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, r0),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,θ), it is customary to allow r

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

(r,θ+π).

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,θ) on the circle from the first equation is #(-3,

theta+pi)#, from the second. .