Https Courses Lumenlearning Com Precalctwo Chapter Testing-polar-equations-For-symmetry
Https Courses Lumenlearning Com Precalctwo Chapter Testing-polar-equations-For-symmetry
Https Courses Lumenlearning Com Precalctwo Chapter Testing-polar-equations-For-symmetry
Symmetry is a property that helps us recognize and plot the graph of any equation. If an equation has a graph that is symmetric
with respect to an axis, it means that if we folded the graph in half over that axis, the portion of the graph on one side would
coincide with the portion on the other side. By performing three tests, we will see how to apply the properties of symmetry to
polar equations. Further, we will use symmetry (in addition to plotting key points, zeros, and maximums of r )
to determine the graph of a polar equation.
In the rst test, we consider symmetry with respect to the line =
2 (y-axis). We replace (r, ) with (r, ) to determine if
the new equation is equivalent to the original equation. For example, suppose we are given the equation r = 2 sin ;
In the second test, we consider symmetry with respect to the polar axis ( x -axis). We replace (r, ) with (r, ) or
(r, ) to determine equivalency between the tested equation and the original. For example, suppose we are given the
equation r = 1 2 cos .
In the third test, we consider symmetry with respect to the pole (origin). We replace (r, ) with (r, ) to determine if the
tested equation is equivalent to the original equation. For example, suppose we are given the equation r = 2 sin (3).
r = 2 sin (3)
r = 2 sin (3)
The equation has failed the symmetry test , but that does not mean that it is not symmetric with respect to the pole. Passing
one or more of the symmetry tests veri es that symmetry will be exhibited in a graph. However, failing the symmetry tests does
not necessarily indicate that a graph will not be symmetric about the line = 2 , the polar axis, or the pole. In these instances,
we can con rm that symmetry exists by plotting re ecting points across the apparent axis of symmetry or the pole. Testing for
symmetry is a technique that simpli es the graphing of polar equations, but its application is not perfect.
A polar equation describes a curve on the polar grid. The graph of a polar equation can be evaluated for three types of
symmetry, as shown in Figure 2.
2. If the resulting equations are equivalent in one or more of the tests, the graph produces the expected symmetry.
SOLUTION
3) Replacing r with r changes the equation and fails \(\begin{array}{l}-r=2\sin \theta \hfill \\ \text{ }r=-2\sin \theta \ne 2\sin
the test. The graph may or may not be symmetric with \theta \hfill \\ \text{Failed}\hfill \end{array}\)
respect to the pole.
Using a graphing calculator, we can see that the equation r = 2 sin is a circle centered at (0, 1 ) with radius r = 1 and is
indeed symmetric to the line = 2 . We can also see that the graph is not symmetric with the polar axis or the pole. See Figure
3.
TRY IT 1
Solution
Pr ev iou s Nex t