Sine Wave Curve Fit Question

[Helmut Jarausch]

Mikael Olofsson wrote:
> Helmut Jarausch wrote:
>> Your model is  A*sin(omega*t+alpha)  where  A and alpha are sought.
>> Let T=(t_1,...,t_N)' and  Y=(y_1,..,y_N)'  your measurements (t_i,y_i)
>> ( ' denotes transposition )
>>
>> First, A*sin(omega*t+alpha) =
>>   A*cos(alpha)*sin(omega*t) + A*sin(alpha)*cos(omega*t) =
>>   B*sin(omega*t) + D*cos(omega*t)
>>
>> by setting  B=A*cos(alpha)  and  D=A*sin(alpha)
>>
>> Once, you have  B and D,  tan(alpha)= D/B   A=sqrt(B^2+D^2)
> 
> This is all very true, but the equation tan(alpha)=D/B may fool you. 

You're right: standard Python's math library missing the function arctan2.
But you can get it from numpy or numarray.
In case of doubt just compute the residuum with different possibilities .

> This may lead you to believe that alpha=arctan(D/B) is a solution, which 
> is not always the case. The point (B,D) may be in any of the four 
> quadrants of the plane. Assuming B!=0, the solutions to this equation 
> fall into the two classes
> 
>     alpha = arctan(D/B) + 2*k*pi
> 
> and
> 
>     alpha = arctan(D/B) + (2*k+1)*pi,
> 
> where k is an integer. The sign of B tells you which class gives you the 
> solution. If B is positive, the solutions are those in the first class. 
> If B is negative, the solutions are instead those in the second class. 
> Whithin the correct class, you may of course choose any alternative.
> 
> Then we have the case B=0. Then the sign of D determines alpha. If D is 
> positive, we have alpha=pi/2, and if D is negative, we have alpha=-pi/2.
> 
> Last if both B and D are zero, any alpha will do.
> 
> /MiO


-- 
Helmut Jarausch

Lehrstuhl fuer Numerische Mathematik
RWTH - Aachen University
D 52056 Aachen, Germany