Chapter 10: Problem 29
Convert each conic into rectangular coordinates and identify the conic. $$r=\frac{2}{6-\sin \theta}$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The conic is an ellipse represented by the equation \(36x^2 + 35y^2 - 4y - 4 = 0\).
Step by step solution
01
Identify Polar Equation
The given polar equation is: \[ r = \frac{2}{6 - \sin \theta} \]
02
Use Relationship Between Polar and Rectangular Coordinates
Recall the relationships: \[ r^2 = x^2 + y^2 \] \[ x = r \cos \theta \] \[ y = r \sin \theta \] Substitute these into the given equation.
03
Rewrite in Terms of r and \(\theta\)
Rewrite the equation as: \[ r(6 - \sin \theta) = 2 \] which simplifies to: \[ 6r - r\sin \theta = 2 \]
04
Substitute for \( r\sin \theta \)
Considering that \( y = r \sin \theta \), the equation becomes: \[ 6r - y = 2 \]
05
Solve for r
Isolate r on one side: \[ 6r = y + 2 \] \[ r = \frac{y + 2}{6} \]
06
Substitute \( r = \sqrt{x^2 + y^2} \)
Substitute \( r \) back into the equation: \[ \sqrt{x^2 + y^2} = \frac{y + 2}{6} \]
07
Square Both Sides
Square both sides to remove the square root: \[ x^2 + y^2 = \left( \frac{y + 2}{6} \right)^2 \] which expands to: \[ x^2 + y^2 = \frac{(y + 2)^2}{36} \]
08
Simplify the Equation
Multiply both sides by 36 to simplify: \[ 36(x^2 + y^2) = (y + 2)^2 \] Then expand and simplify: \[ 36x^2 + 36y^2 = y^2 + 4y + 4 \] Combine like terms: \[ 36x^2 + 35y^2 - 4y - 4 = 0 \]
09
Determine the Type of Conic
The general form of the equation indicates it's an ellipse because the coefficients of \(x^2\) and \(y^2\) are both positive but not equal.
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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 way of representing points in a plane using a distance and an angle. Instead of using the traditional Cartesian (rectangular) coordinates (x, y), we use a radius (\r\rm) and an angle (\theta):
- \(r\) is the distance from the origin to the point.
- \(\theta\) is the angle formed with the positive x-axis.
Rectangular Coordinates
Rectangular coordinates, also known as Cartesian coordinates, are the more familiar system using (x, y) to describe a point in a plane. Each point is located based on its horizontal (x) and vertical (y) distances from the origin. To convert between polar and rectangular coordinates, the key relationships are: \[ r^2 = x^2 + y^2 \] \[ x = r \cos \theta \] \[ y = r \sin \theta \] These formulas are the basis for converting an equation from polar to rectangular form.
Conic Sections
Conic sections are the curves obtained by intersecting a cone with a plane. The main types include:
- Ellipses
- Parabolas
- Hyperbolas
- Circles (a special type of ellipse)
Ellipse Equations
An ellipse equation in rectangular coordinates typically looks like this: \[ \frac{(x - h)^2}{a^2} + \frac{(y - k)^2}{b^2} = 1 \] However, elliptical equations sometimes take other forms, such as the one we derived in the example problem: \[ 36x^2 + 35y^2 - 4y - 4 = 0 \] By identifying key characteristics in the converted rectangular form (like the coefficients), we confirmed it as an ellipse due to positive but unequal coefficients of \(x^2\) and \(y^2\).