Derivative of a trigonometric function

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Homework Statement



[itex]\frac{d}{dx}7.5sin(\frac{pi}{10}x)[/itex]

The Attempt at a Solution



[itex]7.5(\frac{pi}{10})cos(\frac{pi}{10}x)[/itex]

Maximum: f'(x) = 0

[itex]7.5(\frac{pi}{10})cos(\frac{pi}{10}x)[/itex] = 0

[itex]7.5(\frac{pi}{10})cos^{-1}(0)= \frac{pi}{10}x[/itex]

**[itex](\frac{pi}{10}\frac{10}{pi})7.5(90) = x[/itex]

[itex](1)(7.5)(90) = x = 675[/itex]

To me, this doesn't seem to be nearly the correct answer because it doesn't make sense given the graph of this function:

[itex]\frac{pi}{10}x= pi[/itex]

x = 10

So, the first arch is at x=0 and x = 10,

so the the maximum of the curve can not be x = 675.

What am I doing incorrectly in the derivative of the trigonometric function?

Thank you
 
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Ocata said:

Homework Statement



[itex]\frac{d}{dx}7.5sin(\frac{pi}{10}x)[/itex]

The Attempt at a Solution



[itex]7.5(\frac{pi}{10})cos(\frac{pi}{10}x)[/itex]

Maximum: f'(x) = 0

[itex]7.5(\frac{pi}{10})cos(\frac{pi}{10}x)[/itex] = 0

[itex]7.5(\frac{pi}{10})cos^{-1}(0)= \frac{pi}{10}x[/itex]

**[itex](\frac{pi}{10}\frac{10}{pi})7.5(90) = x[/itex]

[itex](1)(7.5)(90) = x = 675[/itex]

To me, this doesn't seem to be nearly the correct answer because it doesn't make sense given the graph of this function:

[itex]\frac{pi}{10}x= pi[/itex]

x = 10

So, the first arch is at x=0 and x = 10,

so the the maximum of the curve can not be x = 675.

What am I doing incorrectly in the derivative of the trigonometric function?

Thank you
Derivation part looks fine.
 
Last edited:
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Ocata said:

Homework Statement



[itex]\frac{d}{dx}7.5sin(\frac{pi}{10}x)[/itex]
What, exactly, was the question? You only mention differentiating the function but then set that derivative to 0.

The Attempt at a Solution



[itex]7.5(\frac{pi}{10})cos(\frac{pi}{10}x)[/itex]
Yes, this is the correct derivative.

Maximum: f'(x) = 0

[itex]7.5(\frac{pi}{10})cos(\frac{pi}{10}x)[/itex] = 0
and so [itex]cos(\frac{\pi}{10}x)= 0[/itex]

[itex]7.5(\frac{pi}{10})cos^{-1}(0)= \frac{pi}{10}x[/itex]
No. To solve [itex]Af(x)= B[/itex], you take [itex]f^{-1}(B/A)[/itex], not [itex]Af^{-1}(B)[/itex].

**[itex](\frac{pi}{10}\frac{10}{pi})7.5(90) = x[/itex]/quote]

[itex](1)(7.5)(90) = x = 675[/itex]

To me, this doesn't seem to be nearly the correct answer because it doesn't make sense given the graph of this function:

[itex]\frac{pi}{10}x= pi[/itex]

x = 10

So, the first arch is at x=0 and x = 10,

so the the maximum of the curve can not be x = 675.

What am I doing incorrectly in the derivative of the trigonometric function?

Thank you
 
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lep11 said:
Derivation part looks fine.

Hi lep11,

Thank you. I had a feeling I was running into the issue at solving for x.
(1) [itex]7.5\frac{π}{10}cos(\frac{π}{10}x)=0[/itex]

(2) [itex]7.5\frac{π}{10}cos^{-1}(0)= \frac{π}{10}x[/itex] Here is where I was getting stuck. The first thing I noticed, was that I let cos(0) = 90 instead of π/2.

(3) [itex]7.5\frac{π}{10}\frac{10}{π}cos(0) = x[/itex]

(4) [itex]7.5\frac{π}{2} = x = 11.78[/itex] Which is closer to within the interval of the first arch of the function, but not quite where the maximum should be.

Playing around with the algebra, I finally arrived at an answer that makes sense:

If I divide the [itex]7.5\frac{π}{10}[/itex] out of the equation first at step (1):

[itex]7.5\frac{π}{10}cos(\frac{π}{10}x)=0[/itex]

[itex]cos(\frac{π}{10}x) = 0[/itex]

[itex]cos(0) = \frac{π}{10}x[/itex]

[itex]\frac{10}{π}\frac{π}{2} = 5[/itex] That sounds more like it.However, what I don't understand, is how come I have to divide [itex]7.5\frac{π}{10}[/itex] first? In a regular equation, it doesn't matter when you decide to divide both sides by a number, why does it matter in this situation?

Thank you.
 
Last edited:
HallsofIvy said:
What, exactly, was the question? You only mention differentiating the function but then set that derivative to 0. No. To solve [itex]Af(x)= B[/itex], you take [itex]f^{-1}(B/A)[/itex], not [itex]Af^{-1}(B)[/itex].
Thank you HallsofIvy,

[itex]7.5\frac{π }{10}Cos(\frac{π}{10}x) = 0[/itex]

[itex]Cos(\frac{0}{(7.5\frac{π }{10})}) = \frac{π}{10}x[/itex]

[itex]Cos(0) = \frac{π}{10}x[/itex]

[itex]\frac{10}{π}Cos(0) = x[/itex]

[itex]\frac{10}{π}Cos(0) = x[/itex]

[itex]\frac{10}{π}\frac{π}{2} = x = 5[/itex]!Thank you. Now that I know how to solve this and that there is a systematic way to approach, I will be looking into why the formula provided does in fact work. Thank you for your guidance :)
 
Ocata said:
Thank you HallsofIvy,

[itex]7.5\frac{π }{10}Cos(\frac{π}{10}x) = 0[/itex]
Thank you. Now that I know how to solve this and that there is a systematic way to approach, I will be looking into why the formula provided does in fact work. Thank you for your guidance :)
The product of ##\ 7.5\frac{π }{10} \ ## and ##\ \cos(\frac{π}{10}x) \ ## is zero.The only way for a product to be zero is for one of the factors to be zero. The only one which can be zero is ##\ \cos(\frac{π}{10}x) \ ## .
 
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