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Easy math problem consultation
Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 3:11 pm
by Psychophanta
I have:
t*sin(a) = k+cos(a)
I know all but 'a', and i want to know 'a' respect 'k' and 't', but i don't know.
Any help?

Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 3:26 pm
by srod
My initial working yields:
a = arcsin(k/sqrt(1+t^2)) + arctan (1/t)
I'll do some checking.
Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 3:29 pm
by srod
Yea looks okay. This will only give valid values though providing
the value of k lies between -sqrt(1+t^2) and +sqrt(1+t^2).
Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 3:31 pm
by Psychophanta
Yes, can explain how did you it please?
Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 3:38 pm
by srod
Psychophanta wrote:Yes, can explain how did you it please?
Not so easy through the forum. Assuming that your mathematics is at least A-level standard:
Rearrange to get t*sin a - cos a = k.
Now use the standard A-level Mathematics technique to express t*sin a - cos a in the form RSin(a - s) where R and s are to be found.
You should find that R = sqrt(1 + t^2) and s = arctan (1/t).
The equation now becomes sqrt(1 + t^2)sin (a - arctan (1/t)) = k
which means that sin (a - arctan (1/t)) = k / sqrt(1 + t^2)
and thus a - arctan (1/t) = arcsin (k / sqrt(1 + t^2))
from which we get the result.
If you need me to fill in a few more details then I'll need to e-mail you a pdf file or a Word document.
Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 3:48 pm
by Psychophanta
srod wrote:...express t*sin a - cos a in the form RSin(a - s) where R and s are to be found.
You should find that R = sqrt(1 + t^2) and s = arctan (1/t).
Where in teh web can i find these relations?
srod wrote:If you need me to fill in a few more details then I'll need to e-mail you a pdf file or a Word document.
Should be nice

Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 3:53 pm
by srod
The whole thing hinges on the fact that
sin (A - B) = sin A*cos B - cos A*sin B
(called a compound-angle identity).
If you've come across this before, then I can easily furnish you with a complete proof of the above fact.
Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 4:10 pm
by Psychophanta
srod wrote:The whole thing hinges on the fact that
sin (A - B) = sin A*cos B - cos A*sin B
of course i know, but i don't see the relation of this with the problem :roll:
Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 4:13 pm
by srod
Give me 10 minutes to hack up a pdf file with a full explanation then. Can you pm me your e-mail address.
**EDIT: all done - just need your e-mail address.
Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 4:40 pm
by Bonne_den_kule
I will try to solve it too and scan in the result if possible (after what I have learned in math)
Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 4:50 pm
by Psychophanta
srod wrote:**EDIT: all done - just need your e-mail address.
Wait, please, i will not defeat, sorry to heve been to loose your time, but i have it all almost solved.

Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 5:17 pm
by Bonne_den_kule
I cant solve it using factorizing and tanA=sinA/cosA

Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 5:25 pm
by Psychophanta
I defeat:
my email is my nick at hotmail.com

Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 5:30 pm
by srod
e-mail sent.
Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 5:53 pm
by Psychophanta
I see, mhhh, you are in use, i guess, doing these things, don't?