Applications of a duality between generalized trigonometric and hyperbolic functions (Q2033181)

Relations between the trigonometric functions \(\sin\), \(\cos\), \(\tan\) and their hyperbolic counterparts \(\sinh\), \(\cosh\), \(\tanh\) are well known. In this paper, the authors consider generalized trigonometric and hyperbolic functions, defined via integral formulas and depending on two real parameters \(p\) and \(q\). These generalizations appear as solutions in certain differential equations and have been studied in the past. The main point of this article is that a certain extension of the admissible range of parameters \(p\) and \(q\) allows to express generalized hyperbolic sine and cosine in terms of their trigonometric counterparts and vice versa. This viewpoint allows a more or less automatic translations of equalities and inequalities from trigonometric to hyperbolic. Examples include double and multiple angle formulas as well as Mitrinović-Adamović-type inequalities. Throughout most of the article, generalized trigonometric and hyperbolic tangent functions are ignored. Section~4 suggests that the lack of results in the trigonometric case might be due to the ``wrong'' definition of generalized tangent as mere quotient of sine and cosine. The authors suggest an alternative definition that recovers the usual tangent function but might allow a more natural generalization of relations known from ordinary trigonometric functions. Some but not all of the formulas in this paper are new (the the authors meticulously provide references for what can be found in literature). Its main contribution is not a bunch of novel individual equalities and inequalities but is a concept two translate between generalized trigonometric and generalized hyperbolic functions.