Polar Functions

Definition

Polar functions are mathematical functions that use polar coordinates to represent points on a plane. Instead of using the traditional x and y coordinates, polar functions use the distance from the origin (r) and the angle from the positive x-axis (θ) to describe points.

Related terms

Polar Plane: The polar plane is a coordinate system that uses polar coordinates instead of Cartesian coordinates (x and y). It consists of an origin point, an angle measurement (θ), and a radial distance (r).

r = f(θ): This equation represents a polar function where r is determined by some function of θ. It describes how the distance from the origin varies with different angles.

Parametric Equations: Parametric equations are another way to represent curves or graphs. They express both x and y coordinates as separate functions of a third variable, often denoted as t.