Inverse Trigonometric Functions

Review

First, let’s review briefly inverse functions before getting into inverse trigonometric functions:

• f Æ f -1 is the inverse
• The range of f = the domain of f -1, the inverse.
• The domain of f = the range of f -1 the inverse.
• y = f(x) Æ x in the domain of f.
•
x = f -1 (y) Æ y in the domain of f -1
•
f [f -1 (y)] = y Æ y in the domain of f -1
• f -1[f (x)] = x Æ x in the domain of f

Trigonometry Without Restrictions

• Trigonometric functions are periodic, therefore each range value is within the limitless
domain values (no breaks in between).

• Since trigonometric functions have no restrictions, there is no inverse.

• With that in mind, in order to have an inverse function for trigonometry, we restrict the
domain of each function, so that it is one to one.

• A restricted domain gives an inverse function because the graph is one to one and able to pass
the horizontal line test.

By Shavana Gonzalez
Trigonometry With Restrictions

• How to restrict a domain:

– Restrict the domain of the sine function, y = sin x, so that it is one to one, and not infinite
by setting an interval [-π/2, π/2]

– The restricted sine function passes the horizontal line test, therefore it is one to one
– Each range value (-1 to 1) is within the limited domain (-π/2, π/2).

• The restricted sine function benefits the analysis of the inverse sine function.

Inverse Sine Function

• sin -1 or arcsin is the inverse of the restricted sine function, y = sin x, [-π/2, π/2]

• The equations Æ y = sin -1 x or y = arcsin x

which also means, sin y = x, where -π/2 < y < π/2, -1 < x < 1 (remember f range is f -1 domain
and vice versa).

Restricted Sine vs. Inverse Sine

• As we established before, to have an inverse trigonometric function, first we need a restricted

function.

• Once we have the restricted function, we take the points of the graph (range, domain, and
origin), then switch the y’s with the x’s.

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Restricted Sine vs. Inverse Sine Continued …

• For example:
– These are the coordinates for the restricted sine function.
(- π/2, -1), (0, 0), (π/2, 1)

– Reverse the order by switching x with y to achieve an inverse sine function.

(-1, - π/2), (0, 0), (1, π/2)

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Sine-Inverse Sine Identities

• sin (sin -1 x) = x, where -1< x < 1

– Example: sin (sin -1 0.5) = 0.5

sin (sin -1 1.5) ≠ 1.5
(not within the interval or domain of the inverse sine function)

• sin-1 (sin x) = x, where –π/2 < x < π/2

- Example: sin-1[sin (-1.5)] = -1.5

sin-1[sin (-2)] ≠ -2
(not within the interval or domain of the restricted sine function)

Without Calculator

• To attain the value of an inverse trigonometric function without using the calculator requires
the knowledge of the Circular Points Coordinates, found in Chapter 5, the Wrapping Function
section.

• Here is quadrant I of the Unit Circle

• The Unit Circle figure shows the coordinates of Key Circular Points.

• These coordinates assist with the finding of the exact value of an inverse trigonometric
function.

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Without Calculator

Example 1: Find the value for Æ sin -1 (-1/2)

Answer:

• sin -1 (-1/2), is the same as sin y= -1/2, where –π/2< y < π/2

• Since the figure displays a mirror image of π/6 on the IV quadrant, the answer is:
y = - π/6 = sin -1 (-1/2)

• Although sin (11π/6) = -1/2, y must be within the interval [-π/2, π/2].

• Consequently, y= - π/6, which is between the interval, meets the conditions for the inverse
sine function.

With Calculator

• There are different types of brands on calculators, so read the instructions in the user’s
manual.

• Make sure to set the calculator on radian mode.

• If the calculator displays an error, then the values or digits used are not within the domain of
the trigonometry function

– For example:
If you punch in sin-1 (1.548) on your calculator, the device will state that there is an error
because 1.548 is not within the domain of sin -1.

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Restrict Cosine Function

• The restriction of a cosine function is similar to the restriction of a sine function.

• The intervals are [0, π] because within this interval the graph passes the horizontal line test.

• Each range goes through once as x moves from 0 to π.

Inverse Cosine Function

• Once we have the restricted function, we are able to proceed with defining the inverse cosine
function, cos -1 or arccos.

• The inverse of the restricted cosine function y= cos x, 0 < x < π, is y= cos -1 x and y = arccos x.

• Which also means, cos y = x, where 0 < y < π, -1< x < 1 (Remember, the domain of f is the
range of f -1, and vice versa).

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Restricted Cosine vs. Inverse Cosine

• The restricted cosine function has the domain, range, and x-intercept coordinates:
(0,1) (π/2, 0) (π, -1)

• The inverse cosine function switched the coordinates of the restricted function, x is now y,
and y is now x: (1, 0) (0, π/2) (-1, π)

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Cosine-Inverse Cosine Identities

• cos (cos -1 x) = x, where -1< x < 1

– Example: cos (cos -1 0.5) = 0.5

cos (cos -1 1.5) ≠ 1.5
(not within the interval or domain of the inverse cosine function)

• cos-1 (cos x) = x, where 0 < x < π

- Example: cos-1[cos (0.5)] = 0.5

cos-1[cos (-2)] ≠ -2
(not within the interval or domain of the restricted cosine function)

Cosine Inverse Solving Without Calculator:

Example 2: cos (cos -1 0.6)

Answer:

Since -1 < 0.6 < 1, then cos (cos -1 0.6) = 0.6 because the form is following the
cosine-inverse cosine identities.

Example 3: arccos (-1/√2)

Answer:

• arccos (-1/√2), is the same as cos y= -1/√2,where 0< y < π.

• Due to the fact, that the figure displays a mirror image of π/4 on the II quadrant,
(3π/4), the answer is y= 3π/4 = arccos (-1/√2).

• Even though cos (-3π/4) = -1/√2, y ≠ -3π/4. The y must be within the interval [0, π].

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Solving Cosine Inverse With Calculator

• There are different types of brands on calculators, so read the instructions in the user’s
manual.

• Make sure to set the calculator on radian mode.

• If the calculator displays an error, then the values or digits used are not within the domain of
the trigonometry function

– For example:
If you punch in cos-1 (1.238) on your calculator, the device will state that there is an error
because 1.238 is not within the domain of cos -1.

Restriction of Tangent Function

• To become a one-to-one function, we choose the interval (-π/2, -π/2), thus a restricted function
is formed.

• The restricted tangent function passes the horizontal line test.

• Each range value (y) is given exactly once as x proceeds across the restricted domain.

• Now, that we have the function restricted we will use it to formulize the inverse tangent
function.

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Inverse Tangent Function

• Signified by tan -1 or arctan Æ y= tan -1 or y= arctan x

• The definition, undifferentiated to sine and cosine, is the inverse of the restricted tan function
(y= tan x), in the interval -π/2 < x < π/2

• The inverse is equivalent to tan y= x, where -π/2 < y < π/2

• Here is the graph of restricted tangent function

• Here is the graph of inverse tangent function

• The coordinates on the restricted function (- π/4, -1), (0, 0), and (π/4, 1) are reversed on the
inverse function.

• The vertical asymptotes on the restricted function become horizontal on the inverse.

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Tangent-Inverse Tangent Identities

• tan (tan -1 x) = x, where - ∞ < x < ∞

– Example: tan (tan -1 2) = 2

tan (tan -1 -1.5) = -1.5

• tan-1 (tan x) = x, where –π/2 < x < π/2

tan-1[tan (-0.5)] = -0.5

tan-1[tan(-2)] ≠ -2
(not within the interval or domain of the restricted tangent function)

Solving Inverse Tangent Problem Without Calculator

Example 4: y= tan -1 (√3)

Answer:

• tan -1 (√3), is the same as tan y = √3, where - π/2 < y < π/2.
Therefore, y = π/3= tan -1 (√3):

• Since tan x= b/a = √3/2 ÷ ½ = √3/2 × 2/1 = √3/2 , then the answer to
tan -1 (√3) = y = π/3

Example 5: tan [tan -1 (56)]

Answer:

• According to the Tangent-Inverse Tangent Identities, tan (tan -1 x) = x, where

- ∞ < x < ∞. Consequently, any number x will equal number x because the domain is
infinite, no limits.

• So, the answer: tan [tan -1 (56)] = 56

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 Summary
Let us summarize all the different inverse trigonometric functions.

• y = sin -1 x Æ x = sin y, where -1 < x < 1, and -π/2 < y < π/2

• y = cos -1 x Æ x = cos y, where -1< x <1, and 0 < y < π

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 Summary Continued …
• y = tan -1 x Æ x = tan y, where - ∞ < x < ∞, and - π/2 < y < π/2

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