Au Le Doug Richards MATH-1080-001 11/18/2013

Math 1080 Term Project

Math 1080 Term Project is one of the most important parts in my Math 1080 class. It gives me chance to apply knowledge that I have gained from this class to interesting problems in the real life. For example, the first part of the project requires me to apply knowledge of Modeling Harmonic Motion and skill of graphing sine and cosine functions to solve the problems. It is also an opportunity for me to revise all knowledge on the purpose of preparing for the coming final test. I hope that I can successfully accomplish this project and the final test as well. In the first part of this project, I will solve the problem about Modeling the Motion of a Spring. According to the question, there is a weight attached to a spring that is suspended from a horizontal bar. When the object comes to rest, it is considered being at equilibrium, which is labeled 0 on the vertical number line. Suppose a weight is set in motion from a position 7 centimeters below the equilibrium position and with a downward velocity of 16 centimeters per second. The constant for the spring stiffness and mass of the weight is = 6. This system is obviously illustrated in the figure:

The motion of the spring can be modeled by sine and cosine, which is manifested through this function: Where: x(t): the position of the object along the number line at time. v0: the initial velocity x0: the initial position of the object. :a constant that depends on the stiffness of the spring and the mass of the weight. In the first question, I have to write the function that gives the position of the weight as a function of time in seconds. Based on the given formulaic function, I have figured out the answer: x(t) =
16 6 8 3

sin(6)+ 7 cos(6)

sin(6)+ 7cos(6)

2.6667 sin(6) + 7cos (6) Where = 6, x0 = 7 and v0 = 16 In the second question, I am asked to graph the separate sine and cosine components of the function from the first question on the same set of axes. In the other words, I will graph and on the same set of axes.

Based on the image of the graph, I can figure out that both sine and cosine functions have the same period, which is = 1.0472 . Besides this, I can identify the amplitude and
3

phase shift of each graph. It is obvious that the amplitude of the cosine graph is greater than the sine graphs but both of the graphs have the same phrase shift, which is 0. x1 = 2.6667 sin(6) will have: Amplitude: 2.6667
2 6

Period:

1.0472
1

Frequency:

0.9549

Phase shift: 0 x2 = 7cos(6) will have: Amplitude: 7 Period:

2 6

= 1.0472
3 1

Frequency:

= 0.9549

Phase shift: 0 In the third question, I have to graph the entire function from the first question in terms of tmin=
3

, tmax =

2 3

, xmin = -10 and xmax= 10.

Based on the graph, I am able to rewrite the function in the form A = 7.491 2 { = <=> = 6 B 3 C = 0.0607 () = 7.491 cos(6( 0.0607)) After completing all the questions, I find that the graph in the third question is the combination of the two functions in the second question. Therefore, the second and third graphs have the same period and frequency but different phase shift and amplitude. I can easily realize these results because I combined the two sinusoidal graphs in the third question. After completing all the questions, I find that the graph in the third question is the combination of the two functions in the second question. Therefore, the second and third graphs have the same period and frequency but different phase shift and amplitude. I can easily realize these results because I combined the two sinusoidal graphs in the third question. In the second part of this project, I have to figure out how to solve a right triangle if it has two positive measurements. It is always possible to draw a right triangle with legs having these two measurements because according to the Pythagorean Theorem: the sum of the squares of the lengths of the legs equals the square of the length of the hypotenuse. We can calculate the hypotenuse when we use this Theorem. We can also use the Trigonometric Ratios to find adjacent, opposite, hypotenuse and one of a right triangles acute angles. Sin =
C1 2
1 2

=> C1 = A Sin

Cos =

=> C2 = A Cos => = 1 ( )

2 1

tan =

If C1 = 4 and C2 = 2: = 1 ( ) 63.43494882
2 4

A = 42 + 22 = 25 If C1 =
8

and C2 = 7

= 1 ( 3) 20.85445804 7

A = 72 + ( )2 =
3

505 3

From the past up to now, I have studied many methods to prove that the left side of an equation equals to its right side and vice versa. In the third part of this project, I have chance to apply them on the purpose of solving a complicated equation: Asinsin(t) + Acoscos(t) = Acos(t- ). Besides this, I do not only use the knowledge that I have learned from previous classes but also apply new knowledge from this class such as the Subtraction Formula for Cosine. I begin with the left side of the equation: Firstly, I use Distributive Property to factor A out so I have: A(sinsin(t) + coscos(t)) Then I use Commutative Property to switch positions between cos(t) and cos as well as between sin(t) and sin so I have: A(sin(t)sin + cos(t)cos) After that, I continue using Commutative Property to switch positions between sin(t)sin and cos(t)cos so I have: A(cos(t)cos+ sin(t)sin)

Finally, I use the Subtraction Formula for Cosine: cos(A-B) = cosAcosB + sinAsinB

to simplify the identity so I have: Acos(t ) The result shows that the left side of the equation equals to its right side so the identity: Asinsin(t) + Acoscos(t) = Acos(t- ) is true. In part 4 of the project, I apply most of the knowledge that I have gained from this class. According to the first question, I will use the beginning function from Part I to rewrite in the form Asinsin(t) + Acoscos(t): f(t)

= 2.6667 sin(6)+ 7 cos(6)

2.6667 0.3640 7 A = (2.6667)2 + 72 7.4907 { = 6 = tan1

f(t) = 7.4907sin(0.3640)sin(6t)+ 7.4907cos(0.3640)cos(6t)

In the second question, I have to rewrite Asinsin(t) + Acoscos(t)in the form Acos(t ) Firstly, Iuse Distributive Property to factor 7.4907 out of the function: f(t) = 7.4907(sin(0.3640)sin(6t)+ cos(0.3640)cos(6t)) Then I use Commutative Property to switch positions between cos(6t) and cos(0.3640) as well as between sin(6t) and sin(0.3640): f(t) = 7.4907(sin(6t)sin(0.3640) + cos(6t)cos(0.3640)) After that, I continue using Commutative Property to switch positions between sin(6t)sin(0.3640) and cos(6t)cos(0.3640): f(t) = 7.4907(cos(6t)cos(0.3640) + sin(6t)sin(0.3640))

Finally, I use the Subtraction Formula for Cosine: cos(A-B) = cosAcosB + sinAsinBto simplify the identity: f(t) = 7.4907cos(6t 0.3640) In the third question, I need to rewrite Acos(t ) in the form Acos(B(t C)).

Therefore, I use Distributive Propertyto factor 6 out of the parenthesis: f(t) = 7.4907cos(6(t 0.0607)) In my opinion, the three questions have a close relationship with each other. I can rewrite the first expression in the form of the second and third expression and vice versa by using Distributive Property, Commutative Property and the Subtraction Formula for Cosine. In this class, I have learned about simple harmonic motion. In fact, there are many examples demonstrating its useful applications in the real life. Example 1: An important situation in which simple harmonic motion occurs is in the production of sound. Sound is produced by a regular variation in air pressure from the normal pressure. If the pressure varies in simple harmonic motion, then a pure sound is produced. The tone of the sound depends on the frequency and the loudness depends on the amplitude. Example 2: A person on a swing is an example of harmonic motion in action

Example 3: suppose you are fishing and your fishing bob is attached so that it does not move horizontally. As the waves move outward from the dropped stone, your fishing bob will move up and down in simple harmonic motion, as shown in the picture below:

For me, it is really important to understand the amplitude, period and frequency in these applications. The amplitude of the oscillation is the maximum distance that the oscillating object moves away from the equilibrium position. Many people make mistake of taking the peak-topeak amplitude of the sinusoidal oscillation. The frequency of the oscillation is the number of oscillations per second. An oscillation is one complete cycle of the oscillator. The period is thetime for the oscillator to complete one cycle. Comprehending these concepts clearly help us draw graphs correctly and apply them flexibly in our daily life. This project did change my thoughts about how trigonometry can be applied in the world. When I studied trigonometry in my country, I have never known that it has a lot of applications in our daily life. However, thank to this course I realize that trigonometry is used in many categories such as architecture, surveying, building, bricklaying, landscape design and so on. In fact, each of its occupation deals with the real world.

This is my first math course in Salt Lake Community College as well as in the USA, therefore, I feel that there are a lot of differences between it and math classes that I used to study in my country. In this class, the knowledge that one student has to study is quite broad but it is not as difficult as my old math classes. When I lived in my country, I used to study most of the knowledge in this class so it is not really hard for me to catch up this class even though I am not familiar with math vocabulary. There is another big difference between this course and other ones I used to take which is in my country, math teacher focus most on theory while here math teacher namely mine focus both on theory and reality. I like the way studying here more than in my country because after I finish studying this class, I can apply what I have learned into my daily life.