Advanced Calculus(MATH 104)-Polar Coordinates

Harish Bhandari

Department of Mathematics
Kathmandu University
Dhulikhel, Nepal

Lecture 2
July 27, 2019
Polar Equations and Graphs

Equation Graph
r =a Circle of radius |a| centered at origin.
θ = θ0 Line through origin making an angle θ0 with the initial ray.

What does r = r0 , θ = θ0 represent?

Equations of axes???
Harish Bhandari Coordinates systems
Graphs of Polar Equations

a. r = 1, r = −1
b. 1 ≤ r ≤ 2 and 0 ≤ θ ≤ π/2
c. −3 ≤ r ≤ 2 and θ = π/4
d. 2π/3 ≤ θ ≤ 5π/6
(no restriction on r )
Figure: Graph of equation (b)

Figure: Graph of equation (c)

Figure: Graph of equation (d)

Harish Bhandari Coordinates systems

Examples

Graph the sets of points whose polar coordinates satisfy the

following

a. r = 2 b. 0 ≤ θ ≤ π/6, r ≥ 0

c. r ≥ 1 d. θ = π/2, r ≥ 0

e. 0 ≤ r ≤ 2 f. θ = π/2, r ≤ 0

g. −π/4 ≤ θ ≤ π/4, h. 0 ≤ θ ≤ π, r = 1
−1 ≤ r ≤ 1

Harish Bhandari Coordinates systems

 Relating Polar and Cartesian Coordinates

Relation
x = r cos θ, y = r sin θ (Polar - Cartesian)
y
r 2 = x 2 + y 2 , tan θ = (Cartesian - Polar)
x

Write equivalent Cartesian equations.

1. Convert to Cartesian
a. r sin θ = 2 b. r = −3 sec θ
√
coordinates: i. ( 2, π/4), ii. c. r 2 sin 2θ = 2 d. r = 1 − cos θ
(5, tan−1 4/3). e. r = 1 + 2r cos θ f. r = 2 cos θ − sin θ
2. Convert to polar coordinates:
 π
g. r sin θ + = 2 h. r sin θ = ln r + ln cos θ
i. (3, 4) ii. (−2, 0). 6

Write equivalent Polar equations.

a. x = 1 b. x 2 + y 2 = 4 c. x 2 + xy + y 2 = 1

Harish Bhandari Coordinates systems

Deceptive Coordinates
Does the point (2, π/2) lie on the curve r = 2 cos 2θ?
At (2, π/2), r = 2 cos 2θ becomes 2 = 2 cos π i.e., 2 = −2 (False)

Note: (2, π/2) and (−2, −π/2) label the same point.
At (−2, −π/2), r = 2 cos 2θ becomes −2 = 2 cos(−π) i.e.,
−2 = −2(True)
Harish Bhandari Coordinates systems
Graphing in Polar Coordinates

Harish Bhandari Coordinates systems

Symmetry Test
Symmetry test for polar graphs in the Cartesian xy-plane:
Symmetry about x-axis(Polar axis):
A polar graph is symmetric about x-axis(polar axis) if the point
(r , θ) and the point (r , −θ) or(−r , π − θ) lie on the same graph for
every pair (r , θ).

Harish Bhandari Coordinates systems

Symmetry Test
Symmetry test for polar graphs in the Cartesian xy-plane:
Symmetry about y-axis(the line θ = π2 ):
A polar graph is symmetric about y-axis(the line θ = π2 ) if the
point (r , θ) and the point (r , π − θ) or(−r , −θ) lie on the same
graph for every pair (r , θ).

Harish Bhandari Coordinates systems

Symmetry Test
Symmetry test for polar graphs in the Cartesian xy-plane:
Symmetry about the origin(Pole):
A polar graph is symmetric about the origin(pole) if the point
(r , θ) and the point (−r , θ) or(r , π + θ) lie on the same graph for
every pair (r , θ).

Harish Bhandari Coordinates systems

Examples
Identify the symmetries of the following curves:
a. r = 1 − 2cosθ b. r 2 = sinθ c. r = 1 + sinθ

Harish Bhandari Coordinates systems

Slope of a curve r = f (θ)

Harish Bhandari Coordinates systems

Slope of a curve r = f (θ) (contd.)

Note: If r = 0 =⇒ θ = θ0 , then θ = θ0 represents the equation of

tangent to the curve at the pole???????

Problems: Find the slopes of the given curves at the given points
1. r = −1 + cos θ, θ = ±π/2.
Ans; -1, 1.

2. r = sin 2θ, θ = ±π/4

Ans: -1, 1

Harish Bhandari Coordinates systems

Example
Find the points where the curve r = 1 + cosθ has horizontal and
vertical tangent lines.

Harish Bhandari Coordinates systems