How do you convert r=2sin3(theta) to rectangular form?

1 Answer
Apr 29, 2016

x^2+y^2=4 sin^2(tan^(-1)(y/x))

Explanation:

Here, |r|<=2, r=+-sqrt(x^2+y^2) and theta=tan^(-1)(y/x)

So, the rectangular form is +-sqrt(x^2+y^2)=2 sin (3 tan^(-1)(y/x))

Remove the ambiguity in sign for r, by squaring both sides.

It is also possible to have a form, sans trigonometric functions, by

expanding sin 3 theta in powers of sin theta and cos theta and

substituting sin theta =y/r and cos theta=x/r However, the form

given as answer appears to be elegant... .