Simplify this function

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November 13th 2012, 02:06 PM
jeremy5561

Simplify this function

I have an equation that looks like this
$v=v_0 sqrt(1-2gt sin\theta /v_0+(gt/v_0)^2)$

Is there any easy way to simplify this? It's almost a perfect square.
November 14th 2012, 04:52 PM
christianwos

Re: Simplify this function

Well, you can put the quantity under the square root under common denominator v₀ so that you will cancel the v₀ at the outside and will get [v₀²-2gtv₀sinx+(gt)²]^1/2
November 14th 2012, 05:02 PM
skeeter

Re: Simplify this function

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremy5561

I have an equation that looks like this
$v=v_0 sqrt(1-2gt sin\theta /v_0+(gt/v_0)^2)$

Is there any easy way to simplify this? It's almost a perfect square.

have to ask ... is there more to this than meets the eye? in other words, how did this equation come about?
November 14th 2012, 05:08 PM
jeremy5561

Re: Simplify this function

For a projectile launched with velocity $v_0$ at angle $\theta$ , what is the magnitude of the velocity vector at time $t$ ?

$v_0_x=v_0cos\theta t$
$v_0_y=v_0sin\theta t-gt$

Apply the pythagorean theorem and you'll end up where I am.

Unless I did something wrong. Stayed up till 2 AM doing this stuff.
November 14th 2012, 05:14 PM
skeeter

Re: Simplify this function

fix your equations ...

$v_x = v_0 \cos{\theta}$

(note there is no $t$ ... velocity in the x-direction remains constant)

$v_y = v_0 \sin{\theta} - gt$

(first term does not have a $t$ )
November 15th 2012, 12:44 PM
jeremy5561

Re: Simplify this function

sorry, am really tired. I did it correctly originally. Don't think it can be simplified further.

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