
Now, we take a point P.
On the line OP we choose an axis u.
The number t is a value of the angle from the x-axis to the u-axis.
The number r is such thatP = r.U
The numbers r and t define unambiguous the point P.
We say that (r,t) is a pair of polar coordinates of P.

One point P has many pairs of polar coordinates.If (r,t) is a pair of polar coordinates,(r, t + 2.k.pi) is also a pair of polar coordinates and additionally(- r, t + (2.k+1).pi ) is a pair of polar coordinates too.
Of course, k is an integer.
The polar coordinates of the pole O are by definition (0,t) with t perfectly arbitrary.
According to the previous definition, the cartesian coordinates of U are(cos t, sin t).
SinceP = r.U, the cartesian coordinates of p are (r.cos t, r.sin t).
The transformation formulas are x = r.cos t, y = r.sin t
The cartesian coordinates of a point P are (x,y).
Choose the u-axis such that r > 0. then
P = rU =>P2 = r2U2 => x2 + y2 = r2 r = sqrt(x2 + y2) Now, choose a t-value such that x = r.cos t and y = r.sin tIn that way we have a pair of polar coordinates (r,t) of P.
Each point P of that curve has at least one pair of polar coordinates whosatisfy the equation. Note that, in general, not all pairs of polarcoordinates of P are solutions of the equation.
Note that one curve can have different polar equations.


Suppose a curve c has polar equation r = f(t).
At a variable point P of the curve, we draw a tangent line andon that line we denote the axis b in the direction of increasing t-values.
This defines the angle n and the angle a.
The tan(n) defines the direction of the curve c in point P. This tan(n)is somewhat similar to the notion of slope in cartesian coordinates.
We'll calculate tan(t).
t + n = a=> n = a - t tan(a) - tan(t)=> tan(n) = ----------------- 1 + tan(a).tan(t)Say the variable point P has cartesian coordinates (x,y).Then we know that dy y tan(a) = --- and tan(t) = --- dx xThus, dy y -- - - dx x x dy - y dx tan(n) = ---------- = -------------- dy y x dx + y dy 1 + -- . - dx xFrom x = r cos(t) and y = r sin(t)we have dx = dr.cos(t) - r.sin(t) . dt dy = dr.sin(t) + r.cos(t) . dtFrom this we calculate x dy - y dx = r2 dtFrom x2 + y2 = r2 we find 2 x dx + 2 y dy = 2 r dr or x dx + y dy = r drNow, we can simplify tan(n) r2 dt r tan(n) = ------- = ------- = r dr dr/dt r tan(n) = ----- r'
The following formula gives the direction of the curve c at any point P.Here r = f(t) is the equation of the curve and r' stands for (dr/dt) = f'(t).From r and r' you can calculate the direction n (see figure above ) ateach point.rtan(n) = -------- r' |
cot(n) = r'/r = (ln(r))'Now (ln(r))' = k for all t.First take k = 0. Then ln(r) = constant and r is constant.The curves are the circles with midpoint in the origin.Now, take k not 0. Then
(ln(r))' = k dln(r)<=> ------- = k dt<=> ln(r) = k t + constant we denote the constant as ln(m)<=> ln(r) = k t + ln(m)<=> r = m ektThese isogonal curves are called the logarithmic spirals or theBernouilli spirals.
the tangent line is parallel to the polar axis<=> t + n = k.pi<=> tan(t) = - tan(n) r<=> tan(t) = - --- r'
| The following formula gives the t-values of all points of a curve r=f(t), where the tangent line is parallel to the polar-axis. The value r' stands for (dr/dt) = f'(t). To calculate the t-values, you have to solvethis trigonometric equation. rtan(t) = - ----- r' |
the tangent line is orthogonal to the polar axis<=> t + n = pi/2 + k.pi<=> tan(t) = cot(n) r'<=> tan(t) = --- r
| The following formula gives the t-values of all points of a curve r=f(t), wherethe tangent line is orthogonal to the polar-axis. The value r' stands for (dr/dt) = f'(t). To calculate the t-values, you have to solvethis trigonometric equation. r'tan(t) = ----- r |
2 pi - to to to cos(---------) = cos(pi - --) = - cos ---- = - ro 2 2 2From this, we see that (-ro, 2pi-to) is a solution of r = cos(t/2).
r' = - (1/2) sin(t/2)The tangent line is parallel to the polar-axis if and only if
tan(t) = - r/r'<=> tan(t) = 2 cot(t/2)To solve this equation we let u = tan(t/2) , then 2 u 2<=> --------- = ------- 1 - u2 u<=> ... ___ ___ V 2 V 2<=> tan(t/2) = ---- or tan(t/2) = - ---- 2 2This gives the value t = 1.23 in [0,pi]. Then r = 0.816

P on C => F(xo,yo) = 0 => F(ro.cos(to), ro.sin(to)) = 0 => P on C'
P on C' => F(ro.cos(to), ro.sin(to)) = 0 => F(xo,yo) = 0 => P on K'
| Suppose a curve C has a cartesian equation F(x,y) = 0. If we replace x by r.cos(t) an y by r.sin(t),then we have a polar equation F(r.cos(t),r.sin(t))=0 of the curve C. |
| Suppose a curve C has a polar equation G(r,t) = 0. If that equation can be transformed to an equation |
r2 cos2 (t) + r2 sin2 (t) - 4 = 0 <=> x2 + y2 = 4
C has a polar equation r2 = r + 2.r.cos(t) <=> r = r2 - 2.r.cos(t)Now take the curve C' : r = -( r2 - 2.r.cos(t)) .It is easy to prove that each point of C is on C' and so is the reverse.Hence, we can writeC has a polar equation r = (+1 or -1).( r2 - 2.r.cos(t))<=> C has a polar equation r2 = (r2 - 2 r cos(t))2<=> C has a cartesian equation x2 + y2 = ( x2 + y2 -2 x )2
Cardioid Cissoid of Diocles Cochleoid Conchoid Trifolium Folium Folium of Descartes Hyperbolic Spiral Lemniscate of Bernoulli Right Strophoid etc...
Go and look at
u(r1 , t1 ) andv(r2 , t2 )In the corresponding cartesian coordinate system the two vectorshave cartesian coordinatesu(x1 , y1 ) andv(x2 , y2 )with x1 = r1 cos(t1 ) x2 = r2 cos(t2 ) y1 = r1 sin(t1 ) y2 = r2 sin(t2 )The dot productu.v = x1 x2 + y1 y2 = r1 cos(t1 ) . r2 cos(t2 ) + r1 sin(t1 ).r2 sin(t2 ) = r1 r2 (cos(t1 )cos(t2 ) + sin(t1)sin(t2 )) = r1 r2 cos(t1 - t2 )
The dot product of two vectorsu (r1 , t1 ) andv (r2 , t2 ) isu .v = r1 r2 cos(t1 - t2 ) |
A pointP(r,t) is on line d<=>PN is orthogonal toON<=>PN .ON = 0<=> (N -P).N = 0<=>N.N -P.N = 0<=> ro.ro.cos(0) - r.ro.cos(t - to) = 0Since ro and cos(t - to) are not 0 ro<=> r = ----------- cos(t - to)
The equation of a line l through the pole perpendicular to a line d,and with intersection point N(ro,to) isro r = ----------- cos(t - to) |
| A circle with the pole as center and radius R has a polar equation r = R |
P(r,t) is on the circle<=> ||CP || = R<=> ||CP ||2 = R2<=> (P -C)2 = R2<=>P2 - 2PC +C2 = R2<=> r2 - 2 r ro cos(t - to) + ro2 = R2
A circle, with C(ro,to) as center and R as radius, has has a polar equationr2 - 2 r ro cos(t - to) + ro2 = R2 |
r2 - 2 r R cos(t) = 0<=> r = 0 or r = 2R cos(t)<=> r = 2R cos(t) (since this curve already contains the pole for t = pi/2)
A circle, with C(R,0) as center and R as radius, has has a polar equationr = 2R cos(t) |
In cartesian coordinates we find the coordinates of the commonpoints by solving the system of the two equations.
But if we solve the system of the polar equations we find only onepoint with polar coordinates (2,1).
Now we'll show
Similarly,Say curve c' has a polar equation F'(r,t)=0.
Call V' the set of all solutions of the equation F'(r,t)=0.
Then c' is the set of all points corresponding with the set V'.
With each element of V', there corresponds one and only one point of c'.
With an element of the intersection of V and V' corresponds acommon point of c and c', BUT it is possible that V contains asolution (ro,to) and that V' contains a different solution (r1,t1)and that both solutions correspond with a common pointof c and c'.Then (ro,to) and (r1,t1) are different polar coordinates of that same point.
In the example above we have
(-2,1) is a solution of t = 1 and this gives a point of the line l.
(2,1+pi) is a solution of r = 2 and this gives a point of the circle c.
Although these solutions are different, the corresponding point is acommon point of the line and the circle.
We say that an equation F(r,t)=0 of a curve c has property (P) if and only ifALL polar coordinates of EACH point of c are solutions of F(r,t)=0Corollary:
Say curve c has a polar equation F(r,t)=0 with the property (P), andcurve c' has a polar equation F'(r,t)=0.Now the set of solutions of the system of the two polar equationscontains the coordinates of ALL the common points of the two curvesand the problem has disappeared!
We know that ro r = ----------- (1) cos(t - to)is the equation of a line d.
Example:A line d contains point D(3, pi/4) and stands perpendicular to line OD.
A circle c has center O and radius = 5.
The intersection points are the solutions of the system
/ r = 5 | 3 | r = ------------- \ cos(t - pi/4)We have cos(t - pi/4) = 3/5 cos(t - pi/4) = cos(0.927) t - pi/4 = 0.927 or t - pi/4 = -0.927This gives the points with polar coordinates (5, 1.71) and (5, -0.14)
r2 - 2 r ro cos(t - to) + ro2 = R2 (2)is the equation of a circle.
This is also true for the circle with the equation r = 2R cos(t)
r2 = R2is an equation of the same circle and this equation has property (P).
Example:
We calculate the intersection points of the curves with equation
r = cos(t/2) and r = 1/2We have to solve the system / | r2 = 1/4 | | r = cos(t/2) \<=> / | r = 1/2 or r = -1/2 | | r = cos(t/2) \<=> / / | r = 1/2 | r = - 1/2 | or | | cos(t/2)=1/2 | cos(t/2)= - 1/2 \ \<=> ..... We find four solutions: (1/2, 2 pi / 3) or (- 1/2, 4 pi / 3) or (1/2, - 2 pi / 3) or (- 1/2, - 4 pi / 3)The circle and the curve have four common points.
t = to + k.piis an equation of the same line and this equation has property (P).
Example:We calculate the intersection points of the curves with equation
r = 4 cos(t) and r = 4 sin(t)Since the first equation has property (P), the intersection pointsare the solutions of the system
r = 4 cos(t) r = 4 sin(t)The coordinates of the pole are not a solution of that systembut the pole IS an intersection point of the curves.
| To calculate the common points of curve c with equation F(r,t)=0 andc' with equation F'(r,t)=0, it is sufficient to solve the system ofthe equations F(r,t)=0 and F'(r,t)=0 if at least one of the equationshas the property (P). But even then you have to investigate separatelyif the pole is a common point. |
Given:5 K has equation r = ---------------------------- ( 1 - 2 sin(t) + 3 cos(t) ) 2 L has equation r = ---------------------- ( 2 cos(t) + sin(t) )Calculate
|
Then K has equation
5 r = ---------------------- ( 1 - e cos(t-to) )And this is the equation of a conic section.
2 r = ------------- A.cos(t-to)This is the equation of a line
5 r = ----------------------------- ( 1 - 2 sin(t) + 3 cos(t) ) 2 r = ---------------------- ( 2 cos(t) + sin(t) )From these equations we have
5 2 --------------------------- = ---------------------- ( 1 - 2 sin(t) + 3 cos(t) ) ( 2 cos(t) + sin(t) )<=> ....<=> 4 cos(t) + 9 sin(t) = 2and with the method from herewe solve this equation.
<=> ....<=> t1 = 2.518876 and t2 = -0.2137328The corresponding values of r are : r1 = -1.92058 and r2 = 1.14785
To convert the equation of K to a cartesian equation, we appeal onthe properties of Polar equation of a conic section.
The conic section K has polar equations
5 -5 r = -------------------------- and r = ---------------------------- ( 1 - 2 sin(t) + 3 cos(t) ) ( 1 + 2 sin(t) - 3 cos(t) )<=> r - 2r sin(t) + 3 r cos(t) = 5 and r + 2r sin(t) - 3 r cos(t) = -5<=> r = 5 + 2 r sin(t) - 3 r cos(t) and r = -( 5 + 2 r sin(t) - 3 r cos(t))<=> r2 = ( 5 + 2 r sin(t) - 3 r cos(t))2<=> x2 + y2 = (5 + 2 y - 3 x)2<=> 8x2 - 12 xy + 3 y2 - 30 x + 20 y + 25 = 0For the line L, the transformation is easy.
L has equation 2 r cos(t) + r sin(t) = 2<=> 2 x + y = 2To calculate the intersection points in cartesian coordinates,we solve the system
8x2 - 12 xy + 3 y2 - 30 x + 20 y + 25 = 0 2 x + y = 2With simple algebra we find
( 1.1217 ; -0.24347) and (1.560 ; -1.120 )It is easy to verify that these points are the same points as above.
c with equation F(r,t)=0 (1)and c' with equation F(r, t - alpha)=0 (2)Now we haveP(ro,to) is a solution of (1) <=> P(ro,to + alpha) is a solution of (2)This means that we obtain the curve c' by rotating the curve cclockwise by an angle alpha.
Example:
If we rotate the circle r = 4cos(t) by an angle of pi/2 radians,the new circle has equation
r = 4 cos(t - pi/2)<=> r = 4 sin(t)
| We rotate the curve c with equation F(r,t)=0 clockwise by an angle alpha.The new curve has equation F(r, t - alpha)=0. |

Suppose a curve c has polar equation r = f(t).
At a variable point P of the curve, we draw a tangent line andon that line we denote the axis b in the direction of increasing t-values.
This defines the angle n and the angle a.
Now rotate axis u clockwise by pi/2 radians. This gives axis s.
The intersection point of b and s is T.
Denote N on s such that PN is perpendicular to TP. (see figure)
B is the unit vector with abscis 1 with respect to the axis b.
S is the unit vector with abscis 1 with respect to the axis s.
Now we have (vectors in bold)
SayN = lS andT = mS (this defines the numbers l and m)NP.PT = 0 (P -N).(T -P) = 0P.T -P.P -N.T +N.P = 0 0 -P.P -N.T + 0 = 0P.P = -N.T r.r = -l.m
P =N +NPP.B =N.B +NP.B rU.B = lS.B + 0 r cos(n) = l sin(n) l = r cot(n) 1 dr dr dr l = r -.--- = --- (l is the visualisation of ---- ) r dt dt dt
1 l 1 dr d 1 - = - --- = - ----.--- = --- (-) m r2 r2 dt dt r
1 d 1 - = -- (-) = g'(t) <=> m = 1/ g'(t) m dt rSo, mo = 1/ g'(to)From mo we denote point T and then we draw the asymptote.

The equation of the asymptote is
mo r = --------------- cos(t-(to+pi/2)) mo <=> r = ---------- sin(t -to)
To calculate an asymptotes of the curve c with polar equation r = f(t),we take four steps:
|
- sqrt(3) sqrt(3) r = --------------- and r = --------------- sin(t - 2pi/3) sin(t + 2pi/3)In a graph this gives a hyperbola and his two asymptotes.