Conversion from Polar to Cartesian (ellipse)

[nitroracer]

Homework Statement

Convert the conic section to standard form. r=\frac{1}{8-4*sin(\theta}

Homework Equations

x=rcos(\theta)
y=rsinx(\theta)

The Attempt at a Solution

r=\frac{1}{8-4*sin(\theta}

r^2=\frac{1}{64-64*sin(\theta)+16sin^2(\theta)}

r^2= x^2 + y^2

I can see the y=r*sin(\theta) but not the x!

 

[Antineutron]

so what does r= according to the definitions and what does sin(theta)= according to the definitions? What can you do with that knowledge?

 

[benjyk]

I would multiply both sides by (8-4sin(theta)) and then you can replace rsin(theta) with y. And then you can use your identity r^2 = x^2 + y^2.

 

[nitroracer]

so what does r= according to the definitions and what does sin(theta)= according to the definitions? What can you do with that knowledge?

I came up with r= \sqrt{x^2 + y^2} and sin(\theta)=y/r

\sqrt{x^2 + y^2} = \frac{1}{8-4sin(\theta)}

\sqrt{x^2 + y^2} = \frac{1}{8-(\frac{4y}{r})}

x^2 + y^2 = 64 - \frac{64y}{r} + \frac{16y^2}{r^2}

pretty sure I chose the wrong order of events there...



But when I tried the other suggestion I got pretty close to an answer:

I would multiply both sides by (8-4sin(theta)) and then you can replace rsin(theta) with y. And then you can use your identity r^2 = x^2 + y^2.

8r - 4rsin(\theta) = 1

8r - 4y = 1

8r = 1 + 4y

r = \frac{1+4y}{8}

r^2 = \frac{1+8y+16y^2}{64}

x^2 + y^2 = \frac{1+8y+16y^2}{64}

64x^2 + 64y^2 = 1+8y+16y^2

64x^2 + 48y^2 - 8y = 1

and this is where I get stuck because 48y^2 - 8y +/- ___

 

[Antineutron]

r= r/(8r-4y)

8r-4y=1