How do you graph r=2costheta?

1 Answer
Nov 12, 2016

x^2+y^2=2x

Explanation:

The relation between polar coordinates (r,theta) and Cartesian coordinates (x,y) is given by

x=rcostheta, y=rsintheta and r^2=x^2+y^2

Hence, r=2costhetahArrr^2=2rcostheta or x^2+y^2=2x

i.e. (x^2-2x+1+(y-0)^2=1

or (x-1)^2+(y-0)^2=1

which is nothing but a circle with center at (1,0) and radius 1, whose graph is as follows:
graph{x^2+y^2=2x [-1.74, 3.26, -1.27, 1.23]}