Chapter 10: Problem 12
Find a polar equation for the ellipse that has its focus at the pole and satisfies the stated conditions. (a) Directrix to the left of the pole; \(b=4 ; e=\frac{3}{5}\). (b) Directrix above the pole; \(c=5 ; e=\frac{1}{5}\).
Short Answer
Expert verified
(a) \( r = \frac{4}{1 - \frac{3}{5}\cos\theta} \); (b) \( r = \frac{5}{1 - \frac{1}{5}\sin\theta} \).
Step by step solution
01
Understanding Parameters
The problem asks for the polar equations of ellipses. In the polar form, an ellipse with a focus at the pole is given by the equation \( r = \frac{ed}{1 - e\cos\theta} \) when the directrix is on the left, and by \( r = \frac{ed}{1 - e\sin\theta} \) when it's above the pole. The parameters \( e \) represents the eccentricity, \( d \) the distance to the directrix, and \( b \), \( c \) are related to the ellipse dimensions.For (a), given \( b = 4 \) and \( e = \frac{3}{5} \), we use the formula for \( d = \frac{b}{e} \).For (b), we are given \( c = 5 \) and \( e = \frac{1}{5} \), and similarly use \( d = \frac{c}{e}\).
02
Calculate Directrix Distance for Part (a)
The ellipse's directrix distance \( d \) for part (a) is calculated using \( d = \frac{b}{e} \).Substitute \( b = 4 \) and \( e = \frac{3}{5} \):\[ d = \frac{4}{\frac{3}{5}} = \frac{4 \times 5}{3} = \frac{20}{3}. \]
03
Write the Polar Equation for Part (a)
With the directrix on the left and using the distance calculated \( d = \frac{20}{3} \), substitute in the polar form formula:\[ r = \frac{\frac{3}{5} \cdot \frac{20}{3}}{1 - \frac{3}{5}\cos\theta} = \frac{4}{1 - \frac{3}{5}\cos\theta}. \]
04
Calculate Directrix Distance for Part (b)
The ellipse's directrix distance \( d \) for part (b) is calculated using \( d = \frac{c}{e} \).Substitute \( c = 5 \) and \( e = \frac{1}{5} \):\[ d = \frac{5}{\frac{1}{5}} = 5 \times 5 = 25. \]
05
Write the Polar Equation for Part (b)
With the directrix above the pole and using the distance calculated \( d = 25 \), substitute in the polar form:\[ r = \frac{\frac{1}{5} \cdot 25}{1 - \frac{1}{5}\sin\theta} = \frac{5}{1 - \frac{1}{5}\sin\theta}. \]
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Understanding Eccentricity
Eccentricity is a measure that helps us understand how much an ellipse deviates from being a circle. It is denoted by the symbol \( e \). Here's what you need to know about eccentricity in simple terms:
- For a circle, \( e = 0 \). This means the circle is perfectly round.
- For an ellipse, the value of \( e \) is between 0 and 1. This indicates how "stretched" the ellipse is. The closer \( e \) is to 0, the more it resembles a circle. The closer to 1, the more elongated it is.
- In our example, the eccentricities \( e= \frac{3}{5} \) for part (a) and \( e= \frac{1}{5} \) for part (b) signify ellipses that are moderately elongated and almost circular respectively.
Exploring the Directrix
The directrix is a fixed line used to define a conic section like an ellipse. In the polar coordinates system, it helps determine the shape and orientation of the ellipse.
- The directrix is involved in the equation: \( r = \frac{ed}{1 - e\cos\theta} \) or \( r = \frac{ed}{1 - e\sin\theta} \). It is critical for knowing where the ellipse will extend in the coordinate system.
- In part (a), the directrix is located on the left of the pole, requiring the use of \( e\cos\theta \).
- For part (b), the directrix is above the pole, so \( e\sin\theta \) comes into play.
- The distance from the pole to the directrix is represented by \( d \), calculated easily through \( d = \frac{b}{e} \) or \( d = \frac{c}{e} \) depending on the initial conditions provided.
Polar Coordinates and Their Significance
Polar coordinates offer a way to represent points in a plane, using distance from a reference point and angle from a reference direction. This system is especially beneficial when dealing with circles or ellipses, as it simplifies the mathematical equations. Here’s how it works:
- The position of a point is given by \( (r, \theta) \), where \( r \) is the distance from the pole (the origin in polar coordinates) and \( \theta \) is the angle from the positive x-axis.
- This system is critical in formulating polar equations of ellipses like \( r = \frac{ed}{1 - e \cos \theta} \) or \( r = \frac{ed}{1 - e \sin \theta} \).
- Using polar coordinates allows easy calculation of points on an ellipse that has a focus at the pole, as it incorporates both direction and distance.