Combining Cos(t)'s from (sin2t + sin3t)/2*sint

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SUMMARY

The discussion revolves around simplifying the expression x(t) = (sin(2t) + sin(3t))/(2sin(t)) to determine its period. Participants utilized exponential forms and trigonometric identities, ultimately arriving at x(t) = cos(3t) - cos(t) - cos(2t) + cos(4t). The period of the resulting function is established as the least common multiple of the individual cosine terms, which is 2π, approximately 6.28. The conversation also clarifies the importance of non-dimensional variables in plotting periodic functions.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of trigonometric identities, specifically sin and cos functions.
  • Familiarity with exponential forms of trigonometric functions.
  • Knowledge of calculating the least common multiple (LCM) of periods.
  • Basic understanding of MATLAB for plotting functions.
NEXT STEPS
  • Learn about trigonometric identities and their applications in simplifying expressions.
  • Study the concept of least common multiple (LCM) in the context of periodic functions.
  • Explore MATLAB plotting techniques for visualizing trigonometric functions.
  • Investigate the implications of non-dimensional variables in physics and mathematics.
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Mathematics students, physics enthusiasts, and anyone involved in signal processing or periodic function analysis will benefit from this discussion.

toneboy1
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The question was given: x(t) = (sin2t + sin3t)/2*sint

determine the period. So I converted numerator and denominator into the exponential forms and ended up getting (after flipping, timesing and cancelling)
(exp(j3t)-exp(-j)-exp(j)+exp(-3j)+exp(j4)-exp(-2j)-exp(j2)+exp(-4j)) / 2

which in turn turns into

x(t) = cos(3t) - cos(t) - cos(2t) + cos(4t) if I'm not mistaken

so is there a way of simplifying this into maybe one Cos or something so I can find the period?

Or have I done this question the wrong way?Thanks heaps!
 
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use sin(2t)=2sin(t)cos(t). then write sin(3t)=sin(2t+t) and expand it. next use
\cos(2t) = 2 \cos^{2}t - 1. you then end up with
x(t) = \cos t + 2 \cos^{2}t - \frac{1}{2}
 
samalkhaiat said:
...then write sin(3t)=sin(2t+t) and

That is very clever.

So I got to:

(2.sin(t).cos(t) + sin(2t).cos(t)+cos(2t).sin(2t)) / 2sin(t)

[2.sin(t).cos(t)+2sin(t).cos(t).cos(t)+(cos^2(t)-sin^2(t))*(2.sin(t).cos(t)) ]
/ 2sint

(then) although I have ended up with cost+cos^2 t + cos^3 t - sin^2(t).cost

Have I done something wrong or am I not finished simplifying it? (I can't think of what else to do).Thanks
 
Last edited:
toneboy1 said:
The question was given: x(t) = (sin2t + sin3t)/2*sint

determine the period. So I converted numerator and denominator into the exponential forms and ended up getting (after flipping, timesing and cancelling)
(exp(j3t)-exp(-j)-exp(j)+exp(-3j)+exp(j4)-exp(-2j)-exp(j2)+exp(-4j)) / 2

which in turn turns into

x(t) = cos(3t) - cos(t) - cos(2t) + cos(4t) if I'm not mistaken

so is there a way of simplifying this into maybe one Cos or something so I can find the period?

Or have I done this question the wrong way?


Thanks heaps!
Once you have a sum of cosines, the period is the lowest common multiple of the periods of the terms.
 
toneboy1 said:
That is very clever.

So I got to:

(2.sin(t).cos(t) + sin(2t).cos(t)+cos(2t).sin(2t)) / 2sin(t)


Have I done something wrong or am I not finished simplifying it? (I can't think of what else to do).


Thanks

sin(t+2t) = sin(t)cos(2t)+sin(2t)cos(t)
 
nasu said:
Once you have a sum of cosines, the period is the lowest common multiple of the periods of the terms.

What about if the Cosine is negative? Anyway so that would mean from the answer in my original post the period was 't'?

Thanks
 
samalkhaiat said:
sin(t+2t) = sin(t)cos(2t)+sin(2t)cos(t)

Isn't that what I did?
 
toneboy1 said:
What about if the Cosine is negative? Anyway so that would mean from the answer in my original post the period was 't'?

Thanks
-cos(x)=cos(x+π)
That component will have a phase of π, in respect to the other components. Does not change the period, though.
 
nasu said:
-cos(x)=cos(x+π)
That component will have a phase of π, in respect to the other components. Does not change the period, though.

Ah, I see. So it was '1'. When I plotted the sum of: x(t) = cos(3t) - cos(t) - cos(2t) + cos(4t) in MATLAB it generated a period of 6.275 or something, how can this be?

Observe the picture attached
 

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  • #10
What would you expect? What is the period of cos(t)?
 
  • #11
nasu said:
What would you expect? What is the period of cos(t)?

Please enlighten me, 360 deg?
 
  • #12
In radians is 2π or about 6.28.
 
  • #13
nasu said:
In radians is 2π or about 6.28.

so from the result I got, how was 2π≈6.28?
 
  • #14
toneboy1 said:
so from the result I got, how was 2π≈6.28?

I am not sure what are you asking. The value of 2π is not a consequence of your result but the other way around.
π or "PI" is 3.1415...
so 2π= 6.28...

Now the period of a function like sin(x) or cos (x) is 2π. This means that sin(x+2π) = sin(x).
In these expressions x is a non-dimensional variable.

You can also write sin(x+360) = sin(x) but then your x should be in hexadecimal degrees too.
Matlab uses radians, I suppose.
 
  • #15
nasu said:
I am not sure what are you asking. The value of 2π is not a consequence of your result but the other way around.
π or "PI" is 3.1415...
so 2π= 6.28...

Now the period of a function like sin(x) or cos (x) is 2π. This means that sin(x+2π) = sin(x).
In these expressions x is a non-dimensional variable.

You can also write sin(x+360) = sin(x) but then your x should be in hexadecimal degrees too.
Matlab uses radians, I suppose.

AH! Because I was plotting it like it was in Time (seconds)

Playing Devil's advocate, would it be fair to make 't' as seconds and plot the thing and say it took 6.28 seconds for a period?
 
  • #16
In physics we usually make the arguments of the functions non-dimensional.
A physical quantity periodic in time will be represented by something like
sin(2∏t/T) so t is in seconds and T is the "physical" period, in seconds.
This has the property

sin[2∏(t+T)/T)]=sin(2∏t/T) so the period is T.
 
  • #17
nasu said:
In physics we usually make the arguments of the functions non-dimensional.
A physical quantity periodic in time will be represented by something like
sin(2∏t/T) so t is in seconds and T is the "physical" period, in seconds.
This has the property

sin[2∏(t+T)/T)]=sin(2∏t/T) so the period is T.

what do you mean by 'non-dimensional' exactly?

Could I plead the case that since that T is 2π, it is 6.28 seconds?

How did the 'sin[2∏(t+T)/T)]' come about?
 
  • #18
toneboy1 said:
Isn't that what I did?

No, look again at your calculations. you put

\sin (2t) = \sin (2t) \cos (t) + \cos (2t) \sin (2t)

which is wrong.
 
  • #19
samalkhaiat said:
No, look again at your calculations. you put

\sin (2t) = \sin (2t) \cos (t) + \cos (2t) \sin (2t)

which is wrong.

You're right, thanks, would you be happy with:

(2.sin(t).cos(t) + sin(2t).cos(t)+cos(2t).sin(t)) / 2sin(t)

[2.sin(t).cos(t)+2sin(t).cos(t).cos(t)+(cos^2(t)-sin^2(t))*sin(t)) ]
/ 2sint

∴ 2cost + 2cos^2(t) +Cos^2(t)-(1-cos^2(t)) / 2

∴ 2Cos^2(t) + Cos(t) - 1/2

which is about as simple as you can get, with a period 2π?

Thanks
 

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