Question #d9987

2 Answers
Oct 29, 2017

-10rsin(\theta) + 25 = r^2cos^2(\theta)

Explanation:

To convert any Cartesian equation to polar form you just need to know that x = rcos(\theta) and y = rsin(\theta).

So in this equation we can replace all the x's and y's with the above substitutions to get:

-10rsin(\theta) + 25 = r^2cos^2(\theta)

This is an equation in polar form.

Oct 29, 2017

Substitute rsin(theta) for y and r^2cos^2(theta) for x^2
Write the resulting quadratic in standard form.
Use the quadratic formula to obtain r as a function of theta

Explanation:

Given: -10y+25=x^2

Here is a graph of the original equation:

![www.Desmos.com/calculator](useruploads.socratic.org)

Substitute rsin(theta) for y and r^2cos^2(theta) for x^2

-10sin(theta)r+25=cos^2(theta)r^2

Write in standard form:

0=cos^2(theta)r^2+10sin(theta)r-25

Use the quadratic formula:

r = (-10sin(theta)+sqrt((10sin(theta))^2-(4)(cos^2(theta))(-25)))/(2cos^2(theta))

r = 5(1-sin(theta))/cos^2(theta)

Here is a graph of the polar equation:

![www.Desmos.com/calculator](useruploads.socratic.org)

It looks like the graphing calculator is not handling the lim_(theta to pi/2) 5(1-sin(theta))/cos^2(theta), correctly, but the graphs are the same, except for that glitch.