• ltxrtquq@lemmy.ml
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    14 hours ago

    Polar Functions and dydx

    We are interested in the lines tangent a given graph, regardless of whether that graph is produced by rectangular, parametric, or polar equations. In each of these contexts, the slope of the tangent line is dydx. Given r=f(θ), we are generally not concerned with r′=f′(θ); that describes how fast r changes with respect to θ. Instead, we will use x=f(θ)cosθ, y=f(θ)sinθ to compute dydx.

    From the link above. I really don’t understand why you seem to think a tangent line in polar coordinates would be a circle.