How do you write the equation using rectangular coordinates given #r=costheta#?

1 Answer
Dec 15, 2016

#x^2+y^2=x# - This is the equation of a circle with center #(0.5,0)# and radius #0.5#.

Explanation:

The relation between polar coordinates #(r,theta)# and Cartesian coordinates #(x,y)# is #x=rcostheta#, #y=rsintheta# and #r^2=x^2+y^2#.

We can use this to convert equation in polar coordinates to an equation with Cartesian coordinates.

As such #r=costhetahArrr^2=rcostheta#

or #x^2+y^2=x#

This is the equation of a circle with center #(0.5,0)# and radius #0.5#.
graph{x^2+y^2=x [-0.667, 1.833, -0.605, 0.645]}