Ellipse in polar coordinates

Question

I think Wikipedia's polar coordinate elliptical equation isn't correct. Here is my explanation: Imagine constants $a$ and $b$ in this format -

Where $2a$ is the total height of the ellipse and $2b$ being the total width. You can then find the radial length, $r$, at any degree, $\theta$, as...

$$r(\theta) = \sqrt{(b \cos(\theta))^2 + (a \sin(\theta))^2}$$

...by just following the Pythagorean theorem. Yet Wikipedia's equation for the polar coordinate ellipse is as follows:

$$r(\theta) = \frac{ab}{\sqrt{(b \cos(\theta))^2 + (a \sin(\theta))^2}}$$

Here is the link to the Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellipse#Polar_form_relative_to_center Can someone explain this, please? Why divide by the hypotenuse? Why the $ab$? Thank you!

Answer 1

It's easiest to start with the equation for the ellipse in rectangular coordinates:

$$(x/a)^2 + (y/b)^2 = 1$$

Then substitute $x = r(\theta)\cos\theta$ and $y = r(\theta)\sin\theta$ and solve for $r(\theta)$.

That will give you the equation you found on Wikipedia.