Module 13 Group Activity: Polar Coordinates
COMPLETE ME FIRST
In the space below, please enter your: 1. First Name 2. Last Name 3. Group Number
The applet below illustrates how to plot points whose coordinates are written in POLAR FORM.
You can adjust the values of r and theta by using the sliders or the input boxes.
(This grapher will only accept theta values ranging from -2pi to 2pi).
Slide the black slider to illustrate how polar coordinates are plotted.
Interact with this applet for a few minutes, then answer the questions that follow.
1) Plot the following points using the calculator above: (3, pi/2) and (-3, 3pi/2). What do you notice?
2) Come up with a different set of polar coordinates for the location given in the first question? If so, list it/them!
Quick (Silent) Demo
Use the interactive applet below that will allow you to plot polar functions of the form and answer the question 3 below the applet.
Try entering different functions into the input box in the top left hand corner. I would suggest looking at functions like , , where .
You may need to use the symbol on the right of the input box to insert a in your function. When you have typed in your function press enter, you can then move the slider (in blue) to vary the size of .
3) What generalizations can you make from what you have discovered?
Look specifically at the curve with the equation where