Points along a sine wave

mantor

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Apr 27, 2011
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Let p1,p2,p3 be points in the plane with coordinates p1(x1,sin(x1)) p2(x2,sin(x2)) p3(x3,sin(x3))

If x1 < x2 < x3 then distance(p1,p2) < distance(p1,p3)
where distance denotes the euclidean distance.

I tried several approaches to prove/disprove this statement but failed, I would be grateful if someone could help me out. Thanks!
 
Rephrase:

Given p > 0, h > 0

Square roots discarded for simplicity.

\(\displaystyle p^{2}+[sin(x)-sin(x+p)]^{2} > (p+h)^{2}+[sin(x)-sin(x+p+h)]^{2} = f(x,p,h)\)

Rephrase:

\(\displaystyle \frac{\partial{f(x,p,h)}}{\partial{h}} = 2\cdot h + 2\cdot p + 2\cdot\cos(x+p+h)\cdot (\sin(x+p+h)-sin(x)) < 0\) if this decreases.

The '2' doesn't help.

\(\displaystyle h + p + \cos(x+p+h)\cdot (\sin(x+p+h)-sin(x)) < 0\) ??

Worst Case Scenario: \(\displaystyle \sin(x+p+h)-sin(x) = -2\)
Worst Case Scenario: \(\displaystyle \cos(x+p+h) = 1\)

Thus, if \(\displaystyle h + p > 2\), we have \(\displaystyle h + p + \cos(x+p+h)\cdot (\sin(x+p+h)-sin(x)) > 0\), quite contrary to our premise!

With a little more thought, one probably could tighten up that bound and reduce h + p a little more. In any case, this leads us to wonder, what is it about sin(x) that would be any different when comparing an horizontal span greater than 2 with an horizontal span less than 2?

Ah, there's a little bit better. \(\displaystyle \cos(x+p+h)*(\sin(x+p+h)-sin(x)) = \frac{1}{2}\sin(2\cdot(x+p+h))-\cos(x+p+h)\cdot\sin(x) \le \frac{1}{2} - (-1) = \frac{3}{2}\)

Now we have, if \(\displaystyle p + h > 3/2\), it's increasing, not decreasing.

Where does that leave us?
 
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