R^2 = 8/(2-sin^2 θ) Convert to rectangular form?

In summary, the goal of multiplying everything on both sides by (2-sin^2 θ) is to rewrite the equation in rectangular form, where the variables are x and y instead of r and θ. This is important when working with polar coordinates. By multiplying by R, each sine and cosine is multiplied by R, making it easier to convert to rectangular form. The goal is not to solve for a specific variable, but to rearrange the equation in a more manageable form.
  • #1
Jurrasic
98
0
Is it right to multiply everything on both sides first, by the (2-sin^2 θ) ? Why would you want to do that? In terms of how it should look, and what variable to solve for, what exactly is the goal here and why?
 
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  • #2
Yes, you can do that. When converting to rectangular form, you want to get each sine and cosine multiplied by R because x=R cos θ and y=R sin θ. (I'm assuming you're working with polar coordinates here.) Here you have sin2 θ, so you want it multiplied by R2, one factor of R for each sine.
 
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  • #3
Jurrasic said:
In terms of how it should look, and what variable to solve for, what exactly is the goal here and why?
You don't necessarily solve for a variable. The goal is to rewrite the equation so that the variables are x's and y's, not r's and θ's. After multiplying both sides by the denominator, add sin2 θ to both sides, and then use the equations that vela gave you. (They are the same one's I mentioned in your previous thread.)
 

Related to R^2 = 8/(2-sin^2 θ) Convert to rectangular form?

1. What is the equation for R^2?

The equation for R^2 is 8/(2-sin^2 θ).

2. How can R^2 be converted to rectangular form?

R^2 can be converted to rectangular form by using the double angle formula for sine, which is sin^2 θ = (1-cos2θ)/2. Substituting this into the equation for R^2 gives us 8/(2-(1-cos2θ)/2) = 16/(4-cos2θ).

3. Can R^2 be simplified further?

Yes, R^2 can be simplified further by using the Pythagorean identity for cosine, which is cos2θ = 1-2sin^2 θ. Substituting this into the equation for R^2 gives us 16/(4-(1-2sin^2 θ)) = 16/(3+2sin^2 θ).

4. How can we graph R^2 in rectangular form?

To graph R^2 in rectangular form, we can plot points by choosing different values for θ and calculating the corresponding values for R^2 using the simplified equation, 16/(3+2sin^2 θ). This will give us a curve that can be plotted on a graph.

5. What is the range of values for R^2 in rectangular form?

The range of values for R^2 in rectangular form is all real numbers except for when sin^2 θ = -3/2. This is because the denominator of the simplified equation, 3+2sin^2 θ, cannot equal 0. Therefore, the range of values for R^2 is (-∞, ∞) excluding -3/2.

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