Chapter 11: Problem 112
Find the equation in Cartesian coordinates of the lemniscate \(r^{2}=a^{2} \cos 2 \theta,\) where \(a\) is a real number.
Short Answer
Expert verified
Answer: \(x^4 + y^4 - (2a^2 -2)x^2 - a^2y^2 + 2x^2y^2 = 0\)
Step by step solution
01
Convert the polar equation to Cartesian coordinates
To convert the polar equation \(r^2 = a^2\cos2\theta\) to Cartesian coordinates, we need to use the conversion formulas \(x = r\cos\theta\) and \(y = r\sin\theta\). We can do this by first noting that \(r^2 = x^2 + y^2\). Now, we need to find \(\cos2\theta\) in terms of \(x\) and \(y\).
We know that:
\(\cos2\theta = 2\cos^2\theta - 1 = 2\left(\frac{x}{r}\right)^2 - 1\)
since \(\cos\theta = \frac{x}{r}\). Now, we can substitute \(r^2 = x^2 + y^2\) and the expression for \(\cos2\theta\) in the given polar equation:
\(x^2 + y^2 = a^2\left(2\left(\frac{x}{\sqrt{x^2 + y^2}}\right)^2 - 1\right)\)
02
Simplify the Cartesian equation
Now we can simplify the above equation as follows:
\(x^2 + y^2 = a^2\left(2\left(\frac{x^2}{x^2 + y^2}\right) - 1\right)\)
Now let's distribute \(a^2\):
\(x^2 + y^2 = 2a^2\left(\frac{x^2}{x^2 + y^2}\right) - a^2\)
Next, we will clear the fraction by multiplying both sides of the equation by \(x^2 + y^2\):
\((x^2 + y^2)^2 = 2a^2x^2 - a^2(x^2 + y^2)\)
Now we can expand the left side of the equation:
\(x^4 + 2x^2y^2 + y^4 = 2a^2x^2 - a^2x^2 - a^2y^2\)
Finally, we can rearrange the equation to have a more standard form:
\(x^4 + y^4 - (2a^2 - 2)x^2 - a^2y^2 + 2x^2y^2 = 0\)
Thus, the equation in Cartesian coordinates of the lemniscate is given by:
\(x^4 + y^4 - (2a^2 -2)x^2 - a^2y^2 + 2x^2y^2 = 0\)
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Polar Coordinates
Polar coordinates form a two-dimensional coordinate system where each point is determined by a distance from a reference point and an angle from a reference direction. In this system:
- The reference point is known as the pole, commonly corresponding to the origin in Cartesian coordinates.
- The reference direction is usually the positive x-axis.
- The polar coordinates of a point are given as \((r, \theta)\), where \(r\) is the radial distance from the pole, and \(\theta\) is the angle in radians from the reference direction.
Lemniscate
A lemniscate is a unique type of curve resembling the shape of a figure-eight or an infinity symbol (∞). It is a noteworthy example of a polar graph and is represented in polar coordinates by the equation:\[r^2 = a^2 \cos 2\theta\]where \(a\) is a constant. The lemniscate exhibits interesting properties:
- It is symmetric about the polar axis and the origin.
- Its shape is derived from the function \(\cos 2\theta\), causing it to cross itself, creating the iconic figure-eight form.
Equation Conversion
Equation conversion between polar and Cartesian coordinates is a highly useful skill, especially for graphing complex curves like lemniscates. When converting, two primary formulas are often used:
- \(x = r\cos\theta\)
- \(y = r\sin\theta\)
Trigonometric Identities
Trigonometric identities are pivotal in simplifying and converting equations between coordinate systems. Identities involving double angles, such as \(\cos 2\theta = 2\cos^2\theta - 1\), help transform expressions involving trigonometric functions to a form suitable for Cartesian manipulation. In the context of the lemniscate:
- Rewriting \(\cos\theta\) as \(\frac{x}{r}\) allows the substitution into the double angle identity.
- These identities enable the reshaping of the curve's equation, revealing its structure and behavior in Cartesian coordinates.