Calculus 2 : Parametric, Polar, and Vector

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Calculus 2

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Graphing Polar Form

Describe the graph of  from .

Possible Answers:

A limacon without a loop rotated  left

A limacon without a loop rotated  right

An upright limacon without a loop

An upside down limacon without a loop

Correct answer:

A limacon without a loop rotated  right

Explanation:

Graphing polar equations is different that plotting cartesian equations.  Instead of plotting an  coordinate, polar graphs consist of an  coordinate where  is the radial distance of a point from the origin and  is the angle above the x-axis.

From our equation, we know the shape of our graph will be a limacon  because our equation is in the form  where .  This limacon will have no loop because . Our limacon is symmetric about the x-axis because our equation includes the  function. The y-intercepts are at  and .  The x-intercept is at .

We could also substitute values of  (in radians) between  and  into our expression, to find values of r.  We then plot each ordered pair, , using the  value as the radius and  as the angle.  

We get the graph below, an limacon turned  right.

 

 Fig10

Example Question #19 : Graphing Polar Form

Describe the graph of  from .

Possible Answers:

a limacon with a loop turned  left

a limacon with a loop turned  right

an upright limacon with a loop

an upside-down limacon with a loop

Correct answer:

a limacon with a loop turned  left

Explanation:

Graphing polar equations is different that plotting cartesian equations.  Instead of plotting an  coordinate, polar graphs consist of an  coordinate where  is the radial distance of a point from the origin and  is the angle above the x-axis.

From our equation, we know the shape of our graph will be a limacon because our equation is in the form  where . This limacon will have a loop because . The length of the loop is .  Our limacon is symmetric about the x-axis because our equation includes the  function. The y-intercepts are at  and .  The x-intercept is at .

We could also substitute values of  (in radians) between  and  into our expression, to find values of r. We then plot each ordered pair, , using the  value as the radius and  as the angle.  

We get the graph below, a limacon with a loop turned  left.

 

 Fig11

Example Question #20 : Graphing Polar Form

Describe the graph of   from .

Possible Answers:

a limacon with a loop turned  right

an upside-down limacon with a loop 

a limacon with a loop turned  left

an upright limacon with a loop 

Correct answer:

an upright limacon with a loop 

Explanation:

Graphing polar equations is different that plotting cartesian equations. Instead of plotting an  coordinate, polar graphs consist of an  coordinate where  is the radial distance of a point from the origin and  is the angle above the x-axis.

From our equation, we know the shape of our graph will be a limacon  because our equation is in the form  where .  This limacon will have a loop because . The length of the loop is .  Our limacon is symmetric about the y-axis because our equation includes the  function. The x-intercepts are at  and . The y-intercept is at .

We could also substitute values of  (in radians) between  and  into our expression, to find values of r. We then plot each ordered pair, , using the  value as the radius and  as the angle.  

We get the graph below, an upright limacon with a loop.

 Fig12

Example Question #281 : Parametric, Polar, And Vector

In which quadrant does the polar coordinate terminate?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The coordinate  goes to the right  units from the origin and is rotated  counter-clockwise, terminating in 

Example Question #282 : Parametric, Polar, And Vector

In which quadrant does the polar coordinate terminate?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The coordinate  goes to the right  units from the origin and is rotated  counter-clockwise, terminating in 

Example Question #283 : Parametric, Polar, And Vector

In which quadrant does the polar coordinate terminate?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The coordinate  goes to the left  units from the origin and is rotated  counter-clockwise, terminating in 

Example Question #284 : Parametric, Polar, And Vector

In which quadrant is the polar coordinate located?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The polar coordinate

is graphed by moving  units to the left of the origin and rotating  counter-clockwise, resulting in

Example Question #285 : Parametric, Polar, And Vector

In which quadrant is the polar coordinate located?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The polar coordinate

is graphed by moving  units to the right of the origin and rotating  counter-clockwise, resulting in

Example Question #286 : Parametric, Polar, And Vector

In which quadrant is the polar coordinate located?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The polar coordinate

is graphed by moving  units to the right of the origin and rotating  counter-clockwise, resulting in

Example Question #287 : Parametric, Polar, And Vector

In which quadrant is the polar coordinate located?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The polar coordinate

is graphed by moving  unit to the right of the origin and rotating  counter-clockwise, resulting in

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