- #1
ArcanaNoir
- 779
- 4
Homework Statement
Set up the integral for the area of the ellipse:
[tex] \frac{x^2}{a^2} =\frac{y^2}{b^2} \le 1 [/tex]
in polar coordinates.
Homework Equations
maybe [tex] \int_\alpha^\beta \int_a^b f(rcos\theta , rsin \theta ) r \; dr \; d\theta [/tex]
or more likely [tex] \int_a^b \frac{1}{2} r^2 \; d\theta [/tex]
The Attempt at a Solution
well, [tex] x=acos(t) [/tex] and [tex] y=bsin(t) [/tex]
and [tex] dx=-asin(t) [/tex] and [tex] dy=bcos(t) [/tex]
or is it [tex] dx=-asin(t) \; dt [/tex] and [tex] dy=bcos(t) \; dt [/tex] ?
And somehow I need to get to [tex] A=\frac{1}{2} [ \int_0^{2\pi } abcos^2(t) + absin^2(t) \; dt ] [/tex]
I looked at [tex] \frac{1}{2} \int_0^{2\pi} ([f(\theta )]^2 - [g(\theta )]^2) \; d\theta [/tex]
but that gives [itex] a^2 [/itex] and [itex] b^2 [/itex] , not [itex] ab [/itex].
This is for vector calculus so if you know a better formula it is definitely on the table. Anything goes. This is only the first step in a problem where ultimately I'll be doing some Stokes theorem stuff. But first, I must set this up in polar form.
Oh, and I apologize for some formulas using t and others using theta. I am trying to work out of my old calculus book, but prof uses a different notation. i wrote the formulas exactly as I see them so that I do not confuse anyone with an error I might make in meaning. But I'm guessing t and theta are the same thing in these set ups.
hey... theta starts with a t...maybe that's why people use t! .. okay crazy person rant over...