What you need to know
Check yourself against these “I can” statements.
- I can explain what polar coordinates (r, θ) are and plot points with them
- I can convert between polar and Cartesian coordinates and equations
- I can sketch curves where r is given in terms of θ
- I can find the area enclosed by a polar curve
- I can find tangents to a polar curve that are parallel or perpendicular to the initial line
Practise this topic
3 resourcesGraph Plotter
A graphing calculator: type y = f(x), x = g(y), implicit relations such as x² + y² = 25, inequalities (shaded, dashed for < and solid for ≤), parametric and polar curves, points and tables, functions f(x) = … with f′(x), and…
🧩 ConnectionsPolar Coordinates
Points written in Cartesian form and in several equivalent polar forms: principal argument, degrees, arguments shifted by 2π, negative r, and points on polar curves.
🧮 ToolPolar Coordinates Explorer
Polar curves on a polar grid: circles, half-lines, spirals, cardioids and limaçons (egg-shaped, dimpled, cardioid), roses, the lemniscate, straight lines, or type your own r = f(θ). Change any number with a slider, choose the…
These are the pages for Polar coordinates in the A Level Further Maths scheme of work, following Pearson Edexcel A Level Further Mathematics (9FM0). Open this topic in Mr Wells Maths to see it alongside the rest of the course.