Which of the following best describes the graph of the parametric equations and ?
Table of contents
- 0. Review of College Algebra4h 43m
- 1. Measuring Angles40m
- 2. Trigonometric Functions on Right Triangles2h 5m
- 3. Unit Circle1h 19m
- 4. Graphing Trigonometric Functions1h 19m
- 5. Inverse Trigonometric Functions and Basic Trigonometric Equations1h 41m
- 6. Trigonometric Identities and More Equations2h 34m
- 7. Non-Right Triangles1h 38m
- 8. Vectors2h 25m
- 9. Polar Equations2h 5m
- 10. Parametric Equations1h 6m
- 11. Graphing Complex Numbers1h 7m
- OLD 1. Angles and the Trigonometric Functions Coming soon
- OLD 2. Trigonometric Functions graphs, Inverse Trigonometric Functions Coming soon
- OLD 3. Trigonometric Identities and Equations Coming soon
- OLD 4. Laws of Sines, Cosines and Vectors Coming soon
- OLD 5. Complex Numbers, Polar Coordinates and Parametric Equations Coming soon
- NEW (not used) 7. Laws of Sines, Cosines and Vectors Coming soon
- NEW (not used) 8. Vectors Coming soon
- NEW(not used) 9. Polar equations Coming soon
- NEW (not used) 11. Graphing Complex Numbers Coming soon
10. Parametric Equations
Graphing Parametric Equations
Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes the shape traced by the curve with parametric equations , , as varies from to ?
A
A circle in the plane
B
A straight line in space
C
A helix around the -axis
D
A three-dimensional Lissajous curve
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Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the parametric equations given: \(x = \sin(t)\), \(y = 3\sin(2t)\), and \(z = \sin(3t)\), where \(t\) varies from \(0\) to \(2\pi\).
Note that each coordinate is a sine function with different frequencies: \(x\) has frequency 1, \(y\) has frequency 2 (and amplitude 3), and \(z\) has frequency 3.
Recall that when parametric equations involve sine or cosine functions with different frequencies in each coordinate, the resulting curve is often a Lissajous curve, which is a complex, periodic figure in multiple dimensions.
Since the frequencies in \(x\), \(y\), and \(z\) are different and the amplitudes vary, the curve will not be a simple circle, straight line, or helix, but rather a three-dimensional Lissajous curve.
Therefore, the shape traced by the curve is best described as a three-dimensional Lissajous curve, characterized by the interplay of sine waves with different frequencies along each axis.
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