207k views
5 votes
Consider the following. x = sin(1/2), y = cos(1/2), -1 ≤ x ≤ 1. Eliminate the parameter to find a cartesian equation of the curve.

1 Answer

0 votes

Final answer:

The Cartesian equation representing the curve for the given parametric equations is essentially the identity 1 = 1, after applying the trigonometric Pythagorean identity.

Step-by-step explanation:

To eliminate the parameter in the given equations x = sin(1/2) and y = cos(1/2) and find a Cartesian equation for the curve, we can use the Pythagorean identity which states that sin²(\theta) + cos²(\theta) = 1. Applying this identity, we have:

x² + y² = sin²(1/2) + cos²(1/2).

Replacing x and y with their respective trigonometric forms, we get:

sin²(1/2) + cos²(1/2) = 1.

This simplifies to:

1 = 1,

which is always true for all values of x and y within the given domain (-1 ≤ x ≤ 1). Thus, the curve represented by the parametric equations is the portion of the unit circle for \theta = 1/2 radians.

User DudeDoesThings
by
7.7k points