Graphs of Polar Equations

Section 8.
2 Graphs of Polar Equations

Graphing Polar Equations
The graph of a polar equation r = f (), or more generally F (r, ) = 0, consists of all points P that
have at least one polar representation (r, ) whose coordinates satisfy the equation.
EXAMPLE: Sketch the polar curve = 1.

Solution: This curve consists of all points (r, ) such that the polar angle is 1 radian. It is the straight
line that passes through O and makes an angle of 1 radian with the polar axis. Notice that the points
(r, 1) on the line with r > 0 are in the first quadrant, whereas those with r < 0 are in the third quadrant.
EXAMPLE: Sketch the following curves:

(a) r = 2, 0 2.
(b) r = , 0 4.
(c) r = 2 cos , 0 .
1
EXAMPLE: Sketch the curve r = 2, 0 2.

Solution 1: Since r = 2, it follows that r2 = 4. But r2 = x2 + y 2 , therefore x2 + y 2 = 4 which is a circle of
radius 2 with the center at the origin.
Solution 2: We have
r=2, theta=Pi6
-2
r=2, theta=2 Pi6

2
-1
-2
-2
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
r=2, theta=5 Pi6

2
-1
-2
-1
-2
-1
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
r=2, theta=8 Pi6

2
-2
-1
-2
-1
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
r=2, theta=11 Pi6

2
-2
-1
-2
-1
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
r=2, theta=12 Pi6
-1
r=2, theta=9 Pi6
-1
r=2, theta=6 Pi6
r=2, theta=10 Pi6
-2
-1
r=2, theta=7 Pi6
-2
-1
-1
r=2, theta=4 Pi6
-2
r=2, theta=3 Pi6
EXAMPLE: Sketch the curve r = , 0 4.

Solution: We have
r=theta, theta=Pi3
-10
r=theta, theta=2 Pi3
10
10
10
-5
10
-10
-10
-5
-5
-10
-10
-10

10
10
-5
10
-10
-5
10
-10
-5
-5
-5
-5
-10
-10
-10

10
10
10
-10
-5
10
-10
-5
-5
-5
-5
-10
-10
-10

10
10
10
-10
-5
10
-10
-5
-5
-5
-5
-10
-10
-10
10
10
-5
10
10
-5
10
10
-10
10
-5
-10
-5
-5
-10
10
EXAMPLE: Sketch the curve r = 2 cos , 0 .

Solution 1: Since r = 2 cos , it follows that r2 = 2r cos . But r2 = x2 + y 2 and r cos = x, therefore
x2 + y 2 = 2x. This can be rewritten as (x 1)2 + y 2 = 1 which is a circle of radius 1 with the center at
(1, 0).
Solution 2: We have
r=2cosHthetaL, theta=Pi12
r=2cosHthetaL, theta=2 Pi12
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0
1.0
1.5
1.0
1.5
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0
2.0
2.0
1.0
-0.5
1.5
1.0
-0.5
1.0
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.0
EXAMPLES:
EXAMPLE: Sketch the curve r = 1 + sin , 0 2 (cardioid).

Solution: We have
r=1+sinHthetaL, theta=Pi6
-1.5
-1.0
r=1+sinHthetaL, theta=2 Pi6
2.0
2.0
2.0
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
1.0
1.5
-1.5
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.5
1.5
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
1.5
-1.5
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
1.5
-1.5
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
2.0
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
1.5
-1.5
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
1.5
-1.5
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
2.0
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
1.0
1.5
-1.5
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
1.5
2.0
0.5
1.0
-0.5
2.0
-0.5
1.5
2.0
0.5
1.0
-0.5
2.0
-0.5
1.5
1.5
-0.5
1.0
-0.5
2.0
-1.0
-1.0
2.0
-0.5
-1.5
-1.5
2.0
-1.0
1.5
-0.5
-1.5
1.0
-0.5
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.5
1.0
1.5
-1.5
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
1.0
1.5
EXAMPLE: Sketch the curve r = 1 cos , 0 2 (cardioid).

Solution: We have
r=1-cosHthetaL, theta=Pi6
-2.0
-1.5
-1.0
r=1-cosHthetaL, theta=2 Pi6

1.5
1.5
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
-1.5
-1.0
-1.5
-1.0
-1.5
-1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-2.0
-1.5
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0
-1.5
-1.5
-1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
-2.0
-1.5
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-2.0
-1.5
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0
-1.5
-1.5
-1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
-2.0
-1.5
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-2.0
-1.5
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0
-1.5
-1.5
-1.5
-2.0
-1.5
-0.5
-2.0
-2.0
-0.5
-2.0
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.5
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
-2.0
-1.5
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-2.0
-1.5
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0
-1.5
-1.5
-1.5
EXAMPLE: Sketch the curve r = 2 + 4 cos , 0 2.

Solution: We have
r=2+4cosHthetaL, theta=Pi6
r=2+4cosHthetaL, theta=2 Pi6
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-3
-3
-3

3
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-3
-3
-3

3
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-3
-3
-3

3
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-3
-3
-3
EXAMPLE: Sketch the curve r = cos(2), 0 2 (four-leaved rose).

Solution: We have
r=cosH2thetaL, theta=Pi6
-1.0
r=cosH2thetaL, theta=2 Pi6
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0
1.0
1.0
-0.5
1.0
1.0
-0.5
1.0
1.0
-1.0
1.0
-0.5
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
1.0
EXAMPLE: Sketch the curve r = sin(2), 0 2 (four-leaved rose).

Solution: We have
r=sinH2thetaL, theta=Pi6
-1.0
r=sinH2thetaL, theta=2 Pi6
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0
10
1.0
1.0
-0.5
1.0
1.0
-0.5
1.0
1.0
-1.0
1.0
-0.5
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
1.0
EXAMPLE: Sketch the curve r = sin(3), 0 (three-leaved rose).

Solution: We have
-1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
1.0
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0
11
1.0
1.0
-0.5
1.0
1.0
-0.5
1.0
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-0.5
-1.0
1.0
EXAMPLE: Sketch the curve r = sin(4), 0 2 (eight-leaved rose).

Solution: We have
-1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0
12
1.0
1.0
-0.5
1.0
1.0
-0.5
1.0
1.0
-1.0
1.0
-0.5
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
1.0
EXAMPLE: Sketch the curve r = sin(5), 0 2 (five-leaved rose).

Solution: We have
-1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0
13
1.0
1.0
-0.5
1.0
1.0
-0.5
1.0
1.0
-1.0
1.0
-0.5
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
1.0
EXAMPLE: Sketch the curve r = sin(6), 0 2 (twelve-leaved rose).

Solution: We have
-1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0
14
1.0
1.0
-0.5
1.0
1.0
-0.5
1.0
1.0
-1.0
1.0
-0.5
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
1.0
EXAMPLE: Sketch the curve r = sin(7), 0 2 (seven-leaved rose).

Solution: We have
-1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0
15
1.0
1.0
-0.5
1.0
1.0
-0.5
1.0
1.0
-1.0
1.0
-0.5
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
1.0
EXAMPLE: Sketch the curve r = 1 +
1
sin(10), 0 2.
10
Solution: We have
r=1+sinH10thetaL10, theta=Pi6
-1.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0
r=1+sinH10thetaL10, theta=5 Pi6

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0
16
1.0
1.0
-0.5
1.0
1.0
-0.5
1.0
1.0
-1.0
-1.0
-0.5
-1.0
1.0
-1.0
1.0
EXAMPLE: Match the polar equations with the graphs labeled I-VI:
(a) r = sin(/2)
(b) r = sin(/4)
(c) r = sin + sin3 (5/2)
(d) r = sin
(e) r = 1 + 4 cos(5)
(f)
17
r = 1/

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Section 8.

2 Graphs of Polar Equations

EXAMPLE: Sketch the polar curve = 1.

EXAMPLE: Sketch the following curves:

EXAMPLE: Sketch the curve r = 2, 0 2.

r=2, theta=2 Pi6

r=2, theta=5 Pi6

r=2, theta=8 Pi6

r=2, theta=11 Pi6

r=2, theta=12 Pi6

r=2, theta=9 Pi6

r=2, theta=6 Pi6

r=2, theta=10 Pi6

r=2, theta=7 Pi6

r=2, theta=4 Pi6

r=2, theta=3 Pi6

EXAMPLE: Sketch the curve r = , 0 4.

r=theta, theta=2 Pi3

r=theta, theta=5 Pi3

r=theta, theta=8 Pi3

r=theta, theta=11 Pi3

r=theta, theta=12 Pi3

r=theta, theta=9 Pi3

r=theta, theta=6 Pi3

r=theta, theta=10 Pi3

r=theta, theta=7 Pi3

r=theta, theta=4 Pi3

r=theta, theta=3 Pi3

EXAMPLE: Sketch the curve r = 2 cos , 0 .

r=2cosHthetaL, theta=2 Pi12

r=2cosHthetaL, theta=3 Pi12

r=2cosHthetaL, theta=4 Pi12

r=2cosHthetaL, theta=5 Pi12

r=2cosHthetaL, theta=7 Pi12

r=2cosHthetaL, theta=8 Pi12

r=2cosHthetaL, theta=10 Pi12

r=2cosHthetaL, theta=11 Pi12

r=2cosHthetaL, theta=12 Pi12

r=2cosHthetaL, theta=9 Pi12

r=2cosHthetaL, theta=6 Pi12

EXAMPLE: Sketch the curve r = 1 + sin , 0 2 (cardioid).

r=1+sinHthetaL, theta=2 Pi6

r=1+sinHthetaL, theta=8 Pi6

r=1+sinHthetaL, theta=11 Pi6

r=1+sinHthetaL, theta=12 Pi6

r=1+sinHthetaL, theta=9 Pi6

r=1+sinHthetaL, theta=6 Pi6

r=1+sinHthetaL, theta=10 Pi6

r=1+sinHthetaL, theta=7 Pi6

r=1+sinHthetaL, theta=5 Pi6

r=1+sinHthetaL, theta=4 Pi6

r=1+sinHthetaL, theta=3 Pi6

EXAMPLE: Sketch the curve r = 1 cos , 0 2 (cardioid).

r=1-cosHthetaL, theta=2 Pi6

r=1-cosHthetaL, theta=5 Pi6

r=1-cosHthetaL, theta=6 Pi6

r=1-cosHthetaL, theta=8 Pi6

r=1-cosHthetaL, theta=9 Pi6

r=1-cosHthetaL, theta=10 Pi6

r=1-cosHthetaL, theta=7 Pi6

r=1-cosHthetaL, theta=4 Pi6

r=1-cosHthetaL, theta=3 Pi6

r=1-cosHthetaL, theta=11 Pi6