CHAPTER 1 POLAR COORDINATES

1.1 Parametric equations 1.1.1 Definition 1.1.2 Sketching parametric equations 1.2 Polar Coordinates 1.2.1 Polar coordinates system 1.2.2 Relationship between Cartesian and Polar Coordinates 1.2.3 Forming polar equations from Cartesian equations and vice-versa 1.2.4 Sketching polar equations 1.2.5 Intersection Of Curves In Polar Coordinates

1.1 Parametric Equations 1.1.1 Definition:

Equations x = f (t ) , y = g (t ) that express x and y in t is known as parametric equations, and t is called the parameter. How the parameter may be eliminated from the parametric equations to obtain the Cartesian equations? - no specific method - use algebraic manipulation Example: Form Cartesian equations by eliminating parameter t in the following equations: (a) x = 2t , y = 4t 2 1 (b) x = 4 sin t , y = 2 cos 2 t t t (c) x = e , y = e 3 (d) x = t , y = 3 ln t

1.1.2

Curve Sketching of parametric equations Constructing tables of x and y

2 ways

for specific values of t. Eliminating the parameter.

Example: Sketch the graph of the following equations (a) x = 2t , y = 4t 2 1 (b) x = 3t 5 , y = 2t + 5

1.2 Polar Coordinates 1.2.1 Polar Coordinates System Definition: The polar coordinates of point P is written as an ordered pair (r , ), that is P ( r , ) where r - distance from origin to P - angle from polar axis to the line OP
P( r, ) r O

Note: (i) is positive in anticlockwise direction, and it is negative in clockwise direction. (ii) Polar coordinate of a point is not unique. (iii) A point ( r , ) is in the opposite direction of point (r , ).

Example: Plot the following set of points in the same diagram:

o o (a) 3,225 , 1,225 ,

(b) 2, , 3

) (

2, , 2, 3 3

) ( 3,225 )
o

a)

b)

For every point P(r,) in , there exist 3 more coordinates that represent the point P.
P ( 2, 450 )

Example: Find all possible polar coordinates of the points whose polar coordinates are given as the following: o o (b) Q 2,60 o (c) R 1,225 (a) P 1,45

1.2.2 Relationship between Cartesian and Polar Coordinates

1) Polar

Cartesian

x = r cos
2) Cartesian

y = r sin
Polar

r=

x +y
2

y tan = x

Example: Find the Cartesian coordinates of the points whose polar coordinates are given as (a) 1,

7 4

(b) 4,

2 3

o (c) 2,30

Example: Find all polar coordinates of the points whose rectangular coordinates are given as (a) (11,5) (b) (0,2) (c) ( 4,4 )

1.2.3 Forming polar equations from Cartesian equations and vice-versa.

To change the equation in Cartesian coordinates to polar coordinates, and conversely, use equation

x = r cos

y = r sin

r=

x2 + y2

Example: Express the following rectangular equations in

polar equations. (a) y = x 2 (b) x 2 + y 2 = 16 (c) xy = 1

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Example: Express the following polar equations in rectangular equations. (a) r = 2 sin (c) r = 4 cos + 4 sin (b) r =
3 4 cos + 5 sin

(d) r = tan sec

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1.2.4 Graph Sketching of Polar Equations There are two methods to sketch a graph of r = f ( ): (1) Form a table for r and . ( 0 2 ). From the table, plot the (r , ) points.

(2) Symmetry test of the polar equation. The polar equations is symmetrical (a) about the x-axis if f ( ) = f ( ) - consider in range [0, 1800] only (b) about the y-axis if f ( ) = f ( ) - consider in range [0, 900] and [2700, 3600] (c) at the origin if f ( + ) = f ( ) - consider in range [0, 1800] or [1800, 3600] in range [0, 900] only.

* if symmetry at all, consider

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Example 1: Sketch the graph of r = 2 sin Solution: (Method 1) Here is the complete table
0 0 240 -1.732 30 60 90 2 120 1.732 330 -1 150 180 210 1 360 0 0 -1.0 1.0 1.732 270 -2

300 -1.732

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Method 2 Symmetrical test for f ( ) = 2 sin Symmetry Symmetrical test

f ( ) = f ( ) ?

About x-axis

f ( ) = f ( ) ?

About y-axis

f ( + ) = f ( ) ?

About origin

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Since r symmetry at y-axis, consider [0, 900] and [2700, 3600]

0 0 30 1.0 60 1.732 90 2 270 -2

in range

300 -1.732

330 360 -1 0

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Example 2: Sketch the graph of r = Symmetry

3 cos 2

Symmetrical test
f ( ) = f ( ) ?

About x-axis

f ( ) = f ( ) ?

About y-axis

f ( + ) = f ( ) ?

About origin

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Since r symmetry at x-axis, consider [0, 1800] only.

0
3 r = cos 2

in range

30

60

90

120

150

180

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Example 3: Sketch the graph of r = 2 sin Symmetry

f ( ) = f ( ) ?

Symmetrical test

About x-axis

f ( ) = f ( ) ?

About y-axis

f ( + ) = f ( ) ?

About origin

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Since r symmetry at ____________, consider range ____________ only.

in

r = 2 sin 2

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1.2.5 Intersection Of Curves In Polar Coordinates.

In Cartesian, we normally either solve two simultaneous equations or plot the graph in order to find the point of intersection between two curves. But in polar, method for finding points of intersection must include both solving simultaneous equations and sketching the curves.

Example 1: Find the points of intersection of the circle r = 2 cos and r = 2 sin for 0

Solution: Solve simultaneous equations 2 cos = 2 sin when =

=

5
4 , 4

4 4 5 5 when = , r = 2 cos = 2 4 4 So, point of intersection: 2 , 4

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, r = 2 cos

= 2

 5 Note: 2 , and 2 , is the same point. 4 4

Draw the curves:

From graph, (0,0) is also a point of intersection.

Conclusion: Points of intersection are 2 , and (0,0). 4

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Example 2:
Find the points of intersection of the curves 3 2 r = cos and = . 2 3
Solution: Solves simultaneous equations

3 2 3 1 = = 2 r = cos 2 3 2 2

From the solution of equations, we get only one point. i.e

2 2, . 3

Draw the curves:

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From the graph, = When =

5 is another solution. 3

5 3 5 3 1 , r = cos = =1 2 3 2 2 3

5 Thus 1, is a point of intersection. 3 2 Conclusion: The points of intersection are 2, and 3 5 1, . 3

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