I Trig Manipulations I'm Not Getting

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around the manipulation of a trigonometric equation involving cotangents and hyperbolic functions. The user starts with the equation 2cot(θ/2) and attempts to derive a new equation using specific definitions for k1, k2, and θ. They successfully simplify the equation but express uncertainty about reaching the desired final form. A response suggests that the original problem statement may contain errors, indicating potential issues with the initial definitions or setup. The conversation highlights the complexity of trigonometric manipulations and the need for careful verification of initial conditions.
thatboi
Messages
130
Reaction score
20
Hi all,
I am starting with the following equation: ##2\cot\left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right) = \cot\left(\frac{k_{1}}{2}\right) - \cot\left(\frac{k_{2}}{2}\right)##
with the following definitions: ##k_{1} = \frac{K}{2} + ik, k_{2} = \frac{K}{2}-ik, \theta = \pi(I_{2}-I_{1}) + iNk##, where ##k,K,N\in\mathbb{R}## and ##I_{2},I_{1}\in\mathbb{Z}##. I wish to plug these definitions into the above equation and get the new equation: ##\cos\left(\frac{K}{2}\right)\sinh(Nk)=\sinh[(N-1)k]+\cos[\pi(I_{2}-I_{1})]\sinh(k)##. I have done the following (first use the identity ##\cot\frac{\theta}{2} = \frac{1+\cos\theta}{\sin\theta}##):
\begin{equation}
\begin{split}
&2\frac{1+\cos\theta}{\sin\theta} = \frac{1+\cos k_{1}}{\sin k_{1}}-\frac{1+\cos k_{2}}{\sin k_{2}} \\
&\rightarrow 2\frac{1+\cos(\pi(I_{2}-I_{1}))\cos(iNk)-\sin(\pi(I_{2}-I_{1}))\sin(iNk)}{\sin(\pi(I_{2}-I_{1}))\cos(iNk)+\sin(iNk)\cos(\pi(I_{2}-I_{1}))} = \frac{1+\cos\frac{K}{2}\cos(ik)-\sin\frac{K}{2}\sin(ik)}{\sin\frac{K}{2}\cos(ik)+\cos\frac{K}{2}\sin(ik)}-\frac{1+\cos\frac{K}{2}\cos(ik)+\sin\frac{K}{2}\sin(ik)}{\sin\frac{K}{2}\cos(ik)-\cos\frac{K}{2}\sin(ik)}\\
&\rightarrow -2i\frac{1+\cos(\pi(I_{2}-I_{1}))\cosh(Nk)}{\sinh(Nk)\cos(\pi(I_{2}-I_{1}))} = \frac{2i\sinh(k)}{\cos\left(\frac{K}{2}\right)-\cosh(k)}
\end{split}
\end{equation}
where I dropped terms with ##\sin(\pi(I_{2}-I_{1}))## since they would evaluate to 0. While this is a lot more simplified I still don't know how to get to the final form of equation I want or if I made an error somewhere. Any advice appreciated!
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
The formula that you start with in your first line looks very unrealistic, when following the definitions you give for ## \theta ## and the various k's. It looks to me like the original problem statement may contain an error or two.
 
Seemingly by some mathematical coincidence, a hexagon of sides 2,2,7,7, 11, and 11 can be inscribed in a circle of radius 7. The other day I saw a math problem on line, which they said came from a Polish Olympiad, where you compute the length x of the 3rd side which is the same as the radius, so that the sides of length 2,x, and 11 are inscribed on the arc of a semi-circle. The law of cosines applied twice gives the answer for x of exactly 7, but the arithmetic is so complex that the...
Is it possible to arrange six pencils such that each one touches the other five? If so, how? This is an adaption of a Martin Gardner puzzle only I changed it from cigarettes to pencils and left out the clues because PF folks don’t need clues. From the book “My Best Mathematical and Logic Puzzles”. Dover, 1994.
Back
Top