The polar equation r=a cos n(theta) graphs what's called a rose. If n is even, the graph has 2n "petals". If n is odd, the graph has n "petals". Here are two rose graphs and their equations, graphed at desmos.com/calculator:
click to enlarge graphs
What is the equation of a rose with 6 petals?
(I started solving this with the belief that the answer lies in an equation with an absolute value sign, but I haven't been able to make that work yet. I stumbled on a solution today, but it's not entirely satisfying.)
5 comments:
I made the absolute value equation work--don't know what I was doing incorrectly earlier.
My unsatisfying answer had n=1.5. Graph it and see why it was unsatisfying!
Nope
r = abs(cos theta) - but I was hoping not to see an answer here!
I mean abs(cos(3theta)). Sorry bout that!
Spirograph art.
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