# Asinx + bcosy into single trig function

1. Mar 5, 2015

### RsZrg

I know that asinx + bcosx can be put into a single trig fom, but can also the above sum be put into a single trig function?

2. Mar 5, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

If you could convert it to this format:

A(cosy*sinx + siny*cosx)

then yes it could be converted to Asin(y+x) as an example.

However, that requires that a and b must have the following relationships:

a=Acosy and b=Asiny

which will not be true in the general case for any a and b.

3. Mar 5, 2015

### RsZrg

Thanks Jedi
I am looking for a general solution for any a and b. Is this possible? I have tried the above method but currently limited by the above restrictions.

4. Mar 5, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

I don't think there is any hope here. Usually this kind of problem might push someone to use Fourier methods but again your initial solution is probably optimal.

I am not one of the Math mentors but perhaps @Mark44 or @HallsofIvy would have a better answer to your problem.

5. Mar 5, 2015

### Staff: Mentor

Not that I'm aware of...

6. Mar 9, 2015

### Svein

Off the top of my head: Let $A=\sqrt{a^{2}+b^{2}}$ and $a_{1}=\frac{a}{A}, b_{1}=\frac{b}{A}$. Then $a_{1}^{2}+b_{1}^{2}=1$, therefore you can find an angle φ such that a1=cos(φ) and b1=sin(φ).
∴a⋅sin(x)+b⋅cos(x) = A(cos(φ)sin(x)+sin(φ)cos(x))=A⋅sin(φ+x).

7. Mar 9, 2015

### pasmith

Actually it is: $\tan y = b/a$ (there exists exactly one such $y \in (-\pi/2, \pi/2)$ for each possible choice of $a$ and $b \neq 0$) and $A = \sqrt{a^2 + b^2}$.