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Graphing a hyperbola in polar form

Graph r = 8 2 3   sin   θ .

First, we rewrite the conic in standard form by multiplying the numerator and denominator by the reciprocal of 2, which is 1 2 .

r = 8 2 3 sin   θ = 8 ( 1 2 ) 2 ( 1 2 ) 3 ( 1 2 ) sin   θ r = 4 1 3 2   sin   θ

Because e = 3 2 , e > 1 , so we will graph a hyperbola    with a focus at the origin. The function has a sin   θ term and there is a subtraction sign in the denominator, so the directrix is y = p .

       4 = e p        4 = ( 3 2 ) p 4 ( 2 3 ) = p       8 3 = p

The directrix is y = 8 3 .

Plotting a few key points as in [link] will enable us to see the vertices. See [link] .

A B C D
θ 0 π 2 π 3 π 2
r = 8 2 3 sin θ 4 8 4 8 5 = 1.6
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Graphing an ellipse in polar form

Graph r = 10 5 4   cos   θ .

First, we rewrite the conic in standard form by multiplying the numerator and denominator by the reciprocal of 5, which is 1 5 .

r = 10 5 4 cos   θ = 10 ( 1 5 ) 5 ( 1 5 ) 4 ( 1 5 ) cos   θ r = 2 1 4 5   cos   θ

Because e = 4 5 , e < 1 , so we will graph an ellipse    with a focus at the origin. The function has a cos θ , and there is a subtraction sign in the denominator, so the directrix    is x = p .

       2 = e p        2 = ( 4 5 ) p 2 ( 5 4 ) = p       5 2 = p

The directrix is x = 5 2 .

Plotting a few key points as in [link] will enable us to see the vertices. See [link] .

A B C D
θ 0 π 2 π 3 π 2
r = 10 5 4   cos   θ 10 2 10 9 1.1 2
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Graph r = 2 4 cos   θ .

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Defining conics in terms of a focus and a directrix

So far we have been using polar equations of conics to describe and graph the curve. Now we will work in reverse; we will use information about the origin, eccentricity, and directrix to determine the polar equation.

Given the focus, eccentricity, and directrix of a conic, determine the polar equation.

  1. Determine whether the directrix is horizontal or vertical. If the directrix is given in terms of y , we use the general polar form in terms of sine. If the directrix is given in terms of x , we use the general polar form in terms of cosine.
  2. Determine the sign in the denominator. If p < 0 , use subtraction. If p > 0 , use addition.
  3. Write the coefficient of the trigonometric function as the given eccentricity.
  4. Write the absolute value of p in the numerator, and simplify the equation.

Finding the polar form of a vertical conic given a focus at the origin and the eccentricity and directrix

Find the polar form of the conic given a focus at the origin, e = 3 and directrix     y = 2.

The directrix is y = p , so we know the trigonometric function in the denominator is sine.

Because y = −2 , –2 < 0 , so we know there is a subtraction sign in the denominator. We use the standard form of

r = e p 1 e   sin   θ

and e = 3 and | −2 | = 2 = p .

Therefore,

r = ( 3 ) ( 2 ) 1 3   sin   θ r = 6 1 3   sin   θ
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Finding the polar form of a horizontal conic given a focus at the origin and the eccentricity and directrix

Find the polar form of a conic given a focus at the origin, e = 3 5 , and directrix     x = 4.

Because the directrix is x = p , we know the function in the denominator is cosine. Because x = 4 , 4 > 0 , so we know there is an addition sign in the denominator. We use the standard form of

r = e p 1 + e   cos   θ

and e = 3 5 and | 4 | = 4 = p .

Therefore,

r = ( 3 5 ) ( 4 ) 1 + 3 5 cos θ r = 12 5 1 + 3 5 cos θ r = 12 5 1 ( 5 5 ) + 3 5 cos θ r = 12 5 5 5 + 3 5 cos θ r = 12 5 5 5 + 3 cos θ r = 12 5 + 3 cos θ
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Find the polar form of the conic given a focus at the origin, e = 1 , and directrix x = −1.

r = 1 1 cos θ

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Questions & Answers

how did you get 1640
Noor Reply
If auger is pair are the roots of equation x2+5x-3=0
Peter Reply
Wayne and Dennis like to ride the bike path from Riverside Park to the beach. Dennis’s speed is seven miles per hour faster than Wayne’s speed, so it takes Wayne 2 hours to ride to the beach while it takes Dennis 1.5 hours for the ride. Find the speed of both bikers.
MATTHEW Reply
420
Sharon
from theory: distance [miles] = speed [mph] × time [hours] info #1 speed_Dennis × 1.5 = speed_Wayne × 2 => speed_Wayne = 0.75 × speed_Dennis (i) info #2 speed_Dennis = speed_Wayne + 7 [mph] (ii) use (i) in (ii) => [...] speed_Dennis = 28 mph speed_Wayne = 21 mph
George
Let W be Wayne's speed in miles per hour and D be Dennis's speed in miles per hour. We know that W + 7 = D and W * 2 = D * 1.5. Substituting the first equation into the second: W * 2 = (W + 7) * 1.5 W * 2 = W * 1.5 + 7 * 1.5 0.5 * W = 7 * 1.5 W = 7 * 3 or 21 W is 21 D = W + 7 D = 21 + 7 D = 28
Salma
Devon is 32 32​​ years older than his son, Milan. The sum of both their ages is 54 54​. Using the variables d d​ and m m​ to represent the ages of Devon and Milan, respectively, write a system of equations to describe this situation. Enter the equations below, separated by a comma.
Aaron Reply
find product (-6m+6) ( 3m²+4m-3)
SIMRAN Reply
-42m²+60m-18
Salma
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bill
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bill
-24m+3+3mÁ^2
Susan
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Amira
I only got 42 the rest i don't know how to solve it. Please i need help from anyone to help me improve my solving mathematics please
Amira
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Aphelele
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Bajemah
-6m(3mA²+4m-3)+6(3mA²+4m-3) =-18m²A²-24m²+18m+18mA²+24m-18 Rearrange like items -18m²A²-24m²+42m+18A²-18
Salma
complete the table of valuesfor each given equatio then graph. 1.x+2y=3
Jovelyn Reply
x=3-2y
Salma
y=x+3/2
Salma
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Enock
given that (7x-5):(2+4x)=8:7find the value of x
Nandala
3x-12y=18
Kelvin
please why isn't that the 0is in ten thousand place
Grace Reply
please why is it that the 0is in the place of ten thousand
Grace
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Stephen
A meditation garden is in the shape of a right triangle, with one leg 7 feet. The length of the hypotenuse is one more than the length of one of the other legs. Find the lengths of the hypotenuse and the other leg
Marry Reply
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Enock
state in which quadrant or on which axis each of the following angles given measure. in standard position would lie 89°
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Method
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Enock
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Roger
The Jones family took a 15 mile canoe ride down the Indian River in three hours. After lunch, the return trip back up the river took five hours. Find the rate, in mph, of the canoe in still water and the rate of the current.
cameron Reply
Shakir works at a computer store. His weekly pay will be either a fixed amount, $925, or $500 plus 12% of his total sales. How much should his total sales be for his variable pay option to exceed the fixed amount of $925.
mahnoor Reply
I'm guessing, but it's somewhere around $4335.00 I think
Lewis
12% of sales will need to exceed 925 - 500, or 425 to exceed fixed amount option. What amount of sales does that equal? 425 ÷ (12÷100) = 3541.67. So the answer is sales greater than 3541.67. Check: Sales = 3542 Commission 12%=425.04 Pay = 500 + 425.04 = 925.04. 925.04 > 925.00
Munster
difference between rational and irrational numbers
Arundhati Reply
When traveling to Great Britain, Bethany exchanged $602 US dollars into £515 British pounds. How many pounds did she receive for each US dollar?
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Solomon Reply
Jazmine trained for 3 hours on Saturday. She ran 8 miles and then biked 24 miles. Her biking speed is 4 mph faster than her running speed. What is her running speed?
Zack Reply
d=r×t the equation would be 8/r+24/r+4=3 worked out
Sheirtina
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Source:  OpenStax, Algebra and trigonometry. OpenStax CNX. Nov 14, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11758/1.6
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