Subject: Calculus and Differential

Equations
Sub. code: 21MAT11

Acharya Institute of Technology

Department of Mathematics

Bangalore - 560107

Department of Mathematics (AIT) Calculus and Differential Equations ( 1/19) January 6, 2022 1 / 19
 Module-1: DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS-1

III) Find the angle of intersection of the following pairs of

curves
1. r = sinθ + cosθ and r = 2sinθ (Jan-2020)
Solution:
Taking logarithms on both sides, logr = log (sinθ + cosθ)
Differentiating with respect to θ we get
1 dr cosθ−sinθ
r dθ
= sinθ+cosθ
cosθ(1−tanθ)
cotϕ1 = cosθ(1+tanθ)

cotϕ1 = cot( Π4 + θ) ⇒ ϕ1 = Π
4
+θ
Now from second curve we get logr = log 2 + logsinθ
Differentiating with respect to θ we get
Department of Mathematics (AIT) Calculus and Differential Equations ( 2/19) January 6, 2022 2 / 19
1 dr
r dθ
= 0 + cosθ
sinθ
cotϕ2 = cotθ ⇒ ϕ2 = θ
Therefore ϕ = |ϕ1 − ϕ2 | = | Π4 + θ − θ| = Π
4
Π
Thus the angle of intersection is 4
.
a
2. r = alog θ and r = log θ
(Jan-2018)
Solution:
Taking logarithms on both sides, logr = loga + log (log θ)
Differentiating with respect to θ we get
1 dr 1
r dθ
=0+ log θ·θ
1
cotϕ1 = θlog θ
⇒ tanϕ1 = θlog θ

Department of Mathematics (AIT) Calculus and Differential Equations ( 3/19) January 6, 2022 3 / 19
Now from second curve we get logr = loga − log (log θ)
Differentiating with respect to θ we get
1 dr
r dθ
= 0 − log1θ·θ
1
cotϕ2 = − θlog θ
⇒ tanϕ2 = −θlog θ
tanϕ1 −tanϕ2
Therefore tanϕ = tan|ϕ1 − ϕ2 | = |tan(ϕ1 − ϕ2 )| = | 1+tanϕ 1 ·tanϕ2
|
θlog θ+θlog θ 2θlog θ
tanϕ = | 1−θlog θ·θlog θ
| = | 1−(θlog θ)2
| ........(1)
We have to find θ by solving the given pair of equations.
a
r = alog θ and r = log θ
a
alog θ = log θ
⇒ (log θ)2 = 1 ⇒ θ = e
Substituting θ = e in (1) we get,
2e
tanϕ = 1−e 2

Thus the angle of intersection is ϕ = tan−1 ( 1−e

2e
2 ).

Department of Mathematics (AIT) Calculus and Differential Equations ( 4/19) January 6, 2022 4 / 19
3. r = a(1 + cosθ) and r 2 = a2 cos2θ
Solution:
Taking logarithms we get, logr = loga + log (1 + cosθ)
Differentiating with respect to θ we get
1 dr −sinθ
r dθ
= 0 + 1+cosθ
−2sin( θ2 )cos( θ2 )
cotϕ1 = 2cos 2 ( θ2 )
= −tan( 2θ ) = cot( Π2 + 2θ )
ϕ1 = Π2 + 2θ
Now from second curve we get 2logr = 2loga + logcos2θ
Differentiating with respect to θ we get
2 dr
r dθ
= 0 + −2sin2θ
cos2θ
cotϕ2 = −tan2θ = cot( Π2 + 2θ) ⇒ ϕ2 = Π2 + 2θ
Therefore ϕ = |ϕ1 − ϕ2 | = | Π2 + 2θ − Π2 − 2θ| = 3θ
2
.......(1)

Department of Mathematics (AIT) Calculus and Differential Equations ( 5/19) January 6, 2022 5 / 19
We have to find θ by solving the given pair of equations.
r = a(1 + cosθ) and r 2 = a2 cos2θ
a2 (1 + cosθ)2 = a2 cos2θ
1 + 2cosθ + cos 2 θ = 2cos 2 θ − 1
cos 2 θ − 2cosθ −2=√ 0
√
2± 4+8 2±2 3
√
cosθ = 2
= 2
= 1 ± 3
Since cosθ cannot exceed 1 numerically we have to take
√ √
cosθ = 1 − 3 ⇒ θ = cos −1 (1 − 3)
√
Thus the angle of intersection is ϕ = 32 cos −1 (1 − 3).

Department of Mathematics (AIT) Calculus and Differential Equations ( 6/19) January 6, 2022 6 / 19
 aθ a
4. r = 1+θ and r = 1+θ 2

Solution:
Taking logarithms we get, logr = loga + log θ − log (1 + θ)
Differentiating with respect to θ we get
1 dr
r dθ
= 0 + 1θ − 1+θ
1

1
cotϕ1 = θ(1+θ)
2
tanϕ1 = θ + θ
Now from second curve we get logr = loga − log (1 + θ2 )
Differentiating with respect to θ we get
1 dr 2θ
r dθ
= 0 − 1+θ 2

1+θ2
tanϕ2 = −2θ

Department of Mathematics (AIT) Calculus and Differential Equations ( 7/19) January 6, 2022 7 / 19
 tanϕ1 −tanϕ2
Therefore tanϕ = |tan(ϕ1 − ϕ2 )| = | 1+tanϕ 1 tanϕ2
|
2 2
θ+θ2 −( 1+θ
−2θ
)) θ+θ2 +( 1+θ ))
tanϕ = | 2 |=| 2θ
2 |.......(1)
1+(θ+θ2 )·( 1+θ
−2θ
)) 1−(θ+θ2 )·( 1+θ
2θ
))

We have to find θ by solving the given pair of equations.

aθ a
1+θ
= 1+θ 2

θ + θ3 = 1 + θ
θ3 = 1 ⇒ θ = 1
Therefore tanϕ = | 2+1
1−2
|=3
Thus the angle of intersection is ϕ = tan−1 (3).

Department of Mathematics (AIT) Calculus and Differential Equations ( 8/19) January 6, 2022 8 / 19
5. r = aθ and r = θa
Solution:
Taking logarithms we get, logr = loga + log θ
Differentiating with respect to θ we get
1 dr
r dθ
= 0 + 1θ
cotϕ1 = 1θ
tanϕ1 = θ
Now from second curve we get logr = loga − log θ
Differentiating with respect to θ we get
1 dr
r dθ
= 0 − 1θ
tanϕ2 = −θ

Department of Mathematics (AIT) Calculus and Differential Equations ( 9/19) January 6, 2022 9 / 19
 tanϕ1 −tanϕ2
Therefore tanϕ = |tan(ϕ1 − ϕ2 )| = | 1+tanϕ 1 tanϕ2
|
2θ
tanϕ = | 1−θ 2 |.......(1)

We have to find θ by solving the given pair of equations.

aθ = θa
θ2 = 1 ⇒ θ = ±1
2(−1) − Π
Therefore tanϕ = | 1−(−1) 2 | = ∞ ⇒ ϕ = tan 1(∞) = 2

Thus the angle of intersection is ϕ = Π2 .

Department of Mathematics (AIT) Calculus and Differential Equations ( 10/19) January 6, 2022 10 / 19
EXERCISES:

Find the angle of intersection of the following pairs of curves

1. r 2 sin2θ = 4 and r 2 = 16sin2θ
2. r = 6cosθ and r = 2(1 + cosθ) (Sep-2020)
3. r n = an sec(nθ + α) and r n = b n sec(nθ + β)
4. r 2 = a2 cos2θ + b 2 and r = b
5. r = acosθ and r = 2a
6. r = a(1 + sinθ) and r = a(1 − sinθ) (Sep-2020)
ANSWERS:
2
1. ϕ = |ϕ1 − ϕ2 | = π3 , 2. π
6
, 3. α − β where α > β, 4. tan−1 ( ba2 ),
5. π3 , 6. π2

Department of Mathematics (AIT) Calculus and Differential Equations ( 11/19) January 6, 2022 11 / 19
Pedal equation (p-r equation) of a polar
curve or Length of the perpendicular from
the pole to the tangent
We have
1. p = rsinϕ
1 1 1 1 1 dr 2
2. p2
= r2
cosec 2 ϕ = r2
[1 + cot 2 ϕ] = r2
+ ( )
r 4 dθ

Find the pedal equation of the following curves

2a
1. r
= 1 + cosθ (Sep-2020, July-2018)
Solution:
Taking logarithms we get, log 2a − logr = log (1 + cosθ)
Differentiating with respect to θ we get
0 − 1r dθ
dr sinθ
= − 1+cosθ
Department of Mathematics (AIT) Calculus and Differential Equations ( 12/19) January 6, 2022 12 / 19
 sinθ 2sin( θ2 )cos( θ2 )
cotϕ = 1+cosθ
= 2cos 2 ( θ2 )
= tan( 2θ )
cotϕ = cot( Π2 − 2θ ) ⇒ ϕ = Π2 − 2θ
Consider p = rsinϕ = rsin( Π2 − 2θ ) = rcos( 2θ ) ....(1)
From given data we have 2a r
= 1 + cosθ ....(2)
We have to eliminate θ from (1) and (2).
2a
= 2cos 2 ( 2θ ) or cos( 2θ ) = ar
p
(2) can be put in the form r
pa √
Therefore equation
√ (1) can be written as p = r r
= ar .
Thus p = ar is the required pedal equation.

Department of Mathematics (AIT) Calculus and Differential Equations ( 13/19) January 6, 2022 13 / 19
 2a
2. r
= 1 − cosθ (Sep-2020)
Solution:
Taking logarithms we get, log 2a − logr = log (1 − cosθ)
Differentiating with respect to θ we get
dr
0 − 1r dθ sinθ
= 1−cosθ
sinθ 2sin( θ2 )cos( θ2 )
−cotϕ = 1−cosθ
= 2sin2 ( θ2 )
= cot( 2θ )
cotϕ = −cot( 2θ ) = cot(− 2θ ) ⇒ ϕ = − 2θ
Consider p = rsinϕ = rsin(− 2θ ) = −rsin( 2θ ) ....(1)
From given data we have 2a r
= 1 − cosθ
2a
= 2sin2 ( 2θ ) or sin( 2θ ) = ar
p
r
√
Therefore equation (1) can be written as p = −r ar = − ar .
p
Thus p 2 = ar is the required pedal equation.

Department of Mathematics (AIT) Calculus and Differential Equations ( 14/19) January 6, 2022 14 / 19
3. r 2 = a2 sec2θ (Jan-2019)
Solution:
Taking logarithms we get, 2logr = 2loga + log (sec2θ)
Differentiating with respect to θ we get
2 dr
r dθ
= 2sec2θtan2θ
sec2θ
= 2tan2θ
cotϕ = cot( Π2 − 2θ) ⇒ ϕ = Π2 − 2θ
Consider p = rsinϕ = rsin( Π2 − 2θ) = rcos(2θ) ....(1)
From given data we have r 2 = a2 sec2θ ....(2)
We have to eliminate θ from (1) and (2).
r2 a2
(2) can be put in the form a2
= sec2θ or cos(2θ) = r2
2 a2
Therefore equation (1) can be written as p = r ar 2 = r
.
Thus pr = a2 is the required pedal equation.

Department of Mathematics (AIT) Calculus and Differential Equations ( 15/19) January 6, 2022 15 / 19
4. r n = an cosnθ (Jan-2020)
Solution:
Taking logarithms we get, nlogr = nloga + log (cosnθ)
Differentiating with respect to θ we get
n dr
r dθ
= −nsinnθ
cosnθ
= −ntannθ
cotϕ = cot( Π2 + nθ) ⇒ ϕ = Π2 + nθ
Consider p = rsinϕ = rsin( Π2 + nθ) = rcos(nθ) ....(1)
From given data we have r n = an cosnθ ....(2)
We have to eliminate θ from (1) and (2).
rn
(2) can be put in the form an
= cosnθ
n r n+1
Therefore equation (1) can be written as p = r ar n = an
.
Thus r n+1 = pan is the required pedal equation.

Department of Mathematics (AIT) Calculus and Differential Equations ( 16/19) January 6, 2022 16 / 19
 l
5. r
= 1 + ecosθ
Solution:
Taking logarithms we get, logl − logr = log (1 + ecosθ)
Differentiating with respect to θ we get
−esinθ
dr
0 − 1r dθ = 1+ecosθ
esinθ
cotϕ = 1+ecosθ
we cannot find ϕ explicitly
e 2 sin2 θ
Consider p12 = r12 [1 + cot 2 ϕ] = r12 [1 + (1+ecosθ) 2] ....(1)
From given data we have rl = 1 + ecosθ ....(2)
We have to eliminate θ from (1) and (2).
l
(2) can be put in the form r
− 1 = ecosθ
Also e 2 sin2 θ = e 2 (1 − cos 2 θ) == e 2 − e 2 cos 2 θ = e 2 − ( rl − 1)2
1 1 e 2 −( rl −1)2
Therefore equation (1) can be written as p2
= r2
[1 + ( rl )2
]

Department of Mathematics (AIT) Calculus and Differential Equations ( 17/19) January 6, 2022 17 / 19
1 1 2
p2
= r2
+ l12 [e 2 − ( rl − 1)2 ] = 1
r2
+ l12 [e 2 − ( rl 2 − 2l
r
+ 1)]
1 1 l2 e2
p2
= r2
+ l12 [e 2 − r2
+ 2l
r
− 1)] = 1
r2
+ l2
− 1
r2
+ 2
lr
− 1
l2
1 e 2 −1 2
p2
= l2
+ lr
1 e 2 −1 2
Thus p2
= l2
+ lr
is the required pedal equation.
6. For the equiangular spiral r = ae θcotα , a and α are constant show
that the tangent is inclined at a constant angle with the radius vector
and hence find the pedal equation of the curve.
Solution:
Taking logarithms we get, logr = loga + θcotαloge
Differentiating with respect to θ we get
1 dr
r dθ
= 0 + cotα
cotϕ = cotα ⇒ ϕ = α = constant.
Now consider p = rsinϕ = rsinα.
Department of Mathematics (AIT) Calculus and Differential Equations ( 18/19) January 6, 2022 18 / 19
EXERCISES:

Find the pedal equation of the following curves.

1. r 2 cos2θ = a2
2. r = a + bcosθ
3. r = asin3θ
4. r n secnθ = an
ANSWERS:
1. pr = a2
2. p 2 [2ar + b 2 − a2 ] = r 4
3. p 2 [9a2 − 8r 2 ] = r 4
4. pan = r n+1

Department of Mathematics (AIT) Calculus and Differential Equations ( 19/19) January 6, 2022 19 / 19