Calculus (1) (Math 105)

4.4 Inverse Trigonometric Functions

and their Derivatives

Page 1 of 17 Math 105 (Semester 1 2024/2025) Dr. Omar Alsuhaimi

4.4 Inverse Trigonometric Functions and their Derivatives
▪ Inverse Trigonometric Functions
✓ The six basic trigonometric functions of a general radian angle 𝑥 were
reviewed in Section 1.3.
✓ These functions are not one-to-one (their values repeat periodically).
✓ However, we can restrict their domains to intervals on which they are one-
to-one.

𝜋 𝜋
• For example, the sine function increases from −1 at 𝑥 = − to +1 at 𝑥 = .
2 2

𝜋 𝜋
• By restricting its domain to the interval [− , ] we make it one-to-one, so that it
2 2

has an inverse sin−1 ⁡ 𝑥 (See the Figure below).

• Similar domain restrictions can be applied to all six trigonometric functions.

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Since these restricted functions are now one-to-one, they have inverses, which we
denote by

1. 𝑦 = sin−1 𝑥 or 𝑦 = arcsin 𝑥
2. 𝑦 = cos −1 𝑥 or 𝑦 = arccos 𝑥
3. 𝑦 = tan−1 ⁡ 𝑥 or 𝑦 = arctan⁡ 𝑥
4. 𝑦 = cot −1 ⁡ 𝑥 or 𝑦 = arccot⁡ 𝑥
5. 𝑦 = sec −1 ⁡ 𝑥 or 𝑦 = arcsec⁡ 𝑥
6. 𝑦 = csc −1 ⁡ 𝑥 or 𝑦 = arccsc⁡ 𝑥

• These equations are read " 𝑦 equals the arcsine of 𝑥 " or " 𝑦 equals arcsin 𝑥 "
and so on.

• sin−1 𝑥 is 𝑥 is a radian angle whose sine is 𝑥

• cos −1 𝑥 is 𝑥 is a radian angle whose cosine is 𝑥

and similarly for the others

✓ The −1 in the expressions for the inverse means "inverse."

✓ It does not mean reciprocal.

For example,
1
the reciprocal of sin⁡ 𝑥 is (sin 𝑥)−1 = = csc 𝑥 .
sin 𝑥

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• The graphs of the six inverse trigonometric functions are obtained by reflecting
the graphs of the restricted trigonometric functions through the line 𝑦 = 𝑥.
• Figure 1.65b shows the graph of 𝑦 = sin−1 ⁡ 𝑥
• and Figure 1.66 shows the graphs of all six functions.

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We now take a closer look at two of these functions.

The Arcsine and Arccosine Functions

We define the arcsine and arccosine as functions whose values are angles (measured
in radians) that belong to restricted domains of the sine and cosine functions.

Definition 1:

𝜋 𝜋
𝑦 = sin−1 ⁡ 𝑥 is the number in [− , ] for which sin⁡ 𝑦 = 𝑥.
2 2
𝑦 = cos −1 ⁡ 𝑥 is the number in [0, 𝜋] for which cos⁡ 𝑦 = 𝑥.

• The graph of 𝑦 = sin−1 ⁡ 𝑥 (Figure 1.66a) is symmetric about the origin (it lies
along the graph of 𝑥 = sin⁡ 𝑦 ).

The arcsine is therefore an odd function:

sin−1 ⁡(−𝑥) = −sin−1 ⁡ 𝑥.

• The graph of 𝑦 = cos −1 ⁡ 𝑥 (Figure 1.66b) has no such symmetry.

Example 1

Evaluate
√3 1
(a) sin−1 ⁡ ( ) (b) cos −1 ⁡ (− ).
2 2

Solution

(a) We see that

√3 𝜋
sin−1 ⁡ ( ) =
2 3

𝜋 √3 𝜋 𝜋 𝜋
because sin ( ) = and belongs to the range [− , ] of the arcsine function. See
3 2 3 2 2

Figure 1.66(a).

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(b) We have

1 2𝜋
cos −1 ⁡ (− ) =
2 3

2𝜋 1 2𝜋
because cos ( ) = − and belongs to the range [0, 𝜋] of the arccosine function.
3 2 3

See Figure 166(b).

Using the same procedure illustrated in the previous Example, we can create the
following table of common values for the arcsine and arccosine functions.

𝑥 sin−1 ⁡ 𝑥 cos−1 ⁡ 𝑥

√3 𝜋 𝜋
2 3 6

√2 𝜋 𝜋
2 4 4

1 𝜋 𝜋
2 6 3

1 𝜋 2𝜋
− −
2 6 3

√2 𝜋 3𝜋
− −
2 4 4

√3 𝜋 5𝜋
− −
2 3 6

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Identities Involving Arcsine and Arccosine
Theorem 1:

The sin−1 ⁡ 𝑥⁡⁡ satisfies the identity

𝜋
sin−1 𝑥 + cos −1 𝑥 = ⁡,⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡𝑥 > 0
2
and cos −1 ⁡ 𝑥 satisfies the identity

cos −1 ⁡ 𝑥 + cos −1 ⁡(−𝑥) = 𝜋,

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 ▪ Derivatives of Inverse Trigonometric Functions

Theorem 2:

𝑑 1 𝑑𝑢
1. (sin−1 ⁡ 𝑢) = , ⁡|𝑢| < 1
𝑑𝑥 √1−𝑢2 𝑑𝑥

𝑑 1 𝑑𝑢
2. (cos−1 ⁡ 𝑢) = − , ⁡|𝑢| < 1
𝑑𝑥 √1−𝑢2 𝑑𝑥

𝑑 1 𝑑𝑢
3. (tan−1 ⁡ 𝑢) =
𝑑𝑥 1+𝑢2 𝑑𝑥

𝑑 1 𝑑𝑢
4. (cot −1 ⁡ 𝑢) = −
𝑑𝑥 1+𝑢2 𝑑𝑥

𝑑 1 𝑑𝑢
5. (sec −1 ⁡ 𝑢) = , ⁡|𝑢| > 1
𝑑𝑥 |𝑢|√𝑢2 −1 𝑑𝑥

𝑑 1 𝑑𝑢
6. (csc −1 ⁡ 𝑢) = − , ⁡|𝑢| > 1
𝑑𝑥 |𝑢|√𝑢2 −1 𝑑𝑥

Example 2

Find
𝑑 𝑑
(a) (sin−1 ⁡ 𝑥 2 ) (b) sec −1 ⁡(5𝑥 4 ).
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

Solution

(a) Using the Chain Rule, we calculate the derivative

𝑑 1 𝑑 2 2𝑥
(sin−1 ⁡ 𝑥 2 ) = ⋅ (𝑥 ) = .
𝑑𝑥 √1 − (𝑥 2 )2 𝑑𝑥 √1 − 𝑥 4

(b) Using the Chain Rule and derivative of the arcsecant function, we find

𝑑 1 𝑑
sec −1 ⁡(5𝑥 4 ) = (5𝑥 4 )
𝑑𝑥 4
|5𝑥 |√(5𝑥 ) − 14 2 𝑑𝑥
1
= (20𝑥 3 )⁡,⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡⁡because⁡⁡⁡5𝑥 4 > 1 > 0
4
5𝑥 √25𝑥 − 18
4
= .
𝑥√25𝑥 − 18

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Checkpoint 1

𝑑𝑦
Find if
𝑑𝑥
(a) 𝑦 = sin−1 ⁡(𝑥 3 ) (b) 𝑦 = sec −1 ⁡(𝑒 𝑥 )

Solution

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 Appendix

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The "Arc" in Arcsine and Arccosine

• For a unit circle and radian angles, the arc length equation 𝑠 = 𝑟𝜃 becomes
𝑠 = 𝜃, so central angles and the arcs they subtend have the same measure.
• If 𝑥 = sin⁡ 𝑦, then, in addition to being the angle whose sine is 𝑥, 𝑦 is also the
length of are on the unit circle that subtends an angle whose sine is 𝑥.
• So, we call 𝑦 "the arc whose sine is 𝑥.

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Derivatives of Inverse Trigonometric Functions
The Derivative of 𝑦 = sin−1 ⁡ 𝑢

𝜋 𝜋
• We know that the function 𝑥 = sin⁡ 𝑦 is differentiable in the interval − < 𝑦 <
2 2

and that its derivative, the cosine, is positive there.

• Therefore assures us that the inverse function 𝑦 = sin−1 ⁡ 𝑥 is differentiable
throughout the interval −1 < 𝑥 < 1.
• We cannot expect it to be differentiable at 𝑥 = 1 or 𝑥 = −1 because the tangents
to the graph are vertical at these points (see Figure 3.42).

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