How do we convert this into rectangular equation? $r=5\theta$
2026-04-01 13:38:22.1775050702
Difficult conversion from polar equation to rectangular equation.
5.1k Views Asked by Ross James https://math.techqa.club/user/ross-james/detail At
2
I get this easily, check that if i am wrong: $r = a\theta$, so in terms of Cartesian coordinates… $$x = a\theta\cos\theta,\qquad y =a\theta\sin\theta.$$
We can also solve for $x$ and $y$ through simple algebraic manipulation
We know: $r^2=x ^2+ y^2$. Let's solve for $x$ first:
$$\begin{align*} r &= a\theta\\ r^2&=a^2\theta^2\\ x^2+y^2&=a^2\theta^2\\ x^2&=a^2\theta^2-y^2 \end{align*}$$ Square both sides and substitute $r^2=x^2+ y^2$, $y=r\sin\theta$ (hence $y^2=r^2\sin^2\theta$), $x^2=a^2\theta^2-r^2\sin^2\theta$ (hence $x^2=a^2\theta^2- a^2\theta^2\sin^2\theta$) we get
$$x^2=a^2\theta^2(1- \sin^2\theta).$$ $y$ follows easily