How do you express the center of a circle in cylindrical coordinates?

In summary, the conversation discusses the equation r=2asin(theta)+2bcos(theta) and how to prove that it is a circle. The center of the circle is expressed in cartesian coordinates as (b,a) and the question asks how to express it in cylindrical coordinates, using the formulas for converting from cartesian to polar coordinates.
  • #1
btbam91
91
0
This is something I have zero familiarity with.

Anyways, I was given the equation:

r=2asin(theta)+2bcos(theta) and had to prove that it was a circle, and then state its center in cartesian and cylindrical coordinates. After making the appropriate substitutions and completing the square (twice), I got:

(x-b)^2 + (y-a)^2 = a^2+b^2

Obviously, the center in cartesian coordinates are (b,a).

But how do I express this center in cylindrical coordinates? Thanks!
 
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  • #2
Cylindrical coordinates are three-dimensional, with the first two coordinates being the same as two-d polar coordinates, r and [itex]\theta[/itex]. Use the formulas for converting from cartesian to polar coordinates.
 

1. What are cylindrical coordinates?

Cylindrical coordinates are a type of coordinate system used to describe the position of a point in three-dimensional space. They consist of a distance from the origin, an angle from a reference axis, and a height or depth from a reference plane.

2. How do you express the center of a circle in cylindrical coordinates?

The center of a circle in cylindrical coordinates is expressed as (ρ, φ, z), where ρ is the distance from the origin to the center of the circle, φ is the angle from a reference axis to the center of the circle, and z is the height or depth from a reference plane.

3. What is the relationship between cylindrical and Cartesian coordinates?

Cylindrical coordinates can be converted to Cartesian coordinates using the following equations: x = ρcos(φ), y = ρsin(φ), and z = z. This means that the x and y coordinates in cylindrical coordinates are the same as in Cartesian coordinates, while the z coordinate remains unchanged.

4. How do you find the radius of a circle in cylindrical coordinates?

The radius of a circle in cylindrical coordinates is equal to the distance from the origin to any point on the circle, which can be expressed as ρ. This is because ρ represents the distance from the origin in the radial direction.

5. Can cylindrical coordinates be used to express the center of any shape?

Yes, cylindrical coordinates can be used to express the center of any shape that is symmetric about a cylindrical axis. This includes not only circles, but also cylinders, cones, and other curved shapes. However, for non-symmetric shapes, other coordinate systems such as Cartesian coordinates may be more suitable.

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