SPTOPICS

SPTOPICS
MODULE 5

MODULE 1 PREPARED BY: ENGR. ADRIAN NEIL P. PINEDA 1

 SPTOPICS

MODULE INTRODUCTION

Analytic Geometry is a subject that is considered the foundation of most of our

Civil Engineering subjects. Knowledge in Analytic Geometry is especially useful
in solving problems involving Calculus, which will be the focus of the next
module.

This module shall focus on three main parts. The first part consists of all analytic
geometry principles concerning points, lines, and planes. The second part
consists of all principles concerning the conic sections. The third part focuses on
the analytic geometry of the polar coordinate axis.

TIP #1: FOR CONIC SECTIONS: INSTEAD OF MEMORIZING THE FORMULAS, ALSO
TRY “MEMORIZING THE FIGURE” AND “DERIVING.”

TIP #2: IT IS BETTER IF YOU ALSO TRY SOLVING PROBLEMS

WHICH ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS MODULE.

TIP #3: BEFORE SOLVING, UNDERSTAND FIRST THE PROBLEM.

IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM, THEN IT IS MOST LIKELY
THAT YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER IT CORRECTLY.

MODULE 1 PREPARED BY: ENGR. ADRIAN NEIL P. PINEDA 2

 SPTOPICS

MODULE OUTLINE

I. POINTS, LINES, AND PLANES

a. Definition of Terms
b. All About Lines
i. Slope of a Line
ii. Angle between Two Lines
iii. Equations of a Line
c. The Distance Formulas
i. Locus of Points

II. THE CONIC SECTIONS

a. Definition of Terms
b. All About Circles
c. All About Parabolas
d. All About Ellipses
e. All About Hyperbolas
f. Identifying Conic Sections

III. THE POLAR COORDINATE AXIS

a. Relationship between Rectangular and Polar Coordinates
b. Graphs of Polar Coordinate Equations

MODULE 1 PREPARED BY: ENGR. ADRIAN NEIL P. PINEDA 3

 SPTOPICS

I. POINTS, LINES, AND PLANES

Let us refresh ourselves with some of the basic principles in Analytic Geometry,
especially with the fundamental geometric elements.

a. Definition of Terms
We may also treat this as a supplement to the definitions in Module 1.
1. POINT – A point is the most fundamental object in geometry. It is represented
by a dot and named by a capital letter. A point represents position only; it has
zero size.

2. LINE – A line (straight line) can be thought of as a connected set of infinitely

many points. It extends infinitely far in two opposite directions. A line has infinite
length, zero width, and zero height.

3. RAY – A ray is a set of points which extends infinitely in only one direction.

4. PLANE – A plane may be considered as an infinite set of points forming a

connected flat surface extending infinitely far in all directions. A plane has
infinite length, infinite width, and zero height (or thickness).

5. COLLINEAR POINTS – Collinear points are points which lie on the same line.

6. COPLANAR POINTS – Coplanar points are points which lie on the same plane.

7. SKEW LINES - Skew lines are two lines that do not intersect and are not
parallel.

8. INCLINATION – The inclination of a line that intersects the x-axis is the smallest
angle, greater than or equal to zero, that the line makes with the positive
direction of the x-axis. (Counterclockwise is usually positive.)

9. INTERCEPT – The points where a line intersects with the coordinate axes. The
intersection of the line with the x-axis is called the x-intercept while its
intersection with the y-axis is called the y-intercept.

MODULE 1 PREPARED BY: ENGR. ADRIAN NEIL P. PINEDA 4

 SPTOPICS

b. All About Lines

Here are some more information about lines.

i. Slope of a Line
Basic plane geometry will tell us that the slope (m) of a line is a measure of the
“steepness” of the line, quantified by the ratio of its “rise” over its “run.”
𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑦2 − 𝑦1
𝑚= =
𝑟𝑢𝑛 𝑥2 − 𝑥1

Analytic geometry will tell us another

definition of the slope of the line, that the slope
is the tangent of the inclination.
𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 𝑦2 − 𝑦1
𝑚= = = tan 𝜃
𝑟𝑢𝑛 𝑥2 − 𝑥1

Lines that lean to the right have a positive

slope while lines that lean to the left have a
negative slope.

ii. Angle between Two Lines

Consider the intersecting lines to the left.
Their angle of intersection is defined as θ. By
simply observing the illustration to the left, we
can easily conclude that θ is the difference
between the angles β and α. Thus,

θ=β-α

Now let us recall the trigonometric identity for the tangent of the
difference of two angles.
tan(𝑥 ) − tan(𝑦)
tan(𝑥 − 𝑦) =
1 + tan(𝑥 ) tan(𝑦)

Replacing x and y with β and α, and tan α and tan β with m1 and m2
respectively, and taking the absolute value, we now have:

MODULE 1 PREPARED BY: ENGR. ADRIAN NEIL P. PINEDA 5

 SPTOPICS

NOTES WHEN USING THE FORMULA:

1.) The angle θ will always be an acute angle measured counterclockwise.
2.) The slope m1 will always be the slope of the initial side, where serves as the
reference point where θ is to be measured.
3.) The slope m2 will always be the slope of the terminal side, where θ ends.
4.) If the lines are parallel, m1 = m2.
5.) If the lines are perpendicular, m1 and m2 are negative reciprocals (meaning,
m1m2 = -1).

iii. Equations of a Line

A line can be expressed into different equations showing different properties of
the line. Here is a list of the different equations of a line.

NAME EQUATION NOTES

Standard Form ax + by = c a is positive
Slope-
y = mx + b m is the slope, b is the y-intercept
Intercept Form
Intercept Form x/a + y/b = 1 a is the x-intercept, b is the y-intercept
Point-Slope
y – y1 = m(x – x1) m is the slope, (x1,y1) is a point in the line
Form
Ø is the inclination of the line,
Normal Form x cos ø + y sin ø = p p is the perpendicular distance of the
line to the origin

SAMPLE PROBLEMS:

1. Check if the following points are collinear.

a. (0,-2), (3,0), (9,4) (ANS.: COLLINEAR)
b. (0,1), (9,6), (-4,-1) (ANS.: NOT COLLINEAR)

MODULE 1 PREPARED BY: ENGR. ADRIAN NEIL P. PINEDA 6

 SPTOPICS

2. Check if the following points are the vertices of a rectangle.

a. (-4,3), (0,-2), (5,2), (1,7) (ANS.: THIS IS A RECTANGLE)
b. (5,-1), (-7,6), (3,-8), (-2,9) (ANS.: THIS IS NOT A RECTANGLE)

3. Triangle ABC has the following vertices: A(1,1), B(5,2), C(3,5).

a. Get the measure of each angle. (ANS.: A = 49.39°, B = 70.35°, C = 60.26°)
b. ADDITIONAL QUESTION: What is the area of the triangle? Practice using the
coordinates in getting the area. (ANS. 7 sq. units.)

4. Find the equation of the bisector of the pair of acute angles formed by the
lines 4x-3y=8 and 2x+y=4. (ANS. 8.4721x-0.7639y=16.9443)

c. The Distance Formulas

Here is a list of all the distance formulas that we have to remember.

NAME EQUATION NOTES

Distance between Two (x1,y1) and (x2,y2) are the
D=
Points coordinates of the points
A, B, and C are the
coefficients of the
Perpendicular Distance
equation Ax+By+C=0 (C is
from a Point to a Line
actually a constant). The
point is given by (x0,y0).

Perpendicular Distance The lines are given by

Between Two Parallel Ax+By+C1=0 and
Lines Ax+By+C2=0.

i. Locus of Points

A locus of points is the set of points, and only those points, that satisfies given
conditions. Usually, the conditions satisfied by this locus of points are in terms of
distance from a certain point or line. All conic sections are based from certain
conditions of the locus of its points.

MODULE 1 PREPARED BY: ENGR. ADRIAN NEIL P. PINEDA 7

 SPTOPICS

In deriving for the equation of the locus of points, the usual formulas used are
the first two distance formulas.

SAMPLE PROBLEMS:
1. Find the equation of the locus of points given the following conditions:
a. P(x,y) is equidistant from (-3,0) and (3,-5). (ANS.: 12x-10y=25)
b. P(x,y) moves so that its distance from the point k(2,5) is twice its distance
from the line x=-1. (ANS.: 3x2-y2+12x+10y=25)
c. P(x,y) is twice as far from (-8,8) as from (-2,2). (ANS.: x2+y2=32)
d. P(x,y) forms with (4,0) and (-4,0) the vertices of a right triangle with P the
vertex of the right angle. (ANS.: x2+y2=32)

B. The following locus of points may actually be considered a mini-introduction

to the conic sections. Find the equation of the locus of points given the
conditions (you may find out what conic these equations are by graphing).
a. The distance of P(x,y) from point (1,-2) is equal to 5. (ANS.: x2+y2-2x+4y=20;
this is actually the concept definition of the circle.)
b. P(x,y) is equidistant from (4,1) and the line x=-3. (ANS.: y2-2y-14x=-8; this is
actually the concept definition of the parabola.)
c. The sum of the distances of P(x,y) from (2,-3) and (2,5) is equal to 10. (ANS.:
25x2-100x+9y2-18y=116; this is actually the concept definition of the ellipse.)
d. The difference of the distances of P(x,y) from (-3,1) and (5,1) is equal to 3.
(ANS.: 220x2-440x-36y2+72y=311; this is actually the concept definition of the
hyperbola.)

MODULE 1 PREPARED BY: ENGR. ADRIAN NEIL P. PINEDA 8

 SPTOPICS

I. THE CONIC SECTIONS

This time, let us now refresh our knowledge about the circle, parabola, ellipse,
and hyperbola. Let us start with a detailed definition of terms.

TIP #4: COMPLETING THE SQUARE IS VERY IMPORTANT IN THIS TOPIC.

a. Definition of Terms
1. CONIC SECTION / CONIC – the general term for the graph of a second-
degree equation in the coordinates x and y. This designation also derives from
the fact that the curve can be obtained as the intersection of a right circular
cone and a plane (like what is shown in the image above)

2. CIRCLE – a conic section which is the set of all points in a plane equidistant
from a fixed point (the center) in the plane. The distance from the center to
any point in the circle is called the radius

3. PARABOLA – a conic section which is the set of all points in a plane

equidistant from a fixed point (which is the focus) and a fixed line (which is the
directrix) of the plane.

4. ELLIPSE – a conic section which is the set of all points in a plane such that the
sum of the distances of a point P from two fixed points (called the foci) on the
plane is constant

MODULE 1 PREPARED BY: ENGR. ADRIAN NEIL P. PINEDA 9

 SPTOPICS

5. HYPERBOLA – a conic section which is the set of all points in a plane such that
the difference of the distances of a point P from two fixed points (called the
foci) on the plane is constant

6. VERTEX – the point midway between the focus and the directrix which
belongs to the graph of the conic

7. MAJOR AXIS – the line passing through the foci, center, and vertices of a
conic; also called transverse axis in a hyperbola

8. MINOR AXIS – the line through the center of the ellipse, which is
perpendicular to the major axis; also called conjugate axis in a hyperbola

9. LATUS RECTUM – the chord in a conic section drawn through its focus and
perpendicular to its major axis

10. ECCENTRICITY – a value quantitatively describing the shape of a conic. The

eccentricity may be defined as the ratio c/a, where c is the distance from the
center to the focus, and a is the distance from the center to the vertex. It may
also be defined as the ratio of the distance of a point in the conic to the focus
to the distance of the same point to the directrix.

11. ASYMPTOTE – A line is said to be an asymptote of a curve if the

perpendicular distance from a line to a curve approaches zero as the curve
extends indefinitely far from the origin. Or simply put, an asymptote is a line that
a curve approaches but never touches.

12. EQUILATERAL OR RECTANGULAR HYPERBOLA – a hyperbola is equilateral or

rectangular if the lengths of its axes are equal (thus the term equilateral. The
term rectangular is also used because the asymptotes intersect at right angles.)

MODULE 1 PREPARED BY: ENGR. ADRIAN NEIL P. PINEDA 10

 SPTOPICS

13. RADICAL AXIS – Only groups of nonconcentric circles have a radical axis.
The radical axis of two circles is the locus of points from which the tangents to
the two circles are equal. The radical axis is perpendicular to the line joining the
centers of the two circles. If two circles intersect at two points, their radical axis
passes through the intersection points. If two circles are the tangent, their
radical axis is tangent to the circles at their point of tangency. If the given
circles have no common point, the radical axis is between the circles.

14. RADICAL CENTER – Only groups of nonconcentric circles have a radical

center. The radical center is the intersection of all radical axes of three circles.

b. All About Circles

Here are some more things that we have to know about circles.

1. Standard Form (center at origin) 2. Standard Form (center at (h,k))

𝑥 2 + 𝑦2 = 𝑟 2 (𝑥 − ℎ)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = 𝑟 2

3. General Form 4. Radius

𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝐷𝑥 + 𝐸𝑦 + 𝐹 = 0 It is equal to r in the standard forms.

5. How to Get the Radical Axis of Two Circles

Make sure first that the equations of both circles are in general form. Then,
simply subtract the equations of the two circles and we will already get the
equation of the radical axis.

6. How to Get the Radical Center of Three Circles

Get all the radical axes. Start with the radical axis between circles 1 and 2, then
circles 2 and 3, then circles 1 and 2. Afterwards, get the intersection point of the
three equations.

MODULE 1 PREPARED BY: ENGR. ADRIAN NEIL P. PINEDA 11

 SPTOPICS

SAMPLE PROBLEMS:
1. Two circles are given, namely, x2+y2-4x-6y-3=0 and x2+y2-12x-14y+65=0.
a. Express the first circle in standard form. (ANS.: (x-2)2+(y-3)2=16)
b. Find the center and the radius of the second circle. (ANS.: C(6,7), r=sqrt(20))
c. What is the radical axis of the two circles? (ANS.: 2x+2y=17)

2. A circle is tangent to the line 2x-y+1=0 at point (2,5) and the center is on the
line x+y=9. Find the equation of the circle. (ANS. (x-6)2+(y-3)2=20)

3. Two circles are given, namely, x2+y2-6x+2y+5=0 and x2+y2-12x+2y+29=0. Find

the equation of the circle which passes through point (7,0) and the intersection
point/s of the two circles. (ANS. (x-5)2+(y-1/3)2=37/9)

TIP #5: IT IS BETTER TO DRAW THAN TO MEMORIZE.

c. All About Parabolas

Here are some more things that we have to know about parabolas.

MODULE 1 PREPARED BY: ENGR. ADRIAN NEIL P. PINEDA 12

 SPTOPICS

FOR MAJOR AXIS AT X: FOR MAJOR AXIS AT Y:

1. Standard Form (vertex at origin) 1. Standard Form (vertex at origin)
𝑦 2 = ±4𝑎𝑥 𝑥 2 = ±4𝑎𝑦
(The orientation of the parabolas depend on the sign of the right side terms.)
2. Standard Form (vertex at (h,k)) 2. Standard Form (vertex at (h,k))
(𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = ±4𝑎(𝑥 − ℎ) (𝑥 − ℎ)2 = ±4𝑎(𝑦 − 𝑘)

3. General Form 3. General Form

𝑦 2 + 𝐷𝑥 + 𝐸𝑦 + 𝐹 = 0 𝑥 2 + 𝐷𝑥 + 𝐸𝑦 + 𝐹 = 0
(The ± or ∓ in the next properties depend on the orientation of the parabola.)
4. Focus – (h±a,k) 4. Focus – (h,k±a)

5. Directrix – x=h∓a 5. Directrix – y=k∓a

6. Length of Latus Rectum (for all types of parabolas) = 4a

7. Endpoints of Latus Rectum (for all types of parabolas) = better if you draw

SAMPLE PROBLEMS:
1. Two parabolas are given, namely, y2+8x-6y+25=0 and x2-6x-12y-51=0.
a. Express the first parabola in standard form. (ANS.: (y-3)2=-8(x+2))
b. Find the vertex of the second parabola. (ANS.: (3,-5))
c. What is the focus of the first parabola? (ANS.: (-4,3))
d. Find the directrix of the second parabola. (ANS.: y=-8)
e. What is the length of the latus rectum of the first parabola? (ANS.: 8)
f. Find the endpoints of the latus rectum of the second parabola.
(ANS.: (-3,-2) and (9,-2))
g. What is/are the intersection point/s of the parabolas? (ANS.: (-11.08,11.52)
and (-3.96,-0.96))

2. Find the equation of the parabola whose axis is vertical, and which passes
through the points (-1,0), (5,0), and (1,8). (ANS.: x2-4x+y-5=0

MODULE 1 PREPARED BY: ENGR. ADRIAN NEIL P. PINEDA 13

 SPTOPICS

d. All About Ellipses

Here are some more things that we have to know about ellipses.

FOR MAJOR AXIS AT X: FOR MAJOR AXIS AT Y:

1. Standard Form (center at origin) 1. Standard Form (center at origin)
𝑥 2 𝑦2 𝑦2 𝑥 2
+ =1 + =1
𝑎2 𝑏 2 𝑎2 𝑏 2
(remember that a will always be greater than b)

2. Standard Form (center at (h,k)) 2. Standard Form (center at (h,k))

(𝑥 − ℎ)2 (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 (𝑥 − ℎ)2
+ =1 + =1
𝑎2 𝑏2 𝑎2 𝑏2

3. General Form (for both ellipses)

𝐴𝑥 2 + 𝐶𝑦 2 + 𝐷𝑥 + 𝐸𝑦 + 𝐹 = 0
(Note that if A=1 and C=1, the graph becomes a circle.)
4. Vertices and Endpoints of Minor Axis – refer to drawings

5. Length of Major Axis = 2a, Length of Minor Axis = 2b

MODULE 1 PREPARED BY: ENGR. ADRIAN NEIL P. PINEDA 14

 SPTOPICS

6. Foci – refer to drawings

7. Directrices – refer to drawings

8. Length of Latus Rectum (for all types of ellipses) = 2b2/a

9. Endpoints of Latus Rectum (for all types of ellipses) = better if you draw

10. Eccentricity (for all types of ellipses) = c/a = a/d (notes: a2 = b2 + c2, d is the
distance from the center to the directrix)

SAMPLE PROBLEMS:
1. An ellipse is given: 9x2+25y2+18x+200y+184=0.
a. Express the ellipse in standard form. (ANS.: (x+1)2/25+(y+4)2/9=1)
b. Find the vertices of the ellipse. (ANS.: (-6,-4) and (4,-4))
c. What are the foci of the ellipse? (ANS.: (-5,-4) and (3,-4))
d. Find the directrices of the ellipse. (ANS.: x=-7.25 and x=5.25)
e. What is the length of the latus rectum of the ellipse? (ANS.: 3.6)
f. Find the endpoints of the latus rectum of the ellipse.
(ANS.: (-5,-2.5), (-5,-5.8), (3,-2.2), and (3,-5.8))
g. What is the eccentricity of the ellipse? (ANS.: 0.80)

2. Find the equation of the ellipse with foci at (4,3+√5) and (4,3-√5) and a vertex
at (4,0). (ANS.: (y-3)2/9+(x-4)2/4=1)

MODULE 1 PREPARED BY: ENGR. ADRIAN NEIL P. PINEDA 15

 SPTOPICS

e. All About Hyperbolas

Here are some more things that we have to know about hyperbolas.

FOR MAJOR AXIS AT X: FOR MAJOR AXIS AT Y:

1. Standard Form (center at origin) 1. Standard Form (center at origin)
𝑥 2 𝑦2 𝑦2 𝑥 2
− =1 − =1
𝑎2 𝑏 2 𝑎2 𝑏 2
(remember that a will always be the coefficient below the positive term at the
left side; a is not necessarily greater than b)

2. Standard Form (center at (h,k)) 2. Standard Form (center at (h,k))

(𝑥 − ℎ)2 (𝑦 − 𝑘 )2 (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 (𝑥 − ℎ)2
− =1 − =1
𝑎2 𝑏2 𝑎2 𝑏2

3. General Form 3. General Form

𝐴𝑥 2 − 𝐶𝑦 2 + 𝐷𝑥 + 𝐸𝑦 + 𝐹 = 0 −𝐴𝑥 2 + 𝐶𝑦 2 + 𝐷𝑥 + 𝐸𝑦 + 𝐹 = 0

4. Vertices and Endpoints of Conjugate Axis – refer to drawings

5. Length of Transverse Axis = 2a, Length of Conjugate Axis = 2b

6. Foci – refer to drawings

MODULE 1 PREPARED BY: ENGR. ADRIAN NEIL P. PINEDA 16

 SPTOPICS

7. Directrices – refer to drawings

8. Length of Latus Rectum (for all types of hyperbola) = 2b2/a

9. Endpoints of Latus Rectum (for all types of hyperbola) = better if you draw

10. Eccentricity (for all types of hyperbolas) = c/a = a/d (notes: c2 = a2 + b2, d is
the distance from the center to the directrix)

11. Equation of Asymptotes (for all types of hyperbola) – There are a two ways
to get the equations of the asymptotes. The first way is to draw. The second
way is to equate the hyperbola in standard form to zero, then factor out the
resulting equation which has now become a difference of two squares.

SAMPLE PROBLEMS:
1. An ellipse is given: x2-2y2+4x+4y+4=0.
a. Express the hyperbola in standard form. (ANS.: (y-1)2/1-(x+2)2/2=1)
b. Find the vertices of the hyperbola. (ANS.: (-2,2) and (-2,0))
c. What are the foci of the hyperbola? (ANS.: (-2,-2.73) and (-2,-0.73))
d. Find the directrices of the hyperbola. (ANS.: y=1.58 and y=0.42)
e. What is the length of the latus rectum of the hyperbola? (ANS.: 0.4)
f. Find the endpoints of the latus rectum of the hypebola.
(ANS.: (-4,2.73), (-4,-0.73), (0,2.73), and (0,-0.73))
g. What is the eccentricity of the hyperbola? (ANS.: 1.73)

2. Find the equation of the hyperbola with vertex at (6,5), conjugate axis along
the x-axis, and asymptotes 5x-6y-30=0 and 5x+6y-30=0. (ANS.: y2/25-(x-6)2/36=1)

MODULE 1 PREPARED BY: ENGR. ADRIAN NEIL P. PINEDA 17

 SPTOPICS

e. Identifying Conic Sections

Here are some tips to know what conic section we are dealing with.

First of all, let us review first the general equation of second degree.
𝐴𝑥 2 + 𝐵𝑥𝑦 + 𝐶𝑦 2 + 𝐷𝑥 + 𝐸𝑦 + 𝐹 = 0
For conic sections, B is usually equal to zero, and the rest of the coefficients are
usually not equal to zero. Let us revisit the general equation of each conic
section, starting with the circle.
𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝐷𝑥 + 𝐸𝑦 + 𝐹 = 0
Notice that A and C are both equal to one. When either A or C is no longer
equal to one, it becomes an ellipse as shown in the equation below.
𝐴𝑥 2 + 𝐶𝑦 2 + 𝐷𝑥 + 𝐸𝑦 + 𝐹 = 0
A parabola, meanwhile, only has one squared variable, either x or y.
𝑦 2 + 𝐷𝑥 + 𝐸𝑦 + 𝐹 = 0 𝑥 2 + 𝐷𝑥 + 𝐸𝑦 + 𝐹 = 0
And finally, a hyperbola has a squared variable with a negative coefficient.
𝐴𝑥 2 − 𝐶𝑦 2 + 𝐷𝑥 + 𝐸𝑦 + 𝐹 = 0 −𝐴𝑥 2 + 𝐶𝑦 2 + 𝐷𝑥 + 𝐸𝑦 + 𝐹 = 0

Another tip that we can remember is about the discriminant of the conic
equation. Just like the discriminant of the quadratic equation, the discriminant
of the conic equation is also b2-4ac.

Note that if A is equal to C, then the equation is a circle.

SAMPLE PROBLEM:
Determine the type of conic section presented on each equation.
a. 3x2+3y2+14x+8y+8=0 (ANS.: circle)
b. 4x2+3y2-16x+18y=-31 (ANS.: ellipse)
c. 4x2−32x−y2−4y+24=0 (ANS.: hyperbola)
d. x2-8x-y+2=0 (ANS.: parabola)

MODULE 1 PREPARED BY: ENGR. ADRIAN NEIL P. PINEDA 18

 SPTOPICS

III. THE POLAR COORDINATE AXIS

The polar coordinate system expresses the position of a point in a plane in terms
of its distance and its direction from a fixed point. There are also Civil
Engineering topics which make use of the polar coordinate system. Let us
review this coordinate system.

The graphs above illustrate the

polar coordinate system. The
coordinates of a point in this system
is expressed as (r,θ), where r is the
distance from the center and θ is the
angle it makes with the positive x-
axis. Counterclockwise rotation is
positive; clockwise rotation is
negative.

There are actually four ways of

measuring the angle of a point in the
polar coordinate plane, like what is
shown at the left side. However, we
usually use the measurement from
the positive x-axis counterclockwise.

MODULE 1 PREPARED BY: ENGR. ADRIAN NEIL P. PINEDA 19

 SPTOPICS

a. Relationship between Rectangular and Polar Coordinates

In order to convert rectangular to polar

coordinates and vice versa, we simply
have to remember the following:

x = r cos θ
y = r sin θ
x2+y2=r2

SAMPLE PROBLEMS:
Convert the following equations according to what is asked.
a. Convert 2x−5x3=1+xy into polar coordinates. (ANS.:
2rcosθ−5r3cos3θ=1+0.5r2sin2θ)
b. Convert r=−8cosθ into Cartesian coordinates (ANS.: x2+y2=−8x)
c. r=4/(sinθ-2cosθ) to rectangular coordinates (ANS.: y-2x=4)
d. x2-4y=0 to polar coordinates (ANS.: rcos2θ=4sinθ)

b. Graphs of Polar Coordinate Equations

SAMPLE PROBLEMS:
Your SPTOPICS professor will demonstrate to you how to graph the following
equations on the coordinate plane.
1. r=5−5sinθ (ANS.: The graph of this equation should be a heart.)
2. r=3+sinθ (ANS.: The graph of this equation should be a circle.)
3. r=2+4cosθ (ANS.: The graph of this equation should be a limacon.)
4. r=1/(1+sinθ) (ANS.: The graph of this equation should be a parabola.)
5. r=cos3θ (ANS.: The graph of this equation should be a 3-petal flower.)
6. r2=9cos2θ (ANS.: The graph of this equation should be lemniscate.)
7. r=3sin4θ (ANS.: The graph of this equation should be a 8-petal flower.)

MODULE 1 PREPARED BY: ENGR. ADRIAN NEIL P. PINEDA 20