Polar Curves :

Rose Curves
𝑟 = 𝑎 sin 𝑛𝜃 or 𝑟 = 𝑎 cos 𝑛𝜃
 Polar curves : Rose curves
• Equation is 𝑟 = 𝑎 sin 𝑛𝜃 𝑜𝑟 𝑟 = 𝑎 cos 𝑛𝜃 , 𝑛 ∈ 𝑍 :
• Symmetry:
• About Initial line : Equation remains unchanged on changing
𝜃 to −𝜃. e. g. r = 𝑎 cos 2𝜃.
𝜋
• About 𝜃 = 2 : Equation remains unchanged on changing
𝜃 𝑡𝑜 − 𝜃 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑟 𝑡𝑜 − 𝑟. e.g. 𝑟 = 𝑎 sin 3𝜃.
OR
𝜋
• About 𝜃 = 2 : Equation remains unchanged on changing
𝜃 𝑡𝑜 𝜋 − 𝜃. e.g. 𝑟 = 𝑎 sin 3𝜃.
• For 𝑟 = 𝑎 sin 𝑛𝜃 𝑜𝑟 𝑟 = 𝑎 cos 𝑛𝜃 the maximum numerical
value of 𝑟 is 𝑎.
∴ the entire curve lies inside the circle 𝑟 = 𝑎.

• Since sin 𝜃 𝑎𝑛𝑑 cos 𝜃 are periodic functions values of 𝜃

from 0 𝑡𝑜 2𝜋 only be considered. Values of 𝜃 > 2𝜋 give no
new branch of the curve.
 𝜋 𝜋 𝜋 𝜋
𝟎 2 𝟐 2 3 2
⋯ 𝒏 2 ⋯ ⋯
𝑛
𝑛 𝑛 𝑛

sin 𝑛𝜃 0 0
cos 𝑛𝜃 0 0

• Find whether pole lies on the curve i.e. find values of θ for
which 𝑟 = 0. These values of 𝜃 give equations of tangents at
pole.
• ∅ : Angle between radius vector and tangent.
𝑑𝜃 𝒓 = 𝒂 sin 𝒏𝜽 𝑟 = 𝑎 cos 𝑛𝜃
Find tan ∅ = 𝑟 𝑑𝑟
tan ∅ tan ∅
Find points where tan ∅ = 0 𝑜𝑟 ∞ 1 1
= tan 𝑛𝜃 = − cot 𝑛𝜃
𝑛 𝑛
i.e.points where the tangent coincides
with radius vector or is perpendicular to it.
• The curve 𝑟 = 𝑎 sin 𝑛𝜃 𝑜𝑟 𝑟 = 𝑎 cos 𝑛𝜃 consists of
𝑛 equal loops if 𝑛 is odd
2𝑛 equal loops if 𝑛 is even
• For drawing loops divide each quadrant into 𝑛 equal parts

• 𝜽 𝑛 even 𝑛 odd
• 𝟎 First loop is Draw loops in two
• 𝝅 𝒓 = 𝒂 sin 𝒏𝜽 drawn𝜋 along sectors alternately
𝟒 θ= 2 Draw loops in keeping two
𝑛
• 𝟐𝝅 two sectors sectors between

𝟑𝝅
𝟒 First loop is consecutively from the loops vacant
• 𝟒 𝒓 = 𝒂 cos 𝒏𝜽 drawn along 𝜃 = 0 𝑡𝑜 𝜃 = 2𝜋 from
𝜃=0 𝜃 = 0 𝑡𝑜 𝜃 = 2𝜋
𝟒𝝅
•
𝟒
𝟓𝝅
•𝟒
𝟔𝝅
•𝟒
𝟕𝝅
•
• Trace the curve 𝑟 = 𝑎 cos 3𝜃
• Symmetry: About Initial line (since equation remains
unchanged on changing 𝜃 to −𝜃)
• For 𝑟 = 𝑎 cos 3𝜃 the maximum numerical value of
𝑟 is 𝑎. ∴ the entire curve lies inside the circle 𝑟 = 𝑎.
• Since cos 𝜃 is periodic function values of 𝜃 from 0 𝑡𝑜 2𝜋
only be considered. Values of 𝜃 > 2𝜋 give no new branch
of the curve.
• The curve 𝑟 = 𝑎 cos 3𝜃 consists of 3equal loops.
• The first loop is drawn about 𝜃 = 0
• Divide each quadrant into 3 equal parts
 𝜽 𝟎 𝝅 𝟐𝝅 𝟑𝝅 𝟒𝝅 𝟓𝝅 𝟔𝝅 𝟕𝝅 𝟖𝝅 𝟗𝝅 𝟏𝟎𝝅 𝟏𝟏𝝅
𝟔 𝟔 𝟔 𝟔 𝟔 𝟔 𝟔 𝟔 𝟔 𝟔 𝟔

𝑟 𝑎 0 −𝑎 0 𝑎 0 −𝑎 0 𝑎 0 −𝑎 0

• Pole lies on the curve

• Tangents at pole are values of 𝜃 s.t. cos 3𝜃 = 0
𝜋 3𝜋 5𝜋
i.e. 𝜃 = 6 , , ,⋯
6 6
 𝜽 𝟎 𝝅 𝟐𝝅 𝟑𝝅 𝟒𝝅 𝟓𝝅 𝟔𝝅 𝟕𝝅 𝟖𝝅 𝟗𝝅 𝟏𝟎𝝅 𝟏𝟏𝝅
𝟔 𝟔 𝟔 𝟔 𝟔 𝟔 𝟔 𝟔 𝟔 𝟔 𝟔

𝑟 𝑎 0 −𝑎 0 𝑎 0 −𝑎 0 𝑎 0 −𝑎 0

• ∅ ∶ Angle between radius vector and tangent

𝑑𝜃 1 1 𝜋
tan ∅ = 𝑟 𝑑𝑟= − 3 cot 3𝜃 = 3 tan 2 + 3𝜃
𝜋 3𝜋 5𝜋 7𝜋 9𝜋 11𝜋
• tan ∅ = 0 for 𝜃 = 6 , 6 , 6 , 6 , 6 , 6
Therefore tangents are coincident
with radius vectors
• tan ∅ = ∞ & 𝑟 = ±𝑎 for
2𝜋 4𝜋 6𝜋 8𝜋 10𝜋
𝜃= 0, , , , , .
6 6 6 6 6
∴ tangents are perpendicular to
radius vectors
• Trace the curve 𝑟 = 𝑎 sin 2𝜃
𝜋
• Symmetry: About 𝜃 = 2 (Since equation remains
unchanged on changing 𝜃 𝑡𝑜 − 𝜃 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑟 𝑡𝑜 − 𝑟.
• For 𝑟 = 𝑎 sin 2𝜃 the maximum numerical value of 𝑟
is 𝑎. ∴ the entire curve lies inside the circle 𝑟 = 𝑎.
• Since sin 𝜃 is periodic function values of 𝜃 from 0 𝑡𝑜 2𝜋
only be considered. Values of 𝜃 > 2𝜋 give no new branch
of the curve.
• The curve 𝑟 = 𝑎 sin 2𝜃 consists of 4 equal loops.
𝜋
• The first loop is drawn about 𝜃 = 4
• Divide each quadrant into 2 equal parts
 𝝅 𝟐𝝅 𝟑𝝅 𝟒𝝅 𝟓𝝅 𝟔𝝅 𝟕𝝅
𝜽 𝟎
𝟒 𝟒 𝟒 𝟒 𝟒 𝟒 𝟒
𝑟 0 𝑎 0 −𝑎 0 𝑎 0 −𝑎

• Pole lies on the curve

• Tangents at pole are values of 𝜃 s.t. sin 2𝜃 = 0
2𝜋 4𝜋 6𝜋
i.e. 𝜃 = 0, 4 , 4 , 4 , ⋯
 𝝅 𝟐𝝅 𝟑𝝅 𝟒𝝅 𝟓𝝅 𝟔𝝅 𝟕𝝅
𝜽 𝟎
𝟒 𝟒 𝟒 𝟒 𝟒 𝟒 𝟒
𝑟 0 𝑎 0 −𝑎 0 𝑎 0 −𝑎

• ∅ ∶ Angle between radius vector and tangent

𝑑𝜃 1
tan ∅ = 𝑟 𝑑𝑟= 2 𝑡𝑎𝑛 2𝜃
2𝜋 4𝜋 6𝜋
• tan ∅ = 0 for 𝜃 = 0, , ,
4 4 4
∴ tangents are coincident with
radius vectors
• 𝑡𝑎𝑛 ∅ = ∞ & 𝑟 = ±𝑎 for
𝜋 3𝜋 5𝜋 7𝜋
𝜃 = 4, , , .
4 4 4
∴ tangents are perpendicular to radius vector at 𝐴, 𝐵, 𝐶, 𝐷
 Practice Problems
Trace the curves given by
• 𝑟 = 𝑎 cos 4𝜃
• 𝑟 = 𝑎 sin 3𝜃
• 𝑟 = 𝑎 cos 2𝜃
• 𝑟 = 𝑎 sin 4𝜃
Thank You !