Find the coordinates of the expression

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the coordinates of the expression (cos x + sin x)^3 in the basis {1, sin x, cos x, sin 2x, cos 2x, sin3x, cos3x}. Participants explore various methods for solving this problem, including integration and the use of trigonometric identities.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion about starting the problem due to the involvement of cosine and sine functions.
  • Another participant suggests using integration to find the coefficients for the basis elements, indicating that it can be a time-consuming process.
  • A participant proposes rewriting (cos x + sin x) using the sine addition formula, leading to a transformation of the expression into a form that can be analyzed further.
  • There is a discussion about using the power-reduction formula for sine to simplify the expression, with detailed steps provided for this transformation.
  • Some participants question the necessity of using matrix forms to solve the problem, noting that their teacher typically provides such methods but has not done so for examples involving trigonometric functions.
  • Another participant emphasizes that even when using matrix forms, power-reduction techniques will still be necessary.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best method to solve the problem, with multiple approaches being discussed and no clear agreement on the necessity of matrix methods versus integration techniques.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes various mathematical transformations and assumptions about the use of trigonometric identities and integration, but no specific limitations or unresolved steps are explicitly stated.

Logan Land
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Find the coordinates of the expression (cos x + sin x)^3 in the basis {1, sin x, cos x, sin 2x, cos 2x, sin3x, cos3x}.

I don't understand where to start since I am dealing with cos and sin now. :confused:
 
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LLand314 said:
Find the coordinates of the expression (cos x + sin x)^3 in the basis {1, sin x, cos x, sin 2x, cos 2x, sin3x, cos3x}.

I don't understand where to start since I am dealing with cos and sin now. :confused:
Okay, I'm going to write this out the easy way because I know darned well that anyone doing this problem is not going to ignore your calculator's ability to do integrations.

Given a (discrete) basis B, and calling the basis elements [math]b_n(x)[/math] we can say the following:
[math]( cos(x) + sin(x) )^3 = \sum_{n = 1}^{dim(B)} \frac{1}{\pi} \cdot b_n(x) \int_{0}^{2 \pi} (cos(x) + sin(x))^3 \cdot b_n(x)~dx[/math]

Find the integrals for each basis element. This is why you want the calculator...it's a messy time consuming task. You can guess at some of the coefficients, but it really does take a while.

Can you finish from here?
(Ans. [math](cos(x) + sin(x))^3 = \frac{3}{2}sin(x) + \frac{1}{2} sin(3x) + \frac{3}{2} cos(x) - \frac{1}{2} cos(3x)[/math])

-Dan
 
LLand314 said:
Find the coordinates of the expression (cos x + sin x)^3 in the basis {1, sin x, cos x, sin 2x, cos 2x, sin3x, cos3x}.

I don't understand where to start since I am dealing with cos and sin now. :confused:

Here's what I suggest. Using the sine addition formula, we can write

$$\cos x + \sin x = \sqrt{2}\left(\cos x \cdot \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} + \sin x \cdot \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\right) = \sqrt{2}\sin\Bigl(x + \frac{\pi}{4}\Bigr).$$

Thus

$$(\cos x + \sin x)^3 = 2^{3/2}\sin^3\Bigl(x + \frac{\pi}{4}\Bigr).$$

Using the power-reduction formula

$$\sin^3 u = \frac{3}{4}\sin u - \frac{1}{4}\sin 3u,$$

we find

$$(\cos x + \sin x)^3 $$

$$= 2^{3/2}\left\{\frac{3}{4}\sin\Bigl(x + \frac{\pi}{4}\Bigr) - \frac{1}{4}\sin\Bigl(3x + \frac{3\pi}{4}\Bigr)\right\}$$

$$= \frac{1}{2}\left\{3\sqrt{2}\sin\Bigl(x + \frac{\pi}{4}\Bigr) - \sqrt{2}\sin\Bigl(3x + \frac{3\pi}{4}\Bigr)\right\}$$

$$ = \frac{1}{2}[3(\sin x + \cos x) - (-\sin 3x + \cos 3x)]$$

$$ = \frac{1}{2}(3\sin x + 3\cos x + \sin 3x - \cos 3x)$$

$$ = \frac{3}{2}\sin x + \frac{3}{2}\cos x + \frac{1}{2}\sin 3x - \frac{1}{2}\cos 3x.$$
 
Last edited:
Euge said:
Here's what I suggest. Using the sine addition formula, we can write

$$\cos x + \sin x = \sqrt{2}\left(\cos x \cdot \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} + \sin x \cdot \frac{1}{2}\right) = \sqrt{2}\sin\Bigl(x + \frac{\pi}{4}\Bigr).$$

Thus

$$(\cos x + \sin x)^3 = 2^{3/2}\sin^3\Bigl(x + \frac{\pi}{4}\Bigr).$$

Using the power-reduction formula

$$\sin^3 u = \frac{3}{4}\sin u - \frac{1}{4}\sin 3u,$$

we find

$$(\cos x + \sin x)^3 $$

$$= 2^{3/2}\left\{\frac{3}{4}\sin\Bigl(x + \frac{\pi}{4}\Bigr) - \frac{1}{4}\sin\Bigl(3x + \frac{3\pi}{4}\Bigr)\right\}$$

$$= \frac{1}{2}\left\{3\sqrt{2}\sin\Bigl(x + \frac{\pi}{4}\Bigr) - \sqrt{2}\sin\Bigl(3x + \frac{3\pi}{4}\Bigr)\right\}$$

$$ = \frac{1}{2}[3(\sin x + \cos x) - (-\sin 3x + \cos 3x)]$$

$$ = \frac{1}{2}(3\sin x + 3\cos x + \sin 3x - \cos 3x)$$

$$ = \frac{3}{2}\sin x + \frac{3}{2}\cos x + \frac{1}{2}\sin 3x - \frac{1}{2}\cos 3x.$$

so this problem like the other one you helped me with we wouldn't want to use some sort of matrix form to solve? I see how you came to your conclusion but every time in class our teacher gives some sort of way to solve using matrices. She just never gave us an example with cos and sin.

Thanks so much for your help!
 
LLand314 said:
so this problem like the other one you helped me with we wouldn't want to use some sort of matrix form to solve? I see how you came to your conclusion but every time in class our teacher gives some sort of way to solve using matrices. She just never gave us an example with cos and sin.

Thanks so much for your help!

Even if you try to use a matrix form, you will still need power-reductions.
 

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