# Y = Sin(x) + Cos(x) Transpose

1. Jun 15, 2009

### ZachGriffin

Hi Guys, Simple question; I'm trying to work out the transpose of Y = Sin(x) + Cos(x) to make x the subject. I thought it would be x = arccos(arcsin(y)) / 2 however I don't think thats right. Is there another theorem I'm missing?

2. Jun 15, 2009

### Irrational

what's $$y^2$$?

3. Jun 15, 2009

### ZachGriffin

that is meant to be divided by 2

4. Jun 15, 2009

### Irrational

$$y = sin(x) + cos(x)$$

$$\Rightarrow y^2 = (sin(x) + cos(x))^2$$

$$\Rightarrow y^2 = sin^2(x) + 2sin(x)cos(x) + cos^2(x)$$

$$\Rightarrow y^2 = \left(sin^2(x) + cos^2(x)\right) + 2sin(x)cos(x)$$

$$\Rightarrow y^2 = 1 + 2sin(x)cos(x)$$

$$\Rightarrow y^2 - 1 = 2sin(x)cos(x)$$

$$\Rightarrow y^2 - 1 = sin(2x)$$

$$\Rightarrow 2x = \sin^{-1 }(y^2 - 1)$$

$$\Rightarrow x = \frac { \sin^{-1 } (y^2 - 1) } {2}$$

Last edited: Jun 15, 2009
5. Jun 15, 2009

### ZachGriffin

Thanks very much for that. Anyone looking for the rules for this, I've found them on http://math2.org/math/trig/identities.htm

sin(2x) = 2 sin x cos x

sin^2(x) = 1/2 - 1/2 cos(2x)

cos^2(x) = 1/2 + 1/2 cos(2x)

6. Jun 15, 2009

### Irrational

$$sin^2(x) + cos^2(x) = 1$$ should be one of the first identities you learn.

7. Jun 15, 2009

### Mute

You can put it into another form by noting:

$$\sin x + \cos x = \sqrt{2}\left[\sin x \left(\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\right) + \cos x \left(\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \right)\right] = \sqrt{2}\left[\sin x \cos \frac{\pi}{4} + \cos x \sin \frac{\pi}{4} \right] = \sqrt{2}\sin \left(x+\frac{\pi}{4}\right)$$.

So, y is also equal to this expression and you can solve for x. Since you don't seem to be familiar with many trig identities, I used the sine "angle sum formula", $\sin(a \pm b) = \sin a \cos b \pm \cos a \sin b$.

Last edited: Jun 15, 2009
8. Aug 8, 2009

### ZachGriffin

Suppose I was to change the equation to Y = a sin(x) + b cos(x). How would I transpose it to make x the subject? I've searched through identities on that site but can't find one that relates to having 2 different coefficients a and b.

9. Aug 8, 2009

### Hurkyl

Staff Emeritus
Think hard about how Mute's example works....

10. Aug 8, 2009

### ZachGriffin

A bit more searching I've come across this:

a sin x + b cos x = R sin (x + alpha) which is an R Formulae with R = Sqrt(a^2 + b^2) and alpha = atan(b / a). If I use that I should be able to solve for x.

Having a look at Mute's post, what should I be looking for? It's been a few years since I left school so most of this is going back to that. I'd rather know how this thing works than just the answer so I'll keep looking.

11. Aug 8, 2009

### Hurkyl

Staff Emeritus
To derive the formula you just found by searching -- his calculation is the derivation of that formula, just in a special case.