Polar Coordinates problem area of region

In summary: You should have learned the formula for the area of a portion of a circle of radius a bounded by two radii making angles \alpha and \beta with the origin. You should have learned how to set up a double integral in polar coordinates. If you have learned all of these things, then you can do the problem.In summary, the problem is to find the area of the region enclosed by the curves r = 9 sinθ and r = 1, which can be represented as a circle with radius 9/2 centered at (0,9/2) and a circle with radius 1 centered at (0,0). The two curves intersect at θ = sin^-1(1/
  • #1
muddyjch
16
0

Homework Statement


Find the area of the region inside: r = 9 sinθ but outside: r = 1


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


r = 9 sinθ is a circle with center at (0, 4/2) and radius 4/2 while r= 1 is a circle with center at (0, 0) and radius 1. The two curves intersect where sin(θ)= 1/9. For 0 ≤ θ ≤ π that is satified by θ=sin^-1(1/9) and θ=π-sin^-1(1/9).
This is where i get lost setting up the differential for the area?
 
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  • #2
r = 9 sinθ is not what you say. I don't know where you went astray in your thinking, but if polar coordinates are giving you trouble, then think of it this way:

r = 9 sinθ is the same thing as r^2 = 9r sinθ, which is equivalent to x^2 + y^2 = 9y, or...
x^2 + (y-9/2)^2 = (9/2)^2. That's a circle centered at (0,9/2) with a radius of 9/2 units.

Can you finish the rest by yourself? I hope this helps.

EDIT: There, I fixed it :D
 
Last edited:
  • #3
muddyjch said:
For 0 ≤ θ ≤ π that is satified by θ=sin^-1(1/9) and θ=π-sin^-1(1/9).

Also, how did you arrive at this conclusion? Using that logic, we could let n = sin^-1(1/9) - k, where k is any real number. Then, using your logic, θ would also equal k in all these cases, i.e., sin^-1(1/9) has infinitely many solutions on a quite finite interval.
 
  • #4
Raskolnikov said:
Also, how did you arrive at this conclusion? Using that logic, we could let n = sin^-1(1/9) - k, where k is any real number. Then, using your logic, θ would also equal k in all these cases, i.e., sin^-1(1/9) has infinitely many solutions on a quite finite interval.

It is actually a pi sign but a really bad one sorry for the confusion
 
  • #5
Using Latex, [itex]\theta= sin^{-1}(1/9)[/itex] and [itex]\theta= \pi- sin^{-1}(1/9)[/itex].

Of course, for any [itex]\alpha[/itex], [itex]sin(\alpha)= sin(\pi- \alpha)[/itex].

You should have learned when you first learned integration in polar coordinates that "dxdy" becomes "[itex]r dr d\theta[/itex]".
 

1. What are polar coordinates and how are they used in science?

Polar coordinates are a mathematical system used to describe the location of a point in two-dimensional space. They consist of a distance from the origin and an angle from a reference direction. In science, polar coordinates are often used to describe the position of objects in a circular or spherical environment, such as planets orbiting the sun or particles moving in a magnetic field.

2. How do you convert polar coordinates to Cartesian coordinates?

To convert polar coordinates to Cartesian coordinates, you can use the following formulas:
x = r * cosθ
y = r * sinθ
Where r is the distance from the origin and θ is the angle from the reference direction. These formulas can be derived from the Pythagorean theorem and trigonometric functions.

3. What is the equation for finding the area of a region in polar coordinates?

The equation for finding the area of a region in polar coordinates is:
A = ½ * ∫ab r²dθ
Where a and b represent the starting and ending angles, and r is the function that defines the boundary of the region. This integral can also be evaluated using the formula A = π * (r₂² - r₁²), where r₁ and r₂ represent the inner and outer boundaries of the region.

4. How do you determine the limits of integration for a polar coordinates problem?

The limits of integration for a polar coordinates problem are determined by the boundaries of the region. These boundaries are defined by the function r = f(θ), which represents the curve that forms the boundary. The starting and ending angles, a and b, can be found by setting the function equal to 0 and solving for θ. These angles will be the limits of integration for the area formula.

5. What are some real-life applications of polar coordinates?

Polar coordinates have many real-life applications, including navigation and astronomy. In navigation, polar coordinates are used to determine the position of ships and aircraft. In astronomy, they are used to track the positions of planets, stars, and other celestial objects. They are also used in engineering, physics, and other fields to describe the motion of particles and objects in circular or spherical environments.

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