Ideally, as with parametric and vector functions, polar curves should be introduced and covered thoroughly in a pre-calculus course. Questions on the BC exams have been concerned with calculus ideas related to polar curves. Students have not been asked to know the names of the various curves (rose, curves, limaçons, etc.). The graphs are usually…
As I hope you’ve noticed there is a new pull-down on the navigation bar called “Website.” For some years I’ve had a website at linmcmullin.net that lately I’ve been neglecting. I decided to close it in the next few days, and therefore, I move most of the material that is there to this new tab. The…
When I first started getting interested in roulettes I began in polar form graphing limaçons. Without going into as much detail as with the roulettes, I offer just one today. I found this Winplot illustration instructive as to how polar graphs are formed and just how the graphs work and relate to rectangular form graphs…
Roulettes – 5: Calculus Considerations. In the first post of this series Roulette Generators (RG) are explained. Here are the files for Winplot or Geometer’s Sketchpad. Use them to quickly see the graphs of these curves by adjusting one or two parameters. While writing this series of posts I was intrigued by the cusps that appear in some of the curves.…
AP Type Questions 9 Polar Curves for BC only. Ideally, as with parametric and vector functions, polar curves should be introduced and covered thoroughly in a precalculus course. Questions on the BC exams have been concerned with calculus ideas. Students have not been asked to know the names of the various curves (rose, curves, limaçons,…
