Find the Area between Polar Curves

  • Thread starter Thread starter johnhuntsman
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Area Curves Polar
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the area between the polar curves defined by the equations r = sin(2θ) and r = cos(2θ). Participants are exploring the setup of integrals to calculate the area enclosed by these curves, particularly focusing on the first quadrant where the curves intersect.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the setup of integrals for calculating the area between the curves, questioning the correctness of their approaches and the limits of integration. Some suggest focusing on the first quadrant and the intersections of the curves, while others explore the implications of having multiple petals in the graphs.

Discussion Status

There are multiple interpretations of how to set up the integrals, with participants expressing confusion over their calculations and results. Some have proposed different integral forms and limits, while others are reflecting on their integration processes. A few participants have acknowledged errors in their calculations and are seeking clarification on the correct approach.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of homework guidelines, which may limit the information they can share or the methods they can use. There is an emphasis on ensuring the setup reflects the geometry of the curves and the areas they enclose.

johnhuntsman
Messages
76
Reaction score
0
r = sin 2θ, r = cos 2θ.

I'm having some trouble setting this up.

$$1/2 \int_{\ -pi/8}^{\pi/8} cos^2 2θ~d\theta - 1/2 \int_{\ -pi/8}^{\pi/8} sin^2 2θ~d\theta $$

Which can be:

$$\int_0^{\pi/8} cos^2 2θ~d\theta - \int_0^{\pi/8} sin^2 2θ~d\theta $$

Since there are 8 petals.

$$8 \int_0^{\pi/8} cos^2 2θ~d\theta - 8 \int_0^{\pi/8} sin^2 2θ~d\theta $$

Which becomes:

____(π / 8)
[2sin 4θ]
______0

Which gives me the wrong answer. Somehow the answer is (π / 2) - 1. Can someone please tell me what's wrong with the way I set it up?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
johnhuntsman said:
r = sin 2θ, r = cos 2θ.

I'm having some trouble setting this up.

____(π / 8)________________________(π / 8)
(1 / 2) ∫ cos2 2θ dθ - (1 / 2) ∫ sin2 2θ dθ
___-(π / 8)_______________________-(π / 8)

Which can be:

(π / 8)_______________(π / 8)
∫ cos2 2θ dθ - ∫ sin2 2θ dθ
0______________________0

Since there are 8 petals.

(π / 8)___________________(π / 8)
8 ∫ cos2 2θ dθ - 8 ∫ sin2 2θ dθ
__0_______________________0

Which becomes:

____(π / 8)
[2sin 4θ]
______0

Which gives me the wrong answer. Somehow the answer is (π / 2) - 1. Can someone please tell me what's wrong with the way I set it up?

Let's focus on the parts of the graphs in the first quadrant. The petals of the two graphs intersect where θ = ##\pi/8## and at the origin (which corresponds to different values of θ for each function.

As θ runs from 0 to ##\pi/8##, the graph of r = sin(2θ) traces out the lower boundary of the intersecting region. As θ runs from ##\pi/8## to ##\pi/4##, the graph of r = cos(2θ) traces out the upper boundary of the intersecting region.

The area of this region (again, just the part in the first quadrant) would be:
$$ 1/2 \int_0^{\pi/8} sin^2(2\theta)~d\theta + 1/2 \int_{\pi/8}^{\pi/4} cos^2(2\theta)~d\theta $$

Click the integral above to see how I did it in LaTeX.
 
Mark44 said:
Let's focus on the parts of the graphs in the first quadrant. The petals of the two graphs intersect where θ = ##\pi/8## and at the origin (which corresponds to different values of θ for each function.

As θ runs from 0 to ##\pi/8##, the graph of r = sin(2θ) traces out the lower boundary of the intersecting region. As θ runs from ##\pi/8## to ##\pi/4##, the graph of r = cos(2θ) traces out the upper boundary of the intersecting region.

The area of this region (again, just the part in the first quadrant) would be:
$$ 1/2 \int_0^{\pi/8} sin^2(2\theta)~d\theta + 1/2 \int_{\pi/8}^{\pi/4} cos^2(2\theta)~d\theta $$

Click the integral above to see how I did it in LaTeX.

I gotcha.

Taking that integral and building on it:
$$ 4 \int_0^{\pi/8} sin^2(2\theta)~d\theta + 4 \int_{\pi/8}^{\pi/4} cos^2(2\theta)~d\theta $$
Since there are 8 petals. That should give me the area in all 8 petals formed by the two curves?

[Edit] Changed integral to reflect 8 being multiplied by 1/2. [Edit]

[Edit 2] When I evaluate this integral I get π/2 + 3/2. [Edit 2]
 
Last edited:
johnhuntsman said:
r = sin 2θ, r = cos 2θ.

I'm having some trouble setting this up.

____(π / 8)________________________(π / 8)
(1 / 2) ∫ cos2 2θ dθ - (1 / 2) ∫ sin2 2θ dθ
___-(π / 8)_______________________-(π / 8)

Which can be:

(π / 8)_______________(π / 8)
∫ cos2 2θ dθ - ∫ sin2 2θ dθ
0______________________0

Since there are 8 petals.

(π / 8)___________________(π / 8)
8 ∫ cos2 2θ dθ - 8 ∫ sin2 2θ dθ
__0_______________________0

Which becomes:

____(π / 8)
[2sin 4θ]
______0

Which gives me the wrong answer. Somehow the answer is (π / 2) - 1. Can someone please tell me what's wrong with the way I set it up?

Please read our FAQ on typing mathematical equations: https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=3977517&postcount=3
Typing in LaTeX makes it much easier for us.
 
micromass said:
Please read our FAQ on typing mathematical equations: https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=3977517&postcount=3
Typing in LaTeX makes it much easier for us.

I'm sorry. My humblest of apologies. I've always been to hasty in wanting to get help for my question I've never bothered learning how to do that. My apologies once again.
 
johnhuntsman said:
$$ 4 \int_0^{\pi/8} sin^2(2\theta)~d\theta + 4 \int_{\pi/8}^{\pi/4} cos^2(2\theta)~d\theta $$

[Edit 2] When I evaluate this integral I get π/2 + 3/2. [Edit 2]
I get π/2 - 1. The two integrals yield the same value, agreed?
 
It seems I integrated incorrectly : ( I do get π/2 - 1. Thanks. I appreciate it.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
1K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K