Precalculus: Polar Coordinates

Objectives

• Students will develop a basic understanding of the polar coordinate system and locate points given in polar form.
• Students will convert points between polar and rectangular coordinates.
• Students will sketch graphs of polar equations.

Vocabulary

• polar coordinates
• pole
• polar axis
• absolute value
• argument
• rectangular coordinates

About the Lesson

This lesson involves a brief introduction to the polar coordinate system.
As a result, students will:

• Determine the location (quadrant) of various points given in polar form.
• Recognize cases in which a point lies on an axis.
• Convert points between polar and rectangular form.
• Discover that the polar coordinates for a point are not unique.
• Sketch the graphs of polar equations.
• Use their calculators to check graphs sketched using paper and pencil.