Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2007 / Paper 2 / Section B / 1 / Solution

Substituting $x=r\cos \theta$, $y=r\sin \theta$ into the circle equation gives $r^2-2r\cos \theta =0$. Thus its nonzero radial intersection is $r_Q=2\cos \theta$, with the origin also on the circle. The tangent to a circle at the rightmost point is $x=2$, or $r_R\cos \theta =2$.

Take rays with $-\pi /2<\theta <\pi /2$. The difference of the two radial distances gives the cissoid of Diocles:Multiplying by $\cos \theta$ gives $x=2{\sin }^2\theta =2y^2/(x^2+y^2)$, hence the Cartesian equation $y^2(2-x)=x^3$. A convenient parametric curve, with $t=\tan \theta$, isThe real curve has $0\le x<2$, a cusp at the origin, symmetry about the $x$ axis, and the vertical asymptote $x=2$. Near the origin, $x\sim 2t^2$ and $y\sim 2t^3$, so its cusp has horizontal tangent direction. As $|t|\to \infty$, $x\to 2^{-}$ while $|y|\to \infty$. The circle and curve meet away from the origin at $(1,\pm 1)$.