Chapter 10: Problem 281
Identify the conic with a focus at the origin, and then give the directrix and eccentricity. $$r=\frac{4}{7+2 \cos \theta}$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The conic is a parabola with a directrix at \( d = 2 \) and eccentricity \( e = 1 \).
Step by step solution
01
Identify the Conic Section Type
The given equation is of the form \( r = \frac{ed}{1 + e \cos \theta} \), where \(e\) is the eccentricity, \(d\) is the distance from the focus to the directrix, and the conic section is determined by \(e\). Compare the given equation \( r = \frac{4}{7 + 2 \cos \theta} \) with the standard form and rearrange it to identify \(e\).
02
Rewrite the Equation to Identify Parameters
Rewrite the given equation to match the standard form: \( r = \frac{4}{7 + 2 \cos \theta} = \frac{4}{2 \left(\frac{7}{2} + \cos \theta\right)} = \frac{2}{\frac{7}{2} + \cos \theta}\). This reveals that \(e\cos\theta\) should match \(\cos \theta\), giving that \(e = 1\) and \( ed = 2 \).
03
Determine the Eccentricity
From the rewritten form \( r = \frac{2}{\frac{7}{2} + \cos\theta} \), we previously identified \(e = 1\). When \(e = 1\), the conic is a parabola, since a parabola has an eccentricity of exactly 1.
04
Find the Directrix
For a parabola \(r = \frac{ed}{1 + e\cos\theta} \), since we know \(ed = 2\) and \(e = 1\), it follows that \(d = 2\). Thus, the directrix is a line defined by this value and depends on the orientation, which is consistent with the given equation.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Eccentricity
Eccentricity, denoted as \( e \), is a number that describes how much a conic section deviates from being circular. It determines the shape of the conic section:
- If \( e = 0 \), the conic is a circle, which is perfectly round.
- If \( 0 < e < 1 \), the conic is an ellipse, slightly oval shaped.
- If \( e = 1 \), the conic is a parabola, a curve that gets closer to a straight line at infinity.
- If \( e > 1 \), the conic is a hyperbola, a shape with two opposite curves.
Focus and Directrix
The focus and directrix are critical components in defining conic sections. They help establish the properties and orientation of the conic.
- The focus is a fixed point at which the conic section is defined to maintain a constant relation to it through the eccentricity.
- The directrix is a fixed line, and the conic section maintains a specific relationship to this line via its distance.
Polar Coordinates
Polar coordinates are a way of representing points in a circular grid, distinct from the traditional rectangular coordinate system.
- A point in polar coordinates is represented as \( (r, \theta) \).
- \( r \) is the radial distance from the origin (often referred to as the focus in conics), and \( \theta \) is the angle formed with the positive x-axis.