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Differentiating parametric equations

Hi,

I've been working on a problem in my textbook and have got stuck. The problem is:

A curve is defined by the parametric equations

x=secθ+tanθ x = sec\theta + tan \theta,
y=secθtanθ y = sec \theta - tan \theta,

where θ\theta is a parameter.

Show that dydx=sinθ1sinθ+1\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{sin\theta -1}{sin\theta +1}

I can see that dydx=secθtanθsec2θsecθtanθ+sec2θ\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{sec\theta tan\theta - sec^2\theta}{sec\theta tan\theta + sec^2\theta} but I can see no way of arriving at sinθ1sinθ+1\frac{sin\theta -1}{sin\theta +1}

Could anybody give me an idea of how to do this?
Reply 1
Original post by jonnburton
Hi,

I've been working on a problem in my textbook and have got stuck. The problem is:

A curve is defined by the parametric equations

x=secθ+tanθ x = sec\theta + tan \theta,
y=secθtanθ y = sec \theta - tan \theta,

where θ\theta is a parameter.

Show that dydx=sinθ1sinθ+1\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{sin\theta -1}{sin\theta +1}

I can see that dydx=secθtanθsec2θsecθtanθ+sec2θ\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{sec\theta tan\theta - sec^2\theta}{sec\theta tan\theta + sec^2\theta} but I can see no way of arriving at sinθ1sinθ+1\frac{sin\theta -1}{sin\theta +1}

Could anybody give me an idea of how to do this?


Multiply top and bottom by cos2θ\cos^2 \theta
Reply 2
Original post by BabyMaths
Multiply top and bottom by cos2θ\cos^2 \theta


Oh, thanks BabyMaths...
Reply 3
Original post by jonnburton
Oh, thanks BabyMaths...


You need to learn to look at the answers for show that questions

The fact that your numberator and denominator ended with the same thing and that the answer's numerator and denominator ended with the same thing should have been your prompt

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