# Math Help - polar / parametrics question

1. ## polar / parametrics question

xy - 2x = 0

Convert the rectangular equation into polar form.

2. Plug in $x=rcos{\theta}, \;\ y=rsin{\theta}$

3. I get...

r^2 cosx sinx - 2r cosx = 0

what do i do next, since this answer doesn't match the one in the back fo the book.

4. Originally Posted by cityismine
xy - 2x = 0

Convert the rectangular equation into polar form.
We first parametrize it

$x=r\cos(\theta)$

and $y=r\sin(\theta)$

Inputting this we get

$(r\cos(\theta))(r\sin(\theta))-2r\cos(theta)=0$

This can be rewritten as
$\frac{r^2}{2}\sin(2\theta)-2r\cos(\theta)=0$

Or we could have factored out a $r\cos(\theta)$

$r\cos(\theta)(r\sin(\theta)-1)=0$

Or finally we can solve this using the quadratic equation

If we let $u=\cos(\theta)\Rightarrow\sqrt{1-u^2}=\sin(\theta)$

so we have

$r^2u\sqrt{1-u^2}-2ru$

Now using the quadratic equation we get

$r=\frac{-u\sqrt{1-u^2}\pm\sqrt{u^2(1-u^2)-4(-2u)}}{2}$

So $r=\frac{-\cos(\theta)\sin(\theta)\pm\sqrt{\cos^2(\theta)\si n^2(\theta)+8\cos(\theta)}}{2}$

5. The answer in the book is r^2= 2 sec(theta)csc(theta)

Is there a simpler way of deriving this answer?

6. Originally Posted by cityismine
The answer in the book is r^2= 2 sec(theta)csc(theta)

Is there a simpler way of deriving this answer?
This cannot be right

$r^2=2\sec(\theta)\csc(\theta)\Rightarrow{r\cos(\th eta)r\sin(\theta)=2}$

Or $xy=2$

7. I guess the answer in the book is wrong then.

r^2= 4 / sin(theta)^2 is this the right answer?

8. Originally Posted by cityismine
I guess the answer in the book is wrong then.

r^2= 4 / sin(theta)^2 is this the right answer?
$r^2=\frac{4}{\sin^2(\theta)}\Rightarrow{(r\sin(\th eta))(r\sin(\theta))=4}$

So $y^2=4$

So no.

9. ## Book's wrong

xy-2x=0

xy=2x

y=2, x does not equal zero

OR

xy-2x=0

t=theta

x=r*cos(t), -pi < t <pi

y=r*sin(t)

xy-2x=r*sin(t)*r*cos(t)-2*r*cos(t)

r*sin(t)*r*cos(t)-2*r*cos(t)=0

r*sin(t)*r*cos(t)=2*r*cos(t)

r*sin(t)*cos(t)=2*cos(t), r does not equal zero

r=sec(t)*csc(t)*(2*cos(t))

r=2*sec(t)*csc(t)*[cos(t)]

maybe this is where the computation in the book went wrong, you can see it's the same except for a factor of cos(t). Simplifying we get,

r=2*csc(t)

r=2/sin(t), r does not equal zero, -pi < t <pi

Even editors make mistakes

10. Originally Posted by wkrepelin
xy-2x=0

xy=2x

y=2, x does not equal zero

OR

xy-2x=0

t=theta

x=r*cos(t), -pi < t <pi

y=r*sin(t)

xy-2x=r*sin(t)*r*cos(t)-2*r*cos(t)

r*sin(t)*r*cos(t)-2*r*cos(t)=0

r*sin(t)*r*cos(t)=2*r*cos(t)

r*sin(t)*cos(t)=2*cos(t), r does not equal zero

r=sec(t)*csc(t)*(2*cos(t))

r=2*sec(t)*csc(t)*[cos(t)]

maybe this is where the computation in the book went wrong, you can see it's the same except for a factor of cos(t). Simplifying we get,

r=2*csc(t)

r=2/sin(t), r does not equal zero, -pi < t <pi

Even editors make mistakes
*Ahem* I think you have made some undue assumptions here friend.

11. ## Am I missing something here?

xy-2x=0
x(y-2) = 0
By null factor theorem, x=0 or y =2

in polar

$\theta = n\pi, n\in\mathbb{Z}$
or
r=0
or
$r = 2cosec(\theta)$

xy-2x=0
x(y-2) = 0
By null factor theorem, x=0 or y =2

in polar

$\theta = n\pi, n\in\mathbb{Z}$
or
r=0
or
$r = 2cosec(\theta)$
Convert back

$r=2\csc(\theta)\Rigtharrow{r\sin(\theta)=2}$

So $y=2$

Which is not at all what the original problem was.

13. Sorry, in my previous post
should have been $\theta = \frac{\pi}{2}+n\pi$, which I think mathstud was trying to point out.