How to Find the Minimum Angle Value Involving Two Variables and Constraints?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the minimum angle value involving two variables, ##\theta_1## and ##\theta_2##, under specific constraints. The problem includes relationships between these angles and their sine values, as well as conditions on their magnitudes.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants express confusion regarding the problem's requirements, particularly about whether a specific angle value needs to be found or just a relationship between the variables. Some suggest using derivatives or the method of Lagrange multipliers to tackle the problem, while others question the clarity of the problem statement.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring various approaches and questioning the problem's wording and requirements. Some guidance has been offered regarding potential methods, but no consensus has been reached on the best approach.

Contextual Notes

Constraints include that both angles must be less than 90 degrees, and that ##\theta_1## must be greater than ##\theta_2##. There is also a relationship defined by the sine function involving a variable ##n##.

A13235378
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Homework Statement
Find the minimum angle value ##\theta## such that:

##\theta##= 2 ##\theta_1## - 4 ##\theta_2## + 180

##\theta_1## and ##\theta_2## < 90 , ##\theta_1## > ##\theta_2##

##\sin\theta_1=n \sin\theta_2##
Relevant Equations
n/a
I tried to do it by derivative but there are two variables, so I don't know how to proceed. Does anyone know how I can solve it?

Remembering that you don't need to find the value of ##\theta##. I just need to find a relationship between ##\theta_1## and ##\theta_2##
 
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I'm confused. The first line says to find a value of ##\theta##. Then at the end you say you don't need to figure out what ##\theta## is. What exactly do you need to solve for?
 
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Office_Shredder said:
I'm confused. The first line says to find a value of ##\theta##. Then at the end you say you don't need to figure out what ##\theta## is. What exactly do you need to solve for?

I found an answer here in my book that says so that ##\theta## it is minimal

##sin\theta_1 = \sqrt{\frac{4-n^2}{3}}##

So how do i get to this
 
A13235378 said:
Homework Statement:: Find the minimum angle value ##\theta## such that:

##\theta##= 2 ##\theta_1## - 4 ##\theta_2## + 180

##\theta_1## and ##\theta_2## < 90 , ##\theta_1## > ##\theta_2##

##\sin\theta_1=n \sin\theta_2##
Relevant Equations:: n/a

I tried to do it by derivative but there are two variables, so I don't know how to proceed. Does anyone know how I can solve it?

Remembering that you don't need to find the value of ##\theta##. I just need to find a relationship between ##\theta_1## and ##\theta_2##
I suspect that the actual wording of the problem is something like "Find the minimum value of ##2\theta_2 - 4\theta_2 + 180##" subject to the constraints given.
I haven't worked the problem, but I would start with this:
##\sin(2\theta_2 - 4\theta_2 + 180) = -\sin(2\theta_2 - 4\theta_2) = \dots##
From there I would use the identity for the sine of a difference of angles; i.e., ##\sin(A - B) = \sin(A)\cos(B) - \sin(B)\cos(A)##.
One of the constraints is ##\sin(\theta_1) = n\sin(\theta_2)##, so that could be used to simplify things in the expression we started with.
I haven't worked this through, but what I've described is how I would approach the problem.
 
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Mark44 said:
I suspect that the actual wording of the problem is something like "Find the minimum value of ##2\theta_2 - 4\theta_2 + 180##" subject to the constraints given.
I haven't worked the problem, but I would start with this:
##\sin(2\theta_2 - 4\theta_2 + 180) = -\sin(2\theta_2 - 4\theta_2) = \dots##
I tried it, but found the method of Lagrange multipliers simpler.
 
A13235378 said:
Homework Statement:: Find the minimum angle value ##\theta## such that:

##\theta##= 2 ##\theta_1## - 4 ##\theta_2## + 180

##\theta_1## and ##\theta_2## < 90 , ##\theta_1## > ##\theta_2##

##\sin\theta_1=n \sin\theta_2##
Relevant Equations:: n/a

I tried to do it by derivative but there are two variables, so I don't know how to proceed. Does anyone know how I can solve it?
You have rwo minimize a two-variable function θ(θ1,θ2). What is the condition that a two-variable function has a local minimum or maximum? How to handle a comstraint? Have you learned the method of Lagrange mulriplier?
 

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