Polar Notes

Coordinate Conversion
Polar to Rectangular
x = r cos
y = r sin

Rectangular to Polar
r 2 = x2 + y 2
tan = y=x

Slope in Polar Form

If f is a dierentiable function of , then the slope of the tangent line to the graph of r = f () at
the point (r; ) is
dy
dy=d
f() cos + f 0() sin
=
=
dx
dx=d
f () sin + f 0() cos
provided that dx=d 6= 0 at (r; ).

Tangent Lines at the Pole

If f() = 0 and f 0() 6= 0, then the line = is tangent at the pole to the graph of r = f().

Area in Polar Coordinates

If f is continuous and nonnegative on the interval [; ], then the area of the region bounded by
the graph of r = f() between the radial lines = and = is given by
A=

1Z
1Z 2
[f ()]2 d =
r d
2
2

Arc Length of a Polar Curve

Let f be a function whose derivative is continuous on an interval . The length of the
graph of r = f() from = to = is
s=

[f ()]2 + [f 0()]2 d =

v
!2
u
u
tr 2 + dr
d

Area of a Surface of Revolution

Let f be a function whose derivative is continuous on an interval . The area of the
surface formed by revolving the graph of r = f () from = to = about the indicated line is
as follows
1: S = 2

2: S = 2

About the polar axis

About the line =

f() sin [f()]2 + [f 0()]2 d

f() cos [f ()]2 + [f 0 ()]2 d

Useful Integrals
(a is a constant)
Z

cos2(a) d

1
1
+
sin(2a) + C
2
4a

sin2 (a) d

1
1

sin(2a) + C
2
4a

Z q
Z q

p
!
2 2
a
1 + cos(a) d =
sin
+ C;
a
2
p
!
2 2
a
1 cos(a) d =
cos
+ C;
a
2

Z q

1 + sin(a) d =

Z q

1 sin(a) d =

a
cos
2

a
sin
2

2q
1 + sin(a) + C;
a

cos(a) 0

2q
1 + sin(a) + C;
a

cos(a) 0

Special Polar Graphs

Limacons
r = a b cos
r = a b sin
(a > 0; b > 0)
a
b

<1

Lima
con with
inner loop

a
b

=1

Cardioid
(heart-shaped)

1<

a
b

<2

a
b

Dimpled
lima
con

Convex
lima
con

r = a sin n
(n = 5)

r = a sin n
(n = 2)

Rose Curves

n petals if n is odd
2n petals if n is even
(n 2)
a: Distance from polar axis
to the tip of the petal

r = a cos n r = a cos n
(n = 3)
(n = 4)

Circles

a: Diameter of the circle

Lemniscates

a: Distance from the pole

to the tip of a loop

r = a cos
Circle

r = a sin
Circle

r2 = a2 sin 2 r2 = a2 cos 2
Lemniscate
Lemniscate