Is there an analytic solution to an equation of the following form?
A*cos(w*t) + B*t = C
where A, B, C, and w are constants
Maybe it can be solved by expanding the cos() to a series?
I am also wondering the same question about the following, though I believe that I've read/been told that there is no known analytic solution.
A*cos(\Theta) + B*sin(\Theta) = C
gunch
Sep20-08, 04:45 AM
If what you mean by an analytical solution is a finite expression using only "elementary functions" then I don't believe the first has an analytical solution. You could of course always define a solution set:
S = \{t | A\cdot \cos(wt) + Bt = C\}
which I would consider a solution, though it doesn't tell us how to solve it.
For the second it's pretty easy. Rearrange:
A \cdot \cos(\Theta) = C - B\cdot \sin (\Theta)
Square:
A^2 (1-\sin^2(\Theta)) = C^2 + B^2 \sin^2(\Theta) - 2BC\cdot \sin(\Theta)
Then it's a simple quadratic equation in \sin(\Theta).
Dissident Dan
Sep20-08, 12:55 PM
Thanks!
The solution to the second is so simple, I almost can't believe I didn't come up with it. I guess that shows what happens when you haven't had a math class in a few years.
By analytic solution, I mean an equation solved for t, instead of a numerical method.
Defennder
Sep20-08, 10:07 PM
Don't think there is a closed form solution. You'll have to approximate it numerically.