+0  
 
+2
579
4
avatar+93 

If \(y=arctan(cos(x))\), then \(dy/dx\)=?

 

Please explain your answer. Thanks in advance!

 Oct 11, 2020
 #2
avatar+118587 
+2

There are formulas for this, but this is how I would do it:

 

\(y=arctan(m),\quad\;\; m=cos(x)\\ tan(y)=m\\ \frac{dm}{dy}=sec^2(y)\qquad \frac{dm}{dx}=-sin(x)\\~\\ \frac{dy}{dx}=\frac{dy}{dm}\cdot \frac{dm}{dx}\\ \frac{dy}{dx}=\frac{1}{sec^2y}\cdot -sin(x)\\ \frac{dy}{dx}=\frac{-sin(x)}{sec^2(arctan(cos(x))} \)

 

Again there are formulas but I used a series of right angled triangles to simplify the denominator. 

And I came up with  a denominator of      \(1+ cos^2(x)\)       

The problem with my method is that I will only guarantee if for angles in the first quadrant. 

Since it is squared it probably does not matter.

(that is assuming I made no stupid errors)

 

So now I have.

\(\frac{dy}{dx}=\frac{-sin(x)}{1+cos^2(x)}\\ \text{Wolfram Alpha gives the asnwer as} \\ \frac{dy}{dx}=\frac{-2sin(x)}{3+cos(2x)}\\~\\ BUT\\ \text{These two answers are rearrangements of the same thing.} \)

 

 

 

LaTex:

y=arctan(m),\quad\;\; m=cos(x)\\
tan(y)=m\\
\frac{dm}{dy}=sec^2(y)\qquad \frac{dm}{dx}=-sin(x)\\~\\
\frac{dy}{dx}=\frac{dy}{dm}\cdot \frac{dm}{dx}\\
\frac{dy}{dx}=\frac{1}{sec^2y}\cdot -sin(x)\\
\frac{dy}{dx}=\frac{-sin(x)}{sec^2(arctan(cos(x))}

 Oct 11, 2020
edited by Melody  Oct 11, 2020
 #3
avatar+118587 
+2

Here is a photo to show you the triangles I was talking about.

 

Melody  Oct 11, 2020
 #4
avatar+93 
+2

Thank you so much for your detailed answer! This really really helps.

RandomUser  Oct 11, 2020

1 Online Users

avatar