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 #2
avatar+33653 
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Sep 14, 2016
 #2
avatar+118654 
0

When I was bored in science class I played around with a graphing calculator, and I found an interesting way to make line segments: \(y={sin}^{-1}(x)^0\)

The output was a line similar to y=1, but with a domain of -1<x<1(excluding 0). I later tried this on desmos.com, but it didn't work. However, for some reason, you can get the exact same effect with: \(y={{sin}^{-1}(x)\over {sin}^{-1}(x)}\)even though it is practically the same thing! This makes me wonder if this is actually a line segment function or if it is just a bug in how graphing calculators work.

 

 

It is good that you are playing with maths - that will help you learn.  You should join up here and become known to us. :)

Here are the 2 graphs that you talk about.

inverse sine can oly go from -1 to +1

If you think just of the right angled triangle.  

sin (angle)=opp/hyp

the hypotenuse has to be longer than the opposite side so this ratio must be les than 1

The use of sine is extanded past this but still the ration must be between -1 and 1

 

No look at the next bit

The top is the same as the bottom.  When you divide a number by itself the answer is 1 EXCEPT if the number is 0.

You cannot divide by 0!   So there is a hole in the graph where sin^-1x=0  and that is where x=0

I made the hole more obvious - desmos does not show it very well except if you click the point on the graph when you are actually in Desmos it will tshow you the hole :)

https://www.desmos.com/calculator/ceol2drru2

 

\(y={{sin}^{-1}(x)\over {sin}^{-1}(x)}\)

 

Sep 14, 2016

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