UNIT III

Polar Coordinates

References:
Chapter11: Analytic Geometry in Calculus by J. Wiley
Chapter5: Analytic Geometry by G. Fuller

Unit Outline
Relations

between Polar and Rectangular

Coordinates

Transformation

of Rectangular to Polar

and vice-versa
Polar

equations and their graphs

(symmetries, special polar graphs)

Polar Coordinate System

A two-dimensional coordinate system in which each point on a

plane is determined by a distance from a fixed point and an
angle from a fixed direction.

The fixed point is called the pole, and the ray from the pole
with the fixed direction is the polar axis.

The distance from the pole is called the radial coordinate or

radius, and the angle is the angular coordinate, polar angle,
or azimuth.

Polar Coordinate System

The

radial coordinate is often denoted by

r, and the angular coordinate by .

Angles

in polar notation are expressed in

either degrees or radians
2 radians equal to 360

positive angular coordinate means that

the angle is measured counterclockwise
from the axis.

Polar Coordinate System

Examples:

Plotted in Polar Coordinates

Polar Coordinate System

A

pair of coordinates defines a particular

point, there are other coordinate values
which define the same point.
General Formulas:
r , r , r ,
r , 2n , n = any integer

Example:
(3,30) (3,-330) (-3,210) (-3,-150)
r = 4, = /3, n=1

Seatwork
Express

each of the following angles in

terms of radians / degrees.
225, 315, 330

, ,
Plot

the given points on a polar

coordinate system.
P(3, 60), P(6, -30), P(2, 180), P(4, 15)

Relationship between Polar

and Rectangular Coordinates

(1)
(2)

Relationship between Polar

and Rectangular Coordinates

Example:

Find the rectangular coordinates of the point P

whose polar coordinates are (6, 2/3).

Express the rectangular coordinates (-2,-2) in terms

of polar coordinates.
Transform the polar coordinate equation
Find the polar coordinate equation corresponding

to 2x 3y = 5.

Graphs in Polar Coordinate

Equations
Definition:

The graph of an equation in

polar coordinates is the set of

all points whose coordinates
satisfy the equation.

Graphs in Polar Coordinate

Equations
Example:
Construct the graph of

r 4 cos

1
Construct the graph of r 1 sin

Construct the graph of

r 31 sin

Symmetry Tests
Theorem:
a) A curve in polar

coordinates is symmetric
about the x-axis (polar
axis) if replacing by
in its equation produces
an equivalent equation.

Symmetry Tests
Theorem:
b) A curve in polar

coordinates is symmetric
about the y-axis (vertical
line =90) if replacing
by in its equation
produces an equivalent
equation.
* : 180-

Symmetry Tests
Theorem:
c) A curve in polar

coordinates is
symmetric about the
origin (pole) if replacing
by +, or replacing r
by r in its equation
produces an equivalent
equation.
* +: 180+

Symmetry Tests
Example:
Use Symmetry Tests Theorem for the

following equation:
r = cos 2
r = 3(1 - sin)
r = 6 - 3 sin

Special Graphs
Families

of Circle

Special Graphs
Families

of Rose Curves

Special Graphs
Example:
Sketch the graph of r = cos 2

in polar coordinates.
The curve is called a four-petal
rose.

Special Graphs
Families

of Cardioids and Limaons

The curves called limaons from the Latin word limax for a

snail-like creature that is commonly called a slug.

Heart-shaped curve is called a cardioid from the Greek word

kardia meaning heart.

Special Graphs
Example:
Sketch the graph of r = a(1 cos ) in polar

coordinates, assuming a to be a positive

constant.

Special Graphs
Families

of Lemniscates

Propeller-shaped graph is called a lemniscate from the Greek

word lemniscos for a looped ribbon resembling the number 8.

In each of the equations below r varies from a to a, the values
of which make the right member negative are excluded.
Excluded values:
1st equation: 90 < < 180 and 270 < < 360
2nd equation: 45 < < 135 and 225 < < 315

r 2 a 2 sin 2

r 2 a 2 cos 2

r a 2 sin 2

r a 2 cos 2

Special Graphs
Example:
Sketch the graph of r2 = 4 cos 2 in polar

coordinates.
This equation does not express r as a function of ,
since solving for r in terms of yields two
functions:
r 2 cos 2
r 2 cos 2

Special Graphs
Families

of Spirals

A spiral is a curve that coils around a central point.

Spirals generally have left-hand and right-hand

versions that coil in opposite directions, depending
on the restrictions on the polar angle and the signs of
constants that appear in their equations

Special Graphs
(Examples)
Circles
r = 2 cos
Rose

Curves

r = cos2
r = 2 sin3
Lemniscates
r2 = 4 cos2
r2 = 9 sin2
Spiral
r = where 0
Limaons
r = 2 + 3 cos
(limaons with inner loop) ; a/b <1

r = 3 + 2 sin
(dimpled limaons) ; 1 < a/b < 2

r = 8 + 2 cos
(convex limaons) ; a/b 2

r = 2 + 2cos
(cardioids) ; a/b = 1