The polar coordinates form of graphing is helpful for navigation and mathematical distance equations. It differs from the rectangular form of graphing in that the coordinates are graphed on a circular plane, as opposed to a square plane. Rather than drawing out and manually graphing polar coordinates, it is more efficient to use a graphing calculator. With a few careful adjustments to the graphing settings, it is possible to graph many types of data, including polar coordinates, on a modern graphing calculator.
Instructions
-
-
1
Open the "Angle" menu on your calculator. This menu may be listed under another title, but it should include options regarding angles measurements.
-
2
Select the option that allows you to convert from rectangle coordinates, the default on most calculators, to polar coordinates. It may be listed under an abbreviation such as "R->P."
-
-
3
Choose whether you would like the equation to return the "r" value or the "phi" value. Select the option that pertains best to the mathematical problem you are solving.