avte.

in RELATIONS FUNCTIONS AND INVERSE TRIGONOMETRY

INVERSE - TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

INVERSE TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTION
If sin = x, then  = sin-1x (read as sine inverse x). Thus, we see that “sin-1x” is a symbol which denotes an
angle or a number, the value of whose sine, is x. Similarly, “cos-1x” denotes an angle - whose cosine is x

.
 3   3
and so on. Thus, sin =  = sin-1  
3 2 3  2 

.E g
The expressions sin-1x, cos-1x, tan-1x are called inverse trigonometric functions.


y

. T
.V BSE C o a ch i n
y

y

A
 


-1 0 1
x

r i n C -1 0 1
x
0
x

a d e
y = sin-1x

Le y = cos-1x


y = tan-1x





y y y





.



.E g
x
 -1 0 -1 0 1 x
1

T


.
-

0 x

.V BSE C
 -

y = cot-1x y = sec-1x
ch i n y = cosec-1x

o a
POINTS TO REMEMBER
1.
2.

3.

4.
A
Lea d1
sin-1x  (sinx)-1 but (sinx)-1 =
e
sin x
r.
i n C
Sometimes “arc sin x” is also used for sin-1x.
Trigonometric functions are multivalued but for inverse trigonometry we stick to principal values.

First(1st) quadrant is common to all & third(3rd) quadrant is not used in the inverse functions.

5. Fourth(4th) quadrant is used in the clockwise direction i.e., –  y  0.
2

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AVTE 14
avte.in RELATIONS FUNCTIONS AND INVERSE TRIGONOMETRY

Ratio Domain Range

 
(i) y = sin-1x -1  x  1 -  y
2 2
(ii) y = cos-1x -1  x  1 0y
 

.
(iii) y = tan-1x  - < y <
2 2

.E g
(iv) y = cot-1x  0<y<

(v) y = sec-1x

. T
.V BSE C o a ch
(-  , - 1)  (1,  )

i n
0y

2

2   Note that y  
 y  


2

(vi)
Ay = cosec-1 x

Lea d e r i n C
Relations and Properties of Inverse Circular Functions :
(-  , - 1)  (1,  )


2
 y  0

0y



 Note that y  0
2 

 
1. sin-1(sin) = , -  2. sin(sin-1x) = x, -1  x 1
2 2
-1
3. cos (cos) = , 0  4. cos(cos-1x) = x, -1  x  1
 
5. tan-1(tan) = , - << 6. tan(tan-1x) = x, x 
2 2

.
-1 -1
7. sin (-x) = -sin x, -1  x 1 8. cos-1(-x) =  - cos-1x, -1  x 1

.E g

9. tan-1(-x) = -tan-1x, x 10. sin-1x + cos-1x = , -1  x 1
2

T
 

.
11. tan-1x + cot-1x = , x 12. sec-1x + cosec-1x = , x  -1 or x  1
2 2

.V BSE C n
1 1
13. cosec-1x = sin-1
x
, x  -1 or x  1

a ch i 14. sec-1x = cos-1

x
, x  -1 or x  1

o
A
1 xy
15. cot-1x = tan-1 ,x>0 16. tan-1x - tan-1y = tan-1 , xy > -1
x 1  xy

17.
r
tan-1 x + tan-1y = (i) tan-1
i n C
xy
, x > 0, y > 0, 1 - xy > 0 (ii)  + tan-1
xy
, x > 0, y > 0, 1 - xy < 0

d e 1  xy 1  xy

18. Lea
2tan x = (i) sin 
-1 2x 
-1
 1  x 2 
, (|x| < 1)
 1  x2 
(ii) cos -1
 , (x > 0)
 1  x2 
 2x 
(iii) tan-1   , (|x|< 1)
 1  x2 

19. sin-1x + sin-1y = sin-1(x 1 - y 2 + y 1 - x2 ), x  0, y  0, x2 + y2  1

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AVTE 15
avte.in RELATIONS FUNCTIONS AND INVERSE TRIGONOMETRY

20. sin-1x - sin-1y = sin-1(x 1 - y 2 - y 1 - x2 ), x  0, y  0, x2 + y2  1

21. cos-1x + cos-1y = cos-1 (xy -  1 - x  1  y  ), x  0, y  0, x

2 2 2
+ y2  1

22. cos-1x - cos-1y = cos-1 (xy +  1 - x  1  y  ), x  0, y  0, x

2 2 2
+ y2  1

23.  tan-1x + tan-1y + tan-1z = tan-1 

 p1  p 3 
 1  p2 
 , where p1 = x , p 2

.
.E g
=  xy , p 3
= xyz

. T
EXAMPLES

.V BSE C
 7 
1. Find the value of cos-1  cos  .
 6 
ch i n
o a
A
 7  7 7
Sol. cos-1  cos   ( does not lie in the principle value branch of cos-1x)
 6  6 6


r i n
7 C 
Hence, cos-1  cos  = cos-1  
3
 =  - cos
-1
3
=-

=
5

d
e 6   2  2 6 6

or Lea 

7 
6 



cos-1  cos  = cos-1 cos  2  

7  
  = 2 -
6 
7
6
=
5
6

  1  1 
2. Find the value of tan  cos 1    tan 1    .
  2  3  

 1  1           1
Sol. tan  cos 1    tan 1     = tan  3    6   = tan    = tan = 3

.
 2  3    3 6 6

.E g
Questions:

T
Find the principle value in each case : (1 to 3)

.
   3  1
1. sin-1  sin  2. tan-1  tan  3. tan  2 tan 1 

.V BSE C
 3  4   5

ch i n
o a
A
EXAMPLE
3
Prove that : tan-12 + tan-1 3 =

r i
4

n C xy

d e
Sol. xy = (2) (3) = 6 > 1 and we know that tan 1 x  tan 1 y   + tan-1 , x > 0, y > 0, 1 - xy < 0

Lea
1  xy
 23   5   3
  + tan-1  1  (2)(3)  =  + tan-1  5  =  + tan-1(-1) =  - = .
  4 4

Not in CBSE
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AVTE 16
avte.in RELATIONS FUNCTIONS AND INVERSE TRIGONOMETRY

Questions:
Show that (4 to 29)

1 1 2 1 1 
4. tan-1 + tan-1 = tan-1 5. 2 tan-1 + tan-1 =
7 13 9 3 7 4

6. tan-1
1
4
2 1
+ tan-1 = cos-1
9 2
3
5
7.
 5

.
.E g
4 2
tan  cos -1 + tan -1  =
3
17
6

. T
3 8 77 4 3 27
8. sin-1 + sin-1 = sin-1 9. cos-1 + tan-1 = tan-1
5 17 85 5 5 11

.V BSE C h i n
4 12 33
10. cos-1 + cos-1 = cos-1
o a c 11. sec2(tan-12) + cosec2(cot-13) = 15

A
5 13 65

1 1  3 5 33
12. tan-1 + tan-1 = 13. cos  sin -1 + sin -1  =
2 3 4

r i n C  5 13  65

d e 1 1 1 1

Lea
14. tan-12 - tan-11 = tan-1 15. tan-1 + tan-1 = tan-1
3 8 5 3

4 1 
16. sin-1 + 2 tan-1 = 17. tan-1(x) + cot-1(x + 1) = tan-1(x2+ x + 1)
5 3 2

12 4 63 2  12 
18. sin-1 + cos-1 + tan-1 = 19. 2 tan-1   = tan-1  
13 5 16 3  5 

.
 ab  1   bc  1   ca  1 
20. cot-1   + cot-1   + cot-1   = 0 21. sin  cot 1 tan(cos 1 x) = x
 ab   bc   c a 

22. sin  cot 1  cos(tan 1 x)  =

1  x2

. T
2  x2
23. cot-1 

.E g
 1  sin x  1  sin x   x 
= - ,
 1  sin x  1  sin x  2 2 2
<x<

.V BSE C n
y
24. If cos-1
x
2
+ cos-1
3
h i
= , prove that 9x2 - 12xy cos + 4y2 = 36 sin2.

a c
o
25.

26.

27.
If cos
x
a
-1
+ cos-1
y
b

A
Lea d e r i n
x2
= , prove that 2 -
a
C
2xy
ab
y2
cos  + 2 = sin2.
b
If tan-1(x) + tan-1(y) + tan-1(z) = , prove that x + y + z = x y z.

If sin-1(x) + sin-1(y) + sin-1(z) = , prove that x 1  x 2 + y 1  y2 + z 1  z 2 = 2xyz.


28. If tan-1(x) + tan-1 (y) + tan-1 (z) = , prove that xy + yz + zx = 1.
2
29. If cos-1(x) + cos-1(y) + cos-1(z) = , prove that x2 + y2 + z2 + 2xyz = 1.
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AVTE 17
avte.in RELATIONS FUNCTIONS AND INVERSE TRIGONOMETRY

EXAMPLE
 cos x  sin x  
Simplify : tan-1  , 0 < x <
 cos x  sin x  4

 cos x  sin x  
Sol. tan-1   , 0 < x < dividing numerator and denominator by cosx, we get

.
 cos x  sin x  4

.E g
 cosx sin x   tan   tan x 
    
cosx cosx  1  tan x  4   
 tan  1 

T
= tan-1  cosx sin x  = tan -1
  = tan -1
  
 1  tan x  4

.
    1  tan tan x   
 cosx cosx   4 

.V BSE C i n
     tan A tan B 
= tan-1  tan   x   = - x
  4  4
o a ch  tan(A  B)  
1  tan A tan B 

30.

32.
y = cot-1 

y = sin-1
A
QUESTIONS: Simplify the following (30 to 63)

d e r
 sin x  2

Lea
i
1  cos 3x
2
n
1  cos x  C
,0<x<

6

, - < x < 2 31.

33.
 sin 2x  
y = cot-1  , - < x <
 1  cos 2x 

y = sin-1 (2x
4

1  x2 ) , 
1

4

2
<x<
1
2
 1  1  cosx 
34. y = sec-1  2
 35. y = cos-1 ,0<x<
 1x  2 2

 1  tan x   1  cos 4x 
36. y = tan-1  , 0 < x < 37. y = tan-1 ,0<x<
 1  tan x  4 1  cos 4x 4

38.
 1  cos x  
y = tan-1 
 sin x  2
, - < x <

2
39. y = cot-1

.
1  cos 5x

.E g
1  cos 5x
, 0<x<

5

T
 sin x   cos 3x  sin 3x 

.
40. y = tan-1   , - < x <  41. y = tan-1  
 1  cos x   cos 3x  sin 3x 

.V BSE C i n
 cos 2x   1  sin 2x 
42. y = tan-1  
 1  sin 2x 
o a ch 43. y = tan-1  1  sin 2x 
 

44.

46.

48.
y = tan 
-1

 x

A
 1  x2  1 
, x0



y = tan-1 ( 1  x 2 + x)

Lea d
y = sin-1 (2x 1  x 2 ), (
e r
1
i n C
< x < 1)
45.

47.

49.
y = tan-1 
1x 

 1 
y = sec-1  2
 , -1 < x < 1
 1 x 


 2x  1 

y = tan-1 (secx + tanx), -


<x<

2 2 2
 x2   x  x 1 
50. y = sin  4
-1
4
 51. -1
y = cos  1  , |x| > 1
 a x  xx 
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AVTE 18
avte.in RELATIONS FUNCTIONS AND INVERSE TRIGONOMETRY

 x   3 cos x  4 sin x 
52. y = tan-1  2 2
 , -a < x < a 53. y = cos-1  
 a x   5 
1x
54. y = cot-1 (cosecx + cotx), 0 < x <  55. y = tan-1 , -1 < x < 1
1x

 x  1 1

.
56. y = tan -1   , -3 < x < 3 57. y = sin-1 (3x - 4x3), - <x<
2
 9-x  2 2

.E g
 1  x2  1  x2 
y = cot   , -1 < x < 1

T
-1
58. 2 2  59. y = cos-1(4x3 - 3x), x  (1/2, 1)

.
 1 x  1 x 

.V BSE C
 3a 2 x  x3  a a
60. y = sin-1 (x 1  x  x 1  x 2 ), 0 < x < 1

ch i n 61. tan-1  2 2  , a > 0;

 a(a  3x )  3
<x<
3

o a
A
 2x 1  x 2  1 1  1  x 2  1 
62. y = tan  1  2x 2
-1 , 
 <x< 63. y = cos-1 
  2 2  2 1  x 2 

r i n C 

EXAMPLE
d e
1x
Solve : tan-1
1 x
1
Lea
= tan-1x, (x > 0)
2
Sol. Now the given equation can be written as

 2  1  x 
 
1  x 1  (1  x)    2  
tan-1 = tan-1x or tan-1  2  = tan x
-1
 2 tan 1   tan 1  2 
1 x 2
 1
1  x    1   

.
  1  x  
2


.E g
2
-1
 2  1  x  (1  x) 
-1 -1
1  x -1
1  x2
or tan  2 2 
 = tan x or tan = tan x  = x or 1- x2 = 2x2
  1  x    1  x   2x 2x

 3x2 = 1 or x = +
1
3
x>0x=-
1
3

. T
is inadmissible. Hence, x =

.V BSE C o a ch i n
1
3
is the required solution.

A
Questions
Solve the following equations (64 to 71)

64. sin-1(x) + sin-1 (2x) =


3
r i n C 65. 2 tan-1(cosx) = tan-1(2cosecx)

d e
  x1  x1 

Lea
66. tan-1(2x) + tan-1(3x) = 67. tan-1   + tan-1   =
4 x2 x2 4
 8
68. sin-1(1 - x) - 2sin-1x = 69. tan-1(x + 1) + tan-1 (x - 1) = tan-1  
2  31 
5 2
70. sin[cot–1(x + 1)] = cos(tan-1x) 71. (tan–1x)2 + (cot–1x)2 =
8
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AVTE 19
avte.in RELATIONS FUNCTIONS AND INVERSE TRIGONOMETRY

HOTS
1. Find the principle value in each case :
(i) cos-1 (cos 10) (ii) sin-1 (sin 5)

.
(iii) sin-1 (sin 10)

.E g
1 2
2. Solve : sin-1 + sin-1 = sin-1x
3 3

3.
 2a 
If sin 1  2 
 1a 

1
 2b 
 sin 1 

.
2 

T
.V BSE C
 1 b 

o a
31
ch i n
 ab 
= 2tan-1x, show that x = 
 1  ab 
.

A
4. Show that : 2tan-1 + tan-1 = tan-1
2 7 17

1  x
 x  = cos
Show that : 2tan-1
C
-1
5.  1  x 

e r i n
6.
Lea d
Solve : tan(cos-1x) = sin(cot-1
1
2
)

2
 1 2x  1 1  1  y  
7. Find the value of : tan  sin 1  2   cos  2   , -1 < x < 1, y > 0 and xy < 1.
 2  1 x  2 1 y  

5  2  5  1  5
8. Show that : sin-1   + sin-1   =
2  5 2  5  4

9.
 ab
Show that : 2 tan 1 
 ab

2
 b  a cos  
tan  = cos1 
 a  bcos   , 0 < a < b, 0 <  <

2

.
.E g
10. -1
Simplify : cot 
 1  (ax)2  1

 ax
, x  0


. T
.V BSE C o a ch i n
A
3 9
11. If sin-1x + sin-1y + sin-1z = ( -1  x, y, z  1), find the value of x100 + y100 + z100 - 101 .
2 x  y 101  z101

 x 1 
Solve : tan 1  i n C  2x  1 
  tan 1 
r  tan 1
23
12.
e
 x  1
d  2x  1  36

13. Simplify : cos1 


Lea
 sin x  cos x  
2


 4
, x
5
4

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AVTE 20