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Copyright by Ingrid Stewart, Ph.D. Please Send Questions and Comments to
ingrid.stewart@csn.edu.
It is often necessary to transform from rectangular to polar form or vice versa. The
following polarrectangular relationships are useful in this regard.
Strategy for Changing Equations in Rectangular Form to Polar Form
Write the polar equation as r in terms of . If the equation contains an r 2 you
MUST show factoring in the solution path! DO NOT EVER divide by r to arrive
at the final answer!
Strategy for Changing Equations in Polar Form to Rectangular Form
If the equation contains r and sines or cosines, multiply both sides of the
equation by r unless the sine or cosine is in the denominator. If the equation
contains a trigonometric ratio other than sine or cosine, use the Reciprocal or
Quotient Identities to change to sines and cosines first..
If the equation contains r and a constant, square both sides of the equation.
If the equation contains an angle and a constant, turn both sides into a
tangent ratio remembering that !!!
In previous lecture notes you spent a lot of time learning how to graph equations in
the Rectangular Coordinate System by hand. Polar equations can also be graphed
by hand in the Polar Coordinate System, however, this task often becomes
extremely difficult. That is why we try to use graphing calculators or computer
programs to help us visualize the graphs of polar equations.
For the following "special" polar equations, you need to be able to associate their
name with their characteristics and graphs!
Equations of Circles
Circles with center along one of the coordinate axes and
radius a!
Circle with center at the origin and radius a!
NOTE: a is NOT equal to 0
The graphs of Circles are generated as the angle increases from 0 to 2 .
a. (equation of a Circle with center at (1,0) and radius 1)
b. (equation of a Circle with center at (0,0) and radius 2)
Equations of Limacons
, where a and b are NOT equal to 0
If the graph of the Limacon has an inner loop!
If the graph of the Limacon is "dimpled."
If the graph of the Limacon is considered "convex."
The graphs of Limacons are generated as the angle increases from 0 to 2 .
a. Limacon with inner loop:
Note that a = 2 and b = 3 and
b. Dimpled Limacon:
Note that a = 3 and b = 2 and
c. Convex Limacon: . Note that the graph is not
quite circular!
Note that a = 8 and b = 2 and
Equations of Cardioids
, where
The graphs of Cardioids are generated as the angle increases from 0 to 2 .
(equation of a Cardioid)
Note that a = 2 and b = 2 and
Equations of Rose Curves
, where a and n are NOT equal to 0
a. (equation of a Rose Curve with 3 petals)
Note that n = 3 is odd, therefore the rose curve
has 3 petals.
b. (equation of a Rose Curve with 8 petals)
Note that n = 4 is even, therefore the rose curve
has 2(4) = 8 petals.
Equations of Lemniscates
, where a is NOT equal to 0
The graphs of Lemniscates are generated as the angle increases from 0 to 2 .
( equation of a Lemniscate)
In order to graph a lemniscate with a calculator or a computer program
we must solve its equation as r in terms of . Therefore,
and .
We will get the same graph no matter which one of the two equations we
graph!
Most polar functions are best graphed with a graphing utility because one usually
requires many points in order to find the characteristics of each graph.