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Inverse Trigonometric Functions

Inverse Sine Function

f(x)=sinx     f1(x)=arcsinx   or   sin1xf\left(x\right)=\sin x\ \ \ \leftrightarrow\ \ f^{-1}\left(x\right)=\arcsin x\ \ \ \text{or}\ \ \ \sin^{-1}x


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Inverse Cosine Function

f(x)=cosx     f1(x)=arccosx   or   cos1xf\left(x\right)=\cos x\ \ \ \leftrightarrow\ \ f^{-1}\left(x\right)=\arccos x\ \ \ \text{or}\ \ \ \cos^{-1}x


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Inverse Tangent Function

f(x)tanx     f1(x)=arctanx   or   tan1xf\left(x\right)\tan x\ \ \ \leftrightarrow\ \ f^{-1}\left(x\right)=\arctan x\ \ \ \text{or}\ \ \ \tan^{-1}x


Inverse Tangent has horizontal asymptotes at y=π2  and  y=π2\displaystyle y=\frac{\pi}{2} \ \text{ and } \ y=\frac{-\pi}{2}


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Dealing with Inverse Trig Functions

If you are given a question with different trig functions like tan(arcsinx)=?\tan\left(\arcsin x\right)=?
  • let θ=trig1(x)\theta=\text{trig}^{-1}\left(x\right)
  • then we have trig(θ)=x\text{trig} (\theta)=x
  • Draw a triangle based on this θ\theta
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Example: Trig & Inverse Trig Values

Determine the values of the following:

a.cos(arccos (12))\cos\left(\arccos\ \left(\frac{1}{2}\right)\right)
The domain of arccos\arccos is [1,1]\left[-1,1\right].
You can use the cancellation rule directly since the argument is in [1,1]\left[-1,1\right]
Therefore, this evaluates to 12\frac{1}{2}.


b. arcsin(sin(π6))\arcsin\left(\sin\left(\frac{\pi}{6}\right)\right)
The range of arcsin\arcsin is [π2, π2]\left[-\frac{\pi}{2},\ \frac{\pi}{2}\right].
You can use the cancellation rule directly since the argument is in [π2,π2]\left[-\frac{\pi}{2},\frac{\pi}{2}\right]
Therefore, this evaluates to π6\frac{\pi}{6}


c. arcsin(sin3π4)\arcsin\left(\sin\frac{3\pi}{4}\right)
The range of arcsin\arcsin is [π2,π2]\left[-\frac{\pi}{2},\frac{\pi}{2}\right]
Cancellation rule does not work in this case because the argument is not in [π2,π2]\left[-\frac{\pi}{2},\frac{\pi}{2}\right]
We need to find an angle xx in [π2, π2]\left[-\frac{\pi}{2},\ \frac{\pi}{2}\right]such that sinx=sin3π4\sin x=\sin\frac{3\pi}{4}.
Notice that sin3π4\sin\frac{3\pi}{4} (quadrant 2) is positive, so the angle we're looking for is in quadrant 1.
Therefore, the angle xx we need is π4\frac{\pi}{4}

d. sin(cos10)\sin\left(\cos^{-1}0\right).
*Recall that cos1=arccos\cos^{-1}=\arccos
The domain of arccos\arccos is [1,1]\left[-1,1\right]. Notice that 0 is in that domain.
Let θ=arccos0\theta=\arccos0,
Then cosθ=0\cos\theta=0.
Since the range of arccos\arccos is [0,π]\left[0,\pi\right], we get that θ=π2\theta=\frac{\pi}{2}.

Putting this back into the 𝑠𝑖𝑛 function, sin(arccos0)=sin(θ)=sin(π2)=1\sin\left(\arccos0\right)=\sin\left(\theta\right)=\sin\left(\frac{\pi}{2}\right)=1.
Find the exact value of tan[arcsin(35)]\tan\left[\arcsin\left(-\frac{3}{5}\right)\right]




Find the exact value of sin(2cos1x)\sin\left(2\cos^{-1}x\right)