Chapter 13: Problem 18
Let \(x\) and \(y\) denote the acute angles of a right triangle. Find the maximum value of \(\sin x \sin y\).
Short Answer
Expert verified
The maximum value of \(\sin x \sin y\) is \(\frac{1}{2}\).
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Relationship Between Angles
Since \(x\) and \(y\) are the acute angles of a right triangle, they add up to \(90^\circ\). Therefore, we have the relationship: \(x + y = 90^\circ\). This implies \(y = 90^\circ - x\).
02
Express the Product in Terms of One Angle
Using the relationship \(y = 90^\circ - x\), we express \(\sin y\) as \(\sin(90^\circ - x) = \cos x\). Hence, the expression \(\sin x \sin y\) can be rewritten as \(\sin x \cos x\).
03
Use a Trigonometric Identity
Recall the trigonometric identity: \(\sin(2x) = 2\sin x\cos x\). This allows us to express \(\sin x \cos x\) as \(\frac{1}{2} \sin(2x)\). Therefore, \(\sin x \sin y = \frac{1}{2} \sin(2x)\).
04
Determine Maximum Value of the Sine Function
The function \(\sin(2x)\) has a maximum value of 1, which occurs when \(2x = 90^\circ\) or \(2x = 270^\circ\), but given that \(x\) and \(y\) are acute angles, we only consider \(2x = 90^\circ\). This implies \(x = 45^\circ\) and \(y = 45^\circ\).
05
Calculate Maximum Value
Substituting \(x = 45^\circ\) into the equation \(\frac{1}{2} \sin(2x)\), we get \(\frac{1}{2} \sin(90^\circ) = \frac{1}{2} \times 1 = \frac{1}{2}\).
06
Conclusion: Verify the Solution
Since both angles \(x\) and \(y\) are equal to \(45^\circ\), which satisfies the initial condition of being acute angles adding up to 90 degrees, the solution is verified as correct.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Maximum Value
When we talk about finding the maximum value of a trigonometric function, we are looking for the largest possible output that the function can achieve. In the context of the problem, we are given the expression \(\sin x \sin y\), where \(x\) and \(y\) are acute angles of a right triangle.
- The product \(\sin x \sin y\) needs to be maximized.
- Using the identity \(\sin x \cos x = \frac{1}{2} \sin(2x)\), we can simplify our expression to \(\frac{1}{2} \sin(2x)\).
- The sine function, \(\sin(\theta)\), reaches its maximum value of 1 when \(\theta = 90^\circ\).
Right Triangle
A right triangle is a type of triangle where one of the angles is exactly \(90^\circ\). This makes the other two angles acute, meaning they must be less than \(90^\circ\). In this case, our angles are \(x\) and \(y\).
- The sum of the angles in a triangle always adds up to \(180^\circ\).
- Given the right angle, \(x + y = 90^\circ\).
- This property is crucial because it places a restriction on how large or small \(x\) and \(y\) can be independently.
Acute Angles
Acute angles are angles that are less than \(90^\circ\). In any right triangle, the acute angles will always sum to \(90^\circ\) because the third angle is \(90^\circ\) itself.
- In our exercise, both \(x\) and \(y\) are acute angles.
- Since they must sum to \(90^\circ\), knowing one of the angles immediately determines the other.
- This means that if \(x = 45^\circ\), then naturally \(y = 45^\circ\) as well.