# length of parametric curve

• Apr 1st 2008, 04:40 PM
waite3
length of parametric curve
consider the parametric equation

x=10(cos∅+∅sin∅)
y=10(sin∅-∅cos∅)

what is the length of the curve for ∅=0 to ∅=1/6∏?
• Apr 1st 2008, 04:44 PM
Jhevon
Quote:

Originally Posted by waite3
consider the parametric equation

x=10(cos∅+∅sin∅)
y=10(sin∅-∅cos∅)

what is the length of the curve for ∅=0 to ∅=1/6∏?

do you have the right integral?

the arc length is given by: $L = \int_0^{1/6 \pi} \sqrt{\left( \frac {dx}{d \theta} \right)^2 + \left( \frac {dy}{d \theta} \right)^2 }~d \theta$
• Apr 1st 2008, 04:49 PM
waite3
ya i have that but everytime i take the derivative of x and y then plug them into the equation i come out with the wrong answer. what do you come out with for an answer. thanks for your help
• Apr 1st 2008, 05:14 PM
Jhevon
Quote:

Originally Posted by waite3
ya i have that but everytime i take the derivative of x and y then plug them into the equation i come out with the wrong answer. what do you come out with for an answer. thanks for your help

for the integral, i got $5 \theta^2 + C$, now just evaluate that between the given limits
• Apr 1st 2008, 05:36 PM
waite3
i come out with 0.239245 and its not right.
• Apr 1st 2008, 05:46 PM
Jhevon
Quote:

Originally Posted by waite3
i come out with 0.239245 and its not right.

of course that is wrong. that is not what you get when you evaluate.

you have $5 \theta^2 \big|_0^{1 / 6 \pi} = 5 \left( \frac 1{6 \pi} \right)^2 {\color{red}\ne} ~0.239245$