Where is the Local Maximum for y = (8/5)sin(t) + (4/5)cos(t) - (9/5)e^(-t/2)?

[cloveryeah]

Homework Statement

y=(8/5)sint + (4/5) cost - (9/5)e^(-t/2)

find its local max

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

i have differentiated it and found out dy/dx,
in order to find the local max, i have to find out the value t when dy/dx=0
but i can't solve this equation

 

[RUber]

Local in what neighborhood? I don't see any x in the problem you posted, what is dy/dx?
Note that as t gets large, you can neglect the exponential term. Then you can easily solve the trigonometric equation.

 

[Ray Vickson]

Homework Statement

y=(8/5)sint + (4/5) cost - (9/5)e^(-t/2)

find its local max

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

i have differentiated it and found out dy/dx,
in order to find the local max, i have to find out the value t when dy/dx=0
but i can't solve this equation

Of course, dy/dx = 0 because your y does not contain any x variable. However, if you mean dy/dt then I agree, you have an "unsolvable" problem, in the sense that there will be no nice closed-from solution. However, you can use numerical methods.

In such cases, always start by plotting a graph of your function, to get a feel for what is happening. Plotting the derivative can be helpful, too.

BTW: your post is mis-named. You do not have a differential equation, you just have a given function that you want to differentiate.

 

[Mark44]

BTW: your post is mis-named. You do not have a differential equation, you just have a given function that you want to differentiate.

I changed the thread title...