A2 October 2020 Paper 1 Q5

OCR MEICurrent spec8 marksPolar Coordinates

5 Fig. 5 shows the curve with polar equation \(r = a(3 + 2\cos\theta)\) for \(-\pi \leqslant \theta \leqslant \pi\), where \(a\) is a constant.

Fig. 5: a closed curve, slightly dented near the pole, enclosing the pole O; the initial line theta = 0 is drawn from O to the right and meets the curve at A; a line from O perpendicular to the initial line meets the curve at B
Fig. 5
(a) Write down the polar coordinates of the points A and B. [2]
(b) Explain why the curve is symmetrical about the initial line. [2]
(c) In this question you must show detailed reasoning.
Find in terms of \(a\) the exact area of the region enclosed by the curve. [4]