Polar Coordinates problem area of region

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves finding the area of a region defined by the polar equations r = 9 sinθ and r = 1. The original poster attempts to identify the intersection points of the two curves and expresses difficulty in setting up the area differential.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the interpretation of the polar equations, with one suggesting a conversion to Cartesian coordinates to clarify the shapes of the curves. Questions arise regarding the intersection points and the implications of the original poster's reasoning about the angles.

Discussion Status

Some participants provide insights into the geometric interpretation of the curves and raise questions about the reasoning behind the intersection points. There is an ongoing exploration of the implications of the polar equations and the setup for calculating the area.

Contextual Notes

Participants note potential confusion regarding the interpretation of the angles and the nature of the solutions derived from the inverse sine function. There is also mention of the need to properly set up the area differential in polar coordinates.

muddyjch
Messages
15
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Find the area of the region inside: r = 9 sinθ but outside: r = 1


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


r = 9 sinθ is a circle with center at (0, 4/2) and radius 4/2 while r= 1 is a circle with center at (0, 0) and radius 1. The two curves intersect where sin(θ)= 1/9. For 0 ≤ θ ≤ π that is satified by θ=sin^-1(1/9) and θ=π-sin^-1(1/9).
This is where i get lost setting up the differential for the area?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
r = 9 sinθ is not what you say. I don't know where you went astray in your thinking, but if polar coordinates are giving you trouble, then think of it this way:

r = 9 sinθ is the same thing as r^2 = 9r sinθ, which is equivalent to x^2 + y^2 = 9y, or...
x^2 + (y-9/2)^2 = (9/2)^2. That's a circle centered at (0,9/2) with a radius of 9/2 units.

Can you finish the rest by yourself? I hope this helps.

EDIT: There, I fixed it :D
 
Last edited:
muddyjch said:
For 0 ≤ θ ≤ π that is satified by θ=sin^-1(1/9) and θ=π-sin^-1(1/9).

Also, how did you arrive at this conclusion? Using that logic, we could let n = sin^-1(1/9) - k, where k is any real number. Then, using your logic, θ would also equal k in all these cases, i.e., sin^-1(1/9) has infinitely many solutions on a quite finite interval.
 
Raskolnikov said:
Also, how did you arrive at this conclusion? Using that logic, we could let n = sin^-1(1/9) - k, where k is any real number. Then, using your logic, θ would also equal k in all these cases, i.e., sin^-1(1/9) has infinitely many solutions on a quite finite interval.

It is actually a pi sign but a really bad one sorry for the confusion
 
Using Latex, [itex]\theta= sin^{-1}(1/9)[/itex] and [itex]\theta= \pi- sin^{-1}(1/9)[/itex].

Of course, for any [itex]\alpha[/itex], [itex]sin(\alpha)= sin(\pi- \alpha)[/itex].

You should have learned when you first learned integration in polar coordinates that "dxdy" becomes "[itex]r dr d\theta[/itex]".
 

Similar threads

Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
6K