Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2020 / Paper 1 / 12 / a

For polar coordinates, $x=r\cos \theta$ and $y=r\sin \theta$. The Jacobian determinant is $r$, so the area element isThis accounts for the increasing length of an angular strip as its distance from the origin increases.

Let $I$ be the positive Gaussian integral. Its improper integral converges because $e^{-x^2}\le e^{-|x|}$ for $|x|\ge 1$. Multiplying two copies and using the polar coordinates area element givesNonnegativity justifies the product double integral and the change of integration order. Since $I>0$,

The cardioid has a nonnegative radial boundary, so each ray from the origin contributes $0\le r\le a(1+\cos \theta )$. Integrating the polar coordinates area element yieldsThe three angular integrals are $2\pi$, zero and $\pi$, respectively, using the double-angle formula for the last. Thus