Can parabolas y=x²-1 and y=1-x² be converted to polar form?

  • Level: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Bendelson
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Cartesian Polar
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
3 replies · 2K views
Bendelson
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
Can y=x^2-1 or y=1-x^2 be converted to polar functions? I was attempting it and kept running into problems. If it's not possible, why not?
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
Just substitute
x=r*cos(t)
x=r*Sin(t)

This gives an implicit polar equation. If you like, solve for r to get an explicit polar equation.
 
I was having trouble expressing it explicitly and solving for r or t
 
whate have you tried? It is quadratic in r, either use the quadratic formula or complete the square.