Polar Coordinates - Worksheets, Questions and Revision

12 original exam-style questions - 3 pages of questions with a full mark scheme - free printable PDF.

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A-Level · Core Pure Mathematics (Further Maths)

FP.CP6 Polar Coordinates

EDEXCEL 9FM0 · Calculator allowed · about 130 minutes
Total Marks
Name: _______________________________    Date: ____ / ____ / ______
Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.
1
Throughout this question, polar coordinates (r, θ) are given relative to the initial line and the pole O, with r ≥ 0 unless stated otherwise.
(a)The point A has Cartesian coordinates (3, -3sqrt(3)). Find the polar coordinates of A, giving r exactly and θ in radians such that -π < θ ≤ π.(3)
(b)A curve C has polar equation r = 6 cos(θ), for -π/2 ≤ θ ≤ π/2. Show that the Cartesian equation of C can be written as (x - 3)2 + y2 = 9, and describe C geometrically.(4)
(Total for Question 1 is 7 marks)
2
A curve has polar equation r = 5 + 3 cos(θ), for -π < θ ≤ π.
(a)State, with a reason, the symmetry of the curve.(2)
(b)Complete the table below, giving values to 3 significant figures where appropriate, and hence sketch the curve for -π < θ ≤ π.
θ: 0, π/6, π/3, π/2, 2pi/3, 5pi/6, π
r: 8, ?, 6.5, 5, ?, ?, 2
(5)
(Total for Question 2 is 7 marks)
3
A curve C has polar equation r = 8 sin(θ), for 0 ≤ θ ≤ π.
(a)Show that the Cartesian equation of C can be written as x2 + (y - 4)2 = 16.(3)
(b)Hence state the centre and radius of C.(2)
(c)Using A = (1/2) x integral from θ=0 to θ=π of r2 dtheta, show that the area enclosed by C is 16pi, and verify this agrees with your answer to part (b).(4)
(Total for Question 3 is 9 marks)
4
A cardioid C has polar equation r = 3(1 - cos(θ)), for 0 ≤ θ ≤ 2pi.
(a)State the value of r when θ = 0 and when θ = π, and state the symmetry of C, giving a reason.(3)
(b)Find the exact area enclosed by C.(6)
(Total for Question 4 is 9 marks)
5
An Archimedean spiral has polar equation r = 2 θ, for 0 ≤ θ ≤ 2pi (θ measured in radians).
(a)Complete the table of values of r.
θ: 0, π/2, π, 3pi/2, 2pi
r: 0, ?, ?, ?, ?
(2)
(b)Find the exact area enclosed between the curve and the initial line for 0 ≤ θ ≤ 2pi (the area swept out in one complete revolution).(5)
(c)A second spiral has equation r = k θ for the same interval 0 ≤ θ ≤ 2pi. Given that the area enclosed by this spiral (defined as in part (b)) is exactly twice the area found in part (b), find the value of k.(3)
(Total for Question 5 is 10 marks)
6
The cardioid C, with polar equation r = 3(1 - cos(θ)) for 0 ≤ θ < 2pi, is the curve from Question 4. Let x = r cos(θ) and y = r sin(θ).
(a)Show that dy/dtheta = 3cos(θ) - 3cos(2theta).(3)
(b)Hence find the exact coordinates of the two points on C, other than the pole, at which the tangent is parallel to the initial line.(7)
(Total for Question 6 is 10 marks)
7
A rose curve has polar equation r = 4 cos(3theta).
(a)State the number of petals of the curve and the maximum value of r.(2)
(b)One petal is traced as θ ranges from -π/6 to π/6. Show that the area of this petal is 4pi/3.(5)
(c)Hence find the total area enclosed by all three petals of the curve.(2)
(Total for Question 7 is 9 marks)
8
Using the curve C from Question 1(b), with r = 6 cos(θ) for -π/2 ≤ θ ≤ π/2, let x = r cos(θ) and y = r sin(θ).
(a)Show that x = 6cos2(θ) and y = 3sin(2theta), and hence find dx/dtheta and dy/dtheta in terms of θ.(4)
(b)Find the coordinates of the points on C at which (i) the tangent is parallel to the initial line, (ii) the tangent is perpendicular to the initial line.(6)
(Total for Question 8 is 10 marks)
9
A limacon has polar equation r = 1 + 2cos(θ), for 0 ≤ θ < 2pi. Since the constant term (1) is less than the coefficient of cos(θ) (2), the curve has an inner loop.
(a)Find the two values of θ, 0 ≤ θ < 2pi, for which r = 0, and hence state the range of values of θ for which the curve traces the inner loop.(3)
(b)Find the exact area enclosed by the inner loop.(6)
(Total for Question 9 is 9 marks)
10
A lemniscate has polar equation r2 = 4cos(2theta).
(a)State the two ranges of values of θ, for 0 ≤ θ < 2pi, for which the curve is defined (i.e. r2 ≥ 0), describing the right-hand and left-hand loops.(2)
(b)Find the exact area enclosed by one loop of the curve.(5)
(c)Find the values of θ at which the curve has a tangent at the pole for the right-hand loop, and briefly interpret this result.(3)
(Total for Question 10 is 10 marks)
11
A region is bounded by the curve r = f(θ) between θ = α and θ = β (α < β), and the two half-lines θ = α and θ = β.
(a)By considering the region as the limit of a sum of thin circular sectors, prove that the area A of the region is given by A = (1/2) x integral from α to β of r2 dtheta.(5)
(Total for Question 11 is 5 marks)
12
A circle C1 has polar equation r = 3/2. A cardioid C2 has polar equation r = 1 + cos(θ), for -π < θ ≤ π. The two curves intersect and enclose a common region R, which is symmetrical about the initial line.
(a)Find the value of θ in the interval 0 ≤ θ ≤ π at which C1 and C2 intersect.(3)
(b)Sketch C1 and C2 on the same diagram, for -π < θ ≤ π, showing clearly the region R that lies inside both curves.(3)
(c)Show that, for 0 ≤ θ ≤ π/3, the boundary of R nearer to the pole is C1, and that for π/3 ≤ θ ≤ π, the boundary of R nearer to the pole is C2.(2)
(d)Hence show that the area of R is 7pi/4 - (9sqrt(3))/8.(8)
(Total for Question 12 is 16 marks)
Mark scheme · FP.CP6 Polar Coordinates

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Question 11

Question 12