# Homework Help: Hyperbolic Sine

1. Nov 11, 2006

### Xkaliber

Hi everyone,

I was in the middle of solving a physics problem and came across a math term I am having trouble solving. It is the hyperbolic sine term in this equation:

$$T=\frac{2.0x10^{-8}}{sinh^{2}[\frac{\sqrt{130(2.6x10^{10}-130)}}{1.05x10^{-34}}6x10^{11}]+2.0x10^{-8}}$$

When plugging the sinh term into the calculator, I receive an error due to the massive size of the solution. Is there an equivalent method of taking a hyperbolic sine that can be done by hand since the calulator cannot handle the large exponent?

2. Nov 11, 2006

### interested_learner

For the low road, get yourself a copy of the CRC Standard Math Tables. It has tables for Hyperbolic Functions.

For the high road there is Mathematica (my favorite) or MatLab.

For myself, even though I have copies of Mathematica and Matlab (both) at my easy disposal, I still like my book of standard math tables at times.

Last edited: Nov 11, 2006
3. Nov 12, 2006

### arildno

Why bother?

HypSine(Humungous) equals 1/2*e^Humungous.

And 1/Superbig is just about zero.

4. Nov 12, 2006

### Xkaliber

Thanks for the replies. I suppose I will just use Mathematica this evening to obtain some number besides zero since it's a probability. Basically, it is the likelihood of a human launching from the Earth's surface at 4 m/s and reaching Jupiter.

5. Nov 12, 2006

### interested_learner

Tell use what the odds are. OK?

6. Nov 13, 2006

### HallsofIvy

Why would you want an answer "besides zero"? Since 4 m/s is well below escape speed from earth, the "probabilty" of reaching Jupiter (or any thing except earth itself) is zero.

7. Nov 13, 2006

### Xkaliber

Well, quantum mechanically the probability is not exacly zero. Through the process known as "tunneling", a particle or object can travel through a potential energy barrier, in this case gravity, with its total energy less than the potential energy. I did actually put zero as my final answer in the end since I included my steps for solving the problem. The final probability ended up being something along the lines of $$e^{10^{44}}$$

8. Nov 13, 2006

### arildno

I think you forgot a minus sign somewhere in your exponent.

9. Nov 13, 2006

### Office_Shredder

Staff Emeritus
Actually, thanks to the many worlds variety of quantum mechanics there are $$e^{10^{5000}}$$ ways of a person launching from earth at 4 m/s. So $$e^{10^{44}}$$ people actually escape earth for each person that attempts to launch.

*nod*

10. Nov 13, 2006

### HallsofIvy

Are you sure there shouldn't be a negative sign in the exponent? If not, I jump up and down a few times and Jupiter is overrun with people!

11. Nov 13, 2006

### Office_Shredder

Staff Emeritus
Jupiters are overrun with people. But imagine how many Jupiters there are at that point