What is the area bounded by one loop of the polar curve (x^2 + y^2)^3 = 4x^2y^2?

teleport
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Homework Statement



find the area bounded by one of the four loops of: (x^2 + y^2)^3 = 4x^2y^2

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The Attempt at a Solution



I converted to polar coordinates and got r^{3/2} = sin^2(2\theta)
The typical formula for polar integration for area would imply that I integrate sin to the power of some fraction which I don't know how to do. It would be great if there was a relationship between the area for r^1.5 and r though. Also this question might be related to line integrals (not sure how) which we have been doing. thnx for any help.
 
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teleport said:
find the area bounded by one of the four loops of: (x^2 + y^2)^3 = 4x^2y^2
I converted to polar coordinates and got r^{3/2} = sin^2(2\theta)

Are you sure you did this conversion correct? Or are the loops described by
\left(\sqrt{x^{2}+y^{2}}\right)^{3} = 4x^{2}y^{2}.?

teleport said:
The typical formula for polar integration for area would imply that I integrate sin to the power of some fraction which I don't know how to do.
What's the integral for determining area in cartesian coordinates? What's the effect on an integral by substituting to polar coordinates? (What's the Jacobian Determeninant of the transformation to polar coordinates?)
 
I strongly believe the conversion is correct. I don't even know how to set up the integral in cartesian coordinates! What's the integrand?
 
teleport said:
I strongly believe the conversion is correct. I don't even know how to set up the integral in cartesian coordinates! What's the integrand?
Sorry, I didn't mean to give you the impression that you should try this in cartesian coordinates. But can you show me how you did the conversion? Because I get:
(x^2 + y^2)^3 = 4x^2y^2
Substituting x=r\cos \theta, y=r\sin \theta
(r^2)^3=r^{4}4\sin^{2}\theta\cos^{2}\theta,
r^2 = \sin^{2}2\theta.
 
ah? you have r^6 on the left and r^4 on the right...
 
Such equations are extremely hard, interesting do really everybody who finishing universities really good understand it?..
 
teleport said:
ah? you have r^6 on the left and r^4 on the right...
Yes, because
\left(x^2+y^2\right)^3 = \left(r^2\cos^2\theta+r^2\sin^2\theta\right)^3 = r^2\left(\cos^2\theta+\sin^2\theta\right)^3 = \left(r^2\right)^3,
and
4x^2y^2 = 4\left(r^2\cos^2\theta\right) \left(r^2\sin^2\theta\right) = r^4\left(4\cos^2\theta\sin^2\theta\right) = r^4\sin^2 2 \theta.
Do you see how you can proceed further now?
 
fermio said:
Such equations are extremely hard, interesting do really everybody who finishing universities really good understand it?..

Certainly anyone who is majoring or minoring in mathematics should be able to do it! Believe me, upper level math courses get a lot harder, and more abstract, than this!

Teleport just made a slight numerical error in his calculations. Looks like penguino has it cleared up now.
 
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penguino: no as we are where we were last time. not to mention there's a mistake in ur derivation.
 
  • #10
No, penguino is exactly right.
(x^2+ y^2)^3= 4x^2 y^2
(r^2)^3= [(2 r sin(\theta)cos(\theta))(2 r sin(\theta) cos(\theta))]= r^4 sin^2(2\theta)
so
r^2= sin^2(2\theta)

Put that into your integral.
 
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