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You CAN Ace Calculus

17calculus > parametrics

### Calculus Main Topics

Single Variable Calculus

Multi-Variable Calculus

### Tools

math tools

general learning tools

Parametrics

Parametrics is a way to plot a graph by specifying the x, y (and sometimes z) values separately. We do so using a parameter, another variable used to link equations together. It is simple but deceptively powerful.

For starters we will use the parameter t. Here is an example.

 $$x = \cos(t)$$ $$y = \sin(t)$$

Notice that, although we have two separate equations, the x and y are linked by the value of t. In this example, we take a value for the parameter t and plug that value into both equations, to get a corresponding point $$(x,y)$$. When $$t=0$$, we get $$(1,0)$$. So, the point $$(1,0)$$ corresponds to the value $$t=0$$.

One of the advantages of using parametric equations is that we can describe many more graphs than we could when we had only x and y. Also, we are not going to require the graphs to be functions now, i.e. they may not pass the vertical line test.

Another piece of information we get from parametric equation is direction. The use of the variable t as a parameter is not random. Often, we assign a meaning to the parameter and sometimes that meaning is time. When you graph a set of parametric equations, the graph is swept out in a certain direction. This is an inherent feature of the parametric equations. We will often start at $$t=0$$ and increase t, giving the idea that time is passing. By adjusting the parametric equations, we can reverse the direction that the graph is swept.

Graphing Parametric Equations

As you learned when graphing functions, you need some experience with the equations and what the graphs look like in order to be able to know what a graph looks like just from the equation. As you are learning, I suggest using winplot to graph parametric equations. It is easy to use, has a very short learning curve and, best of all, it's free. You can find out more information on the Tools page.

Eliminating The Parameter

Sometimes we are given the set of parametric equations and we are asked to write the equation without the parameter by eliminating the parameter. This not always possible but with some equations there are ways to do it.

The easiest technique to try is to solve one of the equations for the parameter and then substitute the result in the other equation. Here is an example.
$$x = 2t$$ and $$y = t^2$$
Solve the first equation for t giving $$t=x/2$$ and substitute into the second equation.
$$y = (x/2)^2 = x^2/4$$

A second technique involves the use of trig identities. For example, given the parametric equations $$x=\cos(t)$$ and $$y=\sin(t)$$, we know that $$\cos^2(x) + \sin^2(x) = 1$$. So we can write $$x^2 + y^2 = 1$$ which eliminates the parameter.

A third way is by inspection. Sometimes it is obvious what a substitution might be. For example, if we have $$x=e^t$$ and $$y=e^{3t}+1$$ then we can rewrite $$y=(e^t)^3+1$$. Then we can replace $$e^t$$ with $$x$$ in the last equation (because our first parametric equation was $$x=e^t$$) to get $$y=x^3+1$$. Of course, the first technique would have worked too by solving $$x=e^t$$ for $$t$$ and then substituting and simplifying but by standing back and looking at the equations more carefully, the solution was much easier.

Okay, time for some practice problems.

### Search 17Calculus

Practice Problems

 Level A - Basic

Practice A01

Eliminate the parameter t from $$x=3t$$ and $$y=t^2$$.

solution

Practice A02

Eliminate the parameter t from $$x=3\cos(t)$$ and $$y=2\sin(t)$$.

solution

Practice A03

Eliminate the parameter t from $$x=5\cos(t)$$ and $$y=3\sin(t)$$.

solution

Practice A04

Eliminate the parameter from the parametric equations $$x=t-1$$, $$y=4t+1$$.

solution

Practice A05

Eliminate the parameter from the parametric equations $$x=\sqrt{t+1}$$, $$y=3t+2$$.

solution

Practice A06

Graph the parametric equations $$x=1+\sqrt{t}$$, $$y=t^2-4t$$ on $$0\leq t\leq4$$.

solution

Practice A07

Graph the parametric equations $$x=\sqrt{t}$$, $$y=1-t$$ and eliminate the parameter.

solution

 Level B - Intermediate

Practice B01

For the parametric equations $$x=1+\sin(t)$$, $$y=-2+\cos(t)$$, find the point that corresponds to $$t=\pi/2$$, graph the equations and eliminate the parameter.

solution

Practice B02

Eliminate the parameter from the parametric equations $$x=4e^{t/4}$$, $$y=3e^t$$.

solution

Practice B03

Find all points of intersection of the parametric curves $$C_1: x=t+1; y=t^2$$ and $$C_2: x=3t+1; y=t^2+1$$.

solution

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