Polar Curves: Circles, Roses, and Limacons

Polar equations can be used to graph curves with radial symmetry or repeating patterns. In the polar coordinate system, a point is described by its distance from the pole, or central point, and by an angle from the polar axis, or reference direction. This format is different from rectangular coordinates and is especially use...

A grid with concentric circles and straight radial lines, all centered at a single point called the pole, defines a polar coordinate system.

Each point on this grid is identified by its distance from the pole and by the angle it makes with the polar axis.

A graph where every point stays the same distance from the origin forms a perfe...