Solving for t in a Trig Sin Function

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    Function Sin Trig
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around solving for the variable t in the equation involving the sine function, specifically sin(10t - 0.927) = 0.5. Participants explore the periodic nature of the sine function and the implications for finding multiple solutions for t.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, Sparky, identifies a specific solution for t as 0.1451 but seeks to find additional solutions based on the periodicity of the sine function.
  • Another participant notes that sin(pi/6) and sin(5pi/6) both equal 0.5, suggesting a general form for sine solutions.
  • A different participant emphasizes the need to account for periodicity in the solution, indicating that t = 0.1451 should include a periodic term.
  • One participant proposes substituting a new variable y for the expression (10t - 0.927) to derive the general solutions for y, which can then be used to solve for t.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express different approaches to finding the periodic solutions for t, with no consensus reached on the exact method or form of the periodic term.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully resolved the mathematical steps required to express the periodic solutions for t, and there are assumptions about the periodic nature of the sine function that are not explicitly stated.

Sparky_
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Greetings,

I've solved (almost) a problem - with the answer involving sin().

My first solution involves values for which sin() is equal to 0.5 - i.e.30 degrees or 0.5235.

The internal of the sin function is sin(10t -0.927)
t = 0.1451

To complete this solution I need to show the other solutions for this - that is the other values of t for which sin (10t - 0.927) = 0.5.

I thought it would be every pi/2 but I see that does not work.

It's obvious less than pi and greater than pi/2 - meaning the simple sin wave starts at 0 goes through 0.5 crests at 1 at pi/2 and goes back through 0.5 (at what value?) and to 0 at pi.

Thanks so much
-Sparky_
 
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sin(pi/6)=sin(5pi/6)=.5

The general form is sinx=sin(pi-x).

I can't figure out the rest of your post.
 
I was solving sin(10t-0.927) = 0.5
t = 0.1451

but it will actually be t = 0.1451 + (something periodic)

how do I find the something periodic? - meaning t = 0.1451 =n*pi/2 or some such?
 
Suppose you set 10t-0.927 equal to a new variable y. Then you would have sin(y) = 0.5, and

[tex]y=\frac{\pi}{6} + 2n\pi \text{ or }y=\frac{5\pi}{6} + 2n\pi[/tex]

because sine has a period of [tex]2\pi[/tex], and [tex]\sin a = \sin(\pi - a)[/tex]. Replace y with 10t-0.927 in both of those cases and solve for t.
 

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