1

INVERSE TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

Inverse circular function (Inverse Trigonometric Functions) The functions sin-1x, cos-1x, tan-1x, cot-1x, cosec-1x and sec-1x are called inverse circular or inverse trigonometric functions. sin-1x should not be confused with (sin x)-1 which is 1 equal to . sin x Each of the inverse circular functions is multivalued. To make each inverse circular function single valued we define principal values as follows. If x is positive, the principal values of all the inverse circular functions lie between 0 and principal values of sin-1x, cosec-1x and tan-1x lie between sec-1x and cot-1x lie between values. Hence sin = x = sin-1x where
, (range) and x 2 2 = sin 1x is one-one and onto.

. If x is negative, the

and 0, and those of cos-1x,

and . From now onwards we take only the principal

[-1, 1] (domain).

This ensures that the function Similarly cosec = x cos = x sec = x

= cosec-1x = cos-1x = sec-1x

where [1, ). where where [1, ).

,0 0,

and x

(- , -1]

[0, ] and x
0, 2 2 ,

[-1, 1]. and x (- , -1]

, and x (- , ). 2 2 cot = x = cot-1x where (0, ) and x (- , ). The domains and ranges of inverse trigonometric (or inverse circular) functions are: Function Domain Range sin 1 x [ 1, 1] , 2 2 cos-1 x [ 1, 1] [0, ] -1 tan x R , 2 2 cot-1 x R (0, ) -1 sec x ( , 1] [1, ) 0, , 2 2

tan = x

= tan-1x

where

2 cosec-1 x The graphs of

/2
/2

(
1 1

1]

[1, )
2

, 0

0,

= sin x,

= cos x and

= tan x are:

/2

1
1 O 1
1

O /2 = tan x
1

/2 = sin x
1

= cos x

Note that (i) sin-1(sin ) = if and only if

2
2 <x

and sin(sin-1x) = x where 1 < 0 or 0 < 1 or 1

2

1.

(ii) cosec-1(cosec ) =
-1

if and only if

and cosec(cosec x) = x where (iii) tan-1(tan ) = (iv) cos-1(cos ) = (v) sec-1(sec ) = if and only if
2

x<

. <x< . x 1.

<

<

and tan(tan-1x) = x where

if and only if 0 if and only if 0 <x <

2

and cos(cos-1x) = x where 1 or

2

<

and sec(sec-1x) = x where (vi) cot-1(cot ) =

1 or 1 <

x< . <x< .

if and only if 0 <

and cot(cot-1x) = x where

Some Important Results

sin-1( x) = sin-1(x) cosec-1( x) = cosec-1(x) tan-1( x) = tan-1(x) cos-1( x) = cos-1(x) sec-1(-x) = sec-1(x) cot-1(-x) = cot-1(x)

sin
tan

x cos
x cot

1
1

x
x

2
2

,
,

x R

3
1

sec

x cosec 1x

Within the domain of their definition 1 2 x sin-1x = tan 1 = cosec-1 x = cos-1 1 x 1 x2

1 x2 = cot 1 x

sec 1
1

1 1 x2
1 x x

, x>0
2 1

cos

sec

11

sin

tan

1 x2 x

= cosec1

1 1 x
2

= cot

1 x2

x>0

tan 1 x

sin 1

x 1 x2

1 x2 cosec 1 x
= sec1
1

cot1 x = cos1
cos
1

x 1 x2
y cos

1 x2 x
1 x2 1 y2 ,

x cos

xy

0,

2cos-1x = cos-1 (2x2 1), x > 0

cos
1 1

xy xy

1 x2 1 y2 ,

0, y 0, y 0, x 2

0, x 0, x y2

y y 1 y2 1

cos x cos y =
cos sin
1

-1

-1

1 x2 1 y2 , x y 1 x2 , x 0, y

x 1 y2
1

sin x + sin y =
sin x 1 y2 y 1 x2 , x 0, y 0, x 2

-1

-1

sin

2x 1 x 2 ,

x 1 2 x x

1 2 1 2 2

2sin-1x =

sin

2x 1 x 2 ,
1

sin

2x 1 x 2 ,
2

sin-1x sin-1y = sin-1 x 1 y

y 1 x

0, y

4
x y , 1 xy x y tan 1 , 1 xy
1

tan

x x x

0, y 0, y 0,y

0, xy<1 0, xy 1 0,xy 1

tan-1x + tan-1y =
,

tan

x tan

y
11

tan

x y 1 xy

x > 0, y > 0 x 0

2tan x = cos

-1

x2

2 tan 1 x 2 tan 1 x

sin

1 x2 1 2x

1 x 2x sin 1 1 x2

2x tan 1 , 1 x2 2x tan 1 , 1 x2

1 x 1.