Polar Coordinates ˗ Plotting Strategy

 

 

 

 

Sketching a polar curve can be tricky. 

 

Some guidelines for plots in polar coordinates are as follows:

 

 

 If polar equation is same when replacing θ  with  ˗ θ, then the curve is

symmetric about its polar axis, the x˗axis.

 

 

If polar equation is same when r is replaced by  ˗ r  or when  θ  is replaced

by  θ + π, then curve is symmetric about its pole, the origin.

 

 

If polar equation is same when  θ is replaced by π ˗ θ, then curve is symmetric

about the vertical line  θ = π/2.

 

 

If needed, plot a few convenient points that are easy to calculate.

i.e.  θ = 0,  θ = π/4,  θ = π/2, etc.

 

 

 

 

        

 

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