Arclength of polar cardiod problem

In summary, the conversation discusses solving a polar integral using a TI-89 calculator and encountering difficulties. The participants identify a mistake in the calculation involving the use of absolute value and suggest splitting the integral into separate regions with appropriate signs. The final result is found to be 8.
  • #1
QuarkCharmer
1,051
3

Homework Statement


My textbook sets up the integral, but does not solve, claiming that it's "trivial to solve manually or by using a CAS". I put the integral into my TI-89, and sure enough, there is a solution, and that solution happens to be "8". However...

Homework Equations



The actual problem is to find the total arclength of r = 1+sin(x)
(It's polar, I just let theta = x, since theta is a pain to LaTeX)

The Attempt at a Solution


Here is my attempt at solving this integral manually:

[tex]s = \int_{0}^{2π}\sqrt{(1+sin^{2}(x))+cos(x)^{2}}dx[/tex]

[tex]\int_{0}^{2π}\sqrt{2+2sin(x)}dx[/tex]

[tex]\int_{0}^{2π}\sqrt{2+2sin(x)} \frac{\sqrt{2-2sin(x)}}{\sqrt{2-2sin(x)}}dx[/tex]

[tex]\int_{0}^{2π}\sqrt{\frac{4-4sin^{2}(x)}{2-2sin(x)}}dx[/tex]

[tex]\int_{0}^{2π}\sqrt{\frac{4cos^{2}(x)}{2(1-sin(x))}}dx[/tex]

[tex]\sqrt{2}\int_{0}^{2π}\frac{cos(x)}{\sqrt{1-sin(x)}}dx[/tex]

[itex]u = 1-sin(x)[/itex]
[itex]du = -cos(x)dx[/itex]

[tex]-\sqrt{2}\int_{1}^{1}\frac{1}{\sqrt{u}}du[/tex]

I stopped here, because it's clear to me that the integral from one to one will be zero...

...and now the whole thing equals zero... I have tried doing the integral with substitutions other than [itex]u=1-sin(x)[/itex] to no avail. I tried to devise a way so I could take a limit (much like some improper integral problems are done), no luck. I can't seem to figure this out without using a CAS! It is one thing if I just got to a point where I didn't know how to proceed I could deal with, but I come up with zero every time!

This is my best attempt, I have done it 11 different ways now..
 
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  • #2
You did a pretty dangerous thing there. You said sqrt(cos(x)^2)=cos(x). That's not right. cos(x) is negative for some values in [0,2pi]. It's |cos(x)| isn't it?
 
  • #3
Yeah, that makes sense, good catch. I still have no clue how to proceed though, especially now with the abs in the integral :cry:

[tex]\sqrt{2}\int_{0}^{2π}\frac{|cos(x)|}{\sqrt{1-sin(x)}}dx[/tex]
 
  • #4
QuarkCharmer said:
Yeah, that makes sense, good catch. I still have no clue how to proceed though, especially now with the abs in the integral :cry:

[tex]\sqrt{2}\int_{0}^{2π}\frac{|cos(x)|}{\sqrt{1-sin(x)}}dx[/tex]

Split the region of integration up into parts where cos(x) has a definite sign. Isn't that what you usually do with abs problems? It's premature to cry over it.
 
  • #5
[tex]\sqrt{2}\int_{\frac{-π}{2}}^{\frac{π}{2}}\frac{cos(x)}{\sqrt{1-sin(x)}}dx[/tex]

Since, cos(x) will be positive in that domain.

And;

[tex]\sqrt{2}\int_{\frac{π}{2}}^{\frac{3π}{2}}\frac{-cos(x)}{\sqrt{1-sin(x)}}dx[/tex]

Like that? Forgive me, I have never encountered an integral with an abs yet.

So:

[tex]\sqrt{2}\int_{\frac{-π}{2}}^{\frac{π}{2}}\frac{cos(x)}{\sqrt{1-sin(x)}}dx + \sqrt{2}\int_{\frac{π}{2}}^{\frac{3π}{2}}\frac{-cos(x)}{\sqrt{1-sin(x)}}dx[/tex]
 
  • #6
QuarkCharmer said:
[tex]\sqrt{2}\int_{\frac{-π}{2}}^{\frac{π}{2}}\frac{cos(x)}{\sqrt{1-sin(x)}}dx[/tex]

Since, cos(x) will be positive in that domain.

And;

[tex]\sqrt{2}\int_{\frac{π}{2}}^{\frac{3π}{2}}\frac{-cos(x)}{\sqrt{1-sin(x)}}dx[/tex]

Like that? Forgive me, I have never encountered an integral with an abs yet.

So:

[tex]\sqrt{2}\int_{\frac{-π}{2}}^{\frac{π}{2}}\frac{cos(x)}{\sqrt{1-sin(x)}}dx + \sqrt{2}\int_{\frac{π}{2}}^{\frac{3π}{2}}\frac{-cos(x)}{\sqrt{1-sin(x)}}dx[/tex]

No, you want to integrate from 0 to 2pi. Integrate separately over the regions [0,pi/2], [pi/2,3pi/2] and [3pi/2,2pi] and add them up with appropriate signs.
 
  • #7
Thanks for the help.

Dick said:
No, you want to integrate from 0 to 2pi. Integrate separately over the regions [0,pi/2], [pi/2,3pi/2] and [3pi/2,2pi] and add them up with appropriate signs.

[tex]
\sqrt{2}\int_{0}^{\frac{π}{2}}\frac{cos(x)}{\sqrt{1-sin(x)}}dx + \sqrt{2}\int_{\frac{π}{2}}^{\frac{3π}{2}}\frac{-cos(x)}{\sqrt{1-sin(x)}}dx + \sqrt{2}\int_{\frac{3π}{2}}^{2π}\frac{cos(x)}{\sqrt{1-sin(x)}}dx
[/tex]

(No clue why that sqrt is not showing.)

I see that you are splitting it up for the regions in which cos(x) would be positive or negative, but I am not sure how to sign the cos(x) in the functions. If integrating through the range of pi/2 to 3pi/2, cos(x) would turn out negative anyway? I am not seeing what effect this would have exactly?

Here is how I am imagining the situation:

Suppose you had [itex]\int_{0}^{2π}|sin(x)|dx[/itex].

Since, that integral would be zero if there were no abs value, to handle the abs value case I would split the integral up like so:

[tex]\int_{0}^{π}sin(x)dx + \int_{π}^{2π}-sin(x)dx[/tex]

In this way, when sin(x) is negative, the negative that I placed into the split region would force the sin(x) to act positive?
 
  • #8
QuarkCharmer said:
Thanks for the help.



[tex]
\sqrt{2}\int_{0}^{\frac{π}{2}}\frac{cos(x)}{\sqrt{1-sin(x)}}dx + \sqrt{2}\int_{\frac{π}{2}}^{\frac{3π}{2}}\frac{-cos(x)}{\sqrt{1-sin(x)}}dx + \sqrt{2}\int_{\frac{3π}{2}}^{2π}\frac{cos(x)}{\sqrt{1-sin(x)}}dx
[/tex]

(No clue why that sqrt is not showing.)

I see that you are splitting it up for the regions in which cos(x) would be positive or negative, but I am not sure how to sign the cos(x) in the functions. If integrating through the range of pi/2 to 3pi/2, cos(x) would turn out negative anyway? I am not seeing what effect this would have exactly?

Here is how I am imagining the situation:

Suppose you had [itex]\int_{0}^{2π}|sin(x)|dx[/itex].

Since, that integral would be zero if there were no abs value, to handle the abs value case I would split the integral up like so:

[tex]\int_{0}^{π}sin(x)dx + \int_{π}^{2π}-sin(x)dx[/tex]

In this way, when sin(x) is negative, the negative that I placed into the split region would force the sin(x) to act positive?

That's it exactly. Now evaluate those integrals and add them. I get 8.
 

What is the definition of arclength in polar coordinates?

The arclength in polar coordinates is the distance along a curve in polar coordinates, represented by the variable "r", from a starting point to an ending point.

What is the polar cardiod problem?

The polar cardiod problem is a mathematical problem that involves finding the arclength of a specific curve in polar coordinates, known as a cardiod. This curve is shaped like a heart and is defined by the equation r = a(1+cos(theta)).

How do you solve for the arclength of a polar cardiod?

To solve for the arclength of a polar cardiod, you can use the formula L = ∫[a,b] √(r² + (dr/dθ)²) dθ, where "a" and "b" are the starting and ending angles of the curve, and r is the equation of the cardiod.

What is the importance of finding the arclength of a polar cardiod?

The arclength of a polar cardiod is important in many applications, such as calculating the distance traveled by a particle moving along the curve, or determining the work done by a force acting along the curve. It is also a fundamental concept in calculus and geometry.

Are there any real-world examples of the polar cardiod problem?

Yes, there are many real-world examples of the polar cardiod problem. For instance, the shape of a bicycle wheel can be approximated by a polar cardiod, and the arclength can be used to calculate the distance traveled by the bike. Additionally, the shape of a satellite orbiting around a planet can also be approximated by a polar cardiod, and the arclength can be used to determine the distance it has traveled.

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