Harold’s Precalculus

Rectangular – Polar – Parametric

“Cheat Sheet”
15 October 2017

Rectangular Polar Parametric

(𝑟 , 𝜃) or 𝑟 ∠ 𝜃 Point (a,b) in Rectangular:
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑦 Rect.  Polar 𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑎
Polar  Rect.
(𝑥, 𝑦) 𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑏
Point (𝑎, 𝑏)
𝑥 = 𝑟 cos 𝜃 𝑟2 = 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 < 𝑎, 𝑏 >
𝑦 = 𝑟 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 𝑟 = ± √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2
• 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃 =
𝑦 𝑦
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( )
𝑡 = 3𝑟𝑑 𝑣𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒, 𝑢𝑠𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒,
𝑥 𝑥 with 1 degree of freedom (df)
Slope-Intercept Form:
𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏
< 𝑥, 𝑦 > = < 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 > + 𝑡 < 𝑎, 𝑏 >
Point-Slope Form: < 𝑥, 𝑦 > = < 𝑥0 + 𝑎𝑡, 𝑦0 + 𝑏𝑡 >
𝑦 − 𝑦0 = 𝑚 (𝑥 − 𝑥0 ) where
< 𝑎, 𝑏 > = < 𝑥2 − 𝑥1 , 𝑦2 − 𝑦1 >
General Form:
Line
𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 + 𝐶 = 0 𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑥0 + 𝑡𝑎
𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑦0 + 𝑡𝑏
Calculus Form:
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓 ′ (𝑎) 𝑥 + 𝑓(0) ∆𝑦 𝑦2 − 𝑦1 𝑏
𝑚= = =
∆𝑥 𝑥2 − 𝑥1 𝑎

𝑛𝑥 (𝑥 − 𝑥0 )
Vector Form:
Plane +𝑛𝑦 (𝑦 − 𝑦0 ) 𝒓 = 𝒓0 + 𝑠𝒗 + 𝑡𝒘
𝒏 ⦁ (𝒓 − 𝒓0 ) = 0
+ 𝑛𝑧 (𝑧 − 𝑧0 ) = 0

Copyright © 2011-2017 by Harold Toomey, WyzAnt Tutor 1

 Rectangular Polar Parametric .
General Equation for All Conics: General Equation for All Conics:

𝐴𝑥 2 + 𝐵𝑥𝑦 + 𝐶𝑦 2 + 𝐷𝑥 + 𝐸𝑦 + 𝐹 = 0 𝑝
𝑟=
1 − 𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃
where
𝐿𝑖𝑛𝑒: 𝐴=𝐵=𝐶=0 𝑎 (1 − 𝑒 2 ) 0≤𝑒<1
𝐶𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑙𝑒: 𝐴 = 𝐶 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵 = 0 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑝 = { 2𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 { 𝑒 = 1
𝐸𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑝𝑠𝑒: 𝐴𝐶 > 0 𝑎 (𝑒 2 − 1) 𝑒>1
𝑜𝑟 𝐵2 − 4𝐴𝐶 < 0
𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑎: 𝐴𝐶 = 0 p = semi-latus rectum
or 𝐵2 − 4𝐴𝐶 = 0 or the line segment running from the focus
𝐻𝑦𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑎: 𝐴𝐶 < 0 to the curve in a direction parallel to the
𝑜𝑟 𝐵2 − 4𝐴𝐶 > 0 directrix
Note: If 𝐴 + 𝐶 = 0, square hyperbola
Eccentricity:
Rotation: 𝐶𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑙𝑒 𝑒=0
If B ≠ 0, then rotate coordinate system: 𝐸𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑝𝑠𝑒 0≤𝑒<1
Conics 𝐴−𝐶 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑎 𝑒=1
𝑐𝑜𝑡 2𝜃 = 𝐻𝑦𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑏𝑜𝑙𝑎 𝑒>1
𝐵
𝑥 = 𝑥′ 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 − 𝑦′ 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃
𝑦 = 𝑦′ 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 + 𝑥′ 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃

New = (x’, y’), Old = (x, y)

rotates through angle 𝜃 from x-axis

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 Rectangular Polar Parametric .
2 2 2
𝑥 +𝑦 =𝑟
(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = 𝑟 2

Center: (ℎ, 𝑘)
Vertices: NA
Focus: (ℎ, 𝑘)

Centered at Origin: 𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝑡) + ℎ

r = a (constant) 𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑟 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑡) + 𝑘
Circle 𝜃 = 𝜃 [0, 2𝜋] 𝑜𝑟 [0, 360°] [𝑡𝑚𝑖𝑛 , 𝑡𝑚𝑎𝑥 ] = [0, 2𝜋)

(ℎ, 𝑘) = 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑙𝑒

(ℎ, 𝑘)

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 Rectangular Polar Parametric .

(𝑥 − ℎ)2 (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 Ellipse:

+ =1 𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠(𝑡) + ℎ
𝑎2 𝑏2 𝑎 (1 − 𝑒 2 ) 𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑏 𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑡) + 𝑘
𝑟= 𝑓𝑜𝑟 0 ≤ 𝑒 < 1
1 + 𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 [𝑡𝑚𝑖𝑛 , 𝑡𝑚𝑎𝑥 ] = [0, 2𝜋]
Center: (ℎ, 𝑘)
Vertices: (ℎ ± 𝑎, 𝑘) and (ℎ, 𝑘 ± 𝑏) 𝑐 √𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 (ℎ, 𝑘) = 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑝𝑠𝑒
Foci: (ℎ ± 𝑐, 𝑘) 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑒 = =
𝑎 𝑎
Focus length, c, from center: relative to center (h,k) Rotated Ellipse:
𝑐 = √𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 − 𝑏 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 + ℎ
𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 + 𝑏 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 + 𝑘

Ellipse 𝜃 = the angle between the x-axis and the

major axis of the ellipse

Interesting Note:
The sum of the distances from each focus
to a point on the curve is constant.
|𝑑1 + 𝑑2 | = 𝑘

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 Rectangular Polar Parametric .
Vertical Axis of Symmetry:
Vertical Axis of Symmetry: 𝑥(𝑡) = 2𝑝𝑡 + ℎ
𝑥 2 = 4 𝑝𝑦 Parabola: 𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑝𝑡 2 + 𝑘 (opens upwards) or
(𝑥 − ℎ)2 = 4𝑝(𝑦 − 𝑘) 2𝑑 𝑦(𝑡) = −𝑝𝑡 2 − 𝑘 (opens downwards)
Vertex: (ℎ, 𝑘) 𝑟= 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑒 = 1 [𝑡𝑚𝑖𝑛 , 𝑡𝑚𝑎𝑥 ] = [−𝑐, 𝑐]
1 + 𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃
Focus: (ℎ, 𝑘 + 𝑝) (h, k) = vertex of parabola
Directrix: 𝑦 = 𝑘 − 𝑝 Trigonometric Form:
𝑦 = 𝑥2
Horizontal Axis of Symmetry: 𝑟 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 = 𝑟 2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 Horizontal Axis of Symmetry:
𝑦 2 = 4 𝑝𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 𝑦(𝑡) = 2𝑝𝑡 + 𝑘
(𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = 4𝑝(𝑥 − ℎ) 𝑟= = 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃 𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝜃 𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑝𝑡 + ℎ (opens to the right) or
2
𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃
Vertex: (ℎ, 𝑘) 𝑥(𝑡) = −𝑝𝑡 2 − ℎ (opens to the left)
Focus: (ℎ + 𝑝, 𝑘) [𝑡𝑚𝑖𝑛 , 𝑡𝑚𝑎𝑥 ] = [−𝑐, 𝑐]
Parabola Directrix: 𝑥 = ℎ − 𝑝 (h, k) = vertex of parabola

Projectile Motion:
𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑥0 + 𝑣𝑥 𝑡
𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑦0 + 𝑣𝑦 𝑡 − 16𝑡 2 feet
𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑦0 + 𝑣𝑦 𝑡 − 4.9𝑡 2 meters
𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃
𝑣𝑦 = 𝑣 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃

General Form:
𝑥 = 𝐴𝑡 2 + 𝐵𝑡 + 𝐶
𝑦 = 𝐷𝑡 2 + 𝐸𝑡 + 𝐹
where A and D have the same sign

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 Rectangular Polar Parametric .
Hyperbola:
𝑎 (𝑒 2 − 1)
𝑟= 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑒 > 1
1 + 𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃
(𝑥 − ℎ)2 (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 Eccentricity:
− =1 Left-Right Opening Hyperbola:
𝑎2 𝑏2 𝑐 √𝑎2 + 𝑏 2
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑒 = = = sec 𝜃 > 1 𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑎 𝑠𝑒𝑐( 𝑡) + ℎ
Center: (ℎ, 𝑘) 𝑎 𝑎 𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑏 𝑡𝑎𝑛( 𝑡) + 𝑘
relative to center (h,k) [𝑡𝑚𝑖𝑛 , 𝑡𝑚𝑎𝑥 ] = [−𝑐, 𝑐]
Vertices: (ℎ ± 𝑎, 𝑘)
Foci: (ℎ ± 𝑐, 𝑘) (h, k) = vertex of hyperbola

Focus length, c, from center:

𝑐 = √𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 Up-Down Opening Hyperbola:
𝑥(𝑡) = 𝑎 𝑡𝑎𝑛(𝑡) + ℎ
Hyperbola
𝑦(𝑡) = 𝑏 𝑠𝑒𝑐(𝑡) + 𝑘
[𝑡𝑚𝑖𝑛 , 𝑡𝑚𝑎𝑥 ] = [−𝑐, 𝑐]
(h, k) = vertex of hyperbola

p = semi-latus rectum
or the line segment running from the focus General Form:
to the curve in the directions 𝜃 = ±
𝜋 𝑥(𝑡) = 𝐴𝑡 2 + 𝐵𝑡 + 𝐶
2 𝑦(𝑡) = 𝐷𝑡 2 + 𝐸𝑡 + 𝐹
where A and D have different signs
Interesting Note:
The difference between the distances from
each focus to a point on the curve is
constant.
|𝑑1 − 𝑑2 | = 𝑘
if 𝑦 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝜃 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛−1 𝑦 𝜃 = arcsin 𝑦
𝑓(𝑓 −1 (𝑥)) = 𝑓 −1 (𝑓(𝑥)) = 𝑥
𝑖𝑓 𝑦 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝜃 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 𝑦 𝜃 = arccos 𝑦
𝑖𝑓 𝑦 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 𝑦 𝜃 = 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝑦
Inverse Inverse Function Theorem:
Functions 1
𝑓 −1 (𝑏) = ′ if 𝑦 = 𝑐𝑠𝑐 𝜃 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝜃 = 𝑐𝑠𝑐 −1 𝑦 𝜃 = 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑐𝑠𝑐 𝑦
𝑓 (𝑎)
if 𝑦 = 𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝜃 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝜃 = 𝑠𝑒𝑐 −1 𝑦 𝜃 = 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑦
where 𝑏 = 𝑓 ′ (𝑎)
𝑖𝑓 𝑦 = 𝑐𝑜𝑡 𝜃 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝜃 = 𝑐𝑜𝑡 −1 𝑦 𝜃 = 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑡 𝑦

Copyright © 2011-2017 by Harold Toomey, WyzAnt Tutor 6

 Rectangular Polar Parametric .
Circle:
𝐿 = 𝑠 = 𝑟𝜃

Proof:
Arc Length 𝐿 = (𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒) ∙
𝜋 ∙ (𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟)

𝜃
𝐿 = ( ) 𝜋 (2𝑟) = 𝑟𝜃
2𝜋
Square: P = 4s
Circle: C = πd = 2πr
Perimeter Rectangle: P = 2l + 2w
Ellipse: 𝐶 ≈ 𝜋(𝑎 + 𝑏)
Triangle: P = a + b + c
Square: A = s² Triangle: A = ½ bh 1 𝑏1 +𝑏2
Rectangle: A = lw Triangle: A = ½ ab sin(C) Frustum: 𝐴 = 3 ( 2
)ℎ
Rhombus: A = ½ ab
Area Parallelogram: A = bh Triangle: 𝐴 = √𝑠(𝑠 − 𝑎)(𝑠 − 𝑏)(𝑠 − 𝑐), Circle: A = πr²
(𝑏 +𝑏 )
Trapezoid: 𝐴 = 1 2 2 ℎ 𝑎+𝑏+𝑐
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑠 = 2 Circular Sector: A = ½ r²𝜃
𝑑1 𝑑2 Ellipse: A = πab
Kite: 𝐴 = 2 Equilateral Triangle: 𝐴 = ¼√3𝑠 2
Lateral
Cylinder: S = 2πrh
Surface
Cone: S = πrl
Area
Cube: S = 6s²
Sphere: S = 4πr²
Total Rectangular Box: S = 2lw + 2wh + 2hl
Ellipsoid: S = (too complex)
Surface Regular Tetrahedron: S = 2bh
Area Cylinder: S = 2πr (r + h)
Cone: S = πr² + πrl = πr (r + l)
Cube: V = s³
Rectangular Prism: V = lwh
Cylinder: V = πr²h 4
Sphere: 𝑉 = 3 𝜋𝑟 3
Volume Triangular Prism: V= Bh 4
Tetrahedron: V= ⅓ bh Ellipsoid: V = πabc
3
Pyramid: V = ⅓ Bh
Cone: V = ⅓ bh = ⅓ πr²h

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