How do you find the polar equation to graph of x = 7?

1 Answer
Apr 1, 2018

Substitute x = rcos(theta), then solve for r as a function of theta.

Explanation:

Given: x = 7

The following is a graph of the vertical line x = 7:

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

Substitute x = rcos(theta):

rcos(theta) = 7

Divide both sides by cos(theta):

r = 7/cos(theta)

Substitute sec(theta) = 1/cos(theta):

r = 7sec(theta)

The conversion to polar form is done.

The following is a graph of r = 7sec(theta):

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

Please observe that the two graphs are identical.