How can I find the angle for a combined SHM graph without using a calculator?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter sadhu
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Function Harmonic
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
2 replies · 2K views
sadhu
Messages
155
Reaction score
0
while doing physics , i just stuck on problem regarding mathematics

i wanted to plot the graph of combined SHM but in the formula there is a big problem regarding finding the angle of the given tangent.

i first used inverse tan but got a very weird wave, later i realized that inverse tan can give solutions between 0 -[tex]\pi[/tex] but what i wanted was a continuous increase in angle.
i.e > [tex]\pi[/tex]or2*[tex]\pi[/tex], as angle increases with time(x -axis)

can somebody tell how to find angle
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
Your calculator is giving the "principal value", specifically that value of t between [itex]-\pi[/itex] and [itex]\pi[/itex]. Since tangent is periodic with period [itex]\pi[/itex] your other values will be that number, plus [itex]\pi[/itex], plus [itex]2\pi[/itex], plus [itex]3\pi[/itex], etc.
 
the problem is that i am not working with a calculator , i am dealing with microsoft math
it can plot a graph once you have given the function to it. so nothing can be done manually , i just wanted an expression which works