Date:29th May 2020 Dr.

Sachin Kaushal (22206)

TRACING OF POLAR CURVES

The following steps may be taken while tracing the curves in polar co-ordinates :
1. Symmetry :
(i) The curve is symmetrical about the x-axis (initial line,  = 0) if the equation is unchanged when
 is replaced by , or the pair (r, ) by the pair (r, ).
e.g. r cos  = a sin2.
(ii) The curve is symmetrical about the y-axis (the ray  = /2) if the equation is unchanged when 
is replaced by , or by the pair (r, ).
e.g. r = a.
(iii) The curve is symmetrical about the pole if the equation is unchanged when r is replaced by r,
or  is replaced by  + .

Y Y
Y
(r, ) or (r, )
(r, ) (r, ) (r, )

O X X X
O O
(r, ) or (r, ) (r, ) or
(r, +)

2. Origin (or the Pole) : Check whether the curve passes through the pole or not. For this put r = 0.
If we get some real value of , then the curve passes through the pole. If we cannot find real value
of  for which r = 0, the curve does not pass through the pole. i.e. if on putting r = 0, we get  =
1,2,…. Where 1, 2,….. are all real numbers, then the curve passes through the pole and  = 1, 
= 2…. Are the tangents at the pole. But if on putting r = 0, we do not get any real value of , then
the curve does not pass through the pole.
e.g.
For the curve r2 = a2 cos 2, for r = 0, we get

cos 2 = 0 or    (real values of )
4

MTH125 Calculus
Date:29th May 2020 Dr. Sachin Kaushal (22206)


So the curve passes through the pole and    are the tangents at the pole.
4
Again for the curve r2 = a2, putting r = 0, we get  = .
Thus the curve does not pass through the pole.
3. Asymptotes : If r  as 1 (finite value), then there is an asymptote and we find it as
1
follows : If  is a root of the equation f() = 0, then r sin () = is an asymptote of the curve
f '()

1
 f () .
r
  
4. Points of Intersection : Find the points of intersection with the lines  = 0,   ,  , 
6 4 3
and so on, or we make the table of the values of r corresponding to some suitable values of 
(especially for those values of  for which the curve is symmetrical).

5. Region : Solve the equation for r and consider how r varies as  increases from 0 (or some
convenient value 1) to +  and also as  diminishes from 0 (or 1) to .

Find the regions in which the curve does not lie. This can be checked as follows :
(i) If r is imaginary, say for <<, then no portion of the curve lies between the rays  =  and
 = .
(ii) If rmax is a for all real values of , then the whole of the curve lies within a circle of radius a,
and if rmin is b, the whole of the curve lies outside the circle of radius b.

6. Special Points : Find (i.e., angle between the tangent and the radius vector) at P(r, ) using the
d
relation tan   r
dr

Find the points where  = 0 or .
2
dr dr
Also if is +ve, then r increases as  increases and if is ve, then r decreases as  decreases.
d d
Note : Sometimes it is helpful to change the equations from the catesian to polar co-ordinates or
from polar to Cartesian co-=ordinates and then trace the curve accordingly. For example, the curve
MTH125 Calculus
Date:29th May 2020 Dr. Sachin Kaushal (22206)

3a sin  cos 
r
cos3   sin 3 
Is the same as x3 + y3 = 3axy which is the folium of Descarte’s.
The curve r cos  = a sin2 is the same as y2(a  x) = x3, which is Cissoid.

Example 1 : Trace the curve r = a cos 2.

Solution : The given curve is r = a cos 2.
1. Symmetry : Changing  into , the equation of the curve remains changed. Therefore the curve
is symmetrical about the initial line. Again changing  into , the equation remains unchanged,

thus the curve is symmetrical about the line   (the y-axis). Combining the two symmetries we
2
see that the curve is symmetrical about the pole also. [It can be observed by changing  into  + ].
2. Origin : Putting r = 0, we get cos 2 = 0

 2  (2n  1)
2
 3 5 7
or  , , , are the tangents at the origin.
4 4 4 4
3. Asymptote : The curve has no asymptote.

4. Region : Since | cos 2 |  1

 Maximum value of r is a. Thus the whole curve lies within the circle of radius a.
r is maximum when | cos 2 | = 1
i.e., 2 = 2n or  = n
i.e.,  = 0, 
r is minimum, when cos 2 = 1, then r is ve
or 2 = , 3
 3
i.e.,  , .
2 2

5. Table : Because of the symmetry about both the axes, we make table only for 0  .
2

MTH125 Calculus
Date:29th May 2020 Dr. Sachin Kaushal (22206)

: 0     =/2
6 4 3 2
r: a 0.5a 0  a = 3/4 =/4

0.5a
P
= = 0
O A
Thus the shape of the curve for this table is APOQB.
Q
Because of symmetry about both the axes, we complete
= 5/4 B = 7/4
the shape of the curve in other quadrants.
= 3/2

Example 2 : Trace the curve r = a(1 + cos) [Cardioid].

Solution : The equation of the curve is r = a(1 + cos)

1. Symmetry : Changing  into , the equation of the curve remains unchanged. Thus the curve is
symmetrical about the initial line (or x-axis).

2. Origin : When r = 0, we get 1 + cos = 1 i.e.,  =  is the tangent at the origin.

3. Asymptotes : The curve has no asymptotes as it is a closed curve.

4. Region : Since the maximum value of cos is 1, therefore the maximum value of r is 2a i.e. the
whole of the curve lies within a circle of radius 2a.

5. Table : We find the corresponding values of  for 0 . The shape of the curve for the values
 2 shall be the same as for those of 0 , because the curve is symmetrical about the initial
line.
: 0    2 5 
6 3 2 3 6
r: 2a 1.86a 1.5a a 0.5a 0.14a 0
 = /2
(0,/2)

dr
6. Value of  : We have  a sin  (2a, 0)  = 0
d O X

2cos 2
d a(1  cos ) 2
 tan   r   
dr a sin   
2sin cos
2 2

MTH125 Calculus
Date:29th May 2020 Dr. Sachin Kaushal (22206)

  
  cot  tan   
2  2 2

 At  = 0,  = i.e., at (2a, 0) the tangent is perpendicular to the line  = 0.
2

Hence the shape of the curve is as shown in the above figure.

MTH125 Calculus