Trouble converting Cartesian to Polar

In summary: If you draw the thing in the r-theta plane, r = 1 is the unit circle, and r = 3 is a circle of radius 3. You're integrating between 1 and 3 for each theta.HurkylIn summary, the conversation discusses the difficulties of converting from Cartesian coordinates to Polar coordinates in Calculus 3, specifically in the topic of substitution in integrals. The conversation includes examples of applications in different shapes and dimensions and the use of the Jacobian and algebraic methods in multiple integrals. The main problem discussed is finding the correct bounds of integration in polar coordinates, and the conversation ends with clarification on the bounds for a specific example.
  • #1
longbusy
19
0
Well, it is not really hard to convert them. My main problem is thinking in Polar coordinates. Cartesian coordinates are really easy to think about for me (after how many years of experience) but then I get to Calc 3 and I hit a brick wall. Does anyone have some insight on how to get past this problem?

Thanks in advance!
-Jeremy

i.e.

x^2 + y^2 = 9 gives a cylinder of radius 3 in 3-D

the same equation is r = 3, right? That's pretty simple, but once it gets more complicated Boom, I'm lost.
 
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  • #2
Ellipse (center at origin, axes of ellipse along coordinate axes)

(x^2/a^2) + (y^2/b^2) = 1

Where a and b are the two semi-axes.

Hyperbola (similar conditions)

(x^2/a^2) - (y^2/b^2) = 1

Parabola (vertex at origin, axis along y-axis opening up)

y = ax^2
 
  • #3
Originally posted by longbusy
Does anyone have some insight on how to get past this problem?

Just lots of practice to get familiar with them, just keep tredging through it and do your homework and after a while it will all start making sense. In fact for many problems the polar, or spherical coordinate systems will be come your coordinates of choice becuase they make many things much much simpler. Have you gotten to the change of variables topic yet in calc 3? If not, you'll see what I mean once you get there, many integrals are much easier to perform in sperical or cylindrical coordinates rather then in cartesian.
 
  • #4
Actually, the substitution part is what we're working on right now. That is why I asked the question. It's killing me. :) I'll just keep trudging. Thanks!
 
  • #5
Well, substitution can mean different things... which operation gives you trouble when substituting?


Can you apply the chain rule for differentiation when substitutions are involved? e.g.:

Letting @ be the symbol for partial differentiation:

@f/@r = @f/@x * @x/@r + @f/@y * @y/@r
= cos &theta * @f/@x + sin &theta * @f/@y


Did you understand substitution in integrals in calc 2? i.e.:

&int sqrt(1 - x^2) dx = &int sqrt(1 - (sin &theta)^2) cos &theta d&theta = ...

and by understand I mean that you could replace all occurances of one variable with the other (x -> sin &theta) in the integral, compute the equation for replacing the differential (dx = cos &theta d&theta), and you could compute the new bounds for your integral if it happened to be a definite integral.


Do you understand how to perform substitution in a multiple integral, meaning you can both replace the variables and the differentials? E.G.

via Jacobian:
x = r cos &theta, y = r sin &theta
dx dy = J(x, y / r, &theta) dr d&theta
Code:
 = det /@x/@r   @x/@&theta\ dr d&theta
       \@y/@r   @y/@&theta/
 = det /cos &theta   -r sin &theta\ dr d&theta
       \sin &theta    r cos &theta/
= (r (cos &theta)^2 + r (sin &theta)^2) dr d&theta
= r dr d&theta

or via algebra: (I'm lazy so I won't compute things, just label 'em with capital variables)
dx dy = (@x/@r dr + @x/@&theta d&theta) * (@y/@r dr + @y/@&theta d&theta)
= A dr dr + B dr d&theta + C d&theta dr + D d&theta d&theta
= 0 + B dr d&theta - C dr d&theta + 0
= (B - C) dr d&theta = r dr d&theta


Do you understand how to recompute the limits of integration in a multiple integral, or equivalently being able to translate a description of a region in one set of coordinates into another set of coordinates? e.g. going from:

x^2 + y^2 <= 9

to

r <= 3 and 0 <= &theta <= 2&pi


Hurkyl
 
  • #6
Hurkyl, thanks, I am working through some topics you listed now. I did well in Calc 2 with the substitution. It is just stuff like the following:

"Use a double integral in polar coordinates to find the volume of the solid that is described."

x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 9 (inside)
x^2 + y^2 = 1 (outside)

The surface is a circle with a cylinder through it (duh). I know I want the area from the cylinder wall out to the edge of the circle. I know that the lower bound for r will be 1. But the upper bound of r and the bounds for theta are kind of beyond me at the moment.

Though, I am working these a little easier now.
 
  • #7
So the description of your volume is:

x^2 + y^2 > 1
x^2 + y^2 + z^2 < 9


Are you having trouble simple converting these equations into polar form, or can you get that far and just have trouble figuring out what the bounds of integration are?

Hurkyl
 
  • #8
I am mainly having trouble figuring out the bounds. I can draw the pictures and see them. I cannot figure out the bounds. That is what is holding me up.
 
  • #9
Originally posted by longbusy "Use a double integral in polar coordinates to find the volume of the solid that is described."

x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 9 (inside)
x^2 + y^2 = 1 (outside)

Hmmm, OK, let me try.

x = r cos[psi] cos[the]
y = r sin[psi] cos[the]
z = r sin[the]

I. r^2 < 9
II. r^2 cos^2[the] > 1, or r^2 > 1/cos^2[the]

dV = r^2 cos [the] dr d[the] d[psi]
V = Int [0 ; 2[pi]] Int [-[pi]/2 ; [pi]/2] cos [the] Int [1/cos^2[the] ; 9] r^2 dr d[the] d[psi]

OK so far?
 
Last edited:
  • #10
Correction.

My Theta limits are wrong. We've got to keep 1/cos^2[the] smaller than 9, which means
1/cos^2[the] < 9
cos^2[the] > 1/9
|[the]| < arccos 1/3

So, should read Int [-arccos 1/3 ; arccos 1/3] ... d[the]
 
  • #11
Well, it's in polar coordinates, not cylindrical... But I assume those are correct. What I calculated:

r^2 = 9 - 9cos^2(theta)
-or-
r = 3 - 3cos(theta)

Now, the book claims that the bounds are:

8Int[0, pi/2]Int[1,3]...(dr)(d(theta))

I understand the first bounds (eight quadrants for the full circle), but why is it Int[1,3] for r?

Thanks for all your help!
 
  • #12
There are only 4 quadrants in the full circle (I imagine the extra factor of 2 was pulled from inside the integral to outside).


As for the bounds on r, go back to the inequalities I listed:

x^2 + y^2 > 1 (outside the cylinder)
x^2 + y^2 + z^2 < 9 (inside the sphere)

Convert those to cylindrical coordinates (cylindrical coordinates are the same thing as polar coordinates, just with z as a third coordinate) and you might see where the bounds on r come from! (If not, show me what you got as the result from converting both equations and I'll go from there)

Hurkyl
 
  • #13
I meant octants, not quadrants. Sorry! That explains the 8.

In cyclindrical coordinates, I got the following for x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 9:

r^2 = 9 - 9cos^2(theta)
-or-
r = 3 - 3cos(theta)

So, r goes from 1 to 3 - 3cos(theta) right?

Thanks a lot for your help, I know I am being a bit dense.
 
  • #14
Where are you getting cos theta? z should just remain z when you do the conversion

Hurkyl
 
  • #15
Mixing up Spherical with Cylindrical for some reason. So it should remian r^2 + z^2 = 9?
 
  • #16
Right, it should remain r^2 + z^2 < 9 (don't forget the inequality; it specifies you care about the interior of the sphere rather than just its surface. More complicated problems can be made a little easier if you don't forget this)

From this inequality, you can find the largest possible value of r (which is 3 when z = 0), and then once you have your bounds on r you can solve for z to get the bounds on it.

Hurkyl
 
  • #17
Thanks! I am working on a lot more of these problems now. Better safe than sorry. I just cannot understand why only Odd answers are given in supplemental answer books. If professors do collect homework, work has to be shown... Just doesn't make sense. :)

Thanks again!
 
  • #18
one of these should be a symbol for partial differencation

delta &delta;
Delta &Delta;
 
  • #19
actually it's this one [pard]
 

1. What is the difference between Cartesian and Polar coordinates?

Cartesian coordinates use a horizontal x-axis and a vertical y-axis to locate points in a two-dimensional plane. Polar coordinates use a distance from the origin (r) and an angle from the positive x-axis (θ) to locate points in a two-dimensional plane.

2. How do I convert from Cartesian coordinates to Polar coordinates?

To convert from Cartesian coordinates (x,y) to Polar coordinates (r,θ), you can use the following equations:r = √(x^2 + y^2)θ = arctan(y/x)

3. What is the process for converting a point from Cartesian to Polar coordinates?

The process for converting a point from Cartesian to Polar coordinates involves finding the distance from the origin to the point (r) and the angle from the positive x-axis to the point (θ). These values can be found using the equations mentioned in the previous question.

4. Can I convert a negative point from Cartesian to Polar coordinates?

Yes, it is possible to convert a negative point from Cartesian to Polar coordinates. The distance from the origin (r) will always be positive, and the angle from the positive x-axis (θ) can be either positive or negative.

5. Are there any special cases when converting from Cartesian to Polar coordinates?

Yes, there are a few special cases when converting from Cartesian to Polar coordinates. These include:

  • When the point is located on the x-axis, the angle (θ) will be either 0 or 180 degrees.
  • When the point is located on the y-axis, the angle (θ) will be either 90 or 270 degrees.
  • When the point is located at the origin, the distance (r) will be 0 and the angle (θ) will be undefined.

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