Chapter 11: Problem 4
Identify the symmetries of the curves.Then sketch the curves in the \(x y\) plane. $$r=1+\sin \theta$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The curve is symmetric about the vertical axis \(\theta = \frac{\pi}{2}\) and is a cardioid.
Step by step solution
01
Identify the Equation Form
The given polar equation is given by \[r = 1 + \sin \theta\]This is a well-known form known as a cardioid. A cardioid is symmetric with respect to the vertical axis (line \(\theta = \frac{\pi}{2}\)).
02
Determine Symmetries
Check for symmetry with respect to the polar axis (horizontal axis). If replacing \(\theta\) with \(-\theta\) gives the original equation, it has polar axis symmetry. \[1 + \sin(-\theta) = 1 - \sin(\theta)\]This is not equal to the original equation, hence the curve is not symmetric about the polar axis.Next, check symmetry with respect to the line \(\theta = \frac{\pi}{2}\). Replace \(\theta\) with \(\pi - \theta\):\[1 + \sin(\pi - \theta) = 1 + \sin \theta\]This confirms vertical line symmetry.
03
Sketch the Curve
To sketch the cardioid, recognize that \(r = 1 + \sin \theta\) implies that for \(\theta = 0\), \(r = 1\); for \(\theta = \frac{\pi}{2}\), \(r = 2\); for \(\theta = \pi\), \(r = 1\); and for \(\theta = \frac{3\pi}{2}\), \(r = 0\). This will appear as a heart-shaped curve centered around the origin, peaking at the top.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Curve Symmetry
Symmetry in polar coordinates can significantly simplify the process of graphing a curve. It helps us understand the overall shape without needing to plot every point individually. There are several types of symmetries
- Polar Axis Symmetry - Symmetry about the horizontal axis. For a curve to have this symmetry, replacing \( \theta \) with \( -\theta \) should yield the same equation. In this exercise, the equation becomes \( 1 - \sin(\theta) \), which is different from the original. Thus, there is no polar axis symmetry.
- Line \( \theta = \frac{\pi}{2} \) Symmetry - This symmetry refers to a vertical line symmetry. Substitute \( \theta \) with \( \pi - \theta \). We see that \( 1 + \sin(\pi - \theta) = 1 + \sin \theta \), so the symmetry matches, confirming that the curve has this vertical line symmetry.
- Symmetry about the Pole - This means rotational symmetry around the center. To check this, replace \( r \) with \( -r \) and \( \theta \) with \( \theta + \pi \). For this exercise, the result does not match, indicating no pole symmetry.
Cardioid
A cardioid is a special type of polar curve that resembles a heart shape. It is one of the simplest polar equations and takes the form \( r = a + b \sin \theta \) or \( r = a + b \cos \theta \). In the given exercise, we have \( r = 1 + \sin \theta \), which aligns with the standard cardioid form with both \( a \) and \( b \) equal to 1. This results in specific properties:
- Shape - As previously mentioned, the graph resembles a heart shape centered at the pole (origin).
- Loop - The cardioid has a single loop extending from the pole outward.
- Maximum and Minimum - With this form, the maximum value is \( r = 2 \) when \( \theta = \frac{\pi}{2} \), and the minimum is \( r = 0 \) when \( \theta = \frac{3\pi}{2} \).
Sketching Polar Curves
Sketching a polar curve involves understanding how \( r \) changes as \( \theta \) varies. To begin with, it’s useful to identify key angles that help form the shape of the curve. Here is a step-by-step method to sketch the cardioid:
- Select Key Angles: Choose angles like \( \theta = 0, \frac{\pi}{2}, \pi, \frac{3\pi}{2} \).
- Calculate \( r \) for each angle: Using the exercise example, plug in these angles one by one to find \( r \):
- \( r(0) = 1 + \sin(0) = 1 \)
- \( r\left( \frac{\pi}{2} \right) = 1 + \sin\left( \frac{\pi}{2} \right) = 2 \)
- \( r(\pi) = 1 + \sin(\pi) = 1 \)
- \( r\left( \frac{3\pi}{2} \right) = 1 + \sin\left( \frac{3\pi}{2} \right) = 0 \)
- Plot Points and Connect: On polar graph paper, plot these points and smoothly connect them to observe the cardioid shape.