Identity for a weighted sum of sines / sines with different amplitudes












8












$begingroup$


I'm trying to simplify the following sum of sines with different amplitudes
$$
a sin(theta) + b sin(phi) = ??? ,,,,, (1)
$$



I know that
$$
a sin(theta) + a sin(phi) = acdot2sinleft(frac{theta+phi}{2}right)cosleft(frac{theta-phi}{2}right)
$$



But how do I do the same thing in the case where both sines have different amplitudes, as in (1).



Thanks!










share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    Perhaps the method from this answer might help.
    $endgroup$
    – Martin Sleziak
    May 21 '13 at 9:41






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Thanks @MartinSleziak for the link, but it doesn't apply here since I have $sin theta$ and $sin phi$ and the identity of the link assumes the same $sin x$...
    $endgroup$
    – daniloz
    May 22 '13 at 6:37


















8












$begingroup$


I'm trying to simplify the following sum of sines with different amplitudes
$$
a sin(theta) + b sin(phi) = ??? ,,,,, (1)
$$



I know that
$$
a sin(theta) + a sin(phi) = acdot2sinleft(frac{theta+phi}{2}right)cosleft(frac{theta-phi}{2}right)
$$



But how do I do the same thing in the case where both sines have different amplitudes, as in (1).



Thanks!










share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    Perhaps the method from this answer might help.
    $endgroup$
    – Martin Sleziak
    May 21 '13 at 9:41






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Thanks @MartinSleziak for the link, but it doesn't apply here since I have $sin theta$ and $sin phi$ and the identity of the link assumes the same $sin x$...
    $endgroup$
    – daniloz
    May 22 '13 at 6:37
















8












8








8


1



$begingroup$


I'm trying to simplify the following sum of sines with different amplitudes
$$
a sin(theta) + b sin(phi) = ??? ,,,,, (1)
$$



I know that
$$
a sin(theta) + a sin(phi) = acdot2sinleft(frac{theta+phi}{2}right)cosleft(frac{theta-phi}{2}right)
$$



But how do I do the same thing in the case where both sines have different amplitudes, as in (1).



Thanks!










share|cite|improve this question









$endgroup$




I'm trying to simplify the following sum of sines with different amplitudes
$$
a sin(theta) + b sin(phi) = ??? ,,,,, (1)
$$



I know that
$$
a sin(theta) + a sin(phi) = acdot2sinleft(frac{theta+phi}{2}right)cosleft(frac{theta-phi}{2}right)
$$



But how do I do the same thing in the case where both sines have different amplitudes, as in (1).



Thanks!







trigonometry






share|cite|improve this question













share|cite|improve this question











share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question










asked May 21 '13 at 8:06









danilozdaniloz

6517




6517












  • $begingroup$
    Perhaps the method from this answer might help.
    $endgroup$
    – Martin Sleziak
    May 21 '13 at 9:41






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Thanks @MartinSleziak for the link, but it doesn't apply here since I have $sin theta$ and $sin phi$ and the identity of the link assumes the same $sin x$...
    $endgroup$
    – daniloz
    May 22 '13 at 6:37




















  • $begingroup$
    Perhaps the method from this answer might help.
    $endgroup$
    – Martin Sleziak
    May 21 '13 at 9:41






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Thanks @MartinSleziak for the link, but it doesn't apply here since I have $sin theta$ and $sin phi$ and the identity of the link assumes the same $sin x$...
    $endgroup$
    – daniloz
    May 22 '13 at 6:37


















$begingroup$
Perhaps the method from this answer might help.
$endgroup$
– Martin Sleziak
May 21 '13 at 9:41




$begingroup$
Perhaps the method from this answer might help.
$endgroup$
– Martin Sleziak
May 21 '13 at 9:41




1




1




$begingroup$
Thanks @MartinSleziak for the link, but it doesn't apply here since I have $sin theta$ and $sin phi$ and the identity of the link assumes the same $sin x$...
$endgroup$
– daniloz
May 22 '13 at 6:37






$begingroup$
Thanks @MartinSleziak for the link, but it doesn't apply here since I have $sin theta$ and $sin phi$ and the identity of the link assumes the same $sin x$...
$endgroup$
– daniloz
May 22 '13 at 6:37












2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















6












$begingroup$

I'll try to give both geometrical solution and a solution using complex numbers.



But perhaps you might have a look at Wikipedia first, their explanation is probably better than mine. (They certainly have nicer pictures.)



Wikipedia



You can find very similar formulas in Wikipedia's List of trigonometric identities. (Here is also link to the current revision of the Wikipedia article. I hope I have not made mistake somewhere and their formulas are equivalent to mine.)



A link to Phasor addition (current revision) is also given there. This Wikipedia article might help to visualize the whole thing.



Geometry



We have situation as in the following picture:
enter image description here



Note that the $y$-coordinates of the two vectors are precisely the values you want to add together. So we would like to know the length and the angle for the sum of these two vectors.



We simply rotate the situation. We denote $alpha=phi-theta$.
enter image description here



We want to find the values $c$ and $varkappa$. Once we know them, we get
$$asintheta+bsinphi= csin(theta+varkappa).$$



For $c$ we can simply use law of cosines:
$$c^2=a^2+b^2+2abcosalpha$$
(Note that the angle in the bottom triangle is $pi-alpha$.)



We can calculate $varkappa$ using law of sines:
$$frac{sin(pi-alpha)}{sinvarkappa} = frac cb qquad Rightarrow qquad sinvarkappa=frac{bsinalpha}c$$



Note that this does not determine $varkappa$ uniquely, but you can find out whether $varkappa>pi/2$ or $varkappa<pi/2$ by checking the sign of $x$-coordinate of the sum of the two vectors, which is $a+bcosalpha$.



Complex numbers



We want to get
$$ae^{itheta}+be^{iphi}=ce^{i(theta+varkappa)}tag{1}$$
(If we get such an expression then the imaginary part is a formula for sines.)



This is equivalent to
$$a+be^{i(phi-theta)}=ce^{ivarkappa}.tag{2}$$



To find $c$ we simply compute the absolute value of both sides. On the LHS we get $(a+be^{i(phi-theta)})(a-be^{i(phi-theta)})=a^2+b^2+2abcos(phi-theta)$, hence
$$c^2=a^2+b^2+2abcos(phi-theta).$$



We also have
$$e^{ivarkappa}=frac ac+frac bce^{i(phi-theta)}\
cosvarkappa+isinvarkappa = frac ac+frac bccos(phi-theta)+ifrac bcsin(phi-theta)$$

Comparing the imaginary parts yields $$sinvarkappa=frac bcsin(phi-theta).$$



The remark that we have to do a little more to find which of the two possible values of $varkappa$ we should choose applies here, too.






share|cite|improve this answer











$endgroup$





















    2












    $begingroup$

    Answer is simple: you can't do that. This pattern is too complex to make some reasonable simplification.
    Of course you can for example compare $a$ and $b$. Let's assume that $b>a$. Then $b=a+t$ for some positive $t$ and you can get
    $$asintheta+bsinphi=asintheta+asinphi+tsinphi=2asinfrac{theta+phi}{2}cosfrac{theta-phi}{2}+tsinphi,$$
    but I don't think that we could call that a simplification:)






    share|cite|improve this answer









    $endgroup$













      Your Answer





      StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
      return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
      StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
      StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
      });
      });
      }, "mathjax-editing");

      StackExchange.ready(function() {
      var channelOptions = {
      tags: "".split(" "),
      id: "69"
      };
      initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

      StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
      // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
      if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
      StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
      createEditor();
      });
      }
      else {
      createEditor();
      }
      });

      function createEditor() {
      StackExchange.prepareEditor({
      heartbeatType: 'answer',
      autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
      convertImagesToLinks: true,
      noModals: true,
      showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
      reputationToPostImages: 10,
      bindNavPrevention: true,
      postfix: "",
      imageUploader: {
      brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
      contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
      allowUrls: true
      },
      noCode: true, onDemand: true,
      discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
      ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
      });


      }
      });














      draft saved

      draft discarded


















      StackExchange.ready(
      function () {
      StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f397984%2fidentity-for-a-weighted-sum-of-sines-sines-with-different-amplitudes%23new-answer', 'question_page');
      }
      );

      Post as a guest















      Required, but never shown

























      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

      votes








      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      6












      $begingroup$

      I'll try to give both geometrical solution and a solution using complex numbers.



      But perhaps you might have a look at Wikipedia first, their explanation is probably better than mine. (They certainly have nicer pictures.)



      Wikipedia



      You can find very similar formulas in Wikipedia's List of trigonometric identities. (Here is also link to the current revision of the Wikipedia article. I hope I have not made mistake somewhere and their formulas are equivalent to mine.)



      A link to Phasor addition (current revision) is also given there. This Wikipedia article might help to visualize the whole thing.



      Geometry



      We have situation as in the following picture:
      enter image description here



      Note that the $y$-coordinates of the two vectors are precisely the values you want to add together. So we would like to know the length and the angle for the sum of these two vectors.



      We simply rotate the situation. We denote $alpha=phi-theta$.
      enter image description here



      We want to find the values $c$ and $varkappa$. Once we know them, we get
      $$asintheta+bsinphi= csin(theta+varkappa).$$



      For $c$ we can simply use law of cosines:
      $$c^2=a^2+b^2+2abcosalpha$$
      (Note that the angle in the bottom triangle is $pi-alpha$.)



      We can calculate $varkappa$ using law of sines:
      $$frac{sin(pi-alpha)}{sinvarkappa} = frac cb qquad Rightarrow qquad sinvarkappa=frac{bsinalpha}c$$



      Note that this does not determine $varkappa$ uniquely, but you can find out whether $varkappa>pi/2$ or $varkappa<pi/2$ by checking the sign of $x$-coordinate of the sum of the two vectors, which is $a+bcosalpha$.



      Complex numbers



      We want to get
      $$ae^{itheta}+be^{iphi}=ce^{i(theta+varkappa)}tag{1}$$
      (If we get such an expression then the imaginary part is a formula for sines.)



      This is equivalent to
      $$a+be^{i(phi-theta)}=ce^{ivarkappa}.tag{2}$$



      To find $c$ we simply compute the absolute value of both sides. On the LHS we get $(a+be^{i(phi-theta)})(a-be^{i(phi-theta)})=a^2+b^2+2abcos(phi-theta)$, hence
      $$c^2=a^2+b^2+2abcos(phi-theta).$$



      We also have
      $$e^{ivarkappa}=frac ac+frac bce^{i(phi-theta)}\
      cosvarkappa+isinvarkappa = frac ac+frac bccos(phi-theta)+ifrac bcsin(phi-theta)$$

      Comparing the imaginary parts yields $$sinvarkappa=frac bcsin(phi-theta).$$



      The remark that we have to do a little more to find which of the two possible values of $varkappa$ we should choose applies here, too.






      share|cite|improve this answer











      $endgroup$


















        6












        $begingroup$

        I'll try to give both geometrical solution and a solution using complex numbers.



        But perhaps you might have a look at Wikipedia first, their explanation is probably better than mine. (They certainly have nicer pictures.)



        Wikipedia



        You can find very similar formulas in Wikipedia's List of trigonometric identities. (Here is also link to the current revision of the Wikipedia article. I hope I have not made mistake somewhere and their formulas are equivalent to mine.)



        A link to Phasor addition (current revision) is also given there. This Wikipedia article might help to visualize the whole thing.



        Geometry



        We have situation as in the following picture:
        enter image description here



        Note that the $y$-coordinates of the two vectors are precisely the values you want to add together. So we would like to know the length and the angle for the sum of these two vectors.



        We simply rotate the situation. We denote $alpha=phi-theta$.
        enter image description here



        We want to find the values $c$ and $varkappa$. Once we know them, we get
        $$asintheta+bsinphi= csin(theta+varkappa).$$



        For $c$ we can simply use law of cosines:
        $$c^2=a^2+b^2+2abcosalpha$$
        (Note that the angle in the bottom triangle is $pi-alpha$.)



        We can calculate $varkappa$ using law of sines:
        $$frac{sin(pi-alpha)}{sinvarkappa} = frac cb qquad Rightarrow qquad sinvarkappa=frac{bsinalpha}c$$



        Note that this does not determine $varkappa$ uniquely, but you can find out whether $varkappa>pi/2$ or $varkappa<pi/2$ by checking the sign of $x$-coordinate of the sum of the two vectors, which is $a+bcosalpha$.



        Complex numbers



        We want to get
        $$ae^{itheta}+be^{iphi}=ce^{i(theta+varkappa)}tag{1}$$
        (If we get such an expression then the imaginary part is a formula for sines.)



        This is equivalent to
        $$a+be^{i(phi-theta)}=ce^{ivarkappa}.tag{2}$$



        To find $c$ we simply compute the absolute value of both sides. On the LHS we get $(a+be^{i(phi-theta)})(a-be^{i(phi-theta)})=a^2+b^2+2abcos(phi-theta)$, hence
        $$c^2=a^2+b^2+2abcos(phi-theta).$$



        We also have
        $$e^{ivarkappa}=frac ac+frac bce^{i(phi-theta)}\
        cosvarkappa+isinvarkappa = frac ac+frac bccos(phi-theta)+ifrac bcsin(phi-theta)$$

        Comparing the imaginary parts yields $$sinvarkappa=frac bcsin(phi-theta).$$



        The remark that we have to do a little more to find which of the two possible values of $varkappa$ we should choose applies here, too.






        share|cite|improve this answer











        $endgroup$
















          6












          6








          6





          $begingroup$

          I'll try to give both geometrical solution and a solution using complex numbers.



          But perhaps you might have a look at Wikipedia first, their explanation is probably better than mine. (They certainly have nicer pictures.)



          Wikipedia



          You can find very similar formulas in Wikipedia's List of trigonometric identities. (Here is also link to the current revision of the Wikipedia article. I hope I have not made mistake somewhere and their formulas are equivalent to mine.)



          A link to Phasor addition (current revision) is also given there. This Wikipedia article might help to visualize the whole thing.



          Geometry



          We have situation as in the following picture:
          enter image description here



          Note that the $y$-coordinates of the two vectors are precisely the values you want to add together. So we would like to know the length and the angle for the sum of these two vectors.



          We simply rotate the situation. We denote $alpha=phi-theta$.
          enter image description here



          We want to find the values $c$ and $varkappa$. Once we know them, we get
          $$asintheta+bsinphi= csin(theta+varkappa).$$



          For $c$ we can simply use law of cosines:
          $$c^2=a^2+b^2+2abcosalpha$$
          (Note that the angle in the bottom triangle is $pi-alpha$.)



          We can calculate $varkappa$ using law of sines:
          $$frac{sin(pi-alpha)}{sinvarkappa} = frac cb qquad Rightarrow qquad sinvarkappa=frac{bsinalpha}c$$



          Note that this does not determine $varkappa$ uniquely, but you can find out whether $varkappa>pi/2$ or $varkappa<pi/2$ by checking the sign of $x$-coordinate of the sum of the two vectors, which is $a+bcosalpha$.



          Complex numbers



          We want to get
          $$ae^{itheta}+be^{iphi}=ce^{i(theta+varkappa)}tag{1}$$
          (If we get such an expression then the imaginary part is a formula for sines.)



          This is equivalent to
          $$a+be^{i(phi-theta)}=ce^{ivarkappa}.tag{2}$$



          To find $c$ we simply compute the absolute value of both sides. On the LHS we get $(a+be^{i(phi-theta)})(a-be^{i(phi-theta)})=a^2+b^2+2abcos(phi-theta)$, hence
          $$c^2=a^2+b^2+2abcos(phi-theta).$$



          We also have
          $$e^{ivarkappa}=frac ac+frac bce^{i(phi-theta)}\
          cosvarkappa+isinvarkappa = frac ac+frac bccos(phi-theta)+ifrac bcsin(phi-theta)$$

          Comparing the imaginary parts yields $$sinvarkappa=frac bcsin(phi-theta).$$



          The remark that we have to do a little more to find which of the two possible values of $varkappa$ we should choose applies here, too.






          share|cite|improve this answer











          $endgroup$



          I'll try to give both geometrical solution and a solution using complex numbers.



          But perhaps you might have a look at Wikipedia first, their explanation is probably better than mine. (They certainly have nicer pictures.)



          Wikipedia



          You can find very similar formulas in Wikipedia's List of trigonometric identities. (Here is also link to the current revision of the Wikipedia article. I hope I have not made mistake somewhere and their formulas are equivalent to mine.)



          A link to Phasor addition (current revision) is also given there. This Wikipedia article might help to visualize the whole thing.



          Geometry



          We have situation as in the following picture:
          enter image description here



          Note that the $y$-coordinates of the two vectors are precisely the values you want to add together. So we would like to know the length and the angle for the sum of these two vectors.



          We simply rotate the situation. We denote $alpha=phi-theta$.
          enter image description here



          We want to find the values $c$ and $varkappa$. Once we know them, we get
          $$asintheta+bsinphi= csin(theta+varkappa).$$



          For $c$ we can simply use law of cosines:
          $$c^2=a^2+b^2+2abcosalpha$$
          (Note that the angle in the bottom triangle is $pi-alpha$.)



          We can calculate $varkappa$ using law of sines:
          $$frac{sin(pi-alpha)}{sinvarkappa} = frac cb qquad Rightarrow qquad sinvarkappa=frac{bsinalpha}c$$



          Note that this does not determine $varkappa$ uniquely, but you can find out whether $varkappa>pi/2$ or $varkappa<pi/2$ by checking the sign of $x$-coordinate of the sum of the two vectors, which is $a+bcosalpha$.



          Complex numbers



          We want to get
          $$ae^{itheta}+be^{iphi}=ce^{i(theta+varkappa)}tag{1}$$
          (If we get such an expression then the imaginary part is a formula for sines.)



          This is equivalent to
          $$a+be^{i(phi-theta)}=ce^{ivarkappa}.tag{2}$$



          To find $c$ we simply compute the absolute value of both sides. On the LHS we get $(a+be^{i(phi-theta)})(a-be^{i(phi-theta)})=a^2+b^2+2abcos(phi-theta)$, hence
          $$c^2=a^2+b^2+2abcos(phi-theta).$$



          We also have
          $$e^{ivarkappa}=frac ac+frac bce^{i(phi-theta)}\
          cosvarkappa+isinvarkappa = frac ac+frac bccos(phi-theta)+ifrac bcsin(phi-theta)$$

          Comparing the imaginary parts yields $$sinvarkappa=frac bcsin(phi-theta).$$



          The remark that we have to do a little more to find which of the two possible values of $varkappa$ we should choose applies here, too.







          share|cite|improve this answer














          share|cite|improve this answer



          share|cite|improve this answer








          edited Jan 21 at 6:59

























          answered May 22 '13 at 7:44









          Martin SleziakMartin Sleziak

          44.8k10119273




          44.8k10119273























              2












              $begingroup$

              Answer is simple: you can't do that. This pattern is too complex to make some reasonable simplification.
              Of course you can for example compare $a$ and $b$. Let's assume that $b>a$. Then $b=a+t$ for some positive $t$ and you can get
              $$asintheta+bsinphi=asintheta+asinphi+tsinphi=2asinfrac{theta+phi}{2}cosfrac{theta-phi}{2}+tsinphi,$$
              but I don't think that we could call that a simplification:)






              share|cite|improve this answer









              $endgroup$


















                2












                $begingroup$

                Answer is simple: you can't do that. This pattern is too complex to make some reasonable simplification.
                Of course you can for example compare $a$ and $b$. Let's assume that $b>a$. Then $b=a+t$ for some positive $t$ and you can get
                $$asintheta+bsinphi=asintheta+asinphi+tsinphi=2asinfrac{theta+phi}{2}cosfrac{theta-phi}{2}+tsinphi,$$
                but I don't think that we could call that a simplification:)






                share|cite|improve this answer









                $endgroup$
















                  2












                  2








                  2





                  $begingroup$

                  Answer is simple: you can't do that. This pattern is too complex to make some reasonable simplification.
                  Of course you can for example compare $a$ and $b$. Let's assume that $b>a$. Then $b=a+t$ for some positive $t$ and you can get
                  $$asintheta+bsinphi=asintheta+asinphi+tsinphi=2asinfrac{theta+phi}{2}cosfrac{theta-phi}{2}+tsinphi,$$
                  but I don't think that we could call that a simplification:)






                  share|cite|improve this answer









                  $endgroup$



                  Answer is simple: you can't do that. This pattern is too complex to make some reasonable simplification.
                  Of course you can for example compare $a$ and $b$. Let's assume that $b>a$. Then $b=a+t$ for some positive $t$ and you can get
                  $$asintheta+bsinphi=asintheta+asinphi+tsinphi=2asinfrac{theta+phi}{2}cosfrac{theta-phi}{2}+tsinphi,$$
                  but I don't think that we could call that a simplification:)







                  share|cite|improve this answer












                  share|cite|improve this answer



                  share|cite|improve this answer










                  answered May 21 '13 at 8:21









                  Bartek PawlikBartek Pawlik

                  559410




                  559410






























                      draft saved

                      draft discarded




















































                      Thanks for contributing an answer to Mathematics Stack Exchange!


                      • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

                      But avoid



                      • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

                      • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


                      Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.


                      To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




                      draft saved


                      draft discarded














                      StackExchange.ready(
                      function () {
                      StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmath.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f397984%2fidentity-for-a-weighted-sum-of-sines-sines-with-different-amplitudes%23new-answer', 'question_page');
                      }
                      );

                      Post as a guest















                      Required, but never shown





















































                      Required, but never shown














                      Required, but never shown












                      Required, but never shown







                      Required, but never shown

































                      Required, but never shown














                      Required, but never shown












                      Required, but never shown







                      Required, but never shown







                      Popular posts from this blog

                      Can a sorcerer learn a 5th-level spell early by creating spell slots using the Font of Magic feature?

                      Does disintegrating a polymorphed enemy still kill it after the 2018 errata?

                      A Topological Invariant for $pi_3(U(n))$