1. Polar Coordinates
We Live on a Sphere

2. Polar Coordinates
Up till now, we have graphed on the Cartesian plane using rectangular coordinates
In the rectangular coordinate system a point is plotted as (x, y).

3. Polar Coordinate
In a polar coordinate system, we select a pint, called to pole, and then a ray with vertex at the pole, called the polar axis.
We still use an ordered pair to graph.
The new ordered pair is (r, θ).
If r > 0, then r is the distance of the point from the pole (like the origin)

4. Polar Coordinates
θ is the angle (in degrees or radians) formed by the polar axis and a ray from the pole.
We call the ordered pair (r, θ) the polar coordinates of the point.

5. Polar Coordinates
Since angles have several different ways to name them, there are an infinite number of polar coordinates for each point. (Unlike rectangular coordinates which have only one name for point on the Cartesian plane.)

6. Polar Coordinates Find four names for the point
We are given a positive radius and a positive angle. We want to find a positive angle and a negative r, a pos r and neg angle, and a neg angle and neg r.

7. Steps for finding other polar coordinates
1. Subtract 360o (or 2p) to get a negative angle
2. Add 180o (or p) to change the r to negative (half-way around the circle to be on the other side of the polar graph)
3. Add or subtract 360o (or p) to find the other angle

8. Example
Graph
Examples

9. Conversion from Polar Coordinates to Rectangular Coordinates
If P is a point with polar coordinates (r, q), the rectangular coordinates
(x, y) of P are given by
x = r cos θ y = r sin θ
Remember

10. Examples
Find the rectangular coordinates of the points with the following polar coordinates:

11. Examples

12. Polar to Rectangular Coordinates
You can check your answers using your calculator.
First do 2nd APPS
Choose
Put in polar coordinates
Hit enter

13. Steps for Converting from Rectangular to Polar Coordinates
1. Always plot the point (x, y) first
2. To find r, r2 = x2 + y2 (Look familiar?)
3. To find q, remember that we only know x and y. Therefore, the trig value that we can use involves only x and y – tangent.

14. Converting from Rectangular Coordinates to Polar Coordinates
Find polar coordinates of a point whose rectangular coordinates are
a. (0, 3)
b. (2, -2)
c. (-3, 3)

15. Transforming an Equation from Polar to Rectangular Form
Transform the equation r = cos q.
We do not have a formula for just
cos q, but we do have one for r cos q.
Multiply both sides by r to get r cos q.
That gives us r2 = r cos q

16. Transforming an Equation from Polar to Rectangular Form
r2 = x2 + y2 and r cos q = x
So, x2 + y2 = x
This is the equation of a circle
Find the answer by completing the square

17. Transforming an Equation from Polar to Rectangular Form
(x2 – x ) + y2 = 0 (complete the square)
(x2 – x + ¼) + y2 = ¼
(x - ½)2 + y2 = ¼
This is a circle whose center is (½, 0) and whose radius is ½

18. Transforming an Equation from Rectangular to Polar Form

19. Transforming from Rectangular to Polar Form
y2 = 2x
(r sin q)2 = 2 r cos q
r2 sin2 q = 2r cos q

20. Examples
More Examples
Tutorials