Polar Equations

(Assignment 11)

by

J. Matt Tumlin, Cara Haskins, and Robin Kirkham

 

Through the assistance of Graphing Calculator 3.2, we investigate the different variances when graphing Polar equations.

 

Explore the equation r = a + b cos (k q) such that 0 £ q £  2 p

 

Since there are three variables a, b, and k to explore, there are many cases to explore.

 

 

1.    When a and b are equal, and k is an integer, this is referred to

as the Òn-leaf rose.Ó

 

Let us graph such that :

 

a = b = 2, k = 1 (red)

a = b = 4, k = 1 (green)

 

 

 

Notice that when a=b , a and b are scalar factors for the Òn-leaf roseÓ.  Also, when k=1, the roots of r = a + b cos (k q) are  0 and a+b.

 

 

Next, we observe the effect of k on the equation.

 

Below are the graphs of:

 

a = b = 2, k = 3 (red)

a = b = 4, k = 5 (green)

 

 

 

With these graphs and further exploration, we observe that k determines the number of leaves in the Òn-leaf roseÓ figure.

 

 

2. LetÕs now look at the graph of a=2, b=8, and k=1.

 

 

 

When a < b and k is an integer, r = a + b cos (k q) have roots at 0, a+b, and a-b.

 

When a< b, the function traces a similar path to the Òn-leaf roseÓ graph, but not on the same scale.

 

It appears that the results provide a Òk-leaf roseÓ.

One inner ÒleafÓ always is at b-a on the x-axis.

 

 

3.   What happens when a > b and k is an integer?

 

To see, letÕs investigate the graph of a = 5, b= 2, and k= 10.

 

 

 

The ÒleavesÓ are merging towards a circle form.

The leaves come into a point on the circle centered on the origin with the radius a-b.

The tips of the leaves work out to a point on the circle centered at the origin with the radius a+b.

 

The function oscillates between these two circles k times to produce k ÒleavesÓ.

 

Once k becomes large enough, other characteristics can be explored.

 

Look at a=5, b= 4, and k=1000

 

 

 

This graph has many different characteristics that could be explored. Observe that the center is not filled.

Notice that there is a five leaf rose in the center as well as the outer leaves (if you will) are also five.

This seems to be related to the ÒaÓ value.

 

 

 

When k=2000 is tried, notice that the internal number of leaves becomes 10.

 

With some further investigation it seems that the number of leaves is  Ò1000/200 = 5Ó.

 

 

4.      What about when a = b and k is NOT an integer?

 

Let    a = b = 5, and k = 3 (green)

and   a = b = 5, and k = 3.4 (red)

 

 

 

Observe that the graph is no longer continuous.

The two graphs are merging towards each other.

Thus, only when k is an integer is the graph continuous.

 

When k is between 3 and 4 then the number of leaves is also between three and four.

 

 

5.   When a < b and k is not an integer, what occurs?

 

When a < b and k is not an integer, observe a similar transformation taking place as we witness when a=b and k is not an integer.

 

 

 

As observed before there are between 2 and 3 leaves due to k being not an integer.

 

 

6.   How about when a > b and k is not an integer.

 

When a > b and k is not an integer, what do you think is observed this time?

 

 

 

 

Conclusion:

 

á      As a, b, and k vary there seems to be many relationship issues that can be discussed. The number of leaves and the relationship that both a and b have seem to be related.

 

á      It becomes more interesting when the values are no longer integers, that is when all the changes and predictions change.

 

This looks like an investigation that can be shared with high school students allowing them to draw quite a few different and interesting conclusions as well as what has been observed.

 

 

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