Chapter 8: Problem 11
For the following exercises, identify the conic with a focus at the origin, and then give the directrix and eccentricity. $$ r=\frac{3}{10+10 \cos \theta} $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The conic is a parabola with directrix \( x = 3 \) and eccentricity \( e = 1 \).
Step by step solution
01
- Identify the type of conic section
The given polar equation is of the form \( r = \frac{ed}{1 + e \cos \theta} \), which corresponds to a conic section with the focus at the origin. This form indicates either an ellipse, a parabola, or a hyperbola, depending on the value of \( e \) (the eccentricity).
02
- Compare given equation to standard form
The given equation is \( r = \frac{3}{10 + 10 \cos \theta} \). Upon comparison with the standard form, we have \( ed = 3 \) and \( e \times 10 = 10 \).
03
- Solve for eccentricity (e)
From \( e \times 10 = 10 \), simplify to find \( e = 1 \). Since the eccentricity \( e = 1 \), this conic is a parabola.
04
- Determine the directrix
Since \( ed = 3 \) and \( e = 1 \), apply \( ed = d \), therefore \( d = 3 \). The directrix is a line perpendicular to the axis of symmetry at a distance \( d = 3 \) units from the focus.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Polar Coordinates
Polar coordinates are a two-dimensional coordinate system that represent points in the plane using an angle and a distance from a fixed point, usually called the pole or the origin. Instead of describing locations with a grid system like Cartesian coordinates, polar coordinates allow us to specify a point's position with two parameters:
- The radial distance, \( r \), which is the distance from the pole to the point.
- The angle, \( \theta \), which is the counterclockwise angle from the positive x-axis to the radial line connecting the pole to the point.
Eccentricity
Eccentricity is a measure that describes the shape of a conic section, such as a circle, ellipse, hyperbola, or parabola. It is denoted by \( e \). This important parameter helps in determining the type of conic section as follows:
- If \( e = 0 \), the conic is a circle.
- If \( 0 < e < 1 \), it is an ellipse.
- If \( e = 1 \), it is a parabola.
- If \( e > 1 \), it is a hyperbola.
Parabola
A parabola is a conic section that can be described as the set of all points equidistant from a single point, called the focus, and a line, known as the directrix. In terms of eccentricity, a parabola is unique because:
- The eccentricity \( e = 1 \), tightly defining its characteristic bow-like shape.
- It is symmetric around a principal axis called the axis of symmetry.
- Unlike ellipses and hyperbolas, parabolas are infinite curves, extending indefinitely outward in both directions.
Directrix in Conics
The directrix in conics is a reference line unique to each conic section, except circles. It is important for defining the locus of points forming the conic. Here's what we should know about the directrix:
- For parabolas, it is the line from which distances to any point on the parabola are equal to the distances from the parabola's focus.
- In the equation \( r = \frac{ed}{1 + e \cos \theta} \), \( d \) represents the directrix's distance from the focus along the axis of the parabola.
- The directrix helps in determining the orientation and positioning of the conic in both Cartesian and polar coordinates.