AP Calculus BC – Study Guide: Unit 8 – Parametric Equations, Polar Coordinates, and Vectors

Conic sections…
Convert to standard form and sketch: Parabola:

x2  6x  8y  7  0 x2  6 x  8 y  7  0
x2  6 x  9  8 y  7  9
2
 x  3  8 y 16
2 2
 x  3  8  y  2  x  h  4 p  y  k 
 h, k   vertex p  distance vertex to focus and directrix

9x2  4y2 36x 8y  4  0 Ellipse :

9x2  4 y2  36x  8 y  4  0
9  x2  4 x   4 y 2
 2y   4
9  x  4 x  4  4  y
2 2
 2 y  1  4  36  4
2 2
9  x  2  4  y  1  36
2 2 2 2
 x  2 
 y 1 1
 x  h 
 y k 1
4 9 a2 b2
 h, k   center a  dist. center to vertex in x
b  dist. center to curve in y

Circle :
special case of ellipse with
a=b:

2 2
 x  2 
 y 1 1
4 4
2 2
 x  2   y  1 4

9x2  4y2 18x 16y  29  0 Hyperbola :

9 x2  4 y 2 18x 16 y  29  0
9  x2  2x   4  y  4 y   29 2

9  x  4x  1  4  y  2 y  4  4  9  16
2 2

2 2
9  x 1  4  y  2  36
2 2
4  y  2  9  x 1  36
2 2 2 2
 y  2 
 x  2 1 1
 y k 
 x  h
9 4 a2 b2
 h, k   center a  dist. center to vertex on transverse axis
b  dist. center to edge of asymptote box
Different representational forms of relationships…

 x  x  t 
Rectangular: y  f  x  Parametric: 
 y  y  t 

Convert to rectangular form and sketch: Convert to rectangular form:

 x  2t
 x  2t  eliminate parameter by substitution
  y  4t  3
 y  4t  3 1 1 
t x, y  4  x   3, y  2 x  3
2 2 

(include direction arrows)

 x  1  2 cos t
 use sin 2 t  cos 2 t  1
 y   2  3sin t
x  1 2cos t
 cos t 
x 1
, sin t 
y2
 y  2  3sin t 2 3
2 2
 x  1  y  2
 1  ellipse 
4 9

Polar:

Formulas for converting polar - rectangular: Formulas for converting polar - rectangular:
x x  r cos 

y y  r sin 

x2  y 2  x2  y 2  r 2

tan   y
tan  
x
Convert to rectangular form and sketch: Convert to rectangular form:
r  8 sin 
r  8sin 
r 2  8r sin 
x2  y 2  8 y
x2  y 2  8 y  0
2
x2   y  4   16

5
 5
6 
6
 5 
tan   tan  
 6 
 5  1
sin    
y  6    2  1

x  5   
cos     3   3
 6   2 
1
y x
 3

Vectors:

 
Position: a  ax , ay , a distance of a in direction 

 
Formulas for vector  a  ax , ay  : Formulas for vectors:
 

  2 2
magnitude of a  a  magnitude of a  a   ax    ay 

components :
components :
 
ax  ay  ax  a cos  ay  a sin 

Vectors are equal if… Vectors are equal if their component values are equal.


Find the vector from 1,3 to  9, 4  a  9  1, 4  3  8,1

Vector-valued functions: Vector-valued functions:

Input is a parameter (typically, t), output is a vector
 
Example: position vector: r  t   x  t  , y  t  Example: position vector: r  t   x  t  , y  t 
Arithmetic operations and properties for different representations…

Multiplication by a constant…
3 6,  3  3 6,  3  18,  9

lim 3 f  x   lim 3 f  x   3 lim f  x 

x 2 x 2 x2

d d d
3 f  x   3 f  x   3  f  x 
dx  dx dx

 3 f  x  dx   3 f  x  dx  3 f  x  dx
  

3a
n1
n   3a
n 1
n 3 an
n 1

In general, multiplication of objects other than numbers is not straightforward (derivative of function multiplied
requires product rule, integral requires integration by parts, multiplication of a vector by another vector not
defined for this class, cannot multiply two series in summation form.)

Addition/subtraction…
8,1  2, 5  8,1  2, 5  8  2, 1  5  6,  4

 1  1 1
lim  x3    lim  x3    lim x3  lim
xc
 x x c
 x  x c x c x

d 3 d 3
 x  sin  x   x  sin  x   3x2  cos  x
dx  dx 

1
 x  cos  x  dx  x4  sin  x  C
3
x  cos  x   dx 
3

   

  an  bn  
n 1
  an  bn   an  bn
n 1 n1 n1

PEMDAS still applies…

2 8,1  3 2,5 
2 8,1  3 2,5
16, 2  6,15 multiplication before addition
16  6, 2  15  10, 13
For vectors things like limits, derivatives, or integrals apply separately to each term:

t 4

lim t 2 , t 3    
lim t 2 , t 3  lim t 2 , lim t 3
t 4 t 4 t 4

d 2 3 d 2 3
 t , t   t , t   2t, 3t 2
dx   dx  

1 3 1 1 1 
 t 2 , t 3 dt   t 2 , t 3 dt  t  C1 , t 4  C2  t 3 , t 4  C
3 4 3 4
For limits:
n n n
lim  f  x   lim  f  x     lim f  x  
xc xc  xc 

lim  n f  x    lim  n f  x    n lim f  x 

xc   xc   x c

x  t 2  3t
Derivatives in parametric form  :
 y  sin  t 
 dy 
dy
 dy  dt  cos  t 
 
dx dx  dx  2t  3
 
 dt 

d  cos  t    2t  3   sin  t    cos  t  2

dx  2t  3 
2
d y 2

2
d y
 
 2t  3
dx 2 dx2  2t  3 2

Derivatives in polar form r  4sin   :

dy
 x  r cos  4sin  cos y  r sin   4  sin  
2
dx
dx
  4sin    sin    cos  4cos   4sin2   4cos2 
d
dy dy
is the slope of the tangent line on the x-y plane.  8sin  cos
dx d
 dy 
dy  d  8sin  cos
 
dx  dx  4sin 2   4cos2 
 
 d 

dy
Horizontal tangents occur when… Horizontal tangents occur when… 0
dx

dy
Vertical tangents occur when… Vertical tangents occur when… is undefined
dx
Intersections are always system solutions
(find the intersections):
 y  x2  6

 y  x
 y  x2  6

 y  x
x2  6   x x  3, x2
2
x  x 6  0 y    3 y    2
 x  3 x  2  0  3, 3  2,  2

 r  3 1  sin  

 r  3 1  sin  
r  31  sin  

r  31  sin  
31  sin    31  sin     0,  
sin    sin  r  31  sin 0 r  3 1  sin  
2sin   0 r 3 r 3
sin   0  r,  :  3,0  3,  
must also graph and check for r  0  is an intersection here :
3
for r  31  sin    0  31  sin   , sin   1,  
2

for r  31  sin    0  31  sin   , sin   1,  
2
 3   
so  0,  and  0,   coincident , but not a ' collision ' different  
 2   2

 x1  3sin t  x2  3  cos t
  0  t  2
 y1  2cos t  y2  1  sin t
x1  3sin t x2  3  cos t
  0  t  2
 y1  2cos t  y2  1  sin t
x1  x2 y1  y2
3sin t  3  cos t 2cos t  1 sin t
by calculator graph : by calculator graph :
at t  1.5708, t  2.2143 at t  0.6435, t  4.7123
 these are intersections, but not ' collisions '  different t 
 2 2
Tangent lines… For  x  2   y  3  4

Rectangular:
 a  Write the equation of the tan gent line at 1,  3  3 
2 2
For  x  2   y  3  4 dy
m use implicit differentiation if needed  :
dx
 a  Write the equation of the tangent line at 1,  3  3   dy  dy  x  2  1  2 1
2  x  21  2  y  3    0,   
 b  Where does this curve have horizontal tangents ?  dx  dx y  3 
3  3  3 3 
 c  Where does this curve have vertical tangents ?
 y   3  3   13  x 1
 b Where does this curve have horizontal tangents ?
dy
where  0  numerator  0 ,  x  2  0, at x  2  2 points 
dx

 c  Where does this curve have vertical tangents ?

dy
where  DNE  denominator  0 , y  3  0, at y  3  2 points 
dx

Parametric:
x  2t   sin t  x  2t   sin t
For  For 
 y  2   cos t  y  2   cos t
2 2
 a Write the equation of the tangent line at t   a  Write the equation of the tangent line at t 
3 3
 b Where does this curve have horizontal tangents ?  dy   3
  3
  2 
 c  Where does this curve have vertical tangents ? m 
dy  dt 

 sin t
   2 
3
 0.76193
dx  dx  2   cos t t  2  1  2   4 
  3 2    
 dt   2 1 2
 2   2  4  3
x  2     sin         1.4681
 3  3 3  2 
 2   1
y  2   cos    2       3.5708
 3  2
 y  3.5708  0.76193 x 1.4681

 b  Where does this curve have horizontal tangents ?

dy
where  0  numerator  0  sin t  0
dx
t  0, t    and other values, use calculator 

 c  Where does this curve have vertical tangents ?

dy
where  DNE  denominator  0 2   cos t  0
dx
t  0.8807, t  0.8807  and other values, use calculator 
Polar:
For r  4sin 
For r  4sin 

 a  Write the equation of the tangent line at  
 a  Write the equation of the tangent line at  

3
3
 b  Where does this curve have horizontal tangents ?  dy 
 c  Where does this curve have vertical tangents ? dy  d 
m 
dx  dy 
 
 d 
2
and x  r cos  4sin  cos , y  r sin   4  sin  
dx dy
 4sin    sin    cos  4cos   8sin  cos
d d
dx dy
 4  cos2   sin 2    8sin  cos
d d
 dy   3  1 
  8   
dy
m    
d 8sin  cos
  2  2 
dx  dy  4  cos   sin   
2 2
  1 2  3 2 
  t
4     
 d  3
 2   2  
 
2 3
  2 3  3.464
1
       3  1 
x  4sin   cos    4      3  1.732
 3   3   2  2 
2
2  3
y  4  sin    4    3
 2 
 y 1.732  3.464  x  3

 b  Where does this curve have horizontal tangents ?

dy
where  0  numerator  0 8sin  cos  0
dx

  0, t   and other values, use calculator 
2

 c  Where does this curve have vertical tangents ?

dy
where  DNE  denominator  0 4  cos2   sin 2    0
dx
t  0.7854, t  0.7854  and other values, use calculator 
Position, Velocity (speed), Acceleration…

In 1D: In 1D:

An object moves in one direction with position x x  t   t 3  4t 2  3

given by x  t   t 3  4t 2  3 .  a  v  t   x  t   3t 2  8t
(a) Find velocity as function of time.  b  a  t   v  t   6t  8
(b) What acceleration as a function of time. 3 2

(c) What is the position of the particle at t = 2?

 c  x  2   2  4  2  3  5  include units if given in problem 
2
(d) What is the speed of the particle at t = 2?  d  speed  v  2  3  2  8  2  4  4

An object is launched upward with an initial velocity of a  t   9.8

3 0 m / s from an initial height of 1 0 m in gravity field
 a  v  t    a  t  dt    9.8 dt  9.8t  C1
with a  t   9.8 m / s2 .
v  0  30, so 30  9.8  0  C1 , C1  30
(a) Find velocity as a function of time.
v  t   9.8t  30
(b) Find height as a function of time.
(c) At what time does the object reach maximum height  b  x  t    v  t  dt    9.8t  30 dt  4.9t 2  30t  C2
and what is the max height? 2
x  0  10, so 10  4.9  0  30  0   C2 , C2  10
(d) At what time does the object hit the ground?
x  t   4.9t 2  30t  10
c Max height when v  0 :  9.8t  30  0, t  3.06122 sec
x  3.06122  55.91837 m
d  On ground when x  0 :  4.9t 2  30t  10  0
2
30   30  4  4.910
at t   0.3169 , 6.439 sec
2  4.9

In 2D (vector/parametric): In 2D (vector/parametric):

An object moves in the xy-plane with: v  t   t 3  5t 2 , cos t

a velocity vector v  t   t 3  5t 2 , cos t  1 4
 a  r  t     t 3  5t 2  dt,   cos t  dt  t  C1 , sin t  C2
…or could be given as parametric equations: 4
 1 4
 x  t   t 3  5t 2
v  0  3,0 so 3,0   0  C1 , sin  0  C2  C1, C2
 4
 y  t   cos t
 1 4

C1  3, C2  0, r t   t  3, sin t
(a) Find the position vector if x  0   3, 0 . 4
(b) Find the acceleration vector.  d 3 d
(c) What is the position, velocity, and acceleration b a t   t  5t 2  , cos t   3t 2 10t,  sin t
dx dx
of the object at t = 2?  1 4
(d) What is the speed of the object at t = 2?  c  r  2   2  3, sin  2  7, 0.9093
4
 3 2
v  2    2   5  2  , cos  2  12,  0.4161
 2
a  2   3  2 10  2 ,  sin  2  8,  0.9093
 2 2
 d  speed  v  2   12   0.9093  12.0344

NOTE : Polar is similar to vector / parametric, the parameter

is just  instead of t , with x  r cos , y  r sin  .
Applications of integrals…

Area between curves (rectangular): b b

Find the area enclosed by f  x   x 2 and g  x   x . A   H dx   h dx
a a
1 1
  x dx   x 2 dx
0 0
1

0
 
x  x 2 dx  0.333

Area between curves (polar): intersections :

Find the area inside r  3sin  and 3sin   1  sin 
outside r  1  sin  . 2sin   1
1
sin  
2
 5
  , 
6 6
 
1 2 1
A R d   r 2 d
2  2
5 5
1 6 2 1 6 2
   3sin   d   1  sin   d
2 2
6 6
5
6
1  2 2
   3sin    1  sin    d  3.142
2
6
Arclength (rectangular): b
2
arclength   1   f   x   dx
a
x3 1
If f  x    find the length of this 1 1 1 1
6 2x f  x   x3  x1 , f   x   x2  x2
6 2 2 2
1
curve for  x  1. 1 2
2 1 1 
  1   x2  x2  dx  0.646
1 2 2 
2

b 2 2
Arclength (parametric):  dx   dy 
arclength        dt
Find the arclength of the curve x  6t 2 , y  2t3 a 
dt   dt 
over the interval 1  t  4. dx dy
x  6t 2 ,  12t, y  2t 3 ,  6t 2
dt dt
4
2 2
arclength   12t    6t 2  dt  156.525
1

Arclength (polar):  2
 dr 
Find the arclength of one petal of r  2sin  3  . arclength   r 2    d
  d 
one petal when r  0 :
2sin  3   0 substitute :   3
2sin   0, sin   0,   0, 
back substitute : 3  0 3  

  0, 
3
dr
r  2sin  3  ,  6cos  3 
d

3
2 2
arclength    2sin  3     6cos  3   d  4.455
0
Displacement vs. total distance: Displacement vs. total distance:
 
The velocity of a particle is given by  a  total displacement  r  4  r 1
 4  4   
v  t   3t 2  8t , 3t 2 12 . Find:
 r  t  dt   v  t  dt  r  4  r 1
(a) The displacement of the particle 1 1
4  
from t 1 to t  4. 3t 2  8t , 3t 2 12 dt  r  4  r 1
(b) The total distance traveled by the particle

1

from t 1 to t  4. 4
2 2
4  
 3t  8t dt,  3t 12 dt  r  4  r 1
1 1

4 4  
t 3  4t 2  , t 3  12t   r  4  r 1
1 1

 
3, 27  r  4  r 1

b 
 b total distance traveled   v  t  dt
a
 2 2
v t    3t 2
 8t    3t 2 12

total distance traveled

4
2 2
  3t 2
 8t    3t 2 12 dt
1

41.655