Naming the Solutions for x tan(x) = k: Inventing Our Own Notations?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ianbell
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Inverse
AI Thread Summary
The function f(x) = x tan(x) does not have a widely accepted name, particularly regarding the solutions to x tan(x) = k for integer k. Participants in the discussion suggest that individuals are free to create their own notations, with one proposing the term "Office_Shredder numbers" in honor of a mathematician who approximated their solutions. Another contributor introduces the "k-th Bellian function" notation, represented as Beta_k(y), to describe unique solutions within specific intervals. The discussion highlights the lack of established terminology while encouraging creative naming conventions. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the flexibility in naming mathematical solutions.
ianbell
Messages
20
Reaction score
0
Does the function f(x) = x tan(x) have a name? I am particularly interested in the solutions to x tan(x) = k for integer k. Do these numbers have an accepted name or notation?

TIA.
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
Galumba-floop numbers, perhaps?
In other words, you are free to invent your own names.
 
They're actually called the Office_Shredder numbers, in honor of the great mathematician Office_Shredder, who discovered a numerical approximation for their solution in 1972.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. Why do you need to know?
 
arildno said:
In other words, you are free to invent your own names.

Oh well in that case, in the absence of provenance for the Office-Shredder claim, I dub the unique solution to x tan(x)=y in
[(k-half)pi,(k+half)pi] for nonzero integer k to be the k-th Bellian function of y.
Written capital Beta sub k (y) to distinguish from the Bessel and Bell and , er, Beta functions.

For k=0 we have two equal and opposite solutions for y>0 and none for y<0.
 
Thread 'Video on imaginary numbers and some queries'
Hi, I was watching the following video. I found some points confusing. Could you please help me to understand the gaps? Thanks, in advance! Question 1: Around 4:22, the video says the following. So for those mathematicians, negative numbers didn't exist. You could subtract, that is find the difference between two positive quantities, but you couldn't have a negative answer or negative coefficients. Mathematicians were so averse to negative numbers that there was no single quadratic...
Insights auto threads is broken atm, so I'm manually creating these for new Insight articles. In Dirac’s Principles of Quantum Mechanics published in 1930 he introduced a “convenient notation” he referred to as a “delta function” which he treated as a continuum analog to the discrete Kronecker delta. The Kronecker delta is simply the indexed components of the identity operator in matrix algebra Source: https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/what-exactly-is-diracs-delta-function/ by...
Thread 'Unit Circle Double Angle Derivations'
Here I made a terrible mistake of assuming this to be an equilateral triangle and set 2sinx=1 => x=pi/6. Although this did derive the double angle formulas it also led into a terrible mess trying to find all the combinations of sides. I must have been tired and just assumed 6x=180 and 2sinx=1. By that time, I was so mindset that I nearly scolded a person for even saying 90-x. I wonder if this is a case of biased observation that seeks to dis credit me like Jesus of Nazareth since in reality...
Back
Top