How Do You Determine the Polar Equation of a Line Perpendicular to a Given Ray?

In summary, the conversation discusses finding the polar equation and interval for a line that is perpendicular to a given ray and has a shortest distance of 5 from the origin. The polar equation is found to be r = 5*sec(θ-5π/7) and the interval is between θ=3π/14 and θ=17π/14.
  • #1
Poetria
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Homework Statement


[/B]
Consider the line whose shortest distance to the origin is 5 and that is perpendicular to the ray ##\theta= \frac {5*\pi}{7}## for r>0
Find its polar equation ##r=r(\theta)## and ##\theta_1<\theta_2## in the interval ##[0, 2\pi]## such that ##r(\theta)\geq 0## for all ##\theta_1\leq\theta\leq\theta_2## as ##\theta## increases from ##\theta_1## to ##\theta_2##, the point ##(r(\theta), \theta)## traces the entire line once.

2. The attempt at a solution

m*x+b=y
##m=\tan(3/14*\pi)##
b=5/cos(2/7*pi)

$$-\frac{\frac 5 {\cos(\frac 2 7*\pi)}}{(\tan( \frac 3 {14}*\pi)*\cos(\theta)-\sin(\theta))}$$
 

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  • #2
You have calculated b incorrectly. If you correct this, then your final answer will be right - but it's a long way round and a complicated expression. Try doing it without going through y = mx + b. Draw the ray, the line, and a point (r,θ) on the line. Can you derive a simpler expression for r(θ)?
 
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  • #3
mjc123 said:
You have calculated b incorrectly. If you correct this, then your final answer will be right - but it's a long way round and a complicated expression. Try doing it without going through y = mx + b. Draw the ray, the line, and a point (r,θ) on the line. Can you derive a simpler expression for r(θ)?

Something like:

##r=5*sec(\theta-\frac 5 7*\pi)##
 
  • #4
That's what I got.
 
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  • #5
mjc123 said:
That's what I got.

Great. :) Many thanks. :)
 
  • #6
Poetria said:
Great. :) Many thanks. :)
Did you find ##\ \theta _1\ ## and ##\ \theta _2\ ## ?
 
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  • #7
SammyS said:
Did you find ##\ \theta _1\ ## and ##\ \theta _2\ ## ?

Yes, this was easy:
$$\theta_1=\frac 3 {14}\pi$$
$$\theta_2=\frac {17}{14}\pi$$
 

FAQ: How Do You Determine the Polar Equation of a Line Perpendicular to a Given Ray?

What is a line perpendicular to a ray?

A line perpendicular to a ray is a line that intersects the ray at a 90 degree angle, forming a right angle. This means that the line and the ray are at a right angle to each other.

How do you identify a line perpendicular to a ray?

To identify a line perpendicular to a ray, you can use a protractor or a straight edge to measure the angle between the line and the ray. If the angle measures 90 degrees, then the line is perpendicular to the ray.

What is the equation of a line perpendicular to a ray?

The equation of a line perpendicular to a ray is y = mx + b, where m is the slope of the line and b is the y-intercept. The slope of a line perpendicular to another line is the negative reciprocal of the original line's slope.

What is the importance of perpendicular lines in geometry?

Perpendicular lines are important in geometry because they form right angles, which are useful for measuring and constructing shapes. They also have many real-world applications, such as determining the shortest distance between two points.

How do you draw a line perpendicular to a ray?

To draw a line perpendicular to a ray, you can use a protractor to measure a 90 degree angle from the ray. Then, use a straight edge to draw a line through the point of intersection at a right angle to the ray.

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