Polar Coordinates (College Board AP® Calculus BC): Exam Questions

2 hours34 questions
1
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1 mark

A polar curve has the equation r=θ2+sin(θ). The distance from the origin to the point on the curve at which θ=π6 is

  • π2+36

  • π218336

  • π2+1836

  • π2+18336

2
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1 mark

The curve x2+y2=16 has the polar equation

  • r=16

  • r=4

  • r=2

  • r=16

3
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1 mark

Which of the following represents the area of the region enclosed by the loop of the polar curve r=sin(4θ) from 0θπ4, shown below?

Graph of the polar curve r = sin(4 \theta) creating a closed loop shape, with the x-axis and y-axis labelled.
  • 0π4sin(4θ) dθ

  • 0π41+16cos2(4θ) dθ

  • 0π4sin(4θ) dθ

  • 120π4sin2(4θ) dθ

4
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Which of the following is not equal to the shaded area in the first quadrant that is inside the polar curve r=2 and outside the polar curve r=1+cos θ, shown below?

Graph in polar coordinates showing shaded region between curves \( r = 2 \) and \( r = 1 + \cos \theta \) on the right side from the origin.
  • 120π2(2(1+cos θ))2 dθ

  • 120π24 dθ120π2(1+cos θ)2 dθ

  • π120π2(1+cos θ)2 dθ

  • 120π2(4(1+cos θ)2)dθ

5
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1 mark

The value of drdθ at θ=π2 on the polar curve r=3cos θ2sin θ shows that, at that point,

  • the curve is at its minimum distance from the origin.

  • the curve is at its maximum distance from the origin.

  • the points on the curve are moving closer to the origin as θ increases.

  • the points on the curve are moving further away from the origin as θ increases.

1
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The area of the shaded region shown on the graph of the polar curve r=3+6sin θ is

Graph of a polar curve with equation r = 3 + 6sin(θ), showing a larger outer loop and a shaded smaller inner loop centred on the origin.
  • 0

  • 2.055

  • 4.892

  • 9.783

2
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1 mark

The area of the closed region bounded by the polar curve r=2+sin θ is

  • 02π(1+12sin θ) dθ

  • 20π(1+12sin θ) dθ

  • 02π122+sin θ dθ

  • 0π2+sin θ dθ

3
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1 mark

Which of the following represents the graph of the polar curve r=3csc θ?

  • Graph showing a vertical line intersecting the x-axis at 3 on a Cartesian plane with labelled axes x and y.
  • Graph showing a horizontal line at y equals 3, intersecting the y-axis; x and y axes are labelled with arrows pointing right and up.
  • Graph showing a circle centred at origin with radius 3, intersecting the x-axis at 3, on a Cartesian plane with x and y axes labeled.
  • Graph showing a circle passing through the origin, intersecting the y-axis at 3, centred vertically along the y-axis. Axes are labelled x and y with arrows.
4
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1 mark

Which of the following is equal to the area of the region inside the polar curve r=3 sin θ and outside the polar curve r= sin θ for 0θπ?

  • 0π2sin2θ dθ

  • 0π4sin2θ dθ

  • 0π5sin2θ dθ

  • 0π8sin2θ dθ

5
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1 mark

The value of dydθ at θ=π4on the polar curve r=4+3cos θ is

  • 322

  • 322

  • 22

  • 32+22

1
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1 mark

An expression for the slope of a spiral defined by the polar curve r=θ, where θ>0, in terms of θ is

  • 1

  • sec2θ

  • cot θ

  • sin θ+θcos θcos θθsin θ

2
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1 mark

The shaded area shown below, between the two polar curves r=4+3sin θ and r=3+sin θ, has an area of

Plot showing two polar curves, both circle-like but one larger and with a flat bottom. A region bounded by the two curves is shaded.
  • 22.245

  • 27.508

  • 56.802

  • 66.740

3
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1 mark

A particle moves along the polar curve r=2+cos θ with position (x(t), y(t)), measured in centimeters, where t is time, measured in seconds. If the motion of the particle is such that the angle θ always increases at a constant rate of 3 radians per second, then the rate at which the distance r decreases at the point where θ=π6 is

  • 16 centimeters per second

  • 1.5 centimeters per second

  • 3 centimeters per second

  • 6+332 centimeters per second

4
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1 mark

A particle moves along the polar curve r=2+θ2 with position (x(t), y(t)) at time t0. If dxdt=20 at the point when θ=5π8, then dθdt at this point is

  • 27.747

  • 14.416

  • 2.893

  • 138.248

5
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1 mark

For the circle defined by the polar equation r=a where a is a positive constant and 0θ<2π, an expression for d2ydx2 in terms of θ is

  • 1acsc3 θ

  • csc2 θ

  • 1acsc θ sec2 θ

  • sec2 θ