Converting equations from rectangular to polar form involves substituting the rectangular coordinates \(x\) and \(y\) with their polar equivalents, \(r \cos \theta\) and \(r \sin \theta\), respectively. This process allows us to express equations in terms of \(r\) and \(\theta\), which is essential for understanding polar coordinates.
For example, consider the equation \(y = 5\). By substituting \(y\) with \(r \sin \theta\), we rewrite the equation as:
\(r \sin \theta = 5\).
To isolate \(r\), we divide both sides by \(\sin \theta\), resulting in:
\(r = \frac{5}{\sin \theta}\).
This can be further simplified using the cosecant function, yielding:
\(r = 5 \csc \theta\).
Next, let's convert the equation \(y = x + 1\). Substituting both \(x\) and \(y\) gives us:
\(r \sin \theta = r \cos \theta + 1\).
To solve for \(r\), we rearrange the equation by moving \(r \cos \theta\) to the left side:
\(r \sin \theta - r \cos \theta = 1\).
Factoring out \(r\) results in:
\(r(\sin \theta - \cos \theta) = 1\).
Dividing both sides by \((\sin \theta - \cos \theta)\) gives us:
\(r = \frac{1}{\sin \theta - \cos \theta}\).
Lastly, consider the equation \(x^2 + y^2 = 25\). Recognizing that \(x^2 + y^2\) is equivalent to \(r^2\), we can directly substitute:
\(r^2 = 25\).
Taking the square root of both sides leads to:
\(r = 5\).
This indicates a circle of radius 5 in polar coordinates, confirming the relationship between the rectangular and polar forms.
In summary, when converting equations from rectangular to polar form, remember the key substitutions: \(x = r \cos \theta\), \(y = r \sin \theta\), and \(x^2 + y^2 = r^2\). Mastering these conversions enhances your understanding of polar coordinates and their applications.