1 Inverse Trigonometric Functions

1.1 Introduction

There are four types of relation between two sets in mathematics which are one-to-one, one-to-

many, many-to-one and many-to-many. A function is said to have an inverse if and only if the

function is a one-to-one relation.

1.1.1 Definition of Inverse Trigonometric Functions

Trigonometric functions are periodic functions. Hence, they are not one-to-one relation. More than

one element in the domain of a trigonometric function share an element in the range. Therefore, in

order for a trigonometric function to have an inverse, its domain needs to be restricted. The

following table shows the trigonometric functions and their restricted domains.

Table 2.1: Inverse trigonometric functions and their restricted domains

Function Restricted Domain Inverse Function Domain

 
sin x 
2
x
2
sin 1 x 1  x  1

cos x 0 x cos 1 x 1  x  1

 
tan x 
2
x
2
tan 1 x   x  

 1
sec x 0  x  , x  sec1 x  cos 1  x  1 or x  1
2  x

  1
csc x  x csc1 x  sin 1   x  1 or x  1
2 2  x

1
cot x 0 x cot 1 x  tan 1     x  
 x
The basic relation between a trigonometric function and its inverse can be written as such,

1
If sin θ  x , then θ  sin x .

1.1.2 Inverse Trigonometric Functions for Basic Angles

In learning trigonometry, we need to know the value of the various trigonometric functions for basic

angles such as 0,  ,  ,  ,  and  without using the calculator.

6 4 3 2

Triangle 1


It is easy to memorize that tan  1. We can represent this by a triangle below.
4


From the triangle, we can write the value of other trigonometric functions for , as well
4

as their inverses. For example,

 
tan 1  tan 1 1 
4 4

 1 1 
sin   sin 1 
4 2 2 4

 1 1 
cos   cos 1 
4 2 2 4
Triangle 2

 1
Just remember that sin  . We can represent this by the triangle
6 2

 1 1 
sin   sin 1 
6 2 2 6

 3 3 
cos   cos 1 
6 2 2 6

 1 1 
tan   tan 1 
6 3 3 6

 3 3 
sin   sin 1 
3 2 2 3

 1 1 
cos   cos 1 
3 2 2 3

 
tan  3  tan 1 3 
3 3

We can continue writing other trigonometric values for secant, cosecant and cotangent and their

inverses. The following are the basic relationships of inverse trigonometric functions.

 
1. sin 1 sin x   x if  x
2 2

 
2. sin sin 1 x  x if 1  x  1
3. cos 1 cos x   x if 0 x

 
4. cos cos 1 x  x if 1  x  1

 
5. tan 1 tan x   x if  x
2 2


6. tan tan1 x  x  if    x  

The algebraic proof of two such relationship are as follows.

 
For sin sin 1 x  x , For sin 1 sin x   x ,

Let sin 1 sin x   y

1
Let sin x  θ

sin θ  x  sin y  sin x

 
sin sin 1 x  sin θ  x y  x


Thus, sin sin 1 x  x   Thus, sin 1 sin x   x 

1.2 Evaluating Inverse Trigonometric Functions

Below are some examples and solutions of simplifying expression involving trigonometric

expression using trigonometric functions of basic angles.

Example 2.1

4
Without using a calculator, evaluate sin 1  cos  .
 3 
Solution

 4   
sin 1  cos   sin 1   cos 
 3   3

 
 sin 1   sin 
 6

   
 sin 1  sin    
  6 


6

Exercise 2.1

Without using a calculator, evaluate

5
1. sin 1  cos  
2. cos 1 sin 190 
 6 

Answers

1.  

2. 100
3

Example 2.2

Simplify sin  2 cos 1  .

x
 3
Solution

Let A  cos 1 x  cos A 

x
3 3

 x
sin  2 cos 1   sin 2 A
 3
 2 sin A cos A

 9  x2  x 
 2  
 3  3 
 

2x 9  x2

9

Example 2.3

Simplify cos  sin 1 x  cos 1  .

1
 2

Solution

1 1
Let A  sin 1 x  sin A  x and B  cos 1  cos B 
2 2
  1
cos  sin 1 x  cos 1   cos  A  B 
 2
 cos A cos B  sin A sin B

 1  x2  1   x  3 
      
 1  2   1  2 
 

1  x2 x 3
 
2 2

1  x2  x 3

2

Exercise 2.2

Simplify the following expressions.

1. cos sin 1 2 x  2. 2 sin csc1 x 

3. cos  sin 1  tan 1 

3 4 
 
4. cos  2 tan 1 2 x  
 5 3  2

x  1   2x
5. Show that cos  2 tan 1  by using a right triangle.
 x 1  x2  1

Answers

2
1. 1  4x2 2.
x

4x
3. 0 4.
1  4x2
1.3 Differentiation of Inverse Trigonometric Functions

If u is a differentiable function of x , then

1.
d

sin 1 u   1 du
2.
d
 
cos 1 u 
 1 du
dx 1  u dx
2 dx 1  u 2 dx

3.
d
dx

tan 1 u   1 du
1  u 2 dx
4.
d
dx
 
cot 1 u 
 1 du
1  u 2 dx

5.
d

sec1 u  1 du
6.
d
 
csc1 u 
1 du
dx u u 2  1 dx dx u u 2  1 dx

Example 2.4

Differentiate the following functions.

(a) y  sin 1 4 x (b) y  csc1 e2 x

(c) y  2 x tan1 x (d) y  cos 1 4 x

Solution

du
(a) Let u  4 x , then 4
dx

dy d
 
sin 1 4 x  1 du

1
4 
4
dx dx 1  u 2 dx 1  4 x  1  16 x 2
2

du
(b) Let u  e , then
2x
 2e 2 x
dx

dy d
 
csc1 e 2 x   1 du

1
2e  
2x 2
dx dx u u 2  1 dx e 2 x e   1
2x 2 e4 x  1
(c) Let u  2 x and v  tan1 x

d
dx

2 x tan 1 x  2 x 
d
dxdx

tan 1 x  tan 1 x 2 x 
d

 
product rule

 1 du 
 2 x   tan x 2
1
 
 1  u dx 
2

 1
 2 x 1  2 tan 1 x
1 x 
2

2x
  2 tan 1 x
1 x 2

(d)
dy d

dx dx

cos 1 4 x
12



1
2

cos 1 4 x
1 2 d

dx

cos 1 4 x  
 

1

cos 1 4 x
1 2 


1 4 

 1  4 x 
2 2

2

cos 1

4 x 1  16 x 2 

Exercise 2.3

dy
Find for the following equations.
dx

1. y  sin 1 2 x  1 
2. y  tan 1 x 2 
4

3. y  cos 1 sin x 
x
4. tan 1  2 x  3xy
y
Answers

1.
1
2.

8 x tan 1 x 2 
3

 x2  x 1  x4

3. 
cos x  
y  2 x2  y 2  3 y x2  y 2  
1  sin 2 x
4.

3x x 2  y 2  x 

1.4 Integrals Leading to Inverse Trigonometric Functions

If u is a differentiable function, and a is a constant where a  0 , then


1 u
1. du  sin 1 C
a2  u2 a

a
1 1 u
2. du  tan 1  C
2
u 2
a a

u
1 1 u
3. du  sec 1  C
u2  a2 a a

Example 2.5

Evaluate the following integrals.

6
 
1
(a) dx (b) dx
9  4x2 4  3x 2

 
1 1
(c) dx (d) dx
x 2
 x  3x  2
2
0 1
2
Solution

(a) Let

u 2  4x 2 a2  9

u  4x2  2x a 9 3

du du
 2  dx 
dx 2

 
1 1
 dx  dx
9  4x2 32  2 x 2


1 du

a2  u2 2


1 1
 du
2 a2  u2
1 1 u
 sin C
2 a
1 1 2 x
 sin C
2 3

(b) Let

u 2  3x 2 a2  4

u  3x 2  3 x a 4 2

du du
 3  dx 
dx 3

6
  2   3x dx
1
 dx   6
4  3x 2 2 2
 
1 du
 6
a u 3
2 2

6

1
 du
3 a  u2
2

6 1 u
 tan 1  C
3a a

6 1 3x
 tan 1 C
32 2

3 3x
 tan 1 C
3 2

(c) Let

x2
u2  a2  1
2

x2 x a 1
u 
2 2

du 1
  dx  2 du
dx 2

 
1 2
dx  du
x2 a2  u2
1
2


1
 2 du
a2  u2

 u
 2  sin 1   C
 a
x
 2 sin 1 C
2

1 x 1
 x      2

1 1
 dx   2 sin 1   2  sin 1  sin 1 0   2   0  
x 2
 2  x 0  2  4  4
0 1
2
(d) Completing the square for the denominator.


 x 2  3x  2   x 2  3x  2 
 2
 3  3
2 
   x 2  3x          2 
  2  2 
 

 3  1  1 
2
3
2

  x     x 
 2  4  4  2
 

 
1 1
 dx  dx
 x 2  3x  2 1  3
2
x  
4  2

Then, let

2
 3 1
u2   x   a2 
 2 4

2
 3 3 1 1
u  x   x a 
 2 2 4 2

du
 1  dx  du
dx

 
1 1
dx  du
1  3
2
a  u2
2
x  
4  2

u
 sin 1 C
a
 x3 2
 sin 1    C
 1 2 

 sin 1 2 x  3
Exercise 2.4

Evaluate the following integrals.

x
1

1
1. dx 2. dx
4x  9
2
4x  9
2

8x  1
x 
x
3. dx 4. dx
2
 x 1 1  4x2

Answers

1 1 2 x 1 1 2 x
1. tan C 2. sec C
6 3 3 3

1 1  2x  1  1
3. ln x 2  x  1  tan1 C 4.  2 1  4 x 2  sin 1 2 x  C
2 3  3  2

Miscellaneous

Without using a calculator, evaluate


1. sin 1 cos 387  2. sin 1 cos 4


3. cos 1 sin 35  1  3 
4. cos  sin 
 5

Simplify the following expressions.


5. cos 2 sin 1 2 x  
6. cos   tan 1
x 

x 1
4


7. cot  sin 1
1 3
 cos 1  
8. sin 2 sec1 x 
 5 5
 dy
Find for the following equations.
dx

9. y  tan1 x 2  1 10. y  cot 1 x 2

11. y  sin 1 2 x  3
12. y  cos 1 4 x  3

13. y  tan1 2 x 14. y  ln sin 1 x

15. y  ln cos 1 x 16. y  sin 1 e x

17. y  sin 1 cos x  18. y  ln sin 1 e x

19. y  sec1 2 x 20. y  csc1 x

21. 2 x  tan1 y 22. 2 y  x  x sin 1 x

1
23. y  tan 1 24. sin 1 y  xy  3
x

Evaluate the following integrals.

 
1 1
25. dx 26. dx
5  2x2 4  7 x2

2x  5 2x  3
27.
 x  4x  5
2
dx 28.
 x2  1
dx

2 x 2x  1
29.
 4  2x  x2
dx 30.
 1  x2
dx

1 2 1
x3
 
x
31. dx 32. dx
1  x4 1  x8
0 0
Answers


1. 63° 2.
2


3. 55° 4.
10

1
5. 1  8 x
2

 
6.
2 2x  2x 1
2

2 2 x2 1
7. 8.
11 x2

x  2x
x 
9. 10.
2
 2 x 1 2 1  x4

11.

6 sin 1 2 x  2

12.
2
1  4x2  4x2  6x  2

1 1
1  4x 
13. 14.
1 1
2
tan 2 x sin x 1  x 2

1 ex
15. 16.
cos 1 x 1  x 2 1  e2 x

 sin x ex
17. 18.
1  cos 2 x sin 1 e x 1  e2 x

1 1
19. 20.
x 4x2 1 x x2  1

x
 sin 1 x  1
21. 2  2 y 2 22. 1 x 2

1 y
23. 24.
x 12 1
x
1 y2
 1 10 x 1 7x
25. sin 1 C 26. sin 1 C
2 5 7 2

27. ln x 2  4 x  5  9 tan1 x  2  C 28. ln x 2  1  3 tan1 x  C

 x 1
29. sin 1   5  x  1  C 30. sin 1 x  2 1  x 2  C
2

 5 

 
31. 32.
12 16