Integration of part of a circle

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves finding the area bounded by a vertical line and a portion of a circle centered at the origin with a radius of 2. The original poster attempts to solve this using both rectangular and polar coordinates.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss various methods for integration, including rectangular coordinates and polar coordinates. Some express difficulty with the complexity of the antiderivative in rectangular coordinates, while others explore the use of small triangles in polar coordinates. Questions arise regarding the bounds of integration and the appropriateness of using arctan in the solution.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing exploration of different approaches, with some participants suggesting alternative methods and questioning the assumptions made about the geometry involved. No consensus has been reached, but several lines of reasoning are being actively discussed.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the potential complexity of the integral and the challenges of defining bounds in polar coordinates. There is also mention of symmetry in the circle and the implications for the integration limits.

Sheve
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Homework Statement



Draw a circle centered on the origin with radius 2. Draw the vertical line x = 1. Find the area bounded on the left by x=1 and on the right by the circle.


Homework Equations


Area of a circle: x[tex]^{2}[/tex] + y[tex]^{2}[/tex] = r[tex]^{2}[/tex]. In this race, r = 2

Polar coordinates:

x = p cos([tex]\theta[/tex])
y = p sin([tex]\theta[/tex])


The Attempt at a Solution



At first I tried to solve this in rectangular coordinates, using the equation y = [tex]\sqrt{4 - x^{2}}[/tex] and integrating it from 1 to 2. However the antiderivative for that is messy as heck, and this is supposed to be a simple problem. I'm trying to do it in polar coords, but I'm at a loss as how to bound the integral in that case.
 
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In the region of concern, r ranges from r = 1/cos(theta) = sec(theta) to r = 2. Theta ranges from theta = -arctan(sqrt(3)) to theta = +arctan(sqrt(3)), but you can let theta run from 0 to arctan(sqrt(3)) and double the value, using the symmetry of the circle.

The integral in rectangular coordinates isn't that bad if you know trig substitution.
 
I was hoping to avoid having to use arctan if at all possible...I'm having more luck with the small triangles method in polar coordinates.

You take a triangle with height along the x axis, "r". The angle from the x-axis is assumed to be very small, d[tex]\theta[/tex]. Because this is very small, the base of the triangle is approximated as the arc length, given in this case by r * d[tex]\theta[/tex]. The area of a triangle is 1/2 * base * height, or in this case 1/2*r[tex]^{2}[/tex]d[tex]\theta[/tex]. Integrating this from 0 to 2pi gives you your answer.
 
Sheve said:
I was hoping to avoid having to use arctan if at all possible...
Arctan doesn't enter into the picture at all. If you stay with rectangular coordinates, the substitution is sin(theta) = x/4
Sheve said:
I'm having more luck with the small triangles method in polar coordinates.

You take a triangle with height along the x axis, "r".
You lost me here. How can the height be along the x axis? And what does this have to do with r?
Sheve said:
The angle from the x-axis is assumed to be very small, d[tex]\theta[/tex]. Because this is very small, the base of the triangle is approximated as the arc length, given in this case by r * d[tex]\theta[/tex]. The area of a triangle is 1/2 * base * height, or in this case 1/2*r[tex]^{2}[/tex]d[tex]\theta[/tex]. Integrating this from 0 to 2pi gives you your answer.
Why would you integrate from 0 to 2pi? In polar coordinates, the line x = 1 intersects the upper part of the circle at (2, pi/3).
 

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