## lemniscate locus

Hello from the book I am reading it defines the lemniscate as the locus for which the product of the distances r1 and r2 with the coordinates x= a and x= -1 and y= 0 has the constant value of a2.

I went about deriving the equation in polar coordinates from this locus, however I do not get the correct equation when the locus is defines as r1 x r2 = a2 but when r1 x r2 = a the correct equation is arrived at.

Is this simply a typo on behalf of the author?
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Hello ronaldor9!

(try using the X2 and X2 tags just above the Reply box )
 Quote by ronaldor9 … however I do not get the correct equation when the locus is defines as r_1 x r_2 = a^2 but when r_1 x r_2 = a^2 the correct equation is arrived at.
erm what's the difference?
 I went about deriving the equation in polar coordinates from this locus, however I do not get the correct equation when the locus is defines as r1 x r2 = a2 but when r1 x r2 = a the correct equation is arrived at. FIXED thanks!

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