Finding area between polar curves

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the area between the polar curves of a lemniscate defined by r² = 2sin(2θ) and a circle defined by r = 1. The original poster describes the graphical representation of these curves and identifies the area of interest as the regions of the lemniscate that extend outside the circle.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to set up an integral to calculate the area between the curves, identifying the limits of integration based on the intersection points of the two polar functions. They express uncertainty regarding their calculations and seek clarification on a discrepancy with a classmate's result.

Discussion Status

Participants are engaging in a detailed examination of the original poster's approach, with some providing feedback on potential errors in the calculations. There is a suggestion that the original poster may have miscalculated the area by not properly accounting for the entire region or by misinterpreting the integral setup. Multiple interpretations of the area calculation are being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of correctly identifying the limits of integration and the need to consider the geometric properties of the curves involved. There is mention of the need to subtract areas related to the circle from the total area calculated from the lemniscate.

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Homework Statement



Find the area of the region inside the lemniscate r^2 = 2sin(2\theta) and outside the circle r = 1

It sucks because I wish I could post a graph, but the graph on my calculator looks like a circle around the origin with radius 1, with an infinity symbol going diagonally through it. (starting in quad 3 and pointing into quad 1.)

I believe the area they are after is the two ends of the lemniscate that don't quite fit inside the circle. (quads 1 and 3)

Homework Equations



1/2 * integral of (f(\theta)^2 - g(\theta)^2)

with your limits of integration being the angles where the two polar functions intersect.

The Attempt at a Solution



I set the equations equal to each other, and get the angles pi/12 and (5*pi)/12 as the limits of integration. Now, based on what the graph looks like, and the fact that I'm only after the ends of the lemniscate, it seems that:

2 * 1/2 * integral of ( 2sin(2\theta)^2 - (1)^2) with my limits of integration being pi/12 and (5 * pi)/12 would do the trick. I get an answer of pi/3. (approx. 1.05)

However, a classmate gave me the answer, an approximation, of .682. He said he went over it with the teacher, and I'm pretty sure he's right. Any tips on where I went wrong?
 
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You said your classmate's figure was approximate and I do get approximately:rolleyes: that, 0.68485.

Your approach as expressed in the integral appears perfectly OK.

Clue to where you have gone wrong is that your π/3 actually is the second part of your integral that you have to subtract from the first. I understand your g(θ) = 1. You don't need to do any integration of this part, it is just a third of a circle. Oh that's 2π/3. Well you work out the details. :biggrin: The pi factor should alert you to where error is because a trigonometric function of any fraction of pi wouldn't itself be any multiple of π.

Personally I would just integrate r2/2 between your limits, the whole shaded area in fig I will try to put up shortly, and subtract π/3 from that.
 
Last edited:
2euoq4j.jpg


Hope you can make out the circles of radii 1 and 2 there.

In the formula should have been cos 2θ not cosθ
 
You did it right, I think you probably pressed the wrong buttons on your calculator.

Here is how I did it

2\int_{\frac{\pi}{12}}^{\frac{5\pi}{12}}} \int_{1}^{\sqrt{2\sin2\theta}} r dr d\theta
 

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