Summing cosines of different amplitude

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The discussion focuses on the challenge of summing cosines with different amplitudes and phase shifts but the same angular frequency. The initial approach involved using complex numbers and MATLAB for symbolic simplification, but it led to complications with messy arctan expressions. The user considered breaking the problem into real and imaginary parts to solve for parameters but found it unhelpful. Ultimately, the user resolved the issue using geometric methods. The conversation highlights the complexity of combining trigonometric functions and the effectiveness of geometric insights in problem-solving.
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Hi there

I am trying to sum many cosines of different amplitude and phase shift, but same ang. frequency (it's not a coursework question). My first thoughts are to sum them two at a time (to simplify matters?), probably using complex numbers. I tried doing it symbolically in MATLAB but it wasn't able to simplify things. Supposing the ang. frequency is 1, I know that the solution can be written:

\displaystyle{<br /> C\cos (t + \delta ) + D\cos (t + \varepsilon ) = E\cos (t + \varphi)}<br />

where I would have to solve for E and phi. Or equivalently:

<br /> \displaystyle{Ae^{i(t + \delta )} + e^{i(t + \varepsilon )} = Be^{i(t + \varphi )}} <br />

where I would have to solve for B and phi.

Then I split things into two equations (one using real part/cosines, other using imag. part/sines), and eliminate B. Unfortunately this approach doesn't seem to help, as I just end up with a messy arctan of sums of sines and cosines (of different amplitudes -- i.e. back to original problem!).

Any suggestions as to a more fruitful approach?

Thank you.
 
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Ok, nevermind, got it figured out! Just used a bit of geometry
 
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