Lecture 6 : Inverse Trigonometric Functions

Inverse Sine Function (arcsin x = sin1 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 2 x 2
f (x) =
undefined otherwise

We have Domain(f) = [ 2 , 2 ] and Range(f) = [1, 1].

y= sin x y= fHxL
1.0 1.0

0.5 0.5
H6, 12L H56, 12L

- - - -
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, 2L
1.5

1.0
H2, 1L

0.5

- -
2 4 4 2

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

-1.5

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

f 1 (x) = sin1 x or arcsin x.

Properties of sin1 x.
Domain(sin1 ) = [1, 1] and Range(sin1 ) = [ 2 , 2 ].

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

1

sin1 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:
 
sin(sin1 (x)) = x for x [1, 1] sin1 (sin(x)) = x for x , .
2 2

from the graph: sin1 x is an odd function and sin1 (x) = sin1 x.
 
Example Evaluate sin1
1
2
using the graph above.

Example Evaluate sin1 ( 3/2), sin1 ( 3/2),

Example Evaluate sin1 (sin ).

Example Evaluate cos(sin1 ( 3/2)).

Example Give a formula in terms of x for tan(sin1 (x))

Derivative of sin1 x.

d 1
sin1 x = , 1 x 1.
dx 1 x2
dy
Proof We have sin1 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
sin1 x = .
dx 1 x2

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

d k 0 (x)
sin1 (k(x)) = p , x Dom(k) and 1 k(x) 1.
dx 1 (k(x))2

Example Find the derivative

d
sin1 cos x
dx
.

Inverse Cosine Function We can define the function cos1 x = arccos(x) similarly. The details
are given at the end of this lecture.
Domain(cos1 ) = [1, 1] and Range(cos1 ) = [0, ].

cos1 x = y if and only if cos(y) = x and 0 y .

cos(cos1 (x)) = x for x [1, 1] cos1 (cos(x)) = x for x 0, .

 

It is shown at the end of the lecture that

d d 1
cos1 x = sin1 x =
dx dx 1 x2
and one can use this to prove that

sin1 x + cos1 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 2 < x < 2
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

h1 (x) = tan1 x or arctan x.

3
 y= hHxL

H4, 1L

- -
2 4 4 2
y= arctanHxL

2
-2

4 H1, 4L

-4
-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5

-
4
-6

-
2

Properties of tan1 x.
Domain(tan1 ) = (, ) and Range(tan1 ) = ( 2 , 2 ).

Since h1 (x) = y if and only if h(y) = x, we have:

tan1 x = y if and only if tan(y) = x and <y< .
2 2
Since h(h1 (x)) = x and h1 (h(x)) = x, we have:
 
tan(tan1 (x)) = x for x (, ) tan1 (tan(x)) = x for x , .
2 2

Frpm the graph, we have: tan1 (x) = tan1 (x).

Also, since lim tan x = and lim tan x = ,
x( 2 ) x( 2 + )

we have lim tan1 x = and lim tan1 x =
x 2 x 2

Example Find tan1 (1) and tan1 ( 13 ).

Example Find cos(tan1 ( 13 )).

Derivative of tan1 x.

d 1
tan1 x = 2 , < x < .
dx x +1

4
 dy
Proof We have tan1 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 (tan1 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 tan1 (ln x)

Domain = (0, )
1
d 1
tan1 (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 = sin1 x + C, dx = tan1 x + C,
1x 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 = sin1 u + C = sin1 + 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 = tan1 u|10 = [tan1 (1) tan1 (0)]
0 1 + 4x 2 0 1+u 2 2
1
[ 0] = .
2 4 8

5
 Extra Examples
Example Find a formula in terms of x for cos(tan1 x).

1 + x2
x
x

1 tan-1x = = tan x

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

Example
Z 1
2 x
dx
0 1 x4
du
2
Let u = x . Then du = 2xdx and 2
= xdx. u(0) = 0 and u( 12 ) = 12 . We get
Z 1
Z 1
2 x 1 2 du 1 1
dx = = sin1 (u)|02
0 1 x4 2 0 1 u2 2
1 1
= [sin1 (1/2) sin1 (0)] = [/6 0] = /12
2 2
Example Z
1
dx
x(1 + (ln x)2 )
Let u = ln x, then du = dx/x and
Z Z
1 1
2
dx = 2
du = tan1 u + C = tan1 (ln x) + C
x(1 + (ln x) ) (1 + (u) )

Example Find the domain and derivative of h(x) = sin1 (x2 1)

The domain of this function is all values of x for which x2 1 is in the domain of sin1 which is
{x| 1 x 1}. Therefore the
domain of
h = {xsuch that 1 x2 1 1}. Now 1 x2 1 1
2
is the same as 0 x 2, or 2 x 2. Therefore the domain of h is the interval 2 x 2.
d 1 2x
sin1 (x2 1) = p 2x = p .
dx 1 (x2 1)2 1 (x2 1)2

6
7
 4

The restricted cosine function is given by

cos x 0x
3
g(x) =
undefined otherwise

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

2

3! ! ! ! ! 3! 2! 5!

2 2 2 2 2

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) = cos1 x or arccos x
3

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

4 2 2 4

8
!

 Domain(cos1 ) = [1, 1] and Range(cos1 ) = [0, ].
Recall from the definition of inverse functions:

g 1 (x) = y if and only if g(y) = x.

cos1 x = y if and only if cos(y) = x and 0 y .

g(g 1 (x)) = x g 1 (g(x)) = x

cos(cos1 (x)) = x for x [1, 1] cos1 (cos(x)) = x for x 0, .

 

Note from the graph that cos1 (x) = cos1 (x) .

cos1 ( 3/2) = and cos1 ( 3/2) =
You can use either chart below to find the correct angle between 0 and .:

tan(cos1 ( 3/2)) =
tan(cos1 (x)) =
Must draw a triangle with correct proportions:

1
1-x2

cos = x cos-1x =

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

9
 d 1
cos1 x = , 1 x 1.
dx 1 x2
dy
Proof We have cos1 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
cos1 x = .
dx 1 x2

Note that d
dx
cos1 x = dx
d
sin1 x. In fact we can use this to prove that sin1 x + cos1 x = .
2

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

d k 0 (x)
cos1 (k(x)) = p , x Dom(k) and 1 k(x) 1.
dx 1 (k(x))2

Example Find the domain and derivative of cos1(x2 1)

Domain: 1 x2 1 1 or 0 x2 2 or 2 x 2.
Using the formula above with k(x) = x2 1, we get

d 2x
cos1 (x2 1) = p
dx 1 (x2 1)2

Example
cos1 x
Z
dx
1 x2

Let u = cos1 x, du = 1 or dx = 1 x2 du. We get
1x2 dx

cos1 x u2 (cos1 x)2

Z Z
dx = udu = +C = +C
1 x2 2 2

10