MIT OpenCourseWare

http://ocw.mit.edu

18.01 Single Variable Calculus

Fall 2006

For information about citing these materials or our Terms of Use, visit: http://ocw.mit.edu/terms.

Lecture 32

18.01 Fall 2006

Lecture 32: Polar Co-ordinates, Area in Polar

Co-ordinates

Polar Coordinates

Figure 1: Polar Co-ordinates.

In polar coordinates, we specify an objects position in terms of its distance r from the origin
and the angle that the ray from the origin to the point makes with respect to the x-axis.
Example 1. What are the polar coordinates for the point specied by (1, 1) in rectangular
coordinates?

r
(1,-1)
Figure 2: Rectangular Co-ordinates to Polar Co-ordinates.

12 + (1)2 =

In most cases, we use the convention that r 0 and 0 2. But another common convention
is to say r 0 and . All values of and even negative values of r can be used.

Lecture 32

18.01 Fall 2006

Figure 3: Rectangular Co-ordinates to Polar Co-ordinates.

Regardless of whether we allow positive or negative values of r or , what is always true is:

x = r cos

and y = r sin

3
For instance, x = 1, y = 1 can be represented by r = 2, =
:
4

3
1 = x = 2 cos
4

and

3
1 = y = 2 sin
4

Example 2. Consider a circle of radius a with its center at x = a, y = 0. We want to nd an

equation that relates r to .

(a,0)

Figure 4: Circle of radius a with center at x = a, y = 0.

Lecture 32

18.01 Fall 2006

We know the equation for the circle in rectangular coordinates is

(x a)2 + y 2 = a2
Start by plugging in:
x = r cos

and y = r sin

This gives us
(r cos a)2 + (r sin )2 = a2

r2 cos2 2arcos + a2 + r2 sin2 = a2

r2 2ar cos = 0

r = 2a cos

The range of 0 traces out the top half of the circle, while 0 traces out the bottom
2
2
half. Lets graph this.

= /4
r

=0

(a,0)

Figure 5: r = 2a cos , /2 /2.

At = 0, r = 2a = x = 2a, y = 0

At = , r = 2a cos = a 2
4
4
The main issue is nding the range of tracing the circle once. In this case,

<< .
2
2

(down)
2
(up)

3
<<
. When = , r = 2a cos = 2a(1) = 2a. The
2
2

3
radius points backwards. In the range < <
, the same circle is traced out a second time.
2
2
Weird range (avoid this one):

Lecture 32

18.01 Fall 2006

r=f()

Figure 6: Using polar co-ordinates to nd area of a generic function.

Area in Polar Coordinates

Since radius is a function of angle (r = f ()), we will integrate with respect to . The question
is: what, exactly, should we integrate?
2
?? d
1

Lets look at a very small slice of this region:

rd

Figure 7: Approximate slice of area in polar coordinates.

This innitesimal slice is approximately a right triangle. To nd its area, we take:
Area of slice

1
1
(base) (height) = r(r d)
2
2

So,

Total Area =
1

1 2
r d
2

Lecture 32

18.01 Fall 2006

< < (the circle in Figure 5).

2
2
/2
/2
1
A = area =
(2a cos )2 d = 2a2
cos2 d
/2 2
/2

Example 3. r = 2a cos , and

1 1
+ cos 2, we can rewrite this as
2 2
/2

A = area =
(1 + cos 2) d = a2

Because cos2 =

/2

= a2 +

/2

d + a2

/2

/2

cos 2 d
/2

0
/2
1
1

sin 2
= a2 + [sin

sin()]

2
2
/2
A = area = a2

Example 4: Circle centered at the Origin.

r=a

Figure 8: Example 4: Circle centered at the origin

x = r cos ; y = r sin
x + y 2 = r2 cos2 + r2 sin2 = r2
2

The circle is x2 + y 2 = a2 , so r = a and

x = a cos ; y = a sin

A=
0

1 2
1
a d = a2 2 = a2 .
2
2

Lecture 32

18.01 Fall 2006

Example 5: A Ray. In this case, = b.

=b

Figure 9: Example 5: The ray = b, 0 r < .

The range of r is 0 r < ;

x = r cos b;

y = r sin b.

Example 6: Finding the Polar Formula, based on the Cartesian Formula

1/sin

Figure 10: Example 6: Cartesian Form to Polar Form

Consider, in cartesian coordinates, the line y = 1. To nd the polar coordinate equation, plug
in y = r sin and x = r cos and solve for r.
r sin = 1 = r =

1
sin

with

0<<

Lecture 32

18.01 Fall 2006

Example 7: Going back to (x, y) coordinates from r = f ().

Start with
1
r=
.
1
1 + 2 sin
Hence,
r+
Plug in r =

x2 + y 2 :

x2 + y 2 = 1

y
2

r
sin = 1
2
y
=1
2

y 2
y2
x2 + y 2 = 1
=1y+
2
4

x2 + y 2 +

Finally,
3y 2
+y =1
4
This is an equation for an ellipse, with the origin at one focus.
x2 +

Useful conversion formulas:

r=

x2 + y 2

and

= tan1

y
x

Example 8: A Rose r = cos(2)

The graph looks a bit like a ower:

r<0

/4

r>0
1

r>0

r<0
Figure 11: Example 8: Rose
For the rst petal

<<
4
4

Note: Next lecture is Lecture 34 as Lecture 33 is Exam 4.

7

-/4