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Writing a cartesian equation in polar form

Write the Cartesian equation x 2 + y 2 = 9 in polar form.

The goal is to eliminate x and y from the equation and introduce r and θ . Ideally, we would write the equation r as a function of θ . To obtain the polar form, we will use the relationships between ( x , y ) and ( r , θ ) . Since x = r cos θ and y = r sin θ , we can substitute and solve for r .

    ( r cos θ ) 2 + ( r sin θ ) 2 = 9     r 2 cos 2 θ + r 2 sin 2 θ = 9      r 2 ( cos 2 θ + sin 2 θ ) = 9                            r 2 ( 1 ) = 9   Substitute cos 2 θ + sin 2 θ = 1.                                   r = ± 3 Use the square root property .

Thus, x 2 + y 2 = 9 , r = 3 , and r = 3 should generate the same graph. See [link] .

Plotting a circle of radius 3 with center at the origin in polar and rectangular coordinates. It is the same in both systems.
(a) Cartesian form x 2 + y 2 = 9 (b) Polar form r = 3

To graph a circle in rectangular form, we must first solve for y .

x 2 + y 2 = 9          y 2 = 9 x 2            y = ± 9 x 2

Note that this is two separate functions, since a circle fails the vertical line test. Therefore, we need to enter the positive and negative square roots into the calculator separately, as two equations in the form Y 1 = 9 x 2 and Y 2 = 9 x 2 . Press GRAPH.

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Rewriting a cartesian equation as a polar equation

Rewrite the Cartesian equation x 2 + y 2 = 6 y as a polar equation.

This equation appears similar to the previous example, but it requires different steps to convert the equation.

We can still follow the same procedures we have already learned and make the following substitutions:

r 2 = 6 y Use  x 2 + y 2 = r 2 . r 2 = 6 r sin θ Substitute y = r sin θ .         r 2 6 r sin θ = 0 Set equal to 0 .        r ( r 6 sin θ ) = 0 Factor and solve . r = 0 We reject  r = 0 , as it only represents one point,  ( 0 , 0 ) . or r = 6 sin θ

Therefore, the equations x 2 + y 2 = 6 y and r = 6 sin θ should give us the same graph. See [link] .

Plots of the equations stated above - the plots are the same in both rectangular and polar coordinates. They are circles.
(a) Cartesian form x 2 + y 2 = 6 y (b) polar form r = 6 sin θ

The Cartesian or rectangular equation is plotted on the rectangular grid, and the polar equation is plotted on the polar grid. Clearly, the graphs are identical.

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Rewriting a cartesian equation in polar form

Rewrite the Cartesian equation y = 3 x + 2 as a polar equation.

We will use the relationships x = r cos θ and y = r sin θ .

                         y = 3 x + 2                   r sin θ = 3 r cos θ + 2 r sin θ 3 r cos θ = 2 r ( sin θ 3 cos θ ) = 2 Isolate  r .                        r = 2 sin θ 3 cos θ Solve for  r .
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Rewrite the Cartesian equation y 2 = 3 x 2 in polar form.

r = 3

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Identify and graph polar equations by converting to rectangular equations

We have learned how to convert rectangular coordinates to polar coordinates, and we have seen that the points are indeed the same. We have also transformed polar equations to rectangular equations and vice versa. Now we will demonstrate that their graphs, while drawn on different grids, are identical.

Graphing a polar equation by converting to a rectangular equation

Covert the polar equation r = 2 sec θ to a rectangular equation, and draw its corresponding graph.

The conversion is

            r = 2 sec θ          r = 2 cos θ   r cos θ = 2 x = 2

Notice that the equation r = 2 sec θ drawn on the polar grid is clearly the same as the vertical line x = 2 drawn on the rectangular grid (see [link] ). Just as x = c is the standard form for a vertical line in rectangular form, r = c sec θ is the standard form for a vertical line in polar form.

Plots of the equations stated above - the plots are the same in both rectangular and polar coordinates. They are lines.
(a) Polar grid (b) Rectangular coordinate system

A similar discussion would demonstrate that the graph of the function r = 2 csc θ will be the horizontal line y = 2. In fact, r = c csc θ is the standard form for a horizontal line in polar form, corresponding to the rectangular form y = c .

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Practice Key Terms 3

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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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