HYPERBOLIC FUNCTIONS

Learning Outcomes
As a result of studying this topic, students will be able to:
a) Explain how hyperbolic functions are defined in terms of exponential
functions.
b) Apply the formulas for derivatives and integrals of the hyperbolic functions.
c) Apply the formulas for the derivatives of the inverse hyperbolic functions and
their associated integrals.
d) Obtain and use hyperbolic function identities.

Introduction
A special of 𝑒 𝑥 and 𝑒 −𝑥 is used to form a special class of functions called
hyperbolic functions. Hyperbolic functions are important for two reasons. One is
that they are used to solve engineering problems, for instance in calculating tension
in a hanging cable. They are used to describe wave motion in liquids and elastic
solids. A second reason for studying hyperbolic functions is that they are useful in
solving differential equations that arise in physics and engineering.

1. Definitions and Identities

The combinations
𝑒 𝑥 +𝑒 −𝑥
cosh 𝑥 = (Hyperbolic cosine of x)
2
𝑒 𝑥 −𝑒−𝑥
sinh 𝑥 = (Hyperbolic sine of x)
2

occur very frequently in applications that it has been found convenient to give a
special name to them. The remaining hyperbolic functions are defined in terms of
cosh 𝑥 and sinh 𝑥 as follows:

1
 sinh 𝑥 𝑒 𝑥 − 𝑒 −𝑥 1 𝑒 𝑥 + 𝑒 −𝑥
tanh 𝑥 = = ; coth 𝑥 = =
cosh 𝑥 𝑒 𝑥 + 𝑒 −𝑥 tanh 𝑥 𝑒 𝑥 − 𝑒 −𝑥
1 2 1 2
sech 𝑥 = = 𝑥 ; csch 𝑥 = = 𝑥
cosh 𝑥 𝑒 + 𝑒 −𝑥 sinh 𝑥 𝑒 − 𝑒 −𝑥

2. Differentiation of hyperbolic functions

This will be explained with the help of examples, starting right away with a
hyperbolic identity function.

Examples
1) Prove that 𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ2 𝑥 − sinh2 𝑥 = 1
Solution

2
𝑒 𝑥 + 𝑒 −𝑥 2
2
𝑒 𝑥 − 𝑒 −𝑥 2
𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ 𝑥 − sinh 𝑥 = ( ) −( )
2 2
1 1
= (𝑒 2𝑥 + 2𝑒 𝑥 𝑒 −𝑥 + 𝑒 −2𝑥 ) − (𝑒 2𝑥 − 2𝑒 𝑥 𝑒 −𝑥 + 𝑒 −2𝑥 )
4 4
1 1
= (2𝑒 0 + 2𝑒 0 ) = (4) = 1
4 4
𝑑
2) Prove that (sinh 𝑥 ) = cosh 𝑥.
𝑑𝑥

Solution
𝑑 𝑑 𝑒 𝑥 − 𝑒 −𝑥 1 𝑑 𝑥 1
(sinh 𝑥 ) = ( )= (𝑒 − 𝑒 −𝑥 ) = (𝑒 𝑥 + 𝑒 −𝑥 ) = cosh 𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 2 2 𝑑𝑥 2
𝑑𝑦
3) Find of:
𝑑𝑥

i). y = sinh 3x
1
ii). y = cosh x
2

iii). y = tanh(1 + x 2 )
1
iv). y = coth
𝑥

2
 v). y = x sech x 2
Solution
𝑑𝑦 𝑑
i). y = sinh 3x; = cosh 3x (3x) = 3cosh 3x ;
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
1 𝑑𝑦 1 𝑑 1 1 1
ii). y = cosh x; = sinh x ( x ) = sinh x
2 𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 2 2 2
𝑑𝑦 𝑑
iii). y = tanh(1 + x 2 ); = sech2 (1 + x 2 ). (1 + x 2 ) = 2xsech2 (1 + x 2 )
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
1 𝑑𝑦 1 𝑑 1 1 1
iv). y = coth ; = −csc 2 . ( )= 2
csc 2
𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑑( sech x2 ) 𝑑
v). y = x sech x 2 ; =x + sech x 2 . (x)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

= x (2x(−sech x 2 tanh x 2 )) + sech x 2

= −2 x 2 sech x 2 tanh x 2 + sech x 2
4) Derive
i). 𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ −1𝑥 = In(𝑥 + √ x 2 + 1), for all x.
1 1+√ 1−x2
ii). 𝑠𝑒𝑐ℎ−1𝑥 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ−1 = In ( ), for all 0 ≤ x ≤ 1.
𝑥 𝑥

Solution
𝑒 𝑦 −𝑒 −𝑦
i). Let y = 𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ −1𝑥; then x = sinh 𝑦 = .
2

After multiplication by 𝑒 𝑦 and rearranging, this becomes:

𝑒 2𝑦 − 2𝑥𝑒 𝑦 − 1 = 0. (1)
This is a quadratic in 𝑒 𝑦 .
So let 𝑡 = 𝑒 𝑦 . So (1) becomes 𝑡 2 − 2𝑥𝑡 − 1 = 0
2𝑥 ± √4𝑥 2 + 4
𝑡= = 𝑥 ± √𝑥 2 + 1
2
Discard the minus sign since 𝑒 𝑦 > 0 => 𝑡 = 𝑥 + √𝑥 2 + 1
=> 𝑒 𝑦 = 𝑥 + √𝑥 2 + 1 => 𝑦 = In(𝑥 + √ x 2 + 1) .
1 2
ii). Let y = 𝑠𝑒𝑐ℎ−1𝑥; then x = sech 𝑦 = = .
𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ𝑦 𝑒 𝑦 +𝑒−𝑦

3
 After multiplication by and rearranging, this becomes:
𝑒 2𝑦 𝑥 − 2𝑒 𝑦 + 𝑥 = 0. (1)
This is a quadratic in 𝑒 𝑦 .
So let 𝑡 = 𝑒 𝑦 . So (1) becomes 𝑡 2 𝑥 − 2𝑡 + 𝑥 = 0
2 ± √4 − 4𝑥 2 1 ± √1 − 𝑥 2
𝑡= =
2𝑥 𝑥
1+√1−𝑥2
Discard the minus sign since 𝑒 𝑦 > 0 => 𝑡 =
𝑥
1+√1−𝑥 2 1+√1−𝑥 2
=> 𝑒 𝑦 = => 𝑦 = In ( ) for all 0 ≤ x ≤ 1.
𝑥 𝑥
𝑑 1
5) Derive (𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ −1𝑥 ) = .
𝑑𝑥 √ x2 +1

Solution
𝑑𝑥
Let y = 𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ −1𝑥; then x = sinh 𝑦 => = cosh 𝑦
𝑑𝑦

𝑑𝑦 1 1 1
=> = = =
𝑑𝑥 cosh 𝑦 √1 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ2 𝑦 √1 + 𝑥 2
𝑥
6) Find the coordinates of the minimum point of the catenary 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ .
𝑎

Solution

′(
1 𝑥 𝑥 𝑒 𝑥/𝑎 − 𝑒 −𝑥/𝑎
f x) = (𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ ) = 𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ =
𝑎 𝑎 𝑎 2
and

′′ (
1 𝑥 1 𝑒 𝑥/𝑎 + 𝑒 −𝑥/𝑎
f x) = 𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ =
𝑎 𝑎 𝑎 2
𝑒 𝑥/𝑎 −𝑒 −𝑥/𝑎 1
When f ′ (x) = = 0, x = 0 and f ′′ (x) = > 0. Hence the point
2 2𝑎

(0, a) is the minimum point.

3. Osborn's rule
You might have noticed so far a similarity between the corresponding identities
for trigonometric functions. Osborn’s rule is used in converting trigonometric

4
formulas into equivalent formulae for hyperbolic functions. Osborn's rule states
that 𝑐𝑜𝑠 should be converted into 𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ and 𝑠𝑖𝑛 into 𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ, except when there is a
product of two sines, when a sign change must be effected.
Some examples:
 cos 2𝑥 = 1 − 2𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝑥 is converted to cosh 2𝑥 = 1 + 2𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ2 𝑥
 sin 2𝑥 = 2 sin 𝑥 cos 𝑥 remain since there is no product of two sines.
 1 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 𝑥 = sec 2 𝑥 is converted to 1 − 𝑡𝑎𝑛ℎ 2 𝑥 = sech2 𝑥. Remember
there is a square of sine in the square of tangent.
 1 + 𝑐𝑜𝑡 2𝑥 = csc 2 𝑥 is converted to 1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑡ℎ2 𝑥 = −csch2 𝑥. Remember
there is a square of sine both in the square of the cotangent and cosec.

Exercise
𝑑𝑦
1. Find of the following:
𝑑𝑥
1
𝑎) 𝑦 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ −13𝑥 b) 𝑦 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ−1𝑒 𝑥 𝑐) 𝑦 = 2𝑡𝑎𝑛ℎ −1 (𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝑥)
2
2. Show that
𝑎) sinh(𝑥 + 𝑦) = sinh 𝑥𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ𝑦 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ𝑥𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ𝑦
𝑏) cosh(𝑥 + 𝑦) = cosh 𝑥𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ𝑦 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ𝑥𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ𝑦
𝑐) sinh 2𝑥 = 2sinh 𝑥𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ𝑥
𝑑) cosh 2𝑥 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ2𝑥 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ2 𝑥 = 2𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ2𝑥 − 1 = 2𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ 2 𝑥 + 1
2𝑡𝑎𝑛ℎ𝑥
𝑑) tanh 2𝑥 =
1 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛ℎ2 𝑥

Answers
3 𝑒𝑥
1. 𝑎) b) c) sec x
√9𝑥 2 +1 √𝑒 2𝑥 −1

2.

5
 a) sinh 𝑥𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ𝑦 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ𝑥𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ𝑦
𝑒 𝑥 −𝑒 −𝑥 𝑒 𝑦 +𝑒 −𝑦 𝑒 𝑥 +𝑒 −𝑥 𝑒 𝑦 −𝑒−𝑦
= . + .
2 2 2 2
𝑒 𝑥+𝑦 −𝑒𝑥−𝑦 −𝑒 −𝑥+𝑦 −𝑒 −𝑥−𝑦 𝑒 𝑥+𝑦 −𝑒 𝑥−𝑦 +𝑒−𝑥+𝑦 −𝑒−𝑥−𝑦
= +
4 4

𝑒 𝑥+𝑦 − 𝑒 −𝑥−𝑦
= = 𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ (𝑥 + 𝑦)
2
**Likewise do (b) to (d). Start with the expression to the immediate right hand
side.

4. Integration of hyperbolic functions

The following formulas are direct consequences of the differentiation used in the
previous section.

∫ 𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ𝑥𝑑𝑥 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ𝑥 + 𝐶 ∫ 𝑠𝑒𝑐ℎ2 𝑥𝑑𝑥 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ𝑥 + 𝐶

∫ 𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ𝑥𝑑𝑥 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ𝑥 + 𝐶 ∫ 𝑐𝑠𝑐ℎ2 𝑥𝑑𝑥 = −𝑐𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑥 + 𝐶

∫ 𝑡𝑎𝑛ℎ𝑥𝑑𝑥 = In|𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ𝑥| + 𝐶 ∫ 𝑠𝑒𝑐ℎ𝑥𝑡𝑎𝑛ℎ𝑥𝑑𝑥 = −𝑠𝑒𝑐ℎ𝑥 + 𝐶

∫ 𝑐𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑥𝑑𝑥 = In|𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ𝑥| + 𝐶 ∫ 𝑐𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑥𝑐𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑥𝑑𝑥 = −𝑐𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑥 + 𝐶

From the derivatives covered in the previous section, the following results are valid:
𝑑(𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ−1 𝑥 ) 1 𝑑(𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ −1𝑥 ) 1
= ; = ;
𝑑𝑥 √𝑥 2 − 1 𝑑𝑥 √𝑥 2 + 1
𝑑(𝑡𝑎𝑛ℎ −1𝑥 ) 1
=
𝑑𝑥 √𝑥 2 + 1
Thus when an integral contains:
 𝑥 2 − 𝑎2 use the substitution x = acoshθ
 𝑥 2 + 𝑎2 use the substitution x = asinhθ
 𝑎2 − 𝑥 2 use the substitution x = atanhθ

6
Solved Examples
1
1) Evaluate∫ 𝑑𝑥.
√𝑥 2 −25

Solution
Let 𝑥 = 5 cosh 𝜃 => 𝑑𝑥 = 5𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ𝜃𝑑𝜃
1 5𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ𝜃
∫ 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑑𝜃
√𝑥 2 − 25 √(5 cosh 𝜃 )2 − 25
5𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ𝜃 𝑥
=∫ 𝑑𝜃 = ∫ 𝑑𝜃 = 𝜃 + 𝐶 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ−1 + 𝐶
5√𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ2 𝜃 − 1 5
1
2) Evaluate∫ 𝑑𝑥.
4−9𝑥 2

Solution
1 1 1
∫ 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑑𝑥
4 − 9𝑥 2 9 2 2
( ) − 𝑥2
3

2 2 2
Since 𝑎 = , then 𝑥 = 𝑎𝑡𝑎𝑛ℎ 𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛ℎ𝜃 => 𝑑𝑥 = sech2 𝜃 𝑑𝜃
3 3 3
2
1 1 sech2 𝜃
∫ 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 3
2 𝑑𝜃
4 − 9𝑥 2 9 2 2 2
[( ) − ( 𝑡𝑎𝑛ℎ 𝜃) ]
3 3

1 sech2 𝜃 1 1 1 −1
3
= ∫ 𝑑𝜃 = ∫ 𝑑𝜃 = 𝜃 + 𝐶 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛ℎ 𝜃+𝐶
6 1 − 𝑡𝑎𝑛ℎ 2 𝜃 6 6 6 2
3) Evaluate∫ √𝑥 2 − 9𝑑𝑥.
Solution
Since 𝑥 = 𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ 𝜃 => 𝑑𝑥 = 3 sinh 𝜃 𝑑𝜃 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑎 = 3 .

∫ √𝑥 2 − 9𝑑𝑥 = ∫ √(3𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ 𝜃 ) 2 − 32. 3 sinh 𝜃 𝑑𝜃

7
 9
= ∫ 9 sinh2 𝜃 𝑑𝜃 = ∫ (cosh2 𝜃 − 1)𝑑𝜃
2
9 1
= ( sinh2 𝜃 − 𝜃) + 𝐶
2 2
9
= (sinh 𝜃𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ𝜃 − 𝜃 ) + 𝐶
2

9 x 𝑥 2
= ( √( ) − 1 − 𝜃) + 𝐶
2 3 3

x 9 x
= √𝑥 2 − 9 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ−1 + 𝐶
2 2 3
4) Evaluate the following integrals:
1
i). ∫ 𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ 2 𝑥𝑑𝑥
Solution
1 1
Let 𝑢 = 𝑥 => 𝑑𝑢 = 𝑑𝑥 => 𝑑𝑥 = 2𝑑𝑢
2 2
1
∫ 𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ 𝑥𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ𝑢. 2𝑢𝑑𝑢
2
1
= 2 ∫ 𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ𝑢𝑑𝑢 = 2𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ𝑢 + 𝐶 = 2𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ 𝑥 + 𝐶
2
ii). ∫ 𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ2𝑥𝑑𝑥
Solution
1
Let 𝑢 = 2𝑥 => 𝑑𝑢 = 2𝑑𝑥 => 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑑𝑢
2
1
∫ 𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ2𝑥𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ𝑢. 𝑑𝑢
2
1 1
= ∫ cosh 𝑢 𝑑𝑢 = sinh 𝑢 + 𝐶
2 2
1
= sinh 2𝑥 + 𝐶
2
iii). ∫ 𝑠𝑒𝑐ℎ2 (2𝑥 − 1)𝑑𝑥

8
 Solution
1
Let 𝑢 = 2𝑥 − 1 => 𝑑𝑢 = 2𝑑𝑥 => 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑑𝑢
2
1
∫ 𝑠𝑒𝑐ℎ2 (2𝑥 − 1)𝑑𝑥 = ∫ 𝑠𝑒𝑐ℎ2 𝑢. 𝑑𝑢
2
1 1
= ∫ 𝑠𝑒𝑐ℎ2 𝑢𝑑𝑢 = tanh 𝑢 + 𝐶
2 2
1
= tanh 𝑢(2𝑥 − 1) + 𝐶
2
1 1
= ∫ cosh 𝑢 𝑑𝑢 = sinh 𝑢 + 𝐶
2 2
1
= sinh 2𝑥 + 𝐶
2
iv). ∫ csch 3𝑥 coth 3𝑥 𝑑𝑥
Solution
1
Let 𝑢 = 3𝑥 => 𝑑𝑢 = 3𝑑𝑥 => 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑑𝑢
3
1
∫ csch 3𝑥 coth 3𝑥 𝑑𝑥 =∫ csch 𝑢 coth 𝑢 . 3 𝑑𝑢
1 1
= − csch 𝑢 + 𝐶 = − csch 3𝑥 + 𝐶
3 3
5) Evaluate the following integrals:
dx
i). ∫ √4𝑥 2 −9 dx

Solution
dx 𝑥
From the Tables: ∫ dx = cosh−1 +C.
√𝑥2 −𝑎2 𝑎
dx dx 1 dx
∫ √4𝑥 2 −9 dx=∫ 9
dx = ∫
2 2
dx
√4(𝑥 2 − ) √𝑥 2 −(3)
4 2

3 1 dx 1 2
In this example 𝑎 = . Thus ∫ 2
dx = cosh−1 𝑥 + 𝐶
2 2 √𝑥 2 −(3) 2 3
2

ii). ∫ √𝑥 2 + 4dx

9
 Solution
Let 𝑥 = 2𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ 𝑢 => 𝑑𝑥 = 2𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ𝑢𝑑𝑢 .

∫ √𝑥 2 + 4dx = ∫ √4𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ2 u + 4 .2𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ𝑢𝑑𝑢

= 2 ∫ √𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ2 u .2𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ𝑢𝑑𝑢

cosh2u + 1
= 4 ∫ 𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ2 u𝑑𝑢 = 4 ∫ 𝑑𝑢
2
1
=2 ∫(cosh2u + 1)𝑑𝑢 = 2 ( 𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ2𝑢 + 𝑢) + 𝐶 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ2𝑢 +
2

2𝑢 + 𝐶
= 2𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ𝑢𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ𝑢 + 2𝑢 + 𝐶 (1)

x 2
𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ2 u = 1 + sinh2 u => coshu = √1 + sinh2 u = √1 + ( )
2

√4 + x 2
=
2
So (1) becomes:

∫ √𝑥 2 + 4dx = 2𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ𝑢. 𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ𝑢 + 2𝑢 + 𝐶

𝑥 √4 + x 2 𝑥
= 2( ) + 2𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ −1 + 𝐶
2 2 2
1 𝑥
= 𝑥 √4 + x 2 + 2𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ −1 + 𝐶
2 2

Exercise
1. Evaluate the following integrals:
3
𝑎) ∫ sinh 3𝑥 dx b) ∫ coth 𝑥 dx 𝑐) ∫ sech2x tanh2xdx
2

10
 1 1
𝑑) ∫ cosh2 𝑥 dx e) ∫ cosh 𝑥 dx 𝑓) ∫ csch2 (1 + 3x) dx
2 4

2. Evaluate the following integrals:

1 1 1
𝑎) ∫ dx 𝑏) ∫ dx 𝑐) ∫ dx
√𝑥 2 − 25 16𝑥 2 − 9 √1 + 4𝑥 2

Answers
1 2 3 1
1. 𝑎) 𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ3𝑥 + 𝐶 b) In (𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ 𝑥) + 𝐶 c) − 𝑠𝑒𝑐ℎ2𝑥 + 𝐶
3 3 2 2
1 1 1
𝑑) ( 𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ𝑥 + 𝑥 ) + 𝐶 e) 4 𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ 𝑥 + 𝐶 c) − 𝑐𝑜𝑡ℎ(1 + 3𝑥 ) + 𝐶
2 4 3
𝑥 1 4 1
2. a) 𝑐𝑜𝑠ℎ−1 + 𝐶 𝑏) − 𝑐𝑜𝑡ℎ−1 𝑥 + 𝐶 𝑐) 𝑠𝑖𝑛ℎ −12𝑥 + 𝐶
5 12 3 2

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