In this lesson, we introduce polar coordinates, a new way to describe points in the plane using distance and direction instead of (x, y).
You will learn how to locate points using (r, \theta), convert between rectangular and polar forms, and understand how trigonometric relationships connect the two systems. We also explore how to sketch polar curves using key angles and symmetry, and how to convert equations between rectangular and polar representations.
This topic is essential for graphing curves such as circles, spirals, and other symmetric shapes that are difficult to describe using only rectangular coordinates.
