Education Technology


Polar Curves

Activity Overview

Students use the TI InterActive!™ software to study Polar curves.

Before the Activity

  • Install the TI InterActive!™ on the computer
  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 1 - 4 from the PDF file for the class
  • During the Activity

    Distribute the printed pages to the class:

    Follow the Activity procedures:

  • Draw a cardioide curve in a polar coordinate system
  • Record the coordinates of the intersection points of the curve and the axes
  • Calculate the polar coordinates
  • Find the area defined by the curve
  • Repeat steps to plot curves with different variables
  • Plot inverses of these curves
  • Understand that the inverses are conic sections
  • After the Activity

    Review student results:

  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary