Spherical co-ordinates with Implicit function thm

In summary, the goal is to determine the points in R^3 where the system of equations for spherical coordinates can be solved. This is done by finding the determinant of the Jacobian matrix and setting it equal to zero. However, there was an error in differentiating and the correct matrix to use is the transpose of the given matrix.
  • #1
trap101
342
0
So I'm asked to determine near which points of R^3 can we solve for ρ, δ, θ in terms of x,y,z:

x = ρ sinδ cosθ
y= ρ sinδ sinθ
z= ρcosδ

so the spherical co-ordinates using IFT.

Attempt:

Ok so in order to determine solutions, I need to first find where the determinant of the freceht derivative does not equal zero. So I set it up as so:

\begin{bmatrix} sinδ cosθ & sinδ sinθ & cosδ\\ ρ cosδ cosθ & ρ cosδ sinθ & -ρ sinδ\\ -ρ sinδ sinθ & ρ sinδ sinθ & 0\end{bmatrix}

so I take the determinant of that and I suppose whichever points do not make the determinant 0 are the points where the system can be solved.

the issue is when I took the determinant, it didn't really simplify out how I hoped...is this what I'm suppose to do or is there some trick to this?
 
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  • #2
my mistake, I entered the matrix values wrong (darn latex). So it's actually the transpose of the above matrix is the one I get.
 
  • #3
That doesn't really matter since the determinant of a matrix and its transpose are the same. However you have differentiated incorrectly. The term in the middle of the third row (as you have it) should be [itex]\rho sin(\delta) cos(\theta)[/itex], not [itex]\rho sin(\delta)sin(\theta)[/itex].
 

FAQ: Spherical co-ordinates with Implicit function thm

What are spherical coordinates?

Spherical coordinates are a system of coordinates used to locate points in three-dimensional space. They use a combination of a radial distance, an azimuth angle, and a polar angle to describe the position of a point.

How are spherical coordinates related to the Implicit Function Theorem?

The Implicit Function Theorem states that if a function f(x,y,z) is differentiable at a point P and its derivative is non-zero at that point, then the function can be locally represented as z = g(x,y). In the case of spherical coordinates, this means that a function expressed in terms of spherical coordinates can be rewritten in terms of the radial distance, azimuth angle, and polar angle.

What is the advantage of using spherical coordinates?

Spherical coordinates are particularly useful when dealing with problems that have spherical symmetry, such as those involving spheres, cones, or spherical objects. They also allow for a more intuitive understanding of the geometry of three-dimensional space.

Can spherical coordinates be used to solve any type of problem?

No, spherical coordinates are not always the best choice for solving problems. They are most useful when dealing with problems that exhibit spherical symmetry or when the geometry of the problem is better understood in terms of radial distance, azimuth angle, and polar angle.

How do spherical coordinates differ from Cartesian coordinates?

Spherical coordinates differ from Cartesian coordinates in that they use three parameters to describe the position of a point, whereas Cartesian coordinates use only two. Additionally, spherical coordinates are better suited for describing curved surfaces and objects, while Cartesian coordinates are better for describing flat surfaces and objects.

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