Find a Polar Equation for the Curve Represented by the Given Cartesian Equation y²

To find a polar equation for the Cartesian equation given by , we start by recalling the relationship between Cartesian and polar coordinates. The conversion formulas are:

  • x = r cos(θ)
  • y = r sin(θ)

Since the equation in question is , we can substitue the polar form of y into this expression:

Replacing y with r sin(θ) gives us:

y² = (r sin(θ))² = r² sin²(θ)

Thus, the equation becomes:

r² sin²(θ) = y²

Now, if we want to express this entirely in terms of r and θ, we can say:

If the equation is simply , it resembles an equation in Cartesian coordinates. To represent curves in polar coordinates, we would usually need another condition or relation, as alone defines a family of curves (specifically, lines or parabolas depending on the context).

However, to adhere to the given input strictly and formulate:

r = ±y/sin(θ)

This indicates that the relationship involves both positive and negative values, extending along the line defined by the Cartesian pole.

Therefore, while may represent an underlying geometric shape, we conclude with:

r^2 = y^2/sin^2(θ)

This relationship gives us a starting point if further context about the curve is provided. Without additional details on the specific representation of , this formulation stands as the foundational polar equation.

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