Calculating Area of Lemniscate Polar Coordinates | Integral Method

In summary, to find the area inside the lemniscate r = 2sqrt(sin(2theta)), you need to integrate from 0 to pi/2 and then multiply the integral by 2. This is because the curve completes a full cycle between 0 and pi, so integrating over this range would result in an area of 0. By integrating from 0 to pi/2 and then doubling the result, you can find the total area inside the curve.
  • #1
future_phd
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Homework Statement


Find the area inside the lemniscate r = 2sqrt(sin(2theta))



Homework Equations


Integral from a to b of (1/2)[f(theta)]^2 d(theta)



The Attempt at a Solution


I tried integrating from 0 to 2pi and got an area of 0. Then I tried integrating from 0 to pi and still got an area of 0. I looked at the answer and they integrated from 0 to pi/2 and then multiplied the integral by 2. I don't understand why they chose to integrate from 0 to pi/2 or why they multiplied the integral by 2? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
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  • #2
y = sin(2x) has a complete cycle between 0 and pi. If you wanted the area between this curve and the x-axis, it wouldn't do you any good to integrate between 0 and pi -- you would get 0. So instead you would integrate between 0 and pi/2 to get the area under one arch, and then double it, to get the area of both regions.

A similar thing is happening with your polar curve.
 
  • #3
Ahh that makes sense, thank you!
 

1. What are polar coordinates?

Polar coordinates are a way of representing points in a two-dimensional plane using a distance and an angle from a fixed point. The distance is typically denoted by the letter "r" and the angle by the Greek letter "theta" (θ).

2. How is area calculated in polar coordinates?

In polar coordinates, the area is calculated using the formula A = (1/2)∫abr²dθ, where "a" and "b" represent the starting and ending angles, and "r" is the distance from the origin to the curve at that angle.

3. Can polar coordinates be used to find the area of any shape?

Yes, polar coordinates can be used to find the area of any shape that can be represented by an equation in polar coordinates. This includes circles, ellipses, cardioids, and other more complex curves.

4. How do you convert polar coordinates to rectangular coordinates?

To convert from polar coordinates (r,θ) to rectangular coordinates (x,y), you can use the formulas x = r cosθ and y = r sinθ. These formulas use the trigonometric functions cosine and sine to calculate the x and y coordinates, respectively.

5. Why are polar coordinates useful in certain situations?

Polar coordinates are useful in certain situations because they can simplify the representation of certain shapes or equations. They are also useful for visualizing and analyzing circular or symmetric shapes. Additionally, some physical phenomena, such as the motion of objects in a circular path, can be better understood and described using polar coordinates.

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