Chapter 11: Problem 20
Graph the sets of points whose polar coordinates satisfy the equations and inequalities. $$\theta=\pi / 2, \quad r \leq 0$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The graph is a single point at the origin (0,0).
Step by step solution
01
Understand Polar Coordinates
Polar coordinates consist of a distance, \( r \), from a central point (the origin), and an angle \( \theta \), which is the direction expressed in radians measured counterclockwise from the positive x-axis.
02
Interpret the Given Condition for \( \theta \)
The equation \( \theta = \frac{\pi}{2} \) specifies that the angle is directly pointing upwards along the positive y-axis. In polar coordinates, this means any point satisfying this condition lies along the vertical line through the y-axis.
03
Interpret the Given Condition for \( r \)
The inequality \( r \leq 0 \) means that the distance from the origin to the point is zero or negative. Since distance cannot be negative, \( r \leq 0 \) effectively means that \( r = 0 \) is the only possible distance satisfying this, as it implies the point is located at the origin.
04
Determine the Graphical Representation
Since \( r = 0 \) and \( \theta = \frac{\pi}{2} \), the set of points satisfying these conditions consists only of the origin because a negative radius doesn't make sense for any actual position. Thus, the graphical representation is just the origin, a single point at (0,0) in a Cartesian plane.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Angle in Radians
In polar coordinates, angles play a pivotal role in defining the direction of a point relative to the origin. Here, we measure angles using a unit called radians, which is an alternative to degrees.
While degrees part the circle into 360 sections, radians are a mathematical constant that divides the circle into approximately 6.28 parts, or 2\( \pi \) radians.
For instance:
While degrees part the circle into 360 sections, radians are a mathematical constant that divides the circle into approximately 6.28 parts, or 2\( \pi \) radians.
For instance:
- 0 or 2\( \pi \) radians point right along the positive x-axis.
- \( \frac{\pi}{2} \) radians point upwards along the positive y-axis, just as in our problem.
- 3\( \frac{\pi}{2} \) radians would point downward along the negative y-axis.
Distance from Origin
The concept of distance in polar coordinates is uniquely defined by the radius, denoted as \( r \).
This variable \( r \) indicates how far away a point is from the origin. When plotting, we consider \( r \) in conjunction with the angle \( \theta \).
It's important to note:
This variable \( r \) indicates how far away a point is from the origin. When plotting, we consider \( r \) in conjunction with the angle \( \theta \).
It's important to note:
- The distance, or radius, \( r \) is typically a non-negative real number. Positive values imply a position along the defined angle.
- A value of zero means the point is at the origin itself.
- Negative values theoretically imply a distance the opposite direction of \( \theta \), though this isn't applied in standard polar graphing.
Graphical Representation
Visualizing polar coordinates on a graph involves understanding both angle and distance to plot the exact position of a point.
Unlike Cartesian coordinates that use x and y, polar coordinates use \( r \) and \( \theta \) to give meaning to the location of points.
Let's break down the graphical representation:
Unlike Cartesian coordinates that use x and y, polar coordinates use \( r \) and \( \theta \) to give meaning to the location of points.
Let's break down the graphical representation:
- To graph an angle, start from the positive x-axis and move counterclockwise to \( \theta \). For \( \theta = \frac{\pi}{2} \), point upwards directly along the y-axis.
- The distance \( r \) tells "how far" to move along the heading produced by \( \theta \). For our exercise, \( r = 0 \) implies no movement from the origin.
- Since no movement is possible beyond the origin, our graphical set of points reduces to a mere point at (0,0) in the Cartesian plane.