3.7.3.

Inverse Tangent Function

and the Remaining Inverse
Trigonometric Functions
 The inverse tangent function is similarly
defined as inverse sine and inverse cosine
functions.
Inverse Tangent
Function
 Find the exact value of each expression.
(1) tan−1 1
(2) arctan(− 3)
5
(3) tan tan−1 −
2
EXAMPLE (4) tan −1 tan −
𝜋
6
7𝜋
(5) tan −1 tan
6
19𝜋
(6) arctan tan −
6
 𝝅 𝝅
Note the range of arctan is the open interval − ,
𝟐 𝟐
𝜋
(1) tan−1 1 =
4
𝜋
(2) arctan − 3 = −
3
5 5
(3) tan tan −1
− =−
SOLUTION 𝜋
2 2
𝜋
(4) tan −1 tan − =−
6 6
7𝜋 𝜋
(5) tan −1 tan =
6 6
19𝜋 𝜋
(6) arctan tan − =−
6 6
 Find the exact value of each expression.
EXAMPLE (1) sin 2 tan−1 −
8
3
−1 3 −1 1
(2) tan sin − tan
5 4
 8 8
(1) Let 𝜃 = tan − .
−1 Then 𝜃 = tan − . 𝜃 lies in QIV, and
3 3
𝑥 = 3 and 𝑦 = −8. We get 𝑟 = 32 + −8 2 =
73
Applying the Sine Double-Angle Identity gives

SOLUTION
 (2) Using the Tangent Difference Identity

SOLUTION

3
We are left to compute tan sin −1 . We proceed as in (1) above.
5
3 3
Let 𝜃 = sin −1 . Then sin 𝜃 = .
5 5
 From the definition of inverse sine function and the notations used in
Lesson 3.2, we know that 𝜃 lies in QI, and 𝑦 = 3 and 𝑟 = 5.
𝑦 3
We get 𝑥 = 5 − 3 = 4, so that tan 𝜃 = = .
2 2
𝑥 4

SOLUTION
 A student is viewing a painting in a museum.
Standing 6 ft from the painting, the eye level
of the student is 5 ft above the ground. If the
painting is 10 ft tall, and its base is 4 ft above
SAMPLE the ground, find the viewing angle subtended
PROBLEM by the painting at the eyes of the student.
 Let 𝜃 be the viewing angle, and let 𝜃 = 𝛼 + 𝛽 as shown below.
We observe that
1 9
tan 𝛼 = and tan 𝛽 =
6 6
Using the Tangent Sum Identity, we have

SOLUTION

−1 20
Using a calculator, the viewing angle is 𝜃 = tan ≈ 65.8°
9
Inverse Cotangent
Function
Inverse Secant
Function
Inverse Cosecant
Function
Observe that the process in getting the value
of an inverse function is the same to all
−1
inverse functions. That is, 𝑦 = 𝑓 (𝑥) is
the same as 𝑓(𝑦) = 𝑥 . We need to
remember the range of each inverse
trigonometric function. This table summarizes
all the information about the six inverse
trigonometric functions.
EXAMPLES
SOLUTION
EXAMPLES
EXERCISES
EXERCISES