Lecture 6 : Inverse Trigonometric Functions

Inverse Sine Function (arcsin x = sin−1 x) The trigonometric function sin x is not one-to-one
functions, hence in order to create an inverse, we must restrict its domain.
The restricted sine function is given by

 sin x − π2 ≤ x ≤ π2
f (x) =
undefined otherwise


We have Domain(f) = [− π2 , π2 ] and Range(f) = [−1, 1].

y= sin x y= fHxL
1.0 1.0

0.5 0.5
HА6, 12L H5А6, 12L

Π Π Π Π Π Π
-Π - Π - -
2 2 2 4 4 2

-0.5 -0.5

-1.0 -1.0

We see from the graph of the restricted sine function (or from its derivative) that the function is
one-to-one and hence has an inverse, shown in red in the diagram below.
H1, А2L
1.5

1.0
HА2, 1L

0.5

Π Π Π Π
- -
2 4 4 2

-Π -1
H , L -0.5
4
2
-1 -Π
H , L
4
2 -1.0

-1.5

This inverse function, f −1 (x), is denoted by

f −1 (x) = sin−1 x or arcsin x.

Properties of sin−1 x.
Domain(sin−1 ) = [−1, 1] and Range(sin−1 ) = [− π2 , π2 ].

Since f −1 (x) = y if and only if f (y) = x, we have:

1
 π π
sin−1 x = y if and only if sin(y) = x and − ≤y≤ .
2 2
Since f (f −1 )(x) = x f −1 (f (x)) = x we have:
 π π
sin(sin−1 (x)) = x for x ∈ [−1, 1] sin−1 (sin(x)) = x for x ∈ − , .
2 2

from the graph: sin−1 x is an odd function and sin−1 (−x) = − sin−1 x.
 
Example Evaluate sin−1 √
−1
2
using the graph above.

√ √
Example Evaluate sin−1 ( 3/2), sin−1 (− 3/2),

Example Evaluate sin−1 (sin π).

√
Example Evaluate cos(sin−1 ( 3/2)).

Example Give a formula in terms of x for tan(sin−1 (x))

Derivative of sin−1 x.

d 1
sin−1 x = √ , −1 ≤ x ≤ 1.
dx 1 − x2
dy
Proof We have sin−1 x = y if and only if sin y = x. Using implicit differentiation, we get cos y dx =1
or
dy 1
= .
dx cos y
Now we know that cos2 y + sin2 y = 1, hence we have that cos2 y + x2 = 1 and
√
cos y = 1 − x2

2
and
d 1
sin−1 x = √ .
dx 1 − x2

If we use the chain rule in conjunction with the above derivative, we get

d k 0 (x)
sin−1 (k(x)) = p , x ∈ Dom(k) and − 1 ≤ k(x) ≤ 1.
dx 1 − (k(x))2

Example Find the derivative

d √
sin−1 cos x
dx
.

Inverse Cosine Function We can define the function cos−1 x = arccos(x) similarly. The details
are given at the end of this lecture.
Domain(cos−1 ) = [−1, 1] and Range(cos−1 ) = [0, π].

cos−1 x = y if and only if cos(y) = x and 0 ≤ y ≤ π.

cos(cos−1 (x)) = x for x ∈ [−1, 1] cos−1 (cos(x)) = x for x ∈ 0, π .

 

It is shown at the end of the lecture that

d d −1
cos−1 x = − sin−1 x = √
dx dx 1 − x2
and one can use this to prove that
π
sin−1 x + cos−1 x = .
2

Inverse Tangent Function

The tangent function is not a one to one function, however we can also restrict the domain to construct
a one to one function in this case.
The restricted tangent function is given by

 tan x − π2 < x < π2
h(x) =
undefined otherwise


We see from the graph of the restricted tangent function (or from its derivative) that the function is
one-to-one and hence has an inverse, which we denote by

h−1 (x) = tan−1 x or arctan x.

3
 y= hHxL

HА4, 1L

Π Π Π Π
- -
2 4 4 2
y= arctanHxL
Π
2
-2
Π
4 H1, А4L

-4
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5
Π
-
4
-6
Π
-
2

Properties of tan−1 x.
Domain(tan−1 ) = (−∞, ∞) and Range(tan−1 ) = (− π2 , π2 ).

Since h−1 (x) = y if and only if h(y) = x, we have:

π π
tan−1 x = y if and only if tan(y) = x and − <y< .
2 2
Since h(h−1 (x)) = x and h−1 (h(x)) = x, we have:
 π π
tan(tan−1 (x)) = x for x ∈ (−∞, ∞) tan−1 (tan(x)) = x for x ∈ − , .
2 2

Frpm the graph, we have: tan−1 (−x) = − tan−1 (x).

Also, since lim tan x = ∞ and lim tan x = −∞,
x→( π2 − ) x→(− π2 + )

π π
we have lim tan−1 x = and lim tan−1 x = −
x→∞ 2 x→−∞ 2

Example Find tan−1 (1) and tan−1 ( √13 ).

Example Find cos(tan−1 ( √13 )).

Derivative of tan−1 x.

d 1
tan−1 x = 2 , −∞ < x < ∞.
dx x +1

4
 dy
Proof We have tan−1 x = y if and only if tan y = x. Using implicit differentiation, we get sec2 y dx =1
or
dy 1
= 2
= cos2 y.
dx sec y
Now we know that cos2 y = cos2 (tan−1 x) = 1
1+x2
. proving the result.

If we use the chain rule in conjunction with the above derivative, we get

d −1 k 0 (x)
tan (k(x)) = , x ∈ Dom(k)
dx 1 + (k(x))2

Example Find the domain and derivative of tan−1 (ln x)

Domain = (0, ∞)
1
d 1
tan−1 (ln x) = x
=
dx 1 + (ln x)2 x(1 + (ln x)2 )
Integration formulas
Reversing the derivative formulas above, we get
Z Z
1 1
√ dx = sin−1 x + C, dx = tan−1 x + C,
1−x 2 x2 + 1

Example Z
1
√ dx =
9 − x2
Z Z Z
1 1 1 1
q dx = q dx = q dx
3 1− x2
3 1 − x9
2 3 1− x2
9 9

Let u = x3 , then dx = 3du and

Z Z
1 1 3 x
√ dx = √ du = sin−1 u + C = sin−1 + C
9 − x2 3 1 − u2 3

Example
Z 1/2
1
dx
0 1 + 4x2
Let u = 2x, then du = 2dx, u(0) = 0, u(1/2) = 1 and
Z 1/2 Z 1
1 1 1 1 1
2
dx = 2
dx = tan−1 u|10 = [tan−1 (1) − tan−1 (0)]
0 1 + 4x 2 0 1+u 2 2
1 π π
[ − 0] = .
2 4 8

5
 4

The restricted cosine function is given by


 cos x 0≤x≤π
3
g(x) =
undefined otherwise


We have Domain(g) = [0, π] and Range(g) = [−1, 1].

2

3! –! ! ! ! 3! 2! 5!
– –
2 2 2 2 2

–1

3!
We see from the graph of the –restricted
2
2 cosine function (or from its derivative) that the function is
one-to-one and hence has an inverse,
g −1 (x) = cos−1 x or arccos x
–3

!
2 f(x) = cos-1(x)

–4 –2 2 4

6
!
–
 Domain(cos−1 ) = [−1, 1] and Range(cos−1 ) = [0, π].
Recall from the definition of inverse functions:

g −1 (x) = y if and only if g(y) = x.

cos−1 x = y if and only if cos(y) = x and 0 ≤ y ≤ π.

g(g −1 (x)) = x g −1 (g(x)) = x

cos(cos−1 (x)) = x for x ∈ [−1, 1] cos−1 (cos(x)) = x for x ∈ 0, π .

 

Note from the graph that cos−1 (−x) = π − cos−1 (x) .

√ √
cos−1 ( 3/2) = and cos−1 (− 3/2) =
You can use either chart below to find the correct angle between 0 and π.:

√
tan(cos−1 ( 3/2)) =
tan(cos−1 (x)) =
Must draw a triangle with correct proportions:

1
1-x2

1 θ

θ cos θ = x cos-1x = θ

x 1-x2
tan(cos-1x) = tan θ =
x
cos θ = x

7
 d −1
cos−1 x = √ , −1 ≤ x ≤ 1.
dx 1 − x2
dy
Proof We have cos−1 x = y if and only if cos y = x. Using implicit differentiation, we get − sin y dx =1
or
dy −1
= .
dx sin y
Now we know that cos2 y + sin2 y = 1, hence we have that sin2 y + x2 = 1 and
√
sin y = 1 − x2

and
d −1
cos−1 x = √ .
dx 1 − x2

π
Note that d
dx
cos−1 x = − dx
d
sin−1 x. In fact we can use this to prove that sin−1 x + cos−1 x = .
2

If we use the chain rule in conjunction with the above derivative, we get

d −k 0 (x)
cos−1 (k(x)) = p , x ∈ Dom(k) and − 1 ≤ k(x) ≤ 1.
dx 1 − (k(x))2