Calculus › Section L · Vectors and the geometry of space › Topic L.7
Cylindrical and spherical coordinates
Rectangular coordinates describe a pipe with an ugly equation and a planet with an impossible one. Two new systems, one built from polar coordinates and one built from a globe, give cylinders, cones and spheres the simple equations they deserve.
In this topic
- When rectangular is the wrong tool
- Cylindrical coordinates
- Simple surfaces in cylindrical coordinates
- Worked example: converting points and surfaces
- Spherical coordinates
- Worked example: converting a point both ways
- Simple surfaces in spherical coordinates
- Latitude and longitude
- Choosing the right system
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Key takeaways
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Standards: Beyond AP