8.1 Polar Coordinates
Definition of polar coordinates Relationship between polar and rectangular coordinates Polar equations
Definition of Polar Coordinates
Point O-
pole/origin
Polar
axis-a ray from point O Point P can be assigned as
r
P (r , )
is the distance from O to P
is the angle between the
polar axis and segment
Example 1: Plotting points in polar coordinates Plot the points whose polar coordinates are given. a)
b)
4, / 6
c)
2, / 4
3,3 / 4
Equivalent Polar Points ,
P (r , ) P (r , 2n )
and
P( r , (2n 1) )
Example 2: Different Polar coordinates for the Same Point a) Graph the point with polar coordinates
P( 2, / 6)
.
b) Find two other polar coordinate representations of P with r>0 and two with r<0.
OP