Polar Equations to Rectangular Equations, Precalculus, Examples and Practice Problems

The Organic Chemistry Tutor
16 May 201718:32
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis video script offers a comprehensive guide on converting polar equations to rectangular equations, which is essential for understanding coordinate systems and their transformations. The script begins by introducing key formulas relating to the right triangle where x and y are the sides, r is the hypotenuse, and θ (theta) is the angle. It explains that x^2 + y^2 = r^2, x = r cos θ, y = r sin θ, and tan θ = y/x are fundamental in this conversion process. The script distinguishes polar equations, which involve r and θ, from rectangular equations, which use x and y variables. It then walks through various examples, demonstrating how to manipulate and simplify polar equations to their rectangular counterparts using algebraic techniques and trigonometric identities, such as the double angle formula. The examples cover a range of scenarios, from simple constant r values to more complex expressions involving trigonometric functions and their inverses. The script concludes with a problem involving the conversion of an equation with a cosine squared term, illustrating the process of squaring both sides, expanding, and simplifying to obtain the final rectangular form. This summary encapsulates the video's educational content, highlighting its utility for those studying mathematics and seeking to master the conversion between polar and rectangular equations.

Takeaways
  • 📚 Converting a polar equation to a rectangular equation involves using formulas relating r, x, y, and θ (r = x^2 + y^2, x = r*cos(θ), y = r*sin(θ), and tan(θ) = y/x).
  • 🔍 Polar equations include variables r and θ, while rectangular equations use x and y.
  • 📉 To convert r = 7 (a polar equation) to rectangular form, square both sides to get x^2 + y^2 = 49.
  • 📈 If θ = π/4, multiplying both sides of tan(θ) = tan(π/4) by x results in y = x.
  • ✂️ For θ = 0°, multiplying both sides by x leads to y = 0, since tan(0) = 0.
  • 🚫 When θ = π/2, tan(θ) is undefined, implying x must be 0 since division by zero is undefined.
  • 🔄 Replacing r*sin(θ) with y and r*cos(θ) with x directly gives the rectangular form for equations like r*sin(θ) = 5 and r*cos(θ) = 4.
  • 🔄 For r = 3*cosec(θ), multiplying both sides by sin(θ) and using y = r*sin(θ) results in y = 3.
  • 🔄 Similarly, for r = 4*sec(θ), multiplying by cos(θ) and using x = r*cos(θ) gives x = 4.
  • 🔢 For r = 3*cos(θ) + 5*sin(θ), multiplying by r and using x = r*cos(θ) and y = r*sin(θ) results in x^2 + y^2 = 3x + 5y.
  • 🔄 Multiplying r = 5/(2*cos(θ) + 3*sin(θ)) by the denominator and distributing r leads to the linear equation 2x + 3y = 5.
  • 🔄 Using the double angle formula for sine, r^2*sin(2θ) = 8 can be converted to y = 4/x.
  • 🔢 For r = 8/cos(θ), multiplying by cos(θ) and using x = r*cos(θ) gives x = 8.
  • 🔄 Multiplying r = 5*cos(θ)/sin^2(θ) by sin(θ) and using cot(θ) = x/y results in y^2 = 5x.
  • 🔄 For r = sin(θ)*cos^2(θ), after expanding and using x^2 + y^2 for r^2 and y for r*sin(θ), the final rectangular form is x^2 + y^2 = x√y.
Q & A
  • What is the main topic of the video?

    -The video is about converting polar equations into rectangular equations using specific mathematical formulas.

  • What are the key formulas needed to convert polar equations to rectangular equations?

    -The key formulas are x squared plus y squared equals r squared, x equals r cosine theta, y equals r sine theta, and tangent theta equals y divided by x.

  • How do you distinguish between a polar equation and a rectangular equation?

    -A polar equation includes variables r or theta, while a rectangular equation consists of x and y variables.

  • Can you provide an example of a polar equation?

    -An example of a polar equation is r equals five sine theta.

  • What is an example of a rectangular equation?

    -An example of a rectangular equation is x squared plus y squared equals four.

  • How do you convert the polar equation r equals seven into a rectangular equation?

    -You square both sides to get r squared equals 49, and then use the formula x squared plus y squared equals r squared, resulting in x squared plus y squared equals 49.

  • What happens when you have a polar equation with theta equals pi over four?

    -You take the tangent of both sides, resulting in y equals x, after multiplying both sides by x.

  • What is the rectangular equation if theta equals zero degrees?

    -In this case, y equals zero, because the tangent of zero degrees is zero, and y over x equals zero implies y equals zero.

  • How do you handle a polar equation where theta equals pi over two?

    -Since the tangent of pi over two is undefined, you conclude that x equals zero, as this is when a function is undefined (division by zero).

  • If you have a polar equation r sine theta equals five, how do you convert it to rectangular form?

    -You replace r sine theta with y, resulting in y equals five.

  • What is the rectangular form of the equation r equals 3 cosecant theta?

    -You multiply both sides by sine theta to get rid of the cosecant, resulting in y equals three, using the relationship y equals r sine theta.

  • How do you convert the polar equation r equals 4 secant theta into a rectangular equation?

    -You multiply both sides by cosine theta, resulting in x equals four, using the relationship x equals r cosine theta.

  • What is the rectangular form of the equation r equals 3 sine theta?

    -You multiply both sides by r and use the relationships x squared plus y squared equals r squared and y equals r sine theta, resulting in x squared plus y squared equals 3y.

  • How do you handle the polar equation r equals 5 divided by 2 cosine theta plus 3 sine theta?

    -You multiply both sides by the denominator (2 cosine theta plus 3 sine theta), distribute r, and use the relationships x equals r cosine theta and y equals r sine theta, resulting in the linear equation 2x plus 3y equals 5.

  • What is the rectangular form of the equation r squared sine two theta equals eight?

    -You use the double angle formula for sine, divide by two, and separate r sine theta and r cosine theta, resulting in y times x equals four, and then y equals four divided by x.

  • How do you convert the polar equation r equals 8 divided by cosine theta into a rectangular equation?

    -You multiply both sides by cosine theta, resulting in x equals eight.

  • What is the rectangular form of the equation r equals five cosine theta divided by sine squared theta?

    -You multiply both sides by sine theta, use the relationship between tangent theta and cotangent theta, and multiply by y, resulting in y squared equals 5x.

  • How do you convert the polar equation r equals sine theta cosine squared theta into a rectangular equation?

    -You multiply both sides by r cubed, use the relationships x equals r cosine theta and y equals r sine theta, and take the square root of both sides, resulting in x squared plus y squared equals x root y.

Outlines
00:00
🔄 Converting Polar Equations to Rectangular Equations

In this video, we discuss how to convert a polar equation into a rectangular equation. Key formulas to know include: x^2 + y^2 = r^2, x = r cos(θ), y = r sin(θ), and tan(θ) = y/x. Polar equations involve variables r and θ, while rectangular equations use x and y. Examples provided include converting r = 7 into x^2 + y^2 = 49 and θ = π/4 into y = x.

05:01
🧩 More Examples of Converting Equations

Further examples of converting polar to rectangular equations are given. These include converting r = 5 to x^2 + y^2 = 25, θ = 0 to y = 0, and θ = π/2 to x = 0. Other examples show converting r sin(θ) = 5 and r cos(θ) = 4 into y = 5 and x = 4, respectively.

10:01
📐 Complex Conversions

This section explores more complex conversions, such as r = 3 cosec(θ) to y = 3, and r = 4 sec(θ) to x = 4. The process involves multiplying both sides by sine or cosine functions and substituting the resulting expressions with x and y.

15:04
🔄 Rational Functions and Complex Equations

Converting r = 5/(2 cos(θ) + 3 sin(θ)) into 2x + 3y = 5, and r^2 sin(2θ) = 8 into y^2 = 4/x involves using trigonometric identities and manipulation. The process includes multiplying both sides by appropriate terms and rearranging the equation to isolate x and y.

📊 Final Complex Examples

Final examples include r = 8/cos(θ) converting to x = 8, and r = 5 cos(θ)/sin^2(θ) converting to y^2 = 5x. These require multiplying both sides by trigonometric terms and using identities like cot(θ) = x/y to simplify.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Polar Equation
A polar equation is a mathematical expression that describes a curve in the polar coordinate system, where points are defined by their distance from the origin (r) and the angle they make with the positive x-axis (theta). In the video, polar equations are the starting point for conversion to rectangular equations, such as 'r = 5 sine theta', which is an example given to illustrate the concept.
💡Rectangular Equation
A rectangular equation, also known as a Cartesian equation, describes a geometric figure in terms of x and y coordinates in a two-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. The video's main theme revolves around converting polar equations to rectangular equations, as demonstrated with examples like 'x squared plus y squared equals 4'.
💡Conversion
Conversion in the context of the video refers to the process of transforming a polar equation into a rectangular equation. This is achieved by applying mathematical relationships and formulas that connect polar and rectangular coordinates, such as 'x squared plus y squared equals r squared'.
💡Right Triangle
The right triangle is used in the video as a visual aid to understand the relationship between polar and rectangular coordinates. It illustrates how x and y are the legs of the triangle, r is the hypotenuse, and theta is the angle, helping to derive formulas like 'x = r cosine theta'.
💡r squared
In the video, 'r squared' is used to denote the square of the radial distance from the origin in polar coordinates. It is a key component in the formula 'x squared plus y squared equals r squared', which is fundamental for converting polar to rectangular equations, as seen in examples like 'r equals seven' where 'x squared plus y squared equals 49'.
💡Tangent Theta
Tangent Theta (tan theta) is the ratio of the opposite side to the adjacent side in a right triangle, which in polar coordinates translates to 'y divided by x'. The video uses this concept to convert polar equations involving angles into rectangular form, such as when 'theta equals pi over four', leading to 'y equals x'.
💡Undefined
The term 'undefined' in the video refers to a situation where a mathematical expression does not have a value, often due to division by zero. For example, when 'theta equals pi over two', tan theta is undefined because it would involve division by zero, leading to the conclusion that 'x equals zero'.
💡Cosecant
Cosecant is the reciprocal of sine, denoted as 'csc theta = 1 / sin theta'. In the video, it is used in the context of converting a polar equation 'r equals 3 cosecant theta' into a rectangular equation, resulting in 'y equals three' after multiplying both sides by 'sine theta'.
💡Secant
Secant, like cosecant, is a reciprocal trigonometric function, defined as 'sec theta = 1 / cos theta'. The video demonstrates its use in converting the polar equation 'r equals 4 secant theta' into 'x equals four' by multiplying both sides by 'cosine theta'.
💡Double Angle Formula
The double angle formula is a trigonometric identity used in the video to convert equations involving 'sine two theta'. The identity 'sine 2 theta equals 2 sine theta cosine theta' is applied to the example 'r squared sine two theta equals eight', leading to the rectangular equation 'y times x equals four'.
💡Rational Function
A rational function is a fraction where both the numerator and the denominator are polynomials. In the video, the conversion of 'r squared sine theta cosine theta equals four' results in 'y equals 4 divided by x', which is an example of a rational function in rectangular coordinates.
💡Cotangent
Cotangent (cot theta) is the reciprocal of tangent, or 'cot theta = 1 / tan theta', and it represents the ratio of the adjacent side to the opposite side in a right triangle. The video uses cotangent in the context of converting the polar equation 'r equals five cosine theta divided by sine squared theta' into the rectangular equation 'y squared equals 5x'.
Highlights

Introduction to converting polar equations to rectangular equations using fundamental formulas.

Explanation of the relationship between x, y, r, and theta in a right triangle context.

Formulas x^2 + y^2 = r^2, x = r * cos(theta), y = r * sin(theta), and tan(theta) = y/x are essential for conversion.

Distinguishing between polar equations with r or theta and rectangular equations with x and y variables.

Example of converting the polar equation r = 5 * sin(theta) into the rectangular form x^2 + y^2 = 49.

Method to convert r = constant into rectangular form by squaring both sides.

Approach for converting equations involving theta by using the tangent function.

Solution for theta = pi/4 resulting in y = x using the tangent function.

Handling theta = 0 degrees resulting in y = 0, as the tangent of zero is zero.

Dealing with undefined cases like theta = pi/2 by recognizing division by zero leads to x = 0.

Conversion of r * sin(theta) = 5 and r * cos(theta) = 4 directly to y = 5 and x = 4.

Using the relationship between cosecant and sine to convert r = 3 * csc(theta) to y = 3.

Conversion of r = 4 * sec(theta) by multiplying both sides by cos(theta) resulting in x = 4.

Method for converting r = 3 * sin(theta) by multiplying both sides by r and using x^2 + y^2 = r^2.

Conversion of r = 4 * cos(theta) to x^2 + y^2 = 4x by multiplying by r and using x = r * cos(theta).

Approach for converting r = 3 * cos(theta) + 5 * sin(theta) into x^2 + y^2 = 3x + 5y.

Conversion of r = 5 / (2 * cos(theta) + 3 * sin(theta)) using the denominator to simplify to 2x + 3y = 5.

Using the double angle formula to convert r^2 * sin(2 * theta) = 8 into y = 4 / x.

Conversion of r = 8 / cos(theta) to x = 8 by multiplying both sides by cos(theta).

Method for converting r = 5 * cos(theta) / sin^2(theta) to y^2 = 5x using trigonometric identities.

Conversion of r = sin(theta) * cos^2(theta) to x^2 + y^2 = x * sqrt(y) by manipulating trigonometric expressions.

Transcripts
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