Section 9.1 Parametric Curves 2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

Section 9.
1 Parametric Curves
2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka
Parametric Curves
Suppose that x and y are both given as functions of a third variable t (called a parameter) by the
equations
x = f (t),
y = g(t)
(called parametric equations). Each value of t determines a point (x, y), which we can plot in a
coordinate plane. As t varies, the point (x, y) = (f (t), g(t)) varies and traces out a curve C, which we call
a parametric curve.
EXAMPLE: Sketch and identify the curve defined by the parametric equations
x = cos t,
y = sin t 0 t 2
Solution: If we plot points, it appears that the curve is a circle (see the figure below and page 6). We can
confirm this impression by eliminating t. If fact, we have
x2 + y 2 = cos2 t + sin2 t = 1
Thus the point (x, y) moves on a unit circle x2 + y 2 = 1 .
x = sin 2t,
y = cos 2t 0 t 2
Section 9.1 Parametric Curves
x = sin 2t,
y = cos 2t 0 t 2
Solution: If we plot points, it appears that the curve is a circle (see the Figure below). We can confirm
this impression by eliminating t. If fact, we have
x2 + y 2 = sin2 2t + cos2 2t = 1
Thus the point (x, y) moves on a unit circle x2 + y 2 = 1 .
x = 5 cos t,
y = 2 sin t 0 t 2
Solution: If we plot points, it appears that the curve is an ellipse (see page 8). We can confirm this
impression by eliminating t. If fact, we have
x2 y 2 x 2 y 2
+
=
+
= cos2 t + sin2 t = 1
25
4
5
2
Thus the point (x, y) moves on an ellipse
x2 y 2
+
=1.
25
4
x=5cosHtL, y=2sinHtL, 0<t<12Pi6

2
1
-4
-2
-1
-2
x = t cos t,
y = t sin t t > 0
x = t cos t,
y = t sin t t > 0
Solution: If we plot points, it appears that the curve is a spiral (see page 9). We can confirm this impression
by the following algebraic manipulations:
x2 + y 2 = (t cos t)2 + (t sin t)2 = t2 sin2 t + t2 cos2 t = t2 (sin2 t + cos2 t) = t2
To eliminate t completely, we observe that
y
t sin t
sin t
=
=
= tan t
x
t cos t
cos t
2
t = arctan
2
Substituting this into x + y = t , we get x + y = arctan
y
x
y
x
x=t cosHtL, y=t sinHtL, 0<t<12Pi4

10
-10
-5
10
-5
-10
x = t2 + t,
y = 2t 1
x2 + y 2 = t2
x = t2 + t,
y = 2t 1
Solution: If we plot points, it appears that the curve is a parabola (see page 10). We can confirm this
impression by eliminating t. If fact, we have
2

y+1
1
3
y+1
y+1
2
y = 2t 1 = t =
= x = t + t =
= y2 + y +
+
2
2
2
4
4
1
3
Thus the point (x, y) moves on a parabola x = y 2 + y + .
4
4
x=t^2+t, y=2t-1, -2<t<-2+124
2
1
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5

-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
x = sin2 t,
y = 2 cos t
Solution: If we plot points, it appears that the curve is a restricted parabola (see page 11). We can confirm
this impression by eliminating t. If fact, we have
y2
4
We also note that 0 x 1 and 2 y 2. Thus the point (x, y) moves on the restricted parabola
y2
x=sin^2HtL, y=2cosHtL, 0<t<12Pi6
.
x=1
4
2
y = 2 cos t
y 2 = 4 cos2 t
4x + y 2 = 4 sin2 t + 4 cos2 t = 4
0.40.60.81.01.2
-1
-2
x=1
The Cycloid
EXAMPLE: The curve traced out by a point P on the circumference of a circle as the circle rolls along a
straight line is called a cycloid (see the Figure below). If the circle has radius r and rolls along the x-axis
and if one position of P is the origin, find parametric equations for the cycloid.
Solution: We choose as parameter the angle of rotation of the circle ( = 0 when P is at the origin).
Suppose the circle has rotated through radians. Because the circle has been in contact with the line, we
see from the Figure below that the distance it has rolled from the origin is
|OT | = arc P T = r
Therefore, the center of the circle is C(r, r). Let the coordinates of P be (x, y). Then from the Figure
above we see that
x = |OT | |P Q| = r r sin = r( sin )
y = |T C| |QC| = r r cos = r(1 cos )
Therefore, parametric equations of the cycloid are
x = r( sin ),
y = r(1 cos ) R
(1)
One arch of the cycloid comes from one rotation of the circle and so is described by 0 2. Although
Equations 1 were derived from the Figure above, which illustrates the case where 0 < < /2, it can be
seen that these equations are still valid for other values of .
Although it is possible to eliminate the parameter from Equations 1, the resulting Cartesian equation in
x and y is very complicated and not as convenient to work with as the parametric equations:
r

x

y
y y 2
x
1
+ 2
= cos1 1
2
2
r

2 r
r
r
r
5
Unit Circle
Parametric equations:
x = cos t,
y = sin t
where t = k/6, k = 0, . . . , 12.

x=cosHtL, y=sin HtL, 0<t<1Pi6
-1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0
1.0
1.0
-0.5
1.0
1.0
-0.5
1.0
1.0
-1.0
1.0
-0.5
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
1.0
Unit Circle
x = sin t,
y = cos t
where t = k/6, k = 0, . . . , 12.

x=sinHtL, y=cosHtL, 0<t<1Pi6
-1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
1.0
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0

1.0
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-1.0
1.0
1.0
-0.5
1.0
1.0
-0.5
1.0
1.0
-1.0
0.5
-0.5
-0.5
-1.0
-1.0
-0.5
-1.0
1.0
Ellipse
x = 5 cos t,
y = 2 sin t
where t = k/6, k = 0, . . . , 12.
-4
-2
-2
-4
-2
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2

2
-2
-4
-2
-4
-2
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2

2
-4
-2
-4
-2
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2

2
-4
-2
-4
-2
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-2
-2
-4
-4
-1
-4
-4
Spiral
x = t cos t,
y = t sin t
where t = k/4, k = 0, . . . , 12.


3
1.5
2
2
1.0
1
0.5
0.5
-1.5 -1.0 -0.5
1.0
1.5
-2
-1
-3
-2
-1
-0.5
-1
-1
-1.0
-2
-2
-1.5
-3

6
4
4
4
2
-4
-2
-4
-2
-6
-4
-2
-2
-2
-2
-4
-4
-4
-6
6
5
-6
-4
-2
-5
-5
-2
-4
-5
-5
-6
10
-10
10
-5
10
10
-10
-5
-5
-5
-10
-10
10
-10
-5
-5
-10
10
Parabola
x = t2 + t,
y = 2t 1
where t = 2 + k/4, k = 0, . . . , 12.

x=t^2+t, y=2t-1, -2<t<-2+14
x=t^2+t, y=2t-1, -2<t<-2+24
x=t^2+t, y=2t-1, -2<t<-2+34
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-3
-3
-3
-4
-4
-4
-5
-5
-5
x=t^2+t, y=2t-1, -2<t<-2+44
x=t^2+t, y=2t-1, -2<t<-2+54
x=t^2+t, y=2t-1, -2<t<-2+64
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-3
-3
-3
-4
-4
-4
-5
-5
-5
x=t^2+t, y=2t-1, -2<t<-2+74
x=t^2+t, y=2t-1, -2<t<-2+84
x=t^2+t, y=2t-1, -2<t<-2+94
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-3
-3
-3
-4
-4
-4
-5
-5
-5
x=t^2+t, y=2t-1, -2<t<-2+104
x=t^2+t, y=2t-1, -2<t<-2+114
x=t^2+t, y=2t-1, -2<t<-2+124
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-3
-3
-3
-4
-4
-4
-5
-5
-5
10
Restricted Parabola
x = sin2 t,
y = 2 cos t
where t = k/6, k = 0, . . . , 12.

0.40.60.81.01.2
0.40.60.81.01.2
0.40.60.81.01.2
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
0.40.60.81.01.2
0.40.60.81.01.2
0.40.60.81.01.2
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
0.40.60.81.01.2
0.40.60.81.01.2
0.40.60.81.01.2
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
0.40.60.81.01.2
0.40.60.81.01.2
0.40.60.81.01.2
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
11
Butterfly Curve

t
cos t
5
x = sin t e
2 cos(4t) + sin
,
12
cos t
y = cos t e
2 cos(4t) + sin
where t = k/6, k = 0, . . . , 12.
-3
-3
-3
-3
-2
-2
-2
-2
-1
-3
-2
-1
-3
-2
-1
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-3
-3
-3
-1
-3
-2
-1
-3
-2
-1
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-3
-3
-3
-1
-3
-2
-1
-3
-2
-1
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-3
-3
-3
-1
-3
-2
-1
-3
-2
-1
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-3
-3
-3
12
t
12

Butterfly Curve

t
cos t
5
x = sin t e
2 cos(4t) + sin
,
12
cos t
y = cos t e
2 cos(4t) + sin
where t = k/2, k = 0, . . . , 12.
-3
-3
-3
-3
-2
-2
-2
-2
-1
-3
-2
-1
-3
-2
-1
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-3
-3
-3
-1
-3
-2
-1
-3
-2
-1
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-3
-3
-3
-1
-3
-2
-1
-3
-2
-1
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-3
-3
-3
-1
-3
-2
-1
-3
-2
-1
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-3
-3
-3
13
t
12

Parametric Curve
x = t + 2 sin 2t,
y = t + 2 cos 5t
where t = 2 + k/3, k = 0, . . . , 12.

x=t+2sinH2tL,y=t+2cosH5tL, -2Pi<t<-2Pi+1Pi3
-6
-4
-2
-6
-4
-6
-4
-4
-5
-5
-4
-6
-4
-5
14
-6
-4
-2
-5
-2
-2
-2
-6
-4
-5
-6
-5
-2
-6
-2
-5
-2
-2
-4
-5
-4
-6
-5
-6
-2
-5
-4
-2
-5
-6
-6
-4
-2
-5
Parametric Curves
x = 1.5 cos t cos kt,
y = 1.5 sin t sin kt
where k = 1, . . . , 20.
x=1.5cosHtL-cosH1tL, y=1.5sinHtL-sinH1tL
-2
-1
-1
-2
-1
-2
-1
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-2
-1
-2
-1
-2
-1
-2
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-2
-2
-1
-2
-1
-2
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-2
-2
-1
-2
-1
-2
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-2
-2
-1
-2
-1
-2
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-2
15
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-1
-2
-2
-2
Parametric Curves
x = 1.5 cos t cos 5t,
y = 1.5 sin t sin kt
where k = 1, . . . , 20.
x=1.5cosHtL-cosH5tL, y=1.5sin HtL-sin H1tL
-2
-1
-1
-2
-1
-2
-1
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-2
-1
-2
-1
-2
-1
-2
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-2
-2
-1
-2
-1
-2
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-2
-2
-1
-2
-1
-2
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-2
-2
-1
-2
-1
-2
-1
-1
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-2
16
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-1
-2
-2
-2

Section 9.1 Parametric Curves 2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

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Section 9.1 Parametric Curves 2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

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Section 9.

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka