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3.8 Derivatives of Inverse Trig Functions: Lewis and Clark Caverns, Montana

1. This document discusses finding the derivatives of inverse trigonometric functions. 2. It provides a general formula for taking the derivative of an inverse function: the derivative of f^-1(x) evaluated at a is the reciprocal of the derivative of f(x) evaluated at f(a). 3. Examples are given of using implicit differentiation to find the derivatives of inverse trig functions like arcsin, arctan, and arcsec.

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cramee86
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© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
46 views

3.8 Derivatives of Inverse Trig Functions: Lewis and Clark Caverns, Montana

1. This document discusses finding the derivatives of inverse trigonometric functions. 2. It provides a general formula for taking the derivative of an inverse function: the derivative of f^-1(x) evaluated at a is the reciprocal of the derivative of f(x) evaluated at f(a). 3. Examples are given of using implicit differentiation to find the derivatives of inverse trig functions like arcsin, arctan, and arcsec.

Uploaded by

cramee86
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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3.

8 Derivatives of Inverse Trig Functions


Lewis and Clark Caverns, Montana
Greg Kelly, Hanford High School, Richland, Washington Photo by Vickie Kelly, 1993
8 6 4 2 0
8
6
4
2
0
x
y
x
y
8 6 4 2 0
8
6
4
2
0
x
y
x
y
8 6 4 2 0
8
6
4
2
0
x
y
x
y
( )
2
0 f x x x = >
We can find the inverse
function as follows:
2
y x =
Switch x and y.
2
x y =
x y =
y x =
2
y x =
y x =
2
df
x
dx
=
At x = 2:
( )
2
2 2 4 f = =
( )
2 2 2 4
df
dx
= =
4 m = ( )
2, 4
( )
1
f x x

=
( )
1
1
2
f x x

=
1 1
2
1
2
df
x
dx


=
1
1
2
df
dx
x

To find the derivative of the


inverse function:
8 6 4 2 0
8
6
4
2
0
x
y
x
y
8 6 4 2 0
8
6
4
2
0
x
y
x
y
( )
2
0 f x x x = >
2
y x =
y x =
2
df
x
dx
=
At x = 2:
( )
2
2 2 4 f = =
( )
2 2 2 4
df
dx
= =
4 m = ( )
2, 4
( )
1
f x x

=
1
1
2
df
dx
x

=
( )
1
1 1 1
4
2 2 4
2 4
df
dx

= = =

At x = 4:
( )
1
4 4 2 f

= =
( )
4, 2
1
4
m =
Slopes are
reciprocals.
8 6 4 2 0
8
6
4
2
0
x
y
x
y
8 6 4 2 0
8
6
4
2
0
x
y
x
y
2
y x =
y x =
4 m = ( )
2, 4
( )
4, 2
1
4
m =
Slopes are
reciprocals.
Because x and y are
reversed to find the
reciprocal function, the
following pattern always
holds:
Derivative Formula for Inverses:
df
dx
df
dx
x f a
x a

=
=
=
1
1
( )
evaluated at ( ) f a
is equal to the reciprocal of
the derivative of ( ) f x
evaluated at .
a
The derivative of
1
( ) f x

A typical problem using this formula might look like this:


Given: ( )
3 5 f =
( )
3 6
df
dx
=
Find:
( )
1
5
df
dx

Derivative Formula for Inverses:


df
dx
df
dx
x f a
x a

=
=
=
1
1
( )
( )
1
1
5
6
df
dx

-1.5
-1
-0.5
0
0.5
1
1.5
-1.5 -1 -0.5 0.5 1 1.5
sin y x =
1
sin y x

=
We can use implicit
differentiation to find:
1
sin
d
x
dx

1
sin y x

=
sin y x =
sin
d d
y x
dx dx
=
cos 1
dy
y
dx
=
1
cos
dy
dx y
=
We can use implicit
differentiation to find:
1
sin
d
x
dx

1
sin y x

=
sin y x =
sin
d d
y x
dx dx
=
cos 1
dy
y
dx
=
1
cos
dy
dx y
=
2 2
sin cos 1 y y + =
2 2
cos 1 sin y y =
2
cos 1 sin y y =
But
2 2
y
t t
< <
so is positive. cos y
2
cos 1 sin y y =
2
1
1 sin
dy
dx
y
=

2
1
1
dy
dx
x
=

We could use the same technique to find and


.
1
tan
d
x
dx

1
sec
d
x
dx

1
2
1
sin
1
d du
u
dx dx
u

1
2
1
tan
1
d du
u
dx u dx

=
+
1
2
1
sec
1
d du
u
dx dx
u u

1
2
1
cos
1
d du
u
dx dx
u

1
2
1
cot
1
d du
u
dx u dx

=
+
1
2
1
csc
1
d du
u
dx dx
u u

1 1
cos sin
2
x x
t

=
1 1
cot tan
2
x x
t

=
1 1
csc sec
2
x x
t

=

Your calculator contains all six inverse trig functions.


However it is occasionally still useful to know the following:
1 1
1
sec cos x
x

| |
=
|
\ .
1 1
cot tan
2
x x
t

=
1 1
1
csc sin x
x

| |
=
|
\ .
t

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