How do you convert y^2 =9x to polar form?

1 Answer
Apr 1, 2018

r=9cotthetacsctheta

Explanation:

The conversion from Rectangular to Polar:
x=rcostheta
y=rsintheta

Substitute for x and y:
(rsintheta)^2=9(rcostheta)
r^2sin^2theta=9rcostheta
r^2sin^2theta-9rcostheta=0
r(rsin^2theta-9costheta)=0

At this point either r=0 or rsin^2theta-9costheta=0, let's solve the second one to get a meaningful answer:

rsin^2theta=9costheta

r=(9costheta)/sin^2theta

r= (9costheta)/sintheta*1/sintheta

Remember: costheta/sintheta=cottheta and 1/sintheta= csctheta:

r=9cotthetacsctheta