Inverse trig functions create right triangles

An inverse trig function has an angle (y or θ) as its output. That angle

satisfies a certain trig expression and so we can draw a right triangle that
represents that expression.

Elementary Functions One can always draw a right triangle with an inverse trig function and
Part 4, Trigonometry think of the output as a certain angle in that triangle.
Lecture 4.7a, Solving Problems with Inverse Trig Functions For example, the equation arcsin(z) = θ implies that sin θ = z and so
corresponds to a right triangle with hypotenuse 1, with θ one of the acute
angles and z the length of the side opposite θ.
Dr. Ken W. Smith

Sam Houston State University

2013

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Some Worked Problems on Inverse Trig Functions Some Worked Problems on Inverse Trig Functions
We will practice this idea with some worked problems.... When we work with inverse trig functions it is especially important to draw
a triangle since the output of the inverse trig function is an angle of a
1 Draw a right triangle with the appropriate lengths and use that
triangle to find the sine of the angle θ if right triangle.
1 cos(θ) = 23 Indeed, one could think of inverse trig functions as “creating” right
2 cos(θ) = 25
triangles. The angle θ in the drawing below is arcsin(z). Notice that the
3 cos(θ) = 0.8.
4 cos(θ) = 0.6. Pythagorean theorem √ then gives us the third side of the triangle (written
Partial solutions. in blue); its length is 1 − z 2 . This allows us to simplify expressions like
2
√
1 If cos(θ) = 3 then draw a triangle with legs of length 2, 5 and cos(arcsin z), recognizing that
√ p
2 5
hypotenuse of length 3. If the cosine of θ is then the sine of θ is
3 3 . cos(arcsin z) = cos(θ) = 1 − z 2 .
2
√
2 If cos(θ) = 5 then draw a triangle with legs of length 2, 21 and In a similar manner, we can simplify tan(arcsin z) to
√
hypotenuse of length 5. The sine of θ is 21
. z
5 tan(arcsin(z)) = √ .
3 If cos(θ) = 0.8 then draw a triangle with legs of length 3, 4 and 1 − z2
3
hypotenuse of length 5. The sine of θ is 5 .
4 If cos(θ) = 0.6 then draw a triangle with legs of length 3, 4 and
4
hypotenuse of length 5. The sine of θ is 5 .
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Some Worked Problems on Inverse Trig Functions Some worked problems.
Simplify (without use of a calculator) the following expressions
π
1 arcsin[sin( 8 )].
Simplify (without the use of a calculator) the following expressions:
π
2 arccos[sin( 8 )]. 4 arccos(sin(θ)), assuming that θ is in the interval [0, π2 ].
1
3 cos[arcsin( 3 )].
Solutions. Solutions. To simplify arccos(sin(θ)), we draw a triangle (on the unit
π π circle, say) with an acute angle θ and short sides of lengths x, y and
1 Since arcsin is the inverse function of sine then arcsin[sin( 8 )] = 8 .
π
2 If θ is the angle 8 then the sine of θ is the cosine of the hypotenuse 1.
complementary angle π2 − π8 , which, after getting a common
denominator, simplifies to 3π π
8 . In other words, the sine of 8 is the π
1 −θ
cosine of 3π π 3π
8 so arccos[sin( 8 )] = 8 . (Notice that I’ve solved this
2
y
problem this without ever having to figure out the value of sin( π8 ).)
3 To simplify cos[arcsin( 13 )] we draw a triangle with hypotenuse of θ x
length 3 and one side of length 1, placing the angle θ so that
sin(θ) = 13 . The other short side of the triangle must have length The sine of θ is then y and the arccosine of y must be the complementary
√ √ √
angle π2 − θ. So arccos(sin(θ)) = π2 − θ .
8 = 2 2 by the Pythagorean theorem so the cosine of θ is 2 3 2 .
√
2 2
So cos[arcsin( 13 )] = .
3 Elementary
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Some worked problems. Some worked problems.

5 Simplify arccos(y) + arcsin(y).

Solution. Notice in the triangle in the figure below, that the sine of θ
is y and the cosine of π2 − θ is y.

In the next presentation, we will solve more problems with inverse trig
π
−θ functions.
1 2
y

θ x (End)
π
So arcsin(y) = θ and arccos(y) = 2 − θ. Therefore
arccos(y) + arcsin(y) = θ + ( π2 − θ) = π
2 .
Indeed, the expression arccos(y) + arcsin(y) merely asks for the sum
of two complementary angles! By definition, the sum of two
complementary angles is π2 !
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 Drawing triangles to solve composite trig expressions
Some problems involving inverse trig functions include the composition of
the inverse trig function with a trig function. If the inverse trig function
occurs first in the composition, we can simplify the expression by
drawing a triangle.
Elementary Functions
Part 4, Trigonometry Worked problems. Do the following problems without a calculator.
Lecture 4.7b, Inverse Trig Expressions Create Triangles Find the exact value of
3
1 sin(arccos(− 4 ))
3
2 tan(arcsin(− 4 ))
Dr. Ken W. Smith
Solutions. √
1 To compute sin(cos−1 (− 4 )) draw a triangle with legs 3, 7 and
3
Sam Houston State University
hypotenuse 4. The angle θ needs to be in the second quadrant so the
2013 cosine will be negative. In this case, the sine will be positive. So the
√
7
sine of the angle θ should be 4 .
√
2 To compute tan(sin−1 (− 34 )) draw a triangle with legs 3, 7 and
hypotenuse 4. The tangent of the angle θ should be √37 . But the
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angle θ is in the fourth quadrant so the final answer is − √37 .
Drawing triangles to solve composite trig expressions Drawing triangles to solve composite trig expressions
Simplify the following expressions involving arctangent:
tan(arctan(z)), sin(arctan(z)), cot(arctan(z)), sec(arctan(z)).
Simplify sin(2 arctan(− 43 )) (Use the trig identity sin 2θ = 2 sin θ cos θ.)
Solutions.
Solution. To compute sin(2 tan−1 (− 43 ))= 2 sin θ cos θ where 1 To compute tan(arctan(z)) just recognize that tan z and arctan z are
4
tan(θ) = − 3 draw a triangle with legs 3, 4 and hypotenuse 5. The cosine inverse functions and so tan(arctan(z)) = z .
of the angle θ is 35 and the sine of the angle θ is 45 . Since the original
problem has a negative sign in it, and we are working with the arctangent
function, then we must be working with an angle in the fourth quadrant,
so the sine is really − 45 . Now we just plug these values into the “magical”
identity given us:
4 3
sin(2θ) = 2 sin θ cos θ = 2(− )( ) = − 24
25 .
5 5 2 To compute sin(arctan(z)) draw a right triangle with sides 1, z and
√ z
hypotenuse 1 + z 2 . The sine of the angle θ is √1+z 2
.
1
3 In the figure above, the cotangent of the angle θ is z .
√
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4 The secant
Smith (SHSU)
of the angle θ should be
Elementary Functions
1 + z2 . 2013 12 / 17
More on inverting composite trig functions More on inverting composite trig functions
Just like other functions, we can algebraically manipulate expressions to
create an inverse function. √
Find the inverse function of y = sin( x + 2)
√
Some worked problems. Find the inverse function of y = sin( x) + 2
√ Solutions. We set p
Solutions. To find the inverse function of y = sin( x) + 2, let’s exchange x = sin( y + 2),
inputs and outputs:
√ take the arcsine of both sides:
x = sin( y) + 2
p
and then solve for y by subtracting 2 from both sides arcsin(x) = y + 2),
√
x − 2 = sin( y),
square both sides
applying the arcsin to both sides, (arcsin(x))2 = y + 2,
√
arcsin(x − 2) = y and then subtract 2 from both sides.
and then squaring both sides √
2 The inverse function of y = sin( x + 2) is y = (arcsin x)2 − 2.
(arcsin(x − 2)) = y
so that the answer is is y = (arcsin(x − 2))2 .
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More on inverting composite trig functions More on inverting composite trig functions
√
Find the inverse function of y = esin( x+2)

Solutions. We set √ Find the inverse function of y = sin(arccos x)

x = esin( y+2)

take the natural log of both sides: Solutions.

√ First we simplify sin(arccos x). Draw a right triangle with a hypotenuse of
ln(x) = sin( y + 2),
length 1 and an acute angle θ with adjacent side of length
√ x. The side
then take the arcsine of both sides opposite of θ has length
√ (by the Pythagorean theorem) 1 − x2 . So the
√ cosine of θ is just 1 − x2 . √
arcsin(ln(x)) = y + 2, We have simplified y = sin(arccos x) to y =√ 1 − x2 .
It happens that the inverse function of y = 1 − x2 obeys the equation
and then subtract 2 from both sides p √
√ x = 1 − y 2 so x2 = 1 − y 2 so y 2 = 1 − x2 so y = 1 − x2 . (That is
arcsin(ln(x)) − 2 = y, √
y = 1 − x2 is its own inverse function!)
and finally square both sides.
√
The inverse function of y = esin( x+2) is y = (arcsin(ln x) − 2)2 .
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Using inverse trig functions

REMEMBER: When faced with an inverse trig function, think about the
triangle the function creates!

In the next presentation, we will look at trig identities and equations.

(End)

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