Limaçon

Limaçon

A famliy of related curves usually expressed in polar coordinates. The cardioid is a special kind of limaçon.

 

Limaçon:   r = b + a cos θ (horizontal, pictured below)  or  r = b + a sin θ (vertical)

Note: If a = b the curve is a cardioid.

 

See also

Convex, polar curves