### Using a Table of Values to Sketch Polar Coordinate Curves

If we don't have a computer and we need to sketch the function on paper, we need to set up a table of values as follows:

 θ (degrees) θ (radians) r = 2 + 3 sin θ 0° 30° 60° 90° 120° 150° 180° 0 π/6 π/3 π/2 (2π)/3 (5π)/6 π 2 3.5 4.60 5 4.6 3.5 2

 θ (degrees) θ (radians) r = 2 + 3 sin θ 180° 210° 240° 270° 300° 330° 360° π (7π)/6 (4π)/3 (3π)/2 (5π)/3 (11π)/6 2π 2 0.5 -0.60 -1 -0.60 0.5 2

The first 7 points from this table are (2, 0), (3.5, 30), (4.60, 60), (5, 90), (4.6, 120), (3.5, 150), and (2, 180).

We plot these points (they are numbered) on the polar graph. I have also indicated with arrows the direction you need to go when joining the points.

Recall: A negative "r" means we need to be on the opposite side of the origin.

Here's the complete graph.

Graph of r = 2 + 3 sin θ, a limacon.

### Conversion to Rectangular Form

Once again we convert our polar function into rectangular form so we can see how much simpler polar form is for certain functions.

r = 2 + 3\ sin\ θ

In rectangular form, this is:

sqrt(x^2+y^2)=2+3y/sqrt(x^2+y^2)

x^2+y^2=2sqrt(x^2+y^2)+3y

x^2+y^2-3y=2sqrt(x^2+y^2)

(x^2+y^2-3y)^2=4(x^2+y^2)

x^4+2x^2y^2+y^4-6y(x^2+y^2)+ 9y^2 =4(x^2+y^2)

x^4+2x^2y^2+y^4-6y(x^2+y^2)- 4x^2+ 5y^2 =0

Notice how much simpler the polar form is compared to the rectangular form.

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