Chapter I Parametric equations
Parametric equations and Polar Coordinates
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Chapter I Parametric equations
By the end of this chapter you should be able to
Define the parametric curve in plane,
Parameterizing a curve,
identify line in space, parametric representation of a straight
line and symmetric form of a line,
Polar co-ordinates, relation with Cartesian and Polar
co-ordinates.
Graph some simple polar equations
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Parametric equations Learning Objectives
Plot a curve described by parametric equations.
Convert the parametric equations of a curve into the form
y = f (x).
Recognize the parametric equations of basic curves, such as a
line and a circle.
Recognize the parametric equations of a cycloid.
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Parametric equations Learning Objectives
Plot a curve described by parametric equations.
Convert the parametric equations of a curve into the form
y = f (x).
Recognize the parametric equations of basic curves, such as a
line and a circle.
Recognize the parametric equations of a cycloid.
What is the need for parametric equations?
Things that are not functions in rectangular coordinates can
be functions in parametric form.
Parametrics let you control the starting point, ending point,
and direction of travel of a graph
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Definition
If x and y are continuous functions of t on an interval I , then the
equations
x = x(t), y = y (t)
are called parametric equations.
Two functions one curve.
The parameter can be time, angle, or something else altogether.
A path is a curve, together with a journey traced along the curve.
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Definition
If x and y are continuous functions of t on an interval I , then the
equations
x = x(t), y = y (t)
are called parametric equations.
Two functions one curve.
The parameter can be time, angle, or something else altogether.
A path is a curve, together with a journey traced along the curve.
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Chapter I Parametric equations
UNESWA 2022
Chapter I Parametric equations
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Chapter I Parametric equations
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Example 2
Sketch x(t) = t 2 − 3, y (t) = 2t + 1 where −2 ≤ t ≤ 3.
- initial point
- terminal point
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Example 2
Sketch x(t) = t 2 − 3, y (t) = 2t + 1 where −2 ≤ t ≤ 3.
- initial point
- terminal point
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Parametric to Cartesian equation
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Parametric to Cartesian equation
Example 3
By eliminating the parameter write
√ the corresponding Cartesian
equation of x(t) = ln t, y (t) = t, t ≥ 1.
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Parametric to Cartesian equation
Example 3
By eliminating the parameter write
√ the corresponding Cartesian
equation of x(t) = ln t, y (t) = t, t ≥ 1.
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Cycloid
A curve traced out by a point on the circumference of a circle as
the circle rolls along a straight line is known as cycloid.
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Parametric equations of the cycloid
Let the circle has radius r and rolls along the x-axis and if one
position of P is the origin.
choose as parameter the angle of rotation θ of the circle (θ = 0
when P is at the origin).
The circle has been in contact with the line, we see from figure
that the distance it has rolled from the origin is
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Parametric equations of the cycloid
Let the circle has radius r and rolls along the x-axis and if one
position of P is the origin.
choose as parameter the angle of rotation θ of the circle (θ = 0
when P is at the origin).
The circle has been in contact with the line, we see from figure
that the distance it has rolled from the origin is
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Choose as parameter the angle of rotation θ of the circle.
Suppose the circle has rotated through θ radians.
Because the circle has been in contact with the line,
|OT | =arcPT = r θ
Therefore the center of the circle is C (r θ, r ). Let the coordinates
of be P be (x, y ). Then from figure we see that
x = |OT | − |PQ| = r θ − r sin θ = r (θ − sin θ)
y = |TC | − |QC | = r − r cos θ = r (1 − cos θ)
Therefore parametric equations of the cycloid are
x = r (θ − sin θ), y = r (1 − cos θ) θ, ∈ ℜ.
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Derivatives
Let C be a parametric curve (smooth curve) described by the
parametric equations x = f (t); y = g (t).
f and g are differentiable and y is also a differentiable function of x
dy dy dx
The three derivatives , and are related by the Chain rule:
dx dt dt
dy
dy dt dx
= dx if ̸= 0
dx dt
dt
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Chapter I Parametric equations
dy
The value of gives the slope of a tangent to the curve at
dx
any given point.
dy
The curve has a horizontal tangent when = 0.
dx
dy dx
The curve has a vertical tangent when = ∞ i.e., = 0.
dx dt
d 2y dy dx
The second derivative can be obtained from and .
dx 2 dt dt
d dy
d 2y dt dx
d dy dx
2
= = dx
if ̸= 0.
dx dx dx dt
dt
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Example
For the curve given by a parametric equations
x = t 2 − 3, y = 2t − 1, − 3 ≤ t ≤ 4 calculate
dy
(a)
dx
(b) Any critical point
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Example
For the curve given by a parametric equations
x = t 2 − 3, y = 2t − 1, − 3 ≤ t ≤ 4 calculate
dy
(a)
dx
(b) Any critical point
dy
dy 2 1
(a) x ′ (t) = 2t, y ′ (t) = 2 hence = dt
dx
= =
dx dt
2t t
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Example
For the curve given by a parametric equations
x = t 2 − 2t, y = t 3 − 3t
(a) Does the curve given have a vertical tangent?
(b) Use the second derivative to determine where the graph is
concave up and concave down.
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Example
For the curve given by a parametric equations
x = t 2 − 2t, y = t 3 − 3t
(a) Does the curve given have a vertical tangent?
(b) Use the second derivative to determine where the graph is
concave up and concave down.
dy
dy 3t 2 −3
(a) x ′ (t) = 2t − 2, y ′ (t) = 3t 2 − 3 hence dx = dt
dx = 2t−2
dt
The curve has a vertical tangent if 2t − 2 = 0 (and 3t 2 − 3 ̸=
0 ).
dx/dt = 2t − 2 = 0 if t = 1, however in this case
dy /dt = 3t 2 − 3 = 0,
hence the curve does not have a vertical tangent.
d 2y d( dy
dx )
d dy
( ) dx
(b) = = dt dxdx if ̸= 0
dx 2 dx dt
dt
dx dy 3t 2 − 3 3
If ̸= 0, we have = = (t + 1)
dt dx 2t − 2 2
d 3
d 2y dt ( 2 (t + 1)) 3
= =
dx 2 2t − 2 4(t − 1)
d 2y d 2y
We see that dx 2 > 0 if t > 1 and < 0 if t < 0 Therefore the
dx 2
graph is concave up if t < 1 and concave down if t > 1.
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Area
Area under the curve y = F (x) where a ≤ x ≤ b and F (x) > 0 is
given by
Z b
F (x)dx
a
If this curve can be traced out once by parametric equations
x = f (t), y = g (t), α ≤ t ≤ β then we can calculate the area
under the curve by computing the integral:
Z β Z α
A= g (t)f ′ (t)dt or A = g (t)f ′ (t)dt
α β
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Example
Find the area determined by the curve with parametric equations
x = a cos t, y = a sin t, 0 ≤ t ≤ 2π.
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Example
Find the area determined by the curve with parametric equations
x = a cos t, y = a sin t, 0 ≤ t ≤ 2π.
Solution
We know the curve determined by the give parameters
x = a cos t, yR = a sin t,R 0 ≤ t ≤ 2π is a circle of radius 1.
b 2π
A = a ydx = 0 g (t)f ′ (t)dt (we have
g (t) = y = a sin t, f (t) = x = a cos t)
R 2π R 2π
= 0 a sin t(−a sin t) dt = 0 a2 sin2 t dt
sin 2t 2π
Z 2π
a2
2 1 − cos 2t
=a dt = t−
0 2 2 2 0
= πa . 2
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Example
Find the area under one arch of the cycloid
x = r (θ − sin θ), y = r (1 − cos θ).
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Example
Find the area under one arch of the cycloid
x = r (θ − sin θ), y = r (1 − cos θ).
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Solution
R 2π cycloid Ris2πgiven by 0 ≤ θ ≤ 2π.
One arch of the
A = 0 ydx = 0 r (1 − cos θ)r (1 − cos θ)dθ
R 2π R 2π
= 0 r 2 (1 − cos θ)2 dθ = r 2 0 (1 − 2 cos θ + cos2 θ) dθ
Z 2π
2 1 + cos 2θ
=r (1 − 2 cos θ + ) dθ
2
Z0 2π
θ + sin 2θ
= r2 (θ − 2 sin θ + ) dθ
0 4
= 3πr 2 .
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Brachistochrone Problem
Which smooth curve connecting two points in a plane would a
particle slide down in the shortest amount of time?
FIRST GUESS?
Anyone think of a straight line?
Makes sense, right?
The shortest distance between two points?
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Brachistochrone Problem
Which smooth curve connecting two points in a plane would a
particle slide down in the shortest amount of time?
FIRST GUESS?
Anyone think of a straight line?
Makes sense, right?
The shortest distance between two points?
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Arc length
The length L of a curve C given in the form y = F (x), a ≤ x ≤ b
and if F ′ (x) is continuous:
s
Z b 2
dy
L= 1+ dx
a dx
If C described by the parametric equations x = f (t) and
y = g (t), α ≤ t ≤ β, and dx/dt = f ′ (t) > 0.
C is traversed once, from left to right, as t increases from α to β
and f (α) = a, f (β) = sb. s
dy 2 dy /dt 2 dx
Z b Z β
L= 1+ dx = 1+ dt
a dx α dx/dt dt
Since dx/dt > 0, swe have
Z β 2 2
dx dy
L= + dt.
α dt dt
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Example
Find the length of one arch of the cycloid
x = r (θ − sin θ), y = r (1 − cos θ).
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Example
Find the length of one arch of the cycloid
x = r (θ − sin θ), y = r (1 − cos θ).
Solution
dx dy
= r (1 − cos θ), = r sin θ
dθ dθ
R 2π q
L= 0 r 2 (1 − cos θ)2 + r 2 sin2 θdθ
Z 2π p
=r 2(1 − cos θ)dθ
0
Z 2π
= 2r sin(θ/2)dθ (from
0
sin2 x = (1 − cos 2x)/2 with θ = 2x)
= 2r [−2 cos(θ/2)]2π
0 = 2r [2 + 2] = 8r
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Chapter I Parametric equations
Interesting Results:
The area under one arch of a cycloid is 3 times that of the
rolling circle
The length of one arch of the cycloid is 4 times the diameter
of the rolling circle
The tangent of a cycloid passes through the top of the rolling
circle (prove!)
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