Question #d9987

2 Answers
Oct 29, 2017

#-10rsin(\theta) + 25 = r^2cos^2(\theta)#

Explanation:

To convert any Cartesian equation to polar form you just need to know that #x = rcos(\theta)# and #y = rsin(\theta)#.

So in this equation we can replace all the x's and y's with the above substitutions to get:

#-10rsin(\theta) + 25 = r^2cos^2(\theta)#

This is an equation in polar form.

Oct 29, 2017

Substitute #rsin(theta)# for y and #r^2cos^2(theta)# for #x^2#
Write the resulting quadratic in standard form.
Use the quadratic formula to obtain #r# as a function of #theta#

Explanation:

Given: # -10y+25=x^2#

Here is a graph of the original equation:

www.Desmos.com/calculator

Substitute #rsin(theta)# for y and #r^2cos^2(theta)# for #x^2#

# -10sin(theta)r+25=cos^2(theta)r^2#

Write in standard form:

# 0=cos^2(theta)r^2+10sin(theta)r-25#

Use the quadratic formula:

#r = (-10sin(theta)+sqrt((10sin(theta))^2-(4)(cos^2(theta))(-25)))/(2cos^2(theta))#

#r = 5(1-sin(theta))/cos^2(theta)#

Here is a graph of the polar equation:

www.Desmos.com/calculator

It looks like the graphing calculator is not handling the #lim_(theta to pi/2) 5(1-sin(theta))/cos^2(theta)#, correctly, but the graphs are the same, except for that glitch.