9.

Inverse Trig
Functions
 .
Previously you have learned
To find an inverse of a function, switch x and
y, then solve the equation for y.

 Inverse function notation f¯¹(x)

 For a function to have an inverse it has to
be one-to-one. One x for one y value, and
one y for one x value. It will pass the vertical
and the horizontal line test.

 Two inverse functions on the graph reflect

over y=x
f(x)  f¯¹(x) (x,y)  (y, x)
Let us begin with a simple question:

What is the first pair of inverse functions that

pop into YOUR mind?

This may not be your pair but

f ( x)  x 2 this is a famous pair. But
f  1 ( x)  x something is not quite right
with this pair. Do you know
what is wrong?

Congratulations if you guessed that the top

function does not really have an inverse because it
is not 1-1 and therefore, the graph will not pass
the horizontal line test.
 2
Consider the graph of y  x .
y

Note the two 

points on the
graph and also on 

the line y=4.


f(2) = 4 and f(-2) =
4 so what is an 
inverse function
supposed to do with 

4? 1
f (4) 2 or f  1 (4)  2 ?
x
  

By definition, a function cannot generate two different

outputs for the same input, so the sad truth is that
this function, as is, does not have an inverse.
So how is it that we arrange for this function to have
an inverse? 2
y x
y=x
We consider only one
half of the graph: x > 0.4
The graph now passes
the horizontal line test y x
2
and we do have an
inverse:
2
f ( x)  x for x 0    
x

1
f ( x)  x
This process of considering only part of the graph is
called RESTRICTING THE DOMAIN
Note how each graph reflects across the line y = x
onto its inverse.
A similar restriction on the domain is necessary to
create an inverse function for each trig function.

Consider the sine function.

You can see right y = sin(x)

y

away that the sine


function does not y = 1/2

pass the horizontal

line test.
But we can come up          
x

with a valid inverse
function if we restrict
the domain as we did
with the previous  

function.

How would YOU restrict the domain?

Take a look at the piece of the graph in the red frame.
y

This section is

always increasing
so it passes the
horizontal line test
x
          

This section includes

the origin. Quadrant I  

angles generate the

positive ratios and
negative angles in
Quadrant IV Lets zoom in and look at
generate the some key points in this
I have plotted the special angles on the curve and the
table. y = sin(x)
y

x f ( x)
 
 1
2
 3
 
3 2
 2
          
x
4 2
 1
 
6 2
0 0
 1  
6 2
 2
4 2
 3
3 2

1
2
The new table generates the graph of the inverse.
1
The domain
x sin( x) x sin ( x)

of the

 1 To get a 1  chosen
2 2
 3
good look at 3  section of    ,  
  the graph of    2 2
3 2 2 3 the sine is
 2 the inverse 2 
    So the range
4 2 function, we 2 4
 1 1  of the
  arcsin

  will “turn the     , 
6 2 2 6 is  2 2 
0 0 tables” on 0 0
 1 the sine 1  The range of
6 2 function. 2 6 the chosen
 2 2  section of the
4 2 2 4 sine is [-
 3 3 
1 ,1] so the
3 2 2 3
  domain of the
1 1
2 2 arcsin is [-1,
1].
Note how each point on the original graph gets
“reflected” onto the graph of the inverse.
     y = arcsin(x) y
 ,1 to  1, 
 2   2
y = sin(x)
 3  3   
 ,   
 3 2  to  2 , 3 
   

 2   2  
 ,   
 4 2  to  2 , 4 
   
x
  

etc.

You will see

the inverse  
listed as both:
arcsin( x) and sin  1 ( x)
     Unless you are
sin   1  arcsin(1)  or sin  1 (1) 
 2 2 2 instructed to
  3  3   3  use degrees,
sin     arcsin    or sin 

1

 2  3
 3 2  2  3   you should
assume that
inverse trig
functions will
generate
outputs of real
numbers (in
radians).
The thing to remember is that for the trig function the
input is the angle and the output is the ratio, but for
the inverse trig function the input is the ratio and the
output is the angle.
 From Algebra II, remember that an odd
function (which the sine is) is symmetric
with respect to the origin as can be seen
here

This means that plugging in a negative value

for x will give you a negative value for y. This
is another reason why we choose the 1st and 4th
quadrants for sine’s restricted domain.
The other inverse trig functions are generated by
using similar restrictions on the domain of the trig
function. Consider the cosine function:
y
What do you y = cos(x) 

think would be
a good
domain
restriction for
the cosine?
Congratulations          
x

if you realized
that the
restriction we
used on the sine
is not going to  
work on the
The chosen section for the cosine is in the red frame.
This section includes all outputs from –1 to 1 and all
inputs in the first and second quadrants. Notice it is
always decreasing.
Since the domain and range for the section 0,   and  1,1,
are the domain and range for the inverse  1,1 and 0 ,  .
cosine are y y y = arccos(x)
y = cos(x)  






x
          




x
  
 
Recall that an even function (which the cosine is)
is symmetric with respect to the y axis as can be
seen here

This means that plugging in a negative value for x

will give you a positive value for y. This is another
reason why we have to choose the 1st and 2nd
quadrants for cosine’s restricted domain.
Like the sine function, the domain of the section of
the   
  2 , 2  .
tangent that generates the arctan is This is
because tan is also an ODD function.


y
y
y=arctan(x)
y=tan(x 


)
 



x x
            

 

 
 

 
 
 

  
   D  ,  and R   , 
D   ,  and R  ,   2 2
 2 2
The table below summarizes the parameters we have
so far. Remember, the angle is the input for a trig
function and the ratio is the output. For the inverse trig
functions the ratio is the input and the angle is the
output.
arcsin(x) arccos(x) arctan(x)

Domain  1  x 1  1  x 1   x 

Range    
 x  0  x   x 
2 2 2 2

When x<0, y=arcsin(x) will be in which quadrant?

y<0 in
IV
When x<0, y=arccos(x) will be in which quadrant?
y>0 in II
y<0 in
When x<0, y=arctan(x) will be in which quadrant?
IV
Find the  1  1  10. sec  1 2 
1. sin  
exact value  2 
of each   1
2. arccos  1 11. arccos 
expression  2
without 3. tan  1  1
using a    
 1  12. arcsin  sin    
calculator. 4. arctan     2 
 3
When your
answer is an 5. arcsin 0 
 
13. arcsin sin 270 
angle,    1 
 1 1 
express it in 6. cos 
14. tan  arccos  
   2 
radians.  2
7. arctan   3   
15. arccos cos

 
8. sin  1  1   3 
  1 1 
 3 16. sin  cos    
9. cos 
1

   2
 2 