In Exercises 13–34, test for symmetry and then graph each polar equation. r = 1 + 2 cos θ
Table of contents
- 0. Review of College Algebra4h 45m
- 1. Measuring Angles40m
- 2. Trigonometric Functions on Right Triangles2h 5m
- 3. Unit Circle1h 19m
- 4. Graphing Trigonometric Functions1h 19m
- 5. Inverse Trigonometric Functions and Basic Trigonometric Equations1h 41m
- 6. Trigonometric Identities and More Equations2h 34m
- 7. Non-Right Triangles1h 38m
- 8. Vectors2h 25m
- 9. Polar Equations2h 5m
- 10. Parametric Equations1h 6m
- 11. Graphing Complex Numbers1h 7m
9. Polar Equations
Polar Coordinate System
Problem 27
Textbook Question
In Exercises 13–34, test for symmetry and then graph each polar equation. r = 4 sin 3θ
Verified step by step guidance1
Recall the three common symmetry tests for polar equations: symmetry about the polar axis (x-axis), symmetry about the line \( \theta = \frac{\pi}{2} \) (y-axis), and symmetry about the pole (origin).
To test symmetry about the polar axis, replace \( \theta \) with \( -\theta \) in the equation and check if the equation remains unchanged. For \( r = 4 \sin 3\theta \), substitute \( -\theta \) to get \( r = 4 \sin(-3\theta) \).
To test symmetry about the line \( \theta = \frac{\pi}{2} \), replace \( \theta \) with \( \pi - \theta \) and check if the equation remains unchanged. Substitute \( \pi - \theta \) into \( r = 4 \sin 3\theta \) to get \( r = 4 \sin 3(\pi - \theta) \).
To test symmetry about the pole, replace \( r \) with \( -r \) and \( \theta \) with \( \theta + \pi \) and check if the equation remains unchanged. Substitute these into the equation to get \( -r = 4 \sin 3(\theta + \pi) \).
After determining the symmetries, sketch the graph by plotting points for values of \( \theta \) from 0 to \( 2\pi \), using the equation \( r = 4 \sin 3\theta \). Note that the factor 3 inside the sine function indicates the graph will have multiple petals (specifically, 3 petals if \( n \) is odd in \( r = a \sin n\theta \)).
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Polar Coordinates and Equations
Polar coordinates represent points using a radius and an angle (r, θ) instead of Cartesian coordinates. Understanding how to interpret and plot equations like r = 4 sin 3θ is essential for graphing curves in the polar plane.
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Intro to Polar Coordinates
Symmetry Tests in Polar Graphs
Testing symmetry in polar graphs involves checking if the graph is symmetric about the polar axis, the line θ = π/2, or the pole. This is done by substituting θ with -θ, π - θ, or replacing r with -r, helping to simplify graphing and understand the curve's shape.
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Graphing Rose Curves
Equations of the form r = a sin(nθ) or r = a cos(nθ) produce rose curves with petals. The number of petals depends on n: if n is odd, the curve has n petals; if even, it has 2n petals. Recognizing this helps in sketching the graph of r = 4 sin 3θ accurately.
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