In this lesson on polar coordinates and graphs, learners are introduced to the difference between polar and rectangular coordinates. They learn how to convert between the two coordinate systems and how to plot points in polar coordinates on a polar grid. The lesson also covers polar equations and graphs, including circles, lines, and limacons, and explains how to rotate polar graphs and identify the center and radius of a circle.
Polar vs. rectangular coordinates; polar graphs; slope of the tangent line to a polar curve.
Copyright 2005, Department of Mathematics, University of Houston. Created by Selwyn Hollis. Find more information on videos, resources, and lessons at http://online.math.uh.edu/HoustonACT/videocalculus/index.html.