Robert M.

Guzzo
Math 32a Parametric Equations

Were used to expressing curves in terms of functions of the form, f(x)=y. What happens if the curve is too complicated to do this? Lets look at an example.

An ant is walking along... only to be crushed by a rolling wheel.

Question: What is the path traced out by its bloody splat?

Why would we ask such a question? Mathematicians are sick bastards!!!

Problem Posed Again

(in a less gruesome manner)

A wheel with a radius of r feet is marked at its base with a piece of tape. Then we allow the wheel to roll across a flat surface. a) What is the path traced out by the tape as the wheel rolls?
b) Can the location of the tape be determined at any particular time?

Questions: What is your prediction for the shape of the curve?

Is the curve bounded?

Does the curve repeat a pattern?

Picture of the Problem

Finding an Equation
f(x) = y may not be good enough to express the curve. Instead, try to express the location of a point, (x,y), in terms of a third parameter to get a pair of parametric equations. Use the properties of the wheel to our advantage. The wheel is a circle, and points on a circle can be measured using angles.

WARNING: Trigonometry ahead!

Diagram of the Problem

2r

r P

q
Q

rq O X T

We would like to find the lengths of OX and PX, since these are the horizontal and vertical distances of P from the origin.

The Parametric Equations

r q P

C r cosq Q

|OX| = |OT| - |XT| = |OT| - |PQ| x(q) = rq - r sinq

r sinq rq

|PX| = |CT| - |CQ| y(q) = r - r cosq

T

rq

Graph of the Function

If the radius r=1, then the parametric equations become: x(q)=q-sinq, y(q)=1-cosq

Real-World Example: Gears

For Further Study

Calculus, J. Stuart, Chapter 9, ex. 5, p. 592: The basic problem. Stuart also looks at more interesting examples:
What happens if we move the point, P, inside the wheel? What happens if we move P some distance outside the wheel? What if we let the wheel roll around the edge of another circle?

History of the Cycloid