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I have a parametric curve defined by

x = 2 Sin[t] + Sin[3 t]   
y = 2 Cos[t] - Cos[3 t]

How can I eliminate t so get a single implicit equation in x and y?

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  • $\begingroup$ Non-implicit solution: Solve[{x == 2 Sin[t] + Sin[3 t], y == 2 Cos[t] - Cos[3 t]}, {t, y}]. $\endgroup$
    – T.F
    Jul 24, 2017 at 5:20
  • $\begingroup$ have you tried the code? When you solve for y,t you automatically eliminate t... Hence the equation is expressed in terms of x and y. Next time try running the code... $\endgroup$
    – T.F
    Jul 24, 2017 at 6:18
  • $\begingroup$ @T.F: Sorry. y=f(x) is not what I need. I need f(x, x^2, x^3, ..., y, y^2, y^3,...)=0. :-) $\endgroup$ Jul 24, 2017 at 6:49

1 Answer 1

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You should first rationalize the trig functions and the use Eliminate:

Clear[x, y]

Eliminate[
 TrigExpand[{x == 2 Sin[t] + Sin[3 t], y == 2 Cos[t] - Cos[3 t]} /. 
   t -> 2 ArcTan[u]], u]

(*
==> x^6 + x^4 (17 + 3 y^2) + x^2 (63 - 94 y^2 + 3 y^4) == 
 81 - 63 y^2 - 17 y^4 - y^6
*)

The replacement rule introduces the rationalization with variable u.

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