Intersecting Polar Functions

Algebra Level 2

Consider the graphs of two polar functions r = 4 cos θ , r = 8 sin θ . r=4\cos \theta, r=8 \sin \theta. How many intersection points do they have?

4 2 1 3

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1 solution

In the polar coordinate system, two points are taken to be the same if they have same parameters, which are r r , the distance of the point from the origin and θ [ 0 , 2 π ) \theta \in [0,2 \pi) .

At points of intersection of the above two curves, the point satisfies both curves,which means: r = 4 cos θ = 8 sin θ tan θ = 0.5 r= 4 \cos{\theta} = 8 \sin{\theta} \Rightarrow \tan{\theta} = 0.5 . There are precisely two values of θ ( 0 , π 2 ) ( π , 3 π 2 ) \theta \in (0,\frac{\pi}{2}) \cup (\pi, \frac{3 \pi}{2}) which satisfies this.

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