Mathematics Investigative Task

Daniel Tan Han Jie, Felina Chen Xue Qi, Lee Choon Kiat, Liao Weixiang
12S68
Part 1: Vertical Viewing Angle θ

Task 1a: Task 1b:

d dq 1 [x2 + d(h+ d)](h) - 2hx2 )

tan a = = ´
x dx hx [x2 + d(h+ d)]2
2+( 2 )2
tan a + tan q x + d(h+ d)
tan(a + q ) =
1- tan a tan q dq 1
=
d dx (hx) 2
+ tan q 1+ 2
h+ d x [x + d(h+ d)]2
=
x d
1- tan q 1
x 0=
hx (hx) 2
tan q = 2 1+ 2
x + d(h+ d) [x + d(h+ d)]2
0 = x2 h+ dh2 + d2 h- 2hx2
x2 (h- 2h) = -dh2 - d2 h
x2 = d(h+ d)
Part 2: Horizontal Vewing Angle α

Task 2a:

a w 1 w
tan = � =
2 2 x 2x
w
2( )
tan a = 2 x = 4 wx
2
1 - ( )2 4 x - w
2 2

2x
Task 2b:

Based on our research, we have found that the ideal viewing angle would be from 52o up to a maximum of 66o.1 We have chosen 60o to
be the ideal angle as tan 60o since it is the approximate average between 52o and 66o

Task 2c:

Substitute α = 60o

(4 x 2 - w2 )( 3) = 4 xw
4 3x 2 - 3w2 - 4 xw = 0
4 w � 16w2 - (4)(4 3)(- 3w2 )
x=
2 3
3
x= w
2

Part 3: Investigate the best seat in a movie theatre

1
Talwalkar, P. (2011, November 04). [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://mindyourdecisions.com/blog/2011/11/04/whats-the-best-seat-in-a-
movie-theater/
Mathematics Investigative Task
Daniel Tan Han Jie, Felina Chen Xue Qi, Lee Choon Kiat, Liao Weixiang
12S68
Task 3a:

Our chosen theatre in Singapore: GV (Golden Village) Tampines (dimensions shown below in Figure 1)

Task 3b) (i):

d
tan a =
x
tan a + tan q
tan(a + q ) =
1 - tan a tan q
d
+ tan q
h+d
= x
x d
1 - tan q
x
hx
tan q = 2
x + d (h + d )

To ensure that vertical viewing angle is ideal, , hence distance x from the screen is SqRt[(2.2)
(6.7+2.2)]=4.424929m=4.42m

Task 3b) (ii):

(4 x 2 - w2 )( 3) = 4 xw
4 3 x 2 - 3w2 - 4 xw = 0
4 w � 16 w2 - (4)(4 3)( - 3w2 )
x=
2 3
3
x= w
2
To ensure that horizontal viewing angle is ideal, distance x would be (Sqrt[3]/2)(15.9)=13.75m

Task 3c)

In order to find the ideal viewing angle that takes into account the horizontal and vertical viewing angles, we try to maximize the area
of the effective field of vision that the screen occupies. Assuming that the angle θx and θy are proportional to the area of the e.f.o.v that
is not occupied by the screen, we derived a formula that relates the sum of the angles θx and θy to the distance from the person’s seat to
the screen. This should provide us with a proxy value to calculate the area of effective field of vision that the screen occupies as the
larger the sum of the angles, the smaller the area of the effective field of vision that the screen occupies.

Θx Θx

Θmax
θ Θ
Θy

The Fig.1
derivation of the
Horizontal fieldequation
of vision,isblue
given as follows:
representing wasted field of Fig.2 Vertical field of vision, white representing the wasted
vision field of vision
Mathematics Investigative Task
Daniel Tan Han Jie, Felina Chen Xue Qi, Lee Choon Kiat, Liao Weixiang
12S68
q x = q max - q After substituting the values for h, w and d, we obtain the
following equation:
p � 4 wx �
qx = - tan -1 � 2
3 4 x - w2 �
� �
p � 4wx � � hx �
qx + q y = - tan -1 � 2 2�
+ 0.6468 - tan -1 �2 �
q y = q max - q 3 4x - w �
� �x + d ( h + d ) �
� hx � � 4 wx � � hx �
q y = 0.6468 - tan �2 -1 q x + q y = 1.6224 - tan -1 � 2 2�
- tan -1 �2 �
� 4x - w �
� �x + d (h + d ) �
�x + d (h + d ) �
Next, we plotted a graph of (θx + θy) against x.

Graph 1: Graph of θx + θy against x

Thus, as the area under the graph indicates the area of the effective field of vision that the screen occupies, we can conclude that the
smaller the area under the graph, the more ideal the viewing angle. Thus, as the area under the graph is the least when x is between
approximately 8m to 18m (shaded area in the graph), we can conclude that the maximum distance from the screen for the viewing
angle to remain ideal is about 18m and the minimum distance from the screen for the viewing angle to remain ideal is about 8m.

The floor plan below indicates the VIP seats that have been selected based on the maximum and minimum values provided above.
Though the equations derived earlier assume that the best seats are in the exact center of the theatre, selecting only seats in the exact
center of the theatre will not provide enough seats for us to identify 20% of the cinema as VIP seats. As the field of vision of a human
is extremely large (140o), a less than ideal horizontal viewing angle should not result in a dramatic decrease in picture quality. Thus,
we opted to select some seats that are not in the center of the theatre to ensure that exactly 20% of the seats in the theatre can be
demarcated as VIP seats.

One other factor to consider in the choosing of VIP seats is the level of viewing pleasure by the distortion of the motion picture when
sitting at the side seats due to parallax error. Thus, the range of values of x was taken to be a sufficiently large value to ensure that as
few of the VIP seats will be at the side as possible in order to reduce the distortion of the image. Other than this, there is also the issue
of the stereo sound system, which is calibrated by the in-house technician, who usually does this in the exact centre of the theatre. This
resulted in us choosing to allocate more seats in each horizontal row to provide the VIPs with better sound quality that would enhance
their viewing experience.
Mathematics Investigative Task
Daniel Tan Han Jie, Felina Chen Xue Qi, Lee Choon Kiat, Liao Weixiang
12S68

Figure 1: Floorplan for GV Tampines

Task 3d)

Assumptions made:

1. We assumed that the theatre was flat, with all the seats in the same plane, instead of the seats being on an incline plane.

2. The change in area is proportionate to the change in the sum of the angles θx and θy

Assumption 1 is definitely not valid in the case of a normal theatre as the seats are always in an incline. However, as there is no
variable that provides for the angle of incline of the seats, thus we are forced to assume that the seats in the theatre are in a horizontal
plane. This assumption limits our study, because having an incline in the theatre would reduce the need for viewers to angle their
heads to have a view of the screen, as the distance increases. Hence, having an incline would reduce the level of discomfort in
viewers.

In order to improve the accuracy, the angle of incline can be included in the calculations by using the cosine rule, however, this time
round, we will be unable to calculate based on a fixed distance of the bottom the screen to the viewer’s eye level as this will change as
we move further back in the theatre. Thus, we would need to include the angle of incline α into our equation to compensate for the
change in d through trigonometry.

Assumption 2 may not be valid as the change in area is not totally proportionate to the change in the sum of the angles θ x and θy due to
the screen not being in the shape of a square. However, the change in the sum of the angles θx and θy can serve as an adequate measure
for the change in area, thus resulting in us using it as an approximation for the change in area. To reduce inaccuracy, it would be ideal
to collect first-hand data by measuring the actual dimensions of field of vision. However, due to lack of time, we are unable to carry
this out in an actual movie theatre.