Area inside r = 2 cos(θ) but outside r = 1

  • Thread starter Thread starter filter54321
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Area Outside
filter54321
Messages
36
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Use double integrals to find the area inside the circle r = 2 cos(θ) and outside the circle r = 1.

Homework Equations


I figured this was too easy to require an graphic. If you can't picture the circles, imagine them in rectangular from:
r = 2 cos(θ) ==> y2+(x-2)2=1
r = 1 ==> y2+x2=1


The Attempt at a Solution


Both circles have a radius of 1 and you need to look at all 2\pi of the objects to see the full area of overlap. So this is what I tried:

\int\stackrel{2\pi}{0}\int\stackrel{0}{1} (2cos(θ)-r) drdθ

The book says the answer is but I can't get it:

\frac{\pi}{3}+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The integral to find area in polar coordinates is:
\iint_A r \, dr \, d\theta

Adjust the limits of integration to match the equations given. The actual contents of the integral (r \, dr \, d\theta) will remain the same.
 
You need to find the polar coordinates of the two curves intersections and use appropriate limits. Not everything goes from 0 to 2\pi or 0 to 1.

Generally to find an area using polar coordinate double integrals you need something like this:

A = \int_{\theta_1}^{\theta_2} \int_{r_{inner}}^{r_{outer}}1\ rdrd\theta

and you need to determine the correct limits from your formulas and picture.
 
Thanks, but that doesn't really get me any closer to an answer. Is the function I'm integrating correct? What are the ranges?
 
filter54321 said:
Thanks, but that doesn't really get me any closer to an answer. Is the function I'm integrating correct? What are the ranges?

I can't make much sense out of your integrals. To get area with a double integral, you integrate the function 1. You need to look at the graphs. Find the \theta's where they intersect by setting the r values equal.
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
Back
Top