Polar coordinates
In polar coordinates a point is given by its distance from the center, r, and its angle, θ, measured counterclockwise from the positive x-axis. Polar graph paper has a circle for each distance and a line for each angle, so curves like circles, roses (r = sin 3θ), cardioids and spirals are easy to plot.
Choosing the grid
- 15° lines match the common angles of trigonometry (30°, 45°, 60° and their multiples).
- 10° and 5° lines give more precision for data and navigation exercises.
- 2 or 4 grids per page suit worksheets with several graphs.
Printing tips
- Print at 100% (Actual size), not Fit to page, so squares and line spacing keep their exact size.
- Light lines (gray or light blue) are easy to write over and fade into the background of a scan or photo; use darker lines for drawing practice or when the paper will be photocopied.
- Need a stack? Set the number of pages and print the PDF once, or print one page and photocopy it.
- Thicker paper (24 to 32 lb or 90 to 120 gsm) takes ink pens and markers without bleeding through.