The function $sin x$ as one of the six trigonometric functions is fundamental in nearly every branch of mathematics, and its applications. In this thesis, we study an integral equation related to that of $sin x$: $mbox{~for~}xin[-frac{hat{pi}_{p}}{2},~frac{hat{pi}_{p}}{2}] mbox{~and~} p>1$ $$x=int_0^{S_{p}(x)}(1-|t|^{p})^{-frac{1}{p}}dt.$$ Here $hat{pi}_{p}=frac{2pi}{psin(frac{pi}{p})}=2int_0^1(1-t^{p})^{-frac{1}{p}}dt.$ We find that the function $S_{p}(x)$ is well defined. Its properties are also similar to those of $sin x$ : differentiation, identities, periodicity, asymptotic expansions, $cdots$, etc. For example, we have $$|S_{p}(x)|^{p}+|S'_{p}(x)|^{p}=1mbox{~~and~~}frac{d}{dx}(|S'_{p}(x)|^{p-2}S'_{p}(x))=-(p-1)|S_{p}(x)|^{p-2}S_{p}(x).$$ We call $S_{p}(x)$ the generalized sine function. Similarly, we define the generalized cosine function $C_{p}(x)$ by $|x|=int_{C_{p}(x)}^{1}(1- t^{p})^{-frac{1}{p}}dt$ for $xin[-frac{hat{pi}_{p}}{2}$,~$frac{hat{pi}_{p}}{2}]$ and derive its properties. Thus we obtain two sets of trigonometric functions: egin{itemize} item[(i)]$~S_{p}(x),~ S'_{p}(x),~ T_{p}(x)=frac{S_{p}(x)}{S'_{p}(x)},~RT_{p}(x)=frac{S'_{p}(x)}{S_{p}(x)},~ SE_{p}(x)=frac{1}{S'_{p}(x)},~ RS_{p}(x)=frac{1}{S_{p}(x)}~;$ item[(ii)]$~C_{p}(x),~ C'_{p}(x),~RCT_{p}(x)=-frac{C'_{p}(x)}{C_{p}(x)},~ CT_{p}(x)=-frac{C_{p}(x)}{C'_{p}(x)},~RC_{p}(x)=frac{1}{C_{p}(x)},~ CS_{p}(x)=-frac{1}{C'_{p}(x)}mbox{~¡C~}$ end{itemize}These two sets of functions have similar differentiation formulas, identities and periodic properties as the classical trigonometric functions. They coincide when $p=2$. Their graphs and asymptotic expansions are also interesting. Through this study, we understand more about the theoretical framework of trigonometric functions.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1999. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 162-169). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1999. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 162-169). Also available on the Internet.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1997. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 76-79). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1997. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 76-79). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Riverside, 2009. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-93). Issued in print and online. Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations.

Thesis (Ph.D)--Mathematics, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2010. / Committee Chair: Harrell, Evans; Committee Member: Chow, Shui-Nee; Committee Member: Geronimo, Jeffrey; Committee Member: Kennedy, Brian; Committee Member: Loss, Michael. Part of the SMARTech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Collection.

Thesis (Doctoral)--Universität Bonn, 1990. / Includes bibliographical references.