Calculating Polar Graph Area with a=7 and Limited Theta

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Question is attached:

working:

r^2 = a^2 + 6acos(\theta) + 9cos^2(\theta)

using \frac{1}{2}\displaystyle\int^{2\pi}_0 r^2d\theta

using this I get a = 7

are my limits right, as it says theta can't be 2pi?
 

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phospho said:
Question is attached:

working:

r^2 = a^2 + 6acos(\theta) + 9cos^2(\theta)

using \frac{1}{2}\displaystyle\int^{2\pi}_0 r^2d\theta

using this I get a = 7

are my limits right, as it says theta can't be 2pi?

a=7 looks ok. It doesn't really matter if they write the limit as <2pi or <=2pi. Including or excluding a single point doesn't change the integral.
 
Last edited:
Dick said:
a=7 looks ok. It doesn't really matter if they write the limit as <2pi or <=2pi. Including or excluding a single point doesn't change the integral.

thanks
 
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