Polar Equations and Graphs

Equation of a Circle
r=a a is any constant
Example: Graph the Circle r = 3
Center at (0, 0) and Radius = 3
 Equation of a Line
θ=a θ is any angle.
Example: Graph the Line θ = π/4
No “r” ∴ No End Points

π/4
 Horizontal Line “a” units from the Pole
r sin θ = a

Vertical Line “a” units from the

Pole
r cos θ = a

Example: Identify & Graph: r = 4sin θ

Use Calculator in Polar Mode to Graph

Straight Line Graph Properties in a
Polar Equation
1. Horizontal Line r sin θ = a
a = units above the Pole if a > 0
|a| units below the Pole if a < 0
Example: r = sin θ = 2
2. Vertical Line r cos θ = a
a units to the right of the pole if a > 0
|a| units to the left of the pole if a < 0
Example: r cos θ = - 3
 Equations of a Circle
Let “a” be a positive real number, then:

Equation Radius Center in Rect. Coord.

1. r = 2a sin θ a (0, a)

2. r = - 2a sin θ a (0, -a)

3. r = 2a cos θ a (a, 0)

4. r = - 2a cos θ a (-a, 0)
Example: r = 4 sin θ
∴ r = 4 sin θ = 2 (2) sin θ
∴ radius = 2 Center = (0, 2)
Graph on the Calculator:
1. Mode NormalDegree Pol. EnterQuit
2. Y=r1 = 4sinθGraph
{Note: looks better if you use ZoomZSquare}

Example: r = - 2 cos θ
∴ r = -2 cos θ = -2 (1) cos θ
∴ radius = 1 Center = (-1, 0)
Graph on the Calculator
 Symmetry

1. Points Symmetric with respect to the

Polar Axis
Test:
Replace “θ” with “-θ”.

If you get an equivalent equation then it is

symmetric with respect to the Polar Axis.
Example: r = 5 cos θ
r = 5 cos(-θ) = 5 cos θ
 Symmetry
2. Points Symmetric with respect to the
line θ = π/2
Test: Replace “θ” with “π -θ”.
If you get an equivalent equation then it is
symmetric with respect to the line θ = π/2.

Example: r = -2 sin θ
r = - 2 sin θ = -2 sin(π-θ)
= - 2 sin θ
3. Points Symmetric with respect to the Pole.
Test: Replace “r” with “-r”.
If you get an equivalent equation then it is
symmetric with respect to the Pole.

Example: r2 = 3 sin θ
r2 = 3 sin θ (-r)2 = 3 sin θ
r2 = 3 sin θ
 Cardioids
r = a(1 + cos θ) r = a(1 + sin θ)
r = a(1 – cos θ) r = a(1 – sin θ)

where a > 0. The graph of a cardioid passes

through the Pole.
 Example: Graph the equation: r = 1 – sin θ
Check for Symmetry:
(a). Polar Axis r = 1 – sin(-θ) = 1 + sin θ {Fails}
(b). Line θ = π/2 r = 1 – sin(π – θ)
= 1 – [(sin π)(cos θ) – (cos π)(sin θ)]
= 1 – [0·cos θ – (-1)sin θ]
= 1 – sin θ ∴ Is Symmetric to Line
(c). Pole – r = 1 – sin θ  r = -1 + sin θ {Fails}
To Graph Use calculator:
modedegreepolY=r1 = 1 – sin θ
Graph ”zoom in” if necessaryZsquare
Graph on paper using table.
Warning: “θ max” setting Must be set at 360º
Graph on next Slide
Graph From Last Slide
 Limaçon “Without” Inner Loop

r = a + b cos θ r = a + b sinθ
r = a – b cos θ r = a – b sin θ

a > 0, b > 0 and “a > b”

It does NOT pass through the pole.

 Example: Graph the equation: r = 3 + 2 cos θ
Check for Symmetry:
(a). Polar Axis r = 3 + 2 cos(-θ) = 3 + 2 cos θ
∴ Is Symmetric to Polar Axis
(b). Line θ = π/2 r = 3 + 2 cos(π – θ)
= 3 + 2 [(cos π)(cos θ) + (sin π)(sin θ)]
= 3 + 2[-1·cos θ + (0)sin θ]
= 3 – 2 cos θ {Fails}
(c). Pole – r = 3 + 2 cos θr = -3 – 2 sin θ {Fails}
To Graph Use calculator:
modedegreepolY=r1 = 3 + 2 cos θ
Graph ”zoom in” if necessaryZsquare
Graph on paper using table.
Warning: “θ max” setting Must be set at 360º
Graph on next Slide
 Limaçon “With” Inner Loop
r = a + b cos θ r = a + b sinθ
r = a – b cos θ r = a – b sin θ
a > 0, b > 0 and “a < b”
It “does” pass through the pole.
Example: Graph the equation: r = 1 + 2 cos θ
Check for Symmetry:
(a). Polar Axis r = 1 + 2 cos(-θ) = 1 + 2 cos θ
∴ Is Symmetric to Polar Axis
(b). Line θ = π/2 r = 1 + 2 cos(π – θ)
= 1 + 2 [(cos π)(cos θ) + (sin π)(sin θ)]
= 1 + 2[-1·cos θ + (0)sin θ]
= 1 – 2 cos θ {Fails}
(c). Pole – r = 1 + 2 cos θ r = -1 – 2 sin θ {Fails}

To Graph: {With Calculator}

Graph on next Slide
 Rose

r = a cos (nθ) r = a sin(nθ)

If n ≠ 0 is even, the rose has 2n petals.

If n ≠ 1 is odd, the rose has n petals.

Example: Graph the equation: r = 2 cos 2θ
Check for Symmetry:
(a). Polar Axis r = 2 cos 2(-θ) = 2 cos 2θ
∴ Is Symmetric to Polar Axis
(b). Line θ = π/2 r = 2 cos 2(π – θ)
= 2 cos (2π - 2θ) = 2 cos 2θ
∴ Is Symmetric to Line
(c). Pole Since the graph is symmetric with
respect to both the polar axis and the line
θ = π/2 it must be symmetric to the pole.
∴ Is Symmetric to Line
To Graph: {With Calculator}
Graph on next Slide
 Lemniscate
r2 = a2 sin (nθ) r2 = a2 cos (nθ)
where a ≠ 0 & have graphs propeller shaped.
Example: Graph the equation: r2= 4sin 2θ
Check for Symmetry:
(a). Polar Axis r2= 4sin 2(-θ) = - 4sin 2θ ∴ Fails
(b). Line θ = π/2 r2= 4sin 2(π – θ)
= 4sin (2π - 2θ) = 4sin (-2θ)
= -4sin 2θ ∴ Fails
(c). Pole r2 = 4sin 2θ (-r2) = 4sin 2θ
 r2= 4sin 2θ
∴ Is Symmetric to Line
To Graph: {With Calculator}
Graph on next Slide
Spiral Example: r = eθ/5 All
Symmetry test Fail.