What is Functions: Definition and 1000 Discussions

In mathematics, the trigonometric functions (also called circular functions, angle functions or goniometric functions) are real functions which relate an angle of a right-angled triangle to ratios of two side lengths. They are widely used in all sciences that are related to geometry, such as navigation, solid mechanics, celestial mechanics, geodesy, and many others. They are among the simplest periodic functions, and as such are also widely used for studying periodic phenomena through Fourier analysis.
The trigonometric functions most widely used in modern mathematics are the sine, the cosine, and the tangent. Their reciprocals are respectively the cosecant, the secant, and the cotangent, which are less used. Each of these six trigonometric functions has a corresponding inverse function (called inverse trigonometric function), and an equivalent in the hyperbolic functions as well.The oldest definitions of trigonometric functions, related to right-angle triangles, define them only for acute angles. To extend these definitions to functions whose domain is the whole projectively extended real line, geometrical definitions using the standard unit circle (i.e., a circle with radius 1 unit) are often used. Modern definitions express trigonometric functions as infinite series or as solutions of differential equations. This allows extending the domain of sine and cosine functions to the whole complex plane, and the domain of the other trigonometric functions to the complex plane from which some isolated points are removed.

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  1. xyz_1965

    MHB Is tan(x)^2 proper notation for the trig function tangent squared?

    Is tan^2 (x) the same as tan(x)^2? Note: I could have used any trig function. I know that tan^2 (x) means (tan x)^2. What does tan (x)^2 mean? Is it proper notation?
  2. Leo Liu

    I How did mathematicians discover the expressions of hyperbolic functions?

    The hyperbolic function ##\cosh t \text{ and } \sinh t## respectively represent the x and y coordinate of the parametric equation of the parabola ##x^2-y^2=1##. The exponential expressions of these hyperbolic functions are $$ \begin{cases} \sinh x = {e^x-e^{-x}} /2; \: x \in \mathbb R, \: f(x)...
  3. T

    What brain exercises improve brain functions based on facts

    Hi, there. I couldn't find much information about this on the net so I came here to ask if anyone here knows as I thought it would be the right forum or maybe I just wasn't looking hard enough. Please not that I don't mean skills but rather what actually works that improves brain functions like...
  4. anemone

    MHB Expressing First 1000 Positive Integers as Floor Functions

    How many of the first 1000 positive integers can be expressed in the form $\lfloor 2x \rfloor+\lfloor 4x \rfloor+\lfloor 6x \rfloor+\lfloor 8x \rfloor$, where $x$ is a real number?
  5. W

    Elementary Python Questions: Data Frames, k-nary functions

    Hi All, A couple of questions, please: 1) Say df is a dataframe in Python Pandas, and I select a specific column from df: Y=df[column].values. What kind of data structure is Y? 2) I want to find the sum of two numbers: Def Sum(a=0,b=0): return a+b If I want to find a sum over sum data...
  6. B

    A Jacobi Elliptic Functions and Integrals

    Are there any useful references or resources that intuitively show how Jacobi Elliptic functions [sn, cn, dn, etc] are geometrically interpreted from properties of ellipses? And how the Jacobi Elliptic functions and integrals can be shown to be generalizations of circular trig functions? Thanks!
  7. S

    Correct statement about composite and inverse functions

    f-1(f(A)) = A and f-1(f(B)) = B so options (a) and (c) are wrong. For (b), I get A ⊆ A For (d), I get B ⊆ B For (e), I get A ⊆ A So there are three correct statements? Thanks
  8. chwala

    Transformation of trigonometry functions

    kindly note that this solution is NOT my original working. The problem was solved by my colleague. I have doubts with the ##k## value found. Is it not supposed to be ##k=0.5?## as opposed to ##k=2?##. From my reading on scaling, the graph shrinks when ##k## is greater than ##1## and conversely.
  9. Math Amateur

    MHB Lebesgue Integration of Simple Functions .... Lindstrom, Lemma 7.4.6 .... ....

    I am reading Tom L. Lindstrom's book: Spaces: An Introduction to Real Analysis ... and I am focused on Chapter 7: Measure and Integration ... I need help with the proof of Lemma 7.4.6 ... Lemma 7.4.6 and its proof read as follows: In the above proof by Lindstrom we read the following: " ...
  10. Math Amateur

    I Lebesgue Integration of Simple Functions .... Lindstrom, Lemma 7.4.6 ...

    I am reading Tom L. Lindstrom's book: Spaces: An Introduction to Real Analysis ... and I am focused on Chapter 7: Measure and Integration ... I need help with the proof of Lemma 7.4.6 ... Lemma 7.4.6 and its proof read as follows: In the above proof by Lindstrom we read the following: " ...
  11. Math Amateur

    MHB Measurable Functions .... Lindstrom, Proposition 7.3.7 .... ....

    I am reading Tom L. Lindstrom's book: Spaces: An Introduction to Real Analysis ... and I am focused on Chapter 7: Measure and Integration ... I need help with the proof of Proposition 7.3.7 ... Proposition 7.3.7 and its proof read as follows: In the above proof by Lindstrom we read the...
  12. Math Amateur

    I Measurable Functions .... Lindstrom, Proposition 7.3.7 .... ....

    I am reading Tom L. Lindstrom's book: Spaces: An Introduction to Real Analysis ... and I am focused on Chapter 7: Measure and Integration ... I need help with the proof of Proposition 7.3.7 ... Proposition 7.3.7 and its proof read as follows: In the above proof by Lindstrom we read the...
  13. J

    MHB Exponential functions (calculator exercise)

    Hi there, I have tried to do these questions but I don't understand. Any help would be appreciated!
  14. B

    Calculus 1 problems: functions, integrals, series

    Mentor note: Moved from technical section, so is missing the homework template. Im doing some older exams that my professor has provided, but I haven't got the solutions for these. Can someone help confirm that the solutions I've arrived at are correct?
  15. H

    B What Are the Sign Rules for Second Degree Functions?

    judge whether the following expressions are larger than, smaller than or equal to zero i) a+b+c ii)a-b+c iii)4a+2b+c iv)c-e I know that <0, b> 0, c> 0, d> 0 and e <0 but I don't know what to do
  16. Leo Liu

    Understanding Probability Density Functions and Their Properties

    My questions are as follows: 1. How do we find them and why do we need them? 2. What are the meanings of the mean and the median of a PDF? Are the formulae below correct? $$\int_{a}^{median} f(x) \mathrm{d}x = \int_{median}^{b} f(x) \mathrm{d}x$$ $$\int_{a}^{mean} f(x) \cdot x \mathrm{d}x =...
  17. N

    Why should arguments of certain functions be dimensionless?

    This is my approach: These quantities namely mass, length, and time, are all additive in nature. ##2 m + 3m = 5 m ##. If the argument of the functions mentioned in the problem statement is not dimensionless, then mass, length or time do not remain additive in the image space of the functions...
  18. T

    MHB Derivatives with Quadratic Functions.

    Slightly confused at what it wants me to do here?
  19. O

    I Rotate Functions with Derivatives: A Quantum Mechanics Homework

    I was solving a problem for my quantum mechanics homework, and was therefore browsing in the internet for further information. Then I stumbled upon this here: R is the rotation operator, δφ an infinitesimal angle and Ψ is the wave function. I know that it is able to rotate a curve, vector...
  20. agnimusayoti

    Absolute value of trigonometric functions of a complex number

    So far I've got the real part and imaginary part of this complex number. Assume: ##z=\sin (x+iy)##, then 1. Real part: ##\sin x \cosh y## 2. Imaginary part: ##\cos x \sinh y## If I use the absolute value formula, I got ##|z|=\sqrt{\sin^2 {x}.\cosh^2 {y}+\cos^2 {x}.\sinh^2 {y} }## How to...
  21. H

    Find the number of possible functions from one set to another

    I have tried to solve them. I would like to know if my answers are correct. (a) The total number of functions without any restrictions ##=n^m## The number of functions such that ##f(x)## is never ##1## ##=(n-1)^m## The number of functions such that ##f(x)=1## for at least one ##x\in S_m##...
  22. E

    B Tangents to a curve as functions of different variables

    Let's say we have a curve in 2D space that we can represent in both cartesian and polar coordinates, i.e. ##y = y(x)## and ##r = r(\theta)##. If you want the tangent at any point ##(x,y) = (a,b)## on the curve you can just do the first order Taylor expansion at that point $$y(x) = y'(a)x +...
  23. Physics lover

    No. of positive integral solutions of fractional functions

    I know how to find integral solutions of linear equations like x+y=C or x+y+z=C where C is a constant. But I don't have any idea how to solve these type of questions.I am only able to predict that both x and y will be greater than 243554.Please help.
  24. Physics lover

    No. of solutions of an equation involving a defined function

    Here is a pic of question My attempt-: I defined functions f(x-1) and f(x+1) using f(x).After defining them,I substituted their values in the equation f(x-1)+f(x+1)=sinA. For different ranges of x,I got different equations. For 1<x<2,I got 1-x=sinA. But now I am confused.For each different...
  25. anemone

    MHB Inequality of cubic and exponential functions

    Prove that $3^n\ge(n+3)^3$ for any natural number $n\ge6$.
  26. E

    B Difference between functions and variables

    This is probably a silly question, though it's confused me a little so I thought I'd ask. It is my understanding that a function is loosely defined as a mapping between two sets, whilst a variable can represent an element of either of those sets. I'll take the example of velocity, since it's...
  27. A

    Medical Text about higher cognitive functions of the brain?

    I'm looking for a document (possibly online) which describes the higher cognitive functions (such as thinking, planning, creativity, comprehension, reasoning, etc.) from the neuroscientific point of view. I found only texts of brain anatomy or other describing senso-motoric and metabolic aspects...
  28. S

    I Rewriting a piecewise function using step functions

    Suppose we have a piecewise function f(t) = exp(c*t) when 0 <= t < 2 and f(t) = 0 when t >= 2. Can the above be rewritten as f(t)= exp(at)*[H(t-0) - H(t-2)], H is a heaviside function.
  29. M

    MHB Show that the two functions are identical

    Hey! :o For the functions $f:A\rightarrow B$, $g:B\rightarrow A$ and $h:B\rightarrow A$ it holds that $(g\circ f)(x)=x, \ \forall x\in A$ and $(f\circ h)(x)=x, \ \forall x\in B$. Show that it holds that $g\equiv h$. I don't really have an idea how to show that. Let $x\in A$. Then $(g\circ...
  30. benorin

    Insights A Path to Fractional Integral Representations of Some Special Functions

    Introduction This bit is what new thing you can learn reading this:) As for original content, I only have hope that the method of using the sets $$C_N^n: = \left\{ { \vec x \in {\mathbb{R}^n}|{x_i} \ge 0\forall i,\sum\limits_{k = 1}^n {x_k^{2N}} < n - 1 } \right\}$$ and Dirichlet integrals to...
  31. V

    A How to work with expanded functions?

    I solve problem where I use functions which are expanded upto some order. I multiply them, make square root and make derivatives or solve differential equations. What is the right way to deal with such problem? Shall I expand all functions after every step or work with unexpanded functions and...
  32. M

    Engineering Parseval's Theorem - Average Power of the difference of functions

    Hi, So I have a quick conceptual question about Parseval's theorem in this application. In previous parts of this question, we have found the average powers of both f(t) and g(t) by integration and using the complex Fourier series respectively (not sure if this is relevant to my question)...
  33. Mounice

    Solving Potential of a Charge Outside a Sphere with Green Functions

    I was wondering if there is a way to deduce the solution of the potential of a charge outside a sphere given by the image method, though Green functions. Because of a Dirichlet condition (GD(R,r')=0), I know that a solution can be written as GD=Go+L, where ∇2L=0. But in order to approach this...
  34. P

    Partial derivatives of thermodynamic state functions

    I'm in a first-year grad course on statistical mechanics and something about multivariable functions that has confused me since undergrad keeps popping up, mostly in the context of thermodynamics. Any insight would be much appreciated! This is a general question, but as an example imagine...
  35. Avaro667

    A Elliptic trigonometric functions as basis for function expansion ?

    Hey everyone . So I've started reading in depth Fourier transforms , trying to understand what they really are(i was familiar with them,but as a tool mostly) . The connection of FT and linear algebra is the least mind blowing for me 🤯! It really changed the way I'm thinking ! So i was...
  36. T

    Leetcode 728 complier issue with mutliple functions

    I just submitted a solution for a leetcode problem, displayed below. My solution is broken into three separate functions as shown below. def Checker(dig, number): """ Purpose: Function check if the given number is divisible by each digit in the given number. Parameters...
  37. C

    I Finite expansion of a fraction of functions

    I am having a problem finding the right order above and below to find the finite expansion of a fraction of usual functions assembled in complicated ways. For instance, a question asked to find the limit as x approaches 0 for the following function I know that to solve it we must first find...
  38. M

    Taking the derivative of complex functions

    So just based on the cauchy riemann theorem, I think: Ux = 2 = Vy = 2xy, so f(z) is differentiable on xy = 1, and also that Vx = y^2 = -Uy = 0. That doesn't make sense to me because if 0 = y^2, then y = 0, yet that wouldn't satisfy xy = 1, would it? Furthermore, I'm not sure how I would...
  39. brotherbobby

    Proving that the two given functions are linearly independent

    Summary:: I attach a picture of the given problem below, just before my attempt to solve it. We are required to show that ##\alpha_1 \varphi_1(t) + \alpha_2 \varphi_2(t) = 0## for some ##\alpha_1, \alpha_2 \in \mathbb{R}## is only possible when both ##\alpha_1, \alpha_2 = 0##. I don't know...
  40. brotherbobby

    I Proving functions are linearly dependent

    We can make the first three functions add up to zero in the following way : ##\sin^2 t+\cos^2 t-\frac{1}{3}\times 3 = \varphi_1(t) + \varphi_2(t) - \frac{1}{3} \varphi_3(t) = 0##. However, look at ##\varphi_4(t) = t## and ##\varphi_5(t) = e^t##. How does one combine the two to add up to zero? I...
  41. benorin

    I Hypergeometric Functions Identities: n_F_n & (n+1)_F_n

    See attachment for identities and proofs, if you find my proofs are incorrect in some way please post it. Thanks for your time.
  42. R

    B A simple doubt on functions.

    Why do we define functions as only as only those graphs which have only one y value for each x value. for eg. we don't say that a circle is a graph of a function,because its graph would have two y values for same x values. what i mean to ask is why not call anything that takes a input and gives...
  43. M

    I Finding Multiple Local Minima of High-Dimensional Functions

    Hi all, Let me give some background to my question. In computational neuroscience it's now fashionable to train recurrent neural networks (RNNs) to solve some task (working memory for example). We do so by defining some cost function and training the model weights to minimize it (using...
  44. rafgger

    A Expectation of a Fraction of Gaussian Hypergeometric Functions

    I am looking for the expectation of a fraction of Gauss hypergeometric functions. $$E_X\left[\frac{{}_2F_1\left(\begin{matrix}x+a+1\\x+a+1\end{matrix},a+1,c\right)}{{}_2F_1\left(\begin{matrix}x+a\\x+a\end{matrix},a,c\right)}\right]=?$$ Are there any identities that could be used to simplify or...
  45. Math Amateur

    I Composition of Two Continuous Functions .... Browder, Proposition 3.12

    I am reading Andrew Browder's book: "Mathematical Analysis: An Introduction" ... ... I am currently reading Chapter 3: Continuous Functions on Intervals and am currently focused on Section 3.1 Limits and Continuity ... ... I need some help in understanding the proof of Proposition 3.12...
  46. Math Amateur

    MHB Composition of Two Continuous Functions .... Browder, Proposition 3.12 .... ....

    I am reading Andrew Browder's book: "Mathematical Analysis: An Introduction" ... ... I am currently reading Chapter 3: Continuous Functions on Intervals and am currently focused on Section 3.1 Limits and Continuity ... ... I need some help in understanding the proof of Proposition 3.12...
  47. F

    Sequence of integrable functions (f_n) conv. to f

    ##\textbf{Attempt at solution}##: If I can show that ##f## is integrable on ##[a,b]##, then for the second part I get : Let ##\frac{\varepsilon}{b-a} > 0##. By definition of uniform convergence, there exists ##N = N(\varepsilon) > 0## such that for all ##x \in [a,b]## we have ##\vert f(x) -...
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