Math 152: Worksheet 25

Area and Arc Length in Polar Coordinates

Learning Problems

These problems should be completed on your own. If you need hints on solving a problem, there are some provided with each problem. Click on the word "hint" to view it and again to hide it. They go in increasing order of helpfulness, with the last hint mostly giving away how to do the problem. Try to work from the earlier hints to the later ones, as this will give you the practice you need to succeed in this class.

Problem 1

Find the area of the triangle bounded by the $x$-axis, the $y$-axis, and the line $r = 4 \sec\left(\theta - \frac{\pi}{4}\right)$ using an integral in polar coordinates. Then, check your answer using geometry.

Problem 2

Find the area inside one petal of the curve $r = \sin(4\theta)$.

Problem 3

Find the area inside the curve $r = 2 + \sin(2\theta)$ and outside the curve $r = \sin(2\theta)$.

Problem 4

Find the length of the curve $r = e^\theta$ for $0 \leq \theta \leq 2\pi$

Problem 5

Find the length of the curve $r = 1 + \theta$ over the range $0 \leq \theta \leq \pi$.

Submission Problems

Problem 1

Find the area of the region inside the outer loop but outside the inner loop of the function $r = 2\cos(\theta) - 1$.

Problem 2

Set up an integral (but do not evaluate) for the length of the polar curve $r = \sin^3(\theta)$ over the range $0 \leq \theta \leq \pi$.