The function given is $r=12\cos(3\theta)$, the graph of this function shows a $3$ petal/leaf rose. Now one way to find the area of a single petal is to do $\frac{1}{3}\int_{0}^{2π}\int_{0}^{12\cos(3\theta)} r drd\theta$ this gives the value $24\pi$
another way which should give the same value is $2 \int_{0}^{\pi/6}\int_{0}^{12\cos(3\theta)} r drd\theta$
but this equals $12\pi$.
What is wrong here?
The area of a single petal/leaf of a rose curve
areaintegrationmultivariable-calculuspolar coordinates
Best Answer
The following animation (created with PSTricks) might be useful for finding the integration interval.
For the former, you have to change the interval of the outer integral as follows. \begin{align} A&=\frac{1}{3}\int_0^\pi\int_0^{12\cos 3\theta} r\,\mathrm{d}r\,\mathrm{d}\theta\\ &=12\pi \end{align}