How do you graph r = 4 / (2+sinΘ)?

1 Answer
Jun 28, 2016

This is of the form 2/r=1+(1/2)cos(pi/2-theta) representing the ellipse with a focus at the pole r =0, major axis along theta= pi/2, and theta=-pi/2 for the other end. e=1/2 and a=8/3....

Explanation:

Remodeling to the standard form

2/r=1+(1/2)cos(pi/2-theta),

it is easy to see that this represents the ellipse with

a focus at the pole r = 0.

The major axis is along

theta=pi/2, for the non-center side and theta=-pi/2, for the

center-side.

The parameters e = 1/2 and l = a(1-e^2)=a(3/4)=1/2. So, a = 8/3

The center is at (ae, -pi/2)=(4/3, -pi/2)#..