Find the area enclosed by the graph of r=2cos(3θ), a rose with three petals.
* We need to exploit symmetry here since there are intervals on which r<0, and the area formula requires that r>0.
Since 0<θ<π2, we have θ=π6. The area of the shaded region in quadrant I swept out by the rays θ=0 and θ=π6 is given by ∫π/6012r2dθ, and the area A of the region we seek is 6 times this area. A=6∫π/6012r2dθ=3∫π/604cos2(3θ) dθ=12∫π/60cos2(3θ) dθ=12∫π/601+cos(6θ)2 dθcos2(3θ)=1+cos(6θ)2=6[θ+16sin(6θ)]π/60=6(π6)=π
Solving trigonometric equations is discussed in Section P.7, pp. 61–63.