CLASS: XII

CHAPTER: INVERSE TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

IMPORTANT POINTS
➢ The symbol 𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 𝒙 should not be confused with (𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙)−𝟏 .
𝟏 𝟏
𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 𝒙 ≠ , be aware that 𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 𝒙 does not mean .
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙

➢ If f(x)=sin x, then we would write 𝑓 −1 (𝑥) = 𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 𝒙

➢ In fact, 𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 𝒙 is an angle, the value of whose sine is x, similarly

for other trigonometric ratios.

➢ We know that trigonometric functions are periodic so we will need

to restrict the domain of each function to yield a new function that is one-
to-one. Once this is done, the domain of the inverse function is the
range of the original function, and the range of the inverse
function is the restricted domain of the original function.

➢ These conventional choices for the restricted domain are somewhat

arbitrary, but they have important, helpful characteristics. Each domain
includes the origin and some positive values; the range for each
function remains the same; and most importantly, each result in a one-
to-one function that is invertible. The conventional choice for the
restricted domain of the tangent function also has the useful property that
it extends from one vertical asymptote to the next instead of being
divided into two parts by an asymptote, so it is continuous.

➢ Each graph of the inverse trigonometric function is a reflection of the graph

of the original function about the line y=x, so the graph of inverse
trigonometric functions can be obtained from the graph of their
corresponding trigonometric function by interchanging x and y axes.
 MCQs
Q1 Which of the following is the principal value branch of 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐜−𝟏 𝐱?
𝛑 𝛑
(a) (− , )
𝟐 𝟐
𝛑
(b)(𝟎, 𝛑) − { }
𝟐
𝛑 𝛑
(c) [− , ]
𝟐 𝟐
𝛑 𝛑
(d) [- , ] − {𝟎}
𝟐 𝟐
Q2 The value of 𝐜𝐨𝐬 −𝟏 [𝐜𝐨𝐬 (− )]=…..
𝝅
𝟑
𝝅
(a) −
𝟑
𝝅
(b)
𝟑
𝟒𝝅
(c)
𝟑
𝟐𝝅
(d)
𝟑
Q3 The value of 𝐜𝐨𝐬 −𝟏 [𝐜𝐨𝐬 (
𝟒𝝅
)]=…..
𝟑
𝝅
(a)
𝟑
𝟐𝝅
(b)
𝟑
𝟒𝝅
(c)
𝟑
𝝅
(d)−
𝟑
Q4 The value of 𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 [𝐬𝐢𝐧 (
𝟓𝝅
)]=…..
𝟑
𝝅
(a) −
𝟑
𝟓𝝅
(b)
𝟑
𝝅
(c)
𝟑
𝟐𝝅
(d)
𝟑
Q5 𝝅
Value of 𝐜𝐨𝐬 [ + 𝐜𝐨𝐬 −𝟏 (− )] = ⋯
𝟏
𝟔 𝟐
√𝟑
(a) −
𝟐
√𝟑−𝟏
(b)
𝟐√𝟐
√𝟓−𝟏
(c)
𝟒
√𝟑+𝟏
(d)
𝟐√𝟐
Q6 Which of the following is the principal value branch of 𝐜𝐨𝐬 −𝟏 𝐱 ?
𝛑 𝛑
(a) [– , ]
𝟐 𝟐
(b)(0, π)
(c) [0, π]
𝛑
(d)(𝟎, 𝛑) − { }
𝟐
Q7 𝟏
𝐜𝐨𝐬 [𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 {𝐜𝐨𝐭 (𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 )}] = ⋯
𝟐
(a) 𝟏
(b) 1/√𝟐
(c) √𝟑/𝟐
(d)𝟏/𝟐
Q8 Domain of 𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 𝒙 𝒊𝒔
(a) [𝟎, 𝟏]
(b)(−∞, ∞)
(c) [𝟎, 𝝅]
(d)[−𝟏, 𝟏]
Q9 √𝟑
𝐬𝐢𝐧 [𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 (−√𝟑) + 𝐜𝐨𝐬 −𝟏 (− )] = ⋯
𝟐
(a) 𝟏
(b)−𝟏
(c) 𝟎
(d)𝟐
Q10 If 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 𝒙 > 𝐜𝐨𝐭 −𝟏 𝒙 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 …
(a)𝒙 > 1
(b)𝒙 < 1
(c) 𝒙 = 𝟏
(d)𝒙 ∈ 𝑹
Q11 𝝅
𝐜𝐨𝐬 ( + 𝐜𝐨𝐬−𝟏 (−𝟏)) = ⋯
𝟑
(a) 𝟏⁄𝟐
(b)−𝟏/𝟐
(c) 𝟏
(d)−𝟏
Q 12 𝝅 𝟏
𝐬𝐢𝐧 { − 𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 ((− ))}
𝟑 𝟐
(a) 𝟎
 𝟏
(b)
𝟐
√𝟑
(c)
𝟐
(d)𝟏
Q13 The value of 𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 [𝐬𝐢𝐧 (
𝟕𝝅
)]=…..
𝟔
𝝅
(a)
𝟔
𝟓𝝅
(b)
𝟔
𝝅
(c) −
𝟔
𝟕𝝅
(d)
𝟔
Q14 √𝟑 √𝟑
𝐜𝐨𝐬−𝟏 ( ) + 𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 ( ) is
𝟐 𝟐
𝟓𝝅
(a)
𝟔
𝝅
(b)
𝟒
𝟒𝝅
(c)
𝟑
𝟒𝝅
(d)
𝟔
Q15 The value of 𝟐𝐬𝐞𝐜 −𝟏 (𝟐) + 𝐬𝐢𝐧
−𝟏 𝟏
(𝟐) is .........
𝛑
(a)
𝟔
𝟓𝛑
(b)
𝟔
𝟕𝝅
(c)
𝟔
(d) 𝟏
Q16 The value of 𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 [𝐜𝐨𝐬 (
𝟑𝟑𝛑
)] is..........
𝟓
𝟑𝛑
(a)
𝟓
−𝟕𝛑
(b)
𝟓
𝛑
(c)
𝟏𝟎
−𝛑
(d)
𝟏𝟎
Q 17 The value of 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 [𝐭𝐚𝐧 (
𝟕𝝅
)]=…..
𝟒
𝝅
(a) −
𝟒
 𝝅
(b)
𝟒
𝟑𝝅
(c)
𝟒
𝟑𝝅
(d)−
𝟒
Q 18 If 𝐬𝐢𝐧 −𝟏
𝒙 = 𝒚, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏
𝝅 𝝅
(a) – < 𝑦 <
𝟐 𝟐
𝝅 𝝅
(b) − ≤ 𝒚 ≤
𝟐 𝟐
(c) 𝟎 < 𝑦 < 𝜋
(d) 𝟎 ≤ 𝒚 ≤ 𝝅
Q 19 The solution set of 𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 𝒙 ≤ 𝐜𝐨𝐬 −𝟏 𝒙 𝒊𝒔
𝟏
(a) ≤𝒙≤𝟏
√𝟐
𝟏
(b)− ≤𝒙≤ 𝟏
√𝟐
(c) −𝟏 ≤ 𝒙 ≤ 𝟏
𝟏 𝟏
(d)− ≤𝒙≤
√𝟐 √𝟐
Q 20 The domain of the function 𝐜𝐨𝐬 −𝟏 (𝟐𝐱 − 𝟏)is .........
(a) [𝟎, 𝟏]
(b) [−𝟏, 𝟏]
(c) [𝟎, 𝟏/𝟐]
(d) [𝟎, 𝛑]
Case Based/
Source Based Integrated Question
CASE STUDY: 1

Two men on either side of a temple of 30 meters high observe its

top at the angles of elevation 𝛼 and 𝛽 respectively. (As shown in
the figure above). The distance between the two men is 40√3
meters and the distance between the first person A and the
temple is 30√3 meters.
 Based on the above information answer the following:
Q1 ∠𝐶𝐴𝐵 =𝛼 =…
𝟐
(a)𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 ( )
√𝟑
𝟏
(b)𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 ( )
𝟐
(c)𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 (𝟐)

√𝟑
(d)𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 ( )
𝟐
Q2 ∠𝐶𝐴𝐵 =𝛼 =…
𝟏
(a)𝒄𝒐𝒔−𝟏 ( )
𝟓
𝟐
(b)𝐜𝐨𝐬−𝟏 ( )
𝟓
√𝟑
(c)𝒄𝒐𝒔−𝟏 ( )
𝟐
𝟒
(d)𝒄𝒐𝒔−𝟏 ( )
𝟓
Q3 ∠𝐵CA=𝛽 =…
𝟏
(a)𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 ( )
𝟐
(b)𝐭𝐚𝐧 −𝟏 (𝟐)
𝟏
(c)𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏
√𝟑
(d)𝐭𝐚𝐧 −𝟏
√𝟑
Q4 ∠ABC=
𝝅
(a)
𝟒
𝝅
(b)
𝟔
𝝅
(c)
𝟐
𝝅
(d)
𝟑
Q5 Domain and range of 𝒄𝒐𝒔−𝟏 𝒙 =
(a)(−𝟏, 𝟏), (𝟎, 𝝅)
(b)[−𝟏, 𝟏], (𝟎, 𝝅)
(c)[−𝟏, 𝟏], [𝟎, 𝝅]
𝝅 𝝅
(d)(−𝟏, 𝟏) , [− , ]
𝟐 𝟐
CASE STUDY: 2
The Government of India is planning to fix a hoarding board at
the face of a building on the road of a busy market for
awareness on COVID-19 protocol. Ram, Robert and Rahim are
the three engineers who are working on this project. “A” is
 considered to be a person viewing the hoarding board 20 metres
away from the building, standing at the edge of a pathway
nearby. Ram, Robert and Rahim suggested to the firm to place
the hoarding board at three different locations namely C, D and
E. “C” is at the height of 10 metres from the ground level. For
the viewer A, the angle of elevation of “D” is double the angle of
elevation of “C” The angle of elevation of “E” is triple the angle
of elevation of “C” for the same viewer.
Look at the figure given and based on the above information
answer the following:

Q1 Measure of ∠𝐶𝐴𝐵 =
(a)𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 𝟐
𝟏
(b)𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 ( )
𝟐
(c)𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝟏
−𝟏

(d)𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 𝟑
Q2 Measure of ∠D𝐴𝐵 =
𝟑
(a)𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏
𝟒
(b)𝐭𝐚𝐧 −𝟏 (𝟑)
𝟒
(c)𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏
𝟑
(d)𝐭𝐚𝐧 −𝟏
𝟒
Q3 Measure of ∠E𝐴𝐵 =
(a)𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 𝟏𝟏
 (b)𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 (𝟑)
𝟐
(c)𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏
𝟏𝟏
−𝟏 𝟏𝟏
(d)𝐭𝐚𝐧
𝟐
Q4 A’ is another viewer standing on the same line of observation
across the road. If the width of the road is 5 meters, then the
difference between ∠𝐶𝐴𝐵and∠𝐶𝐴’𝐵 is
𝟏
(a)𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 ( )
𝟐
𝟏
(b)𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 ( )
𝟖
−𝟏 𝟐
(c)𝐭𝐚𝐧
𝟓
−𝟏 𝟏𝟏
(d)𝐭𝐚𝐧
𝟐𝟏
Q5 Domain and range of 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 𝒙 =
𝝅 𝝅
(a)𝑹+ , (− , )
𝟐 𝟐
𝝅 𝝅
(b)𝑹− , (− , )
𝟐 𝟐
𝝅 𝝅
(c)𝑹 , (− , )
𝟐 𝟐
𝝅
(d)𝑹 , (𝟎, )
𝟐
CASE STUDY: 3
Read the following text and answer on the basis of the same:
The value of an inverse trigonometric function which lies in the
range of principal branch is called the principal value of that
inverse trigonometric function.
Q1 𝟏
Principal value of 𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 ( ) 𝒊𝒔
𝟐
𝝅
(a)
𝟔
𝝅
(b)
𝟑
𝝅
(c)
𝟒
𝝅
(d)
𝟐
Q2 Principal value of 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 (𝟏) 𝒊𝒔
𝝅
(a)
𝟑
(b) 𝝅
𝝅
(c)
𝟒
𝝅
(d)
𝟔
Q3 Principal value of 𝐜𝐨𝐭 −𝟏 (√𝟑) 𝒊𝒔
𝝅
(a)
𝟒
𝝅
(b)
𝟐
𝝅
(c)
𝟔
𝝅
(d)
𝟐
Q4 𝟏
Principal value of 𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 (𝟏) + 𝒔𝒊𝒏−𝟏 ( ) 𝒊𝒔
√𝟐
(a)𝟐𝝅
(b) 𝝅
𝟑𝝅
(c)
𝟒
𝝅
(d)
𝟑
Q5 𝟏
Principal value of 𝟐𝐜𝐨𝐬−𝟏 (𝟏) + 𝟓 𝒔𝒊𝒏−𝟏 ( ) 𝒊𝒔
√𝟐
𝟑𝝅
(a)
𝟒
𝝅
(b)
𝟒
𝝅
(c)
𝟐
𝟓𝝅
(d)
𝟒
CASE STUDY: 4
A teacher gives a table of the domain and range of inverse
trigonometric functions to the students and told them that when
we dealing with the inverse trigonometric functions, we need to
careful about their range, which is defined from restricted
domain of trigonometric functions. The table is given as:
Functions Domains Ranges

y = sin–1 x [–1, 1]

y = cos–1 x [–1, 1] [0, π]

y = cosec–1 x R – (–1, 1)

y = sec–1 x R – (–1, 1)

y = tan–1 x R

y = cot–1 x R (0, π)
Q1 The value of x, when 𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 (𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒙) = 𝐜𝐨𝐬 −𝟏 (𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒙) is
𝟑𝝅
(a)
𝟒
𝝅
(b)−
𝟒
𝝅
(c)
𝟒
(d) 𝟎
Q2 Principal value of 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 (−√𝟑) is:
𝝅
(a) −
𝟑
𝝅
(b)
𝟑
𝟐𝝅
(c)
𝟑
𝝅
(d)−
𝟔
Q3 𝟑
The value of x, when 𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 (− ) = 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 𝒙 is
𝟓
(a) −𝟑/𝟒
(b) 𝟑/𝟒
(c) 𝟒/𝟑
(d) −𝟒/𝟑
Q4 The value of x, when 𝐜𝐨𝐬 −𝟏 (−
𝟓
) = 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 𝒙 is
𝟏𝟐
(a) 𝟏𝟐/𝟓
(b) −𝟏𝟐/𝟓
(c) −𝟓/𝟏𝟐
(d)𝒏𝒐 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
Q5 The value of x, when 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 (𝐜𝐨𝐭 𝒙) = 𝟐𝒙 is
𝝅
(a)
𝟑
𝝅
(b)
𝟒
𝝅
(c)
𝟔
(d) 𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆
CASE STUDY: 5
Read the following text and answer on the basis of the same:
The value of an inverse trigonometric function which lies in the
range of principal branch is called the principal value of that
inverse trigonometric function.
Q1 The value of 𝐜𝐨𝐬 −𝟏 (−
√𝟑
) is
𝟐
 𝝅
(a) −
𝟑
𝝅
(b) −
𝟔
𝟐𝝅
(c)
𝟑
𝟓𝝅
(d)
𝟔

Q2 The value of 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 (𝐭𝐚𝐧

𝟑𝝅
) is:
𝟓
𝝅
(a) −
𝟓
𝟑𝝅
(b)
𝟓
𝟐𝝅
(c) −
𝟓
𝟐𝝅
(d)
𝟓

Q3 The domain of 𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 (𝟐𝒙) is

(a) [0, 1]

(b) [– 1, 1]

(c) [-1/2, 1/2]

(d) [–2, 2]

Q4 The principal value of 𝒄𝒐𝒔−𝟏 ([𝐜𝐨𝐬(−𝟔𝟖𝟎°)]) is:

𝟐𝝅
(a)
𝟗
𝟐𝝅
(b) −
𝟗
𝟑𝟒𝝅
(c)
𝟗
𝝅
(d)−
𝟗

Q5 The value of 𝐜𝐨𝐭(𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 𝒙) is

√𝟏+𝒙𝟐
(a)
𝒙
𝒙
(b)
√𝟏+𝒙𝟐
𝟏
(c)
𝒙
√𝟏−𝒙𝟐
(d)
𝒙
 OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS
Q1 The value of 𝐜𝐨𝐬 −𝟏 (𝐜𝐨𝐬
𝟑𝛑
) is ..........
𝟐

Q2 Write the range of 𝒔𝒊𝒏−𝟏 𝒙.

Q3 What is the principal value of 𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 (𝐬𝐢𝐧
𝟐𝝅
) + 𝒄𝒐𝒔−𝟏 (𝐜𝐨𝐬
𝟐𝝅
)
𝟑 𝟑

Q4 𝝅
Evaluate: 𝑺𝒊𝒏 [ − 𝒔𝒊𝒏−𝟏 (− )]
𝟏
𝟑 𝟐

Q5 The value of 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝟐 (𝐬𝐞𝐜 −𝟏 𝟐) + 𝒄𝒐𝒕𝟐 (𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐜−𝟏 𝟑) is ____

Q6 Find the value of the following expression: 𝐜𝐨𝐬 −𝟏 (𝐜𝐨𝐬

𝟏𝟑𝝅
)
𝟔

Q7 Find the principal value of 𝐜𝐨𝐭 −𝟏 (−√𝟑)

Q8 Write the principal values of 𝐬𝐞𝐜 −𝟏 (−𝟐)

Q9 Write the principal values of 𝐬𝐞𝐜 −𝟏 (−

𝟐
)
√𝟑

Q10 Write the principal value of the following:𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 (𝐬𝐢𝐧

𝟒𝝅
𝟓
)

Q11 𝟏
Find the value of 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 (𝟏) + 𝐜𝐨𝐬 −𝟏 (− 𝟐) + 𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 (− 𝟐)
𝟏

Q 12 Evaluate sec2 (tan–1 2)

Q13 Evaluate: 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 [𝐬𝐢𝐧 (− )]
𝝅
𝟐

Q14 State true or false: 𝐜𝐨𝐬 −𝟏 (𝐜𝐨𝐬

𝟕𝝅
)=
𝟕𝝅
𝟔 𝟔

Q15 Evaluate: 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 √𝟑 + 𝐜𝐨𝐭 −𝟏

𝟏
√𝟑

Q16 Find the value of 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 √𝟑 − 𝐬𝐞𝐜 −𝟏 (−𝟐)

Q 17 State true or false: 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏(𝐭𝐚𝐧(−𝟒)) = −𝟒
Q 18 𝟏 √𝟑
Evaluate: 𝒔𝒊𝒏−𝟏 ( ) + 𝟐 𝒄𝒐𝒔−𝟏 (− )
𝟐 𝟐

Q 19 𝟏
Find the value of: 𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 (− ) + 𝐜𝐨𝐬 −𝟏 (− )
𝟏
𝟐 𝟐

Q 20 𝝅
Find the value of 𝐬𝐢𝐧 [ − 𝐬𝐢𝐧−𝟏 (− )]
𝟏
𝟑 𝟐
 SHORT QUESTIONS

√𝟑
Q1 Write the value of 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 [𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧 (𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬 −𝟏 )]
𝟐

√𝟑
Q2 Write the value of 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 [𝟐 𝐬𝐢𝐧(𝟐𝐜𝐨𝐬 −𝟏 )]
𝟐

Q3 Prove that: sec2(tan–1 2) + cosec2(cot–1 3) = 15.

√𝟑 𝝅
Q4 Prove that 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 [𝟐𝒔𝒊𝒏 (𝟐 𝐜𝐨𝐬−𝟏 )] =
𝟐 𝟑

𝟑𝒙−𝒙𝟑
Q5 Express 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 ( ) in simplest form.
𝟏−𝟑𝒙𝟐

√𝟏+𝒙𝟐 −𝟏
Q6 Write 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 [ ] in simplest form.
𝒙

𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙−𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙
Q7 Write 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 [ ] in the simplest form
𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝒙+𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙

𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒙
Q8 Write the following function in the simplest form: 𝐭𝐚𝐧−𝟏 [ ]
𝟏+𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒙

Q9 Find the domain of 𝒚 = 𝐜𝐨𝐬 −𝟏 (𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒)

−𝟏 √
𝟏 + 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 + √𝟏 − 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 𝛑
Q 10 𝐜𝐨𝐭 ( ) = ⋯ (𝟎 < 𝐱 < )
√𝟏 + 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 − √𝟏 − 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒙 𝟐