143

Module 4 – DERIVATIVES OF THE TRANSCENDENTAL FUNCTIONS

In this module, you will learn how to find the derivative of four transcendental functions: the inverse
trigonometric functions, logarithmic functions, exponential functions, and the hyperbolic functions.

Learning Outcomes
1. Evaluate derivatives of the transcendental functions.
2. Solve problems using transcendental functions.

Lesson 1: Inverse Trigonometric Functions

The three most common inverse trigonometric functions are the following:
y  sin 1 x ↔ sin 𝑦 = 𝑥 or y  Arc sin x
y  cos 1 x ↔ cos 𝑦 = 𝑥 or y  Arc cos x
y  tan 1 x ↔ tan 𝑦 = 𝑥 or y  Arc tan x

Derivatives of the inverse trigonometric functions:

1. y  sin 1 x ; sin 𝑦 = 𝑥 where: −1 < 𝑥 < 1
d d
(sin y )  ( x)
dx dx
dy
cos y 1 differentiate with respect to x (implicit function)
dx
dy 1
 divide by cos y
dx cos y
dy 1
 cos 𝑦 = √1 − sin2 𝑦
dx 1  sin 2 y
dy 1
 sin 𝑦 = 𝑥
dx 1 x2
d 1 du
From the chain rule, Arc sin u  , u 1
dx 1 u 2 dx

2. y  cos 1 x ; cos 𝑦 = 𝑥 where: −1 < 𝑥 < 1

d d
(cos y)  ( x)
dx dx
dy
 sin y 1 differentiate with respect to x (implicit function)
dx
dy 1
 divide by –sin y
dx sin y
dy 1
 sin 𝑦 = √1 − cos 2 𝑦
dx 1  cos 2 y
dy 1
 cos 𝑦 = 𝑥
dx 1 x2
d 1 du
From the chain rule, Arc cos u   , u 1
dx 1  u dx
2

Differential Calculus | 1st sem 2020-2021

 144

3. y  tan 1 x ; tan 𝑦 = 𝑥
d d
(tan y )  ( x)
dx dx
dy
sec 2 y 1 differentiate with respect to x (implicit function)
dx
dy 1
 divide by sec 2 𝑦
dx sec 2 y
dy 1
 sec 2 𝑦 = 1 + tan2 𝑦
dx 1  tan 2 y
dy 1
 tan 𝑦 = 𝑥
dx 1  x 2
d 1 du
From the chain rule, Arc tan u 
dx 1  u 2 dx
4. y  sec 1 x ; sec 𝑦 = 𝑥
d d
(sec y)  ( x)
dx dx
dy
sec y tan y 1 differentiate with respect to x (implicit function)
dx
dy 1
 divide by sec 𝑦 tan 𝑦
dx sec y tan y
dy 1
 tan 𝑦 = ±√sec 2 𝑦 − 1
dx sec y sec 2 y  1
dy 1
 sec 𝑦 = 𝑥
dx x x2 1
d 1 du
From the chain rule, Arc sec u  , u 1
dx u u  1 dx
2

5. y  csc 1 x ; csc 𝑦 = 𝑥
d d
(csc y)  ( x)
dx dx
dy
 csc y cot y 1 differentiate with respect to x (implicit function)
dx
dy 1
 divide by −csc 𝑦 cot 𝑦
dx csc y cot y
dy 1
 cot 𝑦 = ±√csc 2 𝑦 − 1
dx  csc y csc 2 y  1
dy 1
 csc 𝑦 = 𝑥
dx  x x2 1
d 1 du
From the chain rule, Arc csc u   , u 1
dx u u  1 dx
2

6. y  cot 1 x ; cot 𝑦 = 𝑥
d d
(cot y )  ( x)
dx dx
dy
 csc 2 y 1 differentiate with respect to x (implicit function)
dx

Differential Calculus | 1st sem 2020-2021

 145

dy 1
 divide by −csc 2 𝑦
dx csc 2 y
dy 1
 csc 2 𝑦 = 1 + cot 2 𝑦
dx 1  cot 2 y
dy 1
 cot 𝑦 = 𝑥
dx 1 x2
d 1 du
From the chain rule, Arc cot u  
dx 1  u 2 dx

4. y  Arc cos  
1
1. y  Arc sin 1  t 
dy 1  x
  1 1  1
dt 1  1  t  y    2
2

1  x 
2
dy 1 1  
  x
dt 1  1  2t  t 2
1  1
dy 1 y    2
 x 1  x 
2
dt 2t  t 2
x2
2. y  Arc cot t  1 1  1 
y    2
1 x2 1  x 
dy 1  12 
  2 t  1 
dt 
1  t 1
2
  
x
x  1 
dy 1  1  y    2
 x 1  x 
2
dt 1  t  1  2 t  1 
1
dy 1 y 
 x x2 1
dt 2t t  1

3. y  Arc sec 2 x  1 5. y  xArc sin x  1  x 2

y 
1
2 y  x
1
 Arc sin x 
1
2
1 x2 
 12
 2 x 
1 x2
2 x  1 2 x  12  1
1 x
2 y  x  Arc sin x 
y  1 x 2
1 x2
2 x  1 4 x 2  4 x  1  1 
y  Arc sin x
2
y 
2 x  12 x 2  x
1
y 
2 x  1 x2  x

Differential Calculus | 1st sem 2020-2021

 146

6. y  Arc tan x 2  1  Arc csc x, x  1 7. y  xArc sin x  x  1

 
1
1 1 2  1
x  1 2 2 x   1 2
1
y  2  x
2
1   x 2  1    x x2 1 1 1
y  x 2  Arc sin x  x  1 2

  1 x 2
1  x  1 1
y   
2  
1  x 1 x 1  x x2 1 x2 1
2
y   Arc sin x  1
2 1 x 2x  1 2
1  x  1
y  2  
 
x  x 1  x x2 1
2 x 1
y   Arc sin x 
1 1 2 1 x 2 x 1
y   ; 𝑦′ = 0
2 2
x x 1 x x 1
1 x
8. y  Arc tan
 2x 1  1 x
7. y  tan 1   dy 1 1  x  1  1  x 1
 2x  
1  2 x(2)  (2 x  1)(2) 
dx 1 x 
2
1  x 2
y  1  
2   1 x 
 2x 1   ( 2 x) 2 
1   dy 1 1  x 1 x
 2x  
1  4x  4x  2 
dx
1
1  x  1  x 2
2

y  2   1  x 2
(2 x  1)  4x 2 
1 2 dy 1  x  2
2
( 2 x) 
dx 1  x   1  x  1  x 2
2 2
4x 2  2 
y     21  x 
2
2 2
4x  4x  4x  1  4x 2  dy

y  2
2 
dx 1  2 x  x  1  2 x  x 2 1  x 2
2

8x  4 x  1 dy 2

dx 2  2 x 2
8. y  sin 1 (1  x 2 ) dy 1

dx 1 x2
 
1
y  sin 1 (1  x 2 ) 2

 
1
1   2x 9. y  xArc sin x  1  x 2
y  sin 1 (1  x 2 ) 2
2 1  (1  x 2 ) 2
 
1
y  xArc sin x  1  x 2 2
x
y 
 
1
1 1
y  x  Arc sin x  1 x2

 2 x 
sin 
1 2
1
(1  x 2 ) 2 1 1  2x 2  x 4 1 x2 2
x x x
y  y   Arc sin x 

sin 1 1  x 2  2x 2  x 4 1 x 2 1
1  x2 2  
x
y   x x
2 x 2

 x 4 sin 1 1  x 2  y 
1 x 2
 Arc sin x 
1 x2
Arc sin x y   Arc sin x
9. y 
x
1
x  Arc sin x1
y  1 x2
x2
x  1  x 2 Arc sin x
y 
x2 1 x2

Differential Calculus | 1st sem 2020-2021

 147

10. What value of x maximizes the angle θ shown here? How large is θ at that point?

α β

x 2–x

Solution:
1
tan   ; cot   x ;   Arc cot x
x
1
tan   ; cot   2  x ;   Arc cot 2  x 
2 x
  180        180     
  180   Arc cot x  Arc cot 2  x 
d  1   1  1 1
    
2  

2 

 1  x   1  2  x   1  x
2
dx 1  4  4x  x 2
1 1
0 2

1 x 5  4x  x 2
5  4x  x 2  1  x 2
4x  4 ; x=1
  180   Arc cot 1  Arc cot 2  1
  180   45   45   90

11. A car drives south at 20 mph. Another car starting from the same point at the same time and traveling
40 mph goes east for 30 minutes then turns north. Find the rate of rotation of the line joining the two cars
1 hour after the start.
Solution:
B C
Let x = 20t = distance travelled by car A
y = 40t = distance travelled by car B
y – 20 = 40t – 20 t = time of travel
20 mi θ = angle of rotation of searchlight
Given: Req’d:
d
Figure as drawn
dt
x = 20t θ
BC 20 20
In triangle ABC: tan    
AB 20t  40t  20 60t  20
A 1 1
tan   ;   Arc tan
3t  1 3t  1
  Arc cot 3t  1

Differential Calculus | 1st sem 2020-2021

 148

d 1 3
 (3)  
1  3t  1 1  3t  1
2 2
dt
d 3 3
when t = 1 hr,  
1  3(1)  1
2
dt 1  22
d 3
   0.6 rad/hr
dt 5

12. The lower edge of a picture is 4 ft, the upper edge 9 ft above the eye of an observer. At what horizontal
distance should he stand if the vertical angle subtended by the picture is to be greatest?

9 ft

4 ft β θ
α
line of sight
x

9 9
Solution:     ; ;   Arc tan
tan  
x x
4 4
tan   ;   Arc tan
x x
9 4
  Arc tan  Arc tan
x x
d 1  9  1  4 
 2 
 2  2 
 2
dx 9  x  4  x 
1   1  
 x  x
d x2  9  x2  4 
 2 2 
 2  2  
dx x  9  x  x  4 2  x 2 
d 9 4
 2 2
 2
dx x 9 x  42
9 4
0 2
 2
x  81 x  16
  
9 x 2  16  4 x 2  81 
9 x 2  4 x 2  4(81)  (9)(16 )
5 x 2  180 ; x 2  36 ; x = 6 ft

Differential Calculus | 1st sem 2020-2021

 149

Find the derivative of y with respect to x.

1
1. y  Arc cos
x
2. y  Arc sin 1  x 
3. y  Arc cot x  1
4. y  x tan 1 x
5. y  tan 1 x 2  1  csc 1 x , where x > 1
6. y  Arc tan cos x 
 x
7. y  x a 2  x 2  a 2 sin 1   , where a > 0
a
 ax
8. y  tan 1  
 1  ax 
x
9. Find the equation of the tangent line to the graph of y  Arc sin at the origin. 3y = x
3
10. A ladder that is 13 feet long leans against a wall. The bottom of the ladder is sliding away from the
base of the wall at the rate of 5 ft/sec. How fast is the radian measure of the angle between the ladder
and the ground changing at the moment when the bottom of the ladder is 12 feet from the base of the
wall? -1 rad/s

11. You are under contract to build a solar station at ground level on the east-west line between the two
buildings shown here. How far from the taller building should you place the station to maximize the
number of hours it will be in the sun on a day when the sun passes directly overhead?

References:

1. Leithold, Louis. The Calculus 7. Singapore: Pearson Education Asia Pte. Ltd., 2002.
2. https://www.whitman.edu/mathematics/calculus/calculus_04_Transcendental_Functions.pdf
3. http://ced.ceng.tu.edu.iq/images/lectures/%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%B6%D8%B1%D8%A7
%D8%AA_%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA_-
_%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84%D9%89/CHAPTER_7.pdf
4. http://www.kashaninejad.com/uploads/4/6/7/6/46761445/thomas_transcendental_functions.pdf
5. http://downloads.cambridge.edu.au/education/extra/209/PageProofs/MMCAS%203and4%20on-
line/1st%20pages%203and4%20CAS/Chapter%2011.pdf

Differential Calculus | 1st sem 2020-2021