For the polar ellipse \(r=\frac{12}{3+\cos\theta}\):
a) Evaluate \(r(0)\) and \(r(\pi)\), and use those two focal radii to identify the two vertices, the center, and the semi-major axis.
b) Read the eccentricity from the normalized polar equation and use it to locate both foci.
c) Find the semi-minor axis and write the Cartesian standard equation.
Hints
- Start by evaluating the two directions along the polar axis rather than converting the full equation.
- Treat those axial focal radii as the distances from one focus to the two vertices.
- After finding the center and \(a\), use eccentricity to recover \(c\) and then the remaining semi-axis.
Solution
1. Rewrite the equation as \(r=\frac{4}{1+\frac{1}{3}\cos\theta}\), so \(e=\frac{1}{3}\).
2. Along \(\theta=0\), \(r=3\), giving the vertex \((3,0)\). Along \(\theta=\pi\), \(r=6\), giving the vertex \((-6,0)\).
3. The center is the midpoint of the vertices, \(\left(-\frac{3}{2},0\right)\), and \(a=\frac{9}{2}\).
4. The pole is one focus. Since \(c=ea=\frac{3}{2}\), the other focus is \((-3,0)\).
5. Then \(b^2=a^2-c^2=\frac{81}{4}-\frac{9}{4}=18\).
6. The standard equation is \(\frac{(x+\frac{3}{2})^2}{81/4}+\frac{y^2}{18}=1\).
Answer
a) \(r(0)=3\), \(r(\pi)=6\); vertices: \((3,0)\), \((-6,0)\); center: \(\left(-\frac{3}{2},0\right)\); \(a=\frac{9}{2}\)
b) \(e=\frac{1}{3}\); foci: \((0,0)\), \((-3,0)\)
c) \(b=3\sqrt{2}\); \(\frac{(x+\frac{3}{2})^2}{81/4}+\frac{y^2}{18}=1\)