Maximum of a trigonometric function

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on finding the maximum of the trigonometric function defined as cos^m(θ1)(c*cos^n(θ2) + s*sin^n(θ2)) + sin^m(θ1)(c*sin^n(θ2) + s*cos^n(θ2)), where m, n ≥ 2 are fixed positive integers, and c, s are fixed positive reals with c^2 + s^2 = 1. The maximum occurs within the range 0 ≤ θ1, θ2 ≤ π/2. The conclusion reached is that the maximum value is max(c, s), confirmed through differentiation and consideration of the function's behavior in a closed and compact domain.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of trigonometric functions and their properties
  • Knowledge of calculus, specifically differentiation and optimization techniques
  • Familiarity with concepts of convexity and monotonicity in functions
  • Experience with mathematical software such as Mathematica for plotting functions
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the properties of trigonometric functions in optimization problems
  • Learn about differentiating functions with multiple variables
  • Explore the concepts of convex and non-convex functions in optimization
  • Investigate the use of Mathematica for visualizing complex mathematical functions
USEFUL FOR

Mathematicians, students studying calculus and optimization, and anyone interested in advanced trigonometric function analysis.

NaturePaper
Messages
70
Reaction score
0
This is related to my previous https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=398964". I am having trouble to get the maximum of the following trigonometric function:

[tex] <br /> \cos^m\theta_1(c\cos^n\theta_2+s\sin^n\theta_2)+\sin^m\theta_1 ( c\sin^n\theta_2+s\cos^n\theta_2)<br /> [/tex]

Here [tex]m,n\ge2 \mbox{ are fixed positive integers and } c,s[/tex] are fixed positive reals with [tex]c^2+s^2=1[/tex]. The maximum is to be carried out w.r.t. [tex]\theta_1,\theta_2[/tex] in the range [tex]0\le\theta_1,\theta_2\le\frac{\pi}{2}[/tex] In my trying, I got the maximum to be max(c,s), but I fear may be I have done some mistake. I got the result by differentiating w.r.t. [tex]\theta_1,\theta_2[/tex] and vanishing them...but I have ignored the case when [tex]\cos\theta_1\cos\theta_2\sin\theta_1\sin\theta_2\ne0[/tex]. Can anybody help me, please.

Can I say that the function is all time differentiable within its closed and compact domain (the rectangle), the maximum should be attained on boundary?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
Plotting in mathematica with different values, I can not find an exception.

But the reasoning of closed, compact domain can not be applied, because though the domain is convex, the function is itself not a convex one. However, we can split the domain such that in each part, the function remains monotonic.
 
Oh, finally I got an answer to this question...the proof is a handy one (according to me, of course!:smile:). The answer is indeed correct.

Since [tex]\cos\theta_1\cos\theta_2\sin\theta_1\sin\theta_2\ne0, \cos\theta_1,\cos\theta_2,\sin\theta_1,\sin\theta_2<1.[/tex]
so

[tex]\cos^m\theta_1(c\cos^n\theta_2+s\sin^n\theta_2)+<br /> \sin^m\theta_1 ( c\sin^n\theta_2+s\cos^n\theta_2)[/tex]

[tex]\le <br /> \cos^2\theta_1(c\cos^2\theta_2+s\sin^2\theta_2)+<br /> \sin^2\theta_1 ( c\sin^2\theta_2+s\cos^2\theta_2)[/tex]

[tex]\le\frac{c+s}{2}[/tex]

[tex]<\max\{c,s\}[/tex]

Regards.
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
7K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K