y^2/25-x^2/9=0

What is the polar equation that is equivalent to the rectangular equation?

2 answers

Sorry it's actually equal to 1 not 0
just make the usual substitution.

y = rsinθ
x = rcosθ

so, that means

r^2sin^2θ/25 - r^2cos^2θ/9 = 1
r^2(9sin^2θ-25cos^2θ) = 225
r^2 = 225/(9sin^2θ-25cos^2θ)

see the expected vertical hyperbola at

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=plot+r^2+%3D+225%2F%289sin^2%CE%B8-25cos^2%CE%B8%29