5 Cartesian coordinates \(( x , y )\) and polar coordinates \(( r , \theta )\) are set up in the usual way, with the pole at the origin and the initial line along the positive \(x\)-axis, so that \(x = r \cos \theta\) and \(y = r \sin \theta\). A curve has polar equation \(r = k + \cos \theta\), where \(k\) is a constant with \(k \geqslant 1\).

1. Use your graphical calculator to obtain sketches of the curve in the three cases $$k = 1 , k = 1.5 \text { and } k = 4$$
2. Name the special feature which the curve has when \(k = 1\).
3. For each of the three cases, state the number of points on the curve at which the tangent is parallel to the \(y\)-axis.
4. Express \(x\) in terms of \(k\) and \(\theta\), and find \(\frac { \mathrm { d } x } { \mathrm {~d} \theta }\). Hence find the range of values of \(k\) for which there are just two points on the curve where the tangent is parallel to the \(y\)-axis. The distance between the point ( \(r , \theta\) ) on the curve and the point ( 1,0 ) on the \(x\)-axis is \(d\).
5. Use the cosine rule to express \(d ^ { 2 }\) in terms of \(k\) and \(\theta\), and deduce that \(k ^ { 2 } \leqslant d ^ { 2 } \leqslant k ^ { 2 } + 1\).
6. Hence show that, when \(k\) is large, the shape of the curve is very nearly circular.