
  float ynew = p.x * s + p.y * c;
  // Or This?
  float xnew = p.x * c + p.y * s;
  float ynew = -p.x * s + p.y * c;

  // translate point back:
  p.x = xnew + cx;
  p.y = ynew + cy;
}

Answer 1

It depends on how you define angle. If it is measured counterclockwise (which is the mathematical convention) then the correct rotation is your first one:

// This?
float xnew = p.x * c - p.y * s;
float ynew = p.x * s + p.y * c;

But if it is measured clockwise, then the second is correct:

// Or This?
float xnew = p.x * c + p.y * s;
float ynew = -p.x * s + p.y * c;