Homework Help: Sinx = x

1. Nov 21, 2011

hyurnat4

This isn't homework, rather a personal qwiggle that came up when I was in 9th grade and gone down since. The title says it all: $sin(x)=x$, solve for x. I've tried rearranging it all kinds of ways, including taylor series, but I don't seem to get anywhere. Help???

2. Nov 21, 2011

Staff: Mentor

Re: sinx=x

Try x=0, Pi, 2Pi, 3Pi, ....

3. Nov 21, 2011

Mentallic

Re: sinx=x

Draw the graph of y=x and y=sin(x) on the same coordinates and note that the gradient of sin(x) at x=0 is 1, which means that y=x is tangent to sin(x) at x=0.

4. Nov 21, 2011

dextercioby

Re: sinx=x

A typical example of what we call 'transcendental equation'. The solutions to these equations can only seldom be found exactly, in most cases only approximate numerical solutions are available. Graph intersection shows that the equation x= sin x possesses only one solution for real x and this is simply x=0. This is a very fortunate case.

5. Nov 21, 2011

hyurnat4

Re: sinx=x

Thanks for that. I should have clarified: I wasn't so interested in solving for x as the maths behind it. I've never heard of these transcendental equations before. :Cue three hours of searching wikipedia and wolfram:

6. Nov 21, 2011

LawrenceC

Re: sinx=x

sin(y) -> x for small y(degrees) and if x is expressed in radians. For example,
sin(.5)=.008716535. and .5/(360/2pi)=.008726646

sin(.1)=.001745328 and .1/(360/2pi)=.001745329

etc,etc

7. Nov 22, 2011

HallsofIvy

Re: sinx=x

More simply, sin(x) is approximately equal to x for x small and in radians. I don't understand why you would want "y(degrees)". I also do not understand what this has to do with the question.

8. Nov 22, 2011

LawrenceC

Re: sinx=x

Just some extra information for the one who posted in case he/she was not aware of it. You obviously consider it a non-sequitur. I don't.