How do you graph r=-3?

1 Answer
Sep 9, 2016

Allowing that r could be negative (against the befitting definition that, as length (modulus ) of a vector, r>=0) , r =-3 represents the circle with center at the pole r = 0 and radius = 3..

Explanation:

Despite that r is understood as length (modulus ) of the position

vector from pole to the position (r, theta), it is customary to allow r

to be negative, by identifying the point (+r, theta) as

( -r, theta+pi).

So, both r=3 here and r=-3# represent the same circle with center

at the pole r = 0 and radius = 3.

The point (3, theta) on the circle from the first equation is #(-3,

theta+pi)#, from the second. .