INVERSE

TRIGONOMETRIC
FUNCTIONS
DEFINITION: If f is a one-to-one function with
domain A and range B, then its inverse f 1 is
the function with domain B and range A defined
by
f 1 x   y  f  y   x
For a function to have an inverse, it must be
one-to-one. Since the trigonometric functions
are not one-to-one, they do not have inverses.
It is possible, however, to restrict the domains
of the trigonometric functions in such a way
that the resulting functions are one-to-one.
 Inverse trigonometric functions are defined as follows:
1  
 y  sin x if and only if sin y  x and   y , where  1  x  1.
y 2 2
1 

o x
   
   
2 2 D :  , 
 2 2
 1
y = sin x R :  1, 1
y

2

x
1 1
D :  1, 1 

   2
R :  , 
 2 2 y = sin-1 x
 y  cos 1 x if and only if cos y  x and 0  y   , where  1  x  1.
y

1

o x
    2

D : 0 ,  
2 2
1 
y = cos x R : - 1, 1 
y


2

D :  1, 1 x
1
R :  0,  
1

y = cos-1 x
  
 y  tan1 x if and only if tan y  x and   y , for all real nos. x.
2 2
y

o x
   
   
2 2 D :  , 
1  2 2 
y = tan x R :   ,   
y

2

x
1 1
D :   ,    

   2
R : , 
 2 2 y = tan-1 x
 y  cot 1 x if and only if cot y  x and 0  y   , for all real nos. x.
y

o x
   

2 2 D : 0 ,  
1 R :   ,   
y = cot x
y


2

D :   ,    x
1
R : 0 ,  
1

y = cot-1 x
 
 y  sec 1 x if and only if sec y  x and 0  y   , y  , x  -1, x  1.
2
y

1

o x
  3 2
     
1 2 2 D : 0 ,    ,  
 2 2 
y = sec x R :   , - 1  1,   
y


2
D :   , - 1  1,   
     x
R : 0 ,    ,   1 1
 2 2 
y = sec-1 x
  
 y  csc 1 x if and only if csc y  x and   y , y  0 , x  -1, x  1.
2 2
y

1 
o x
   

2 1     
2 D :  , 0    0 , 
 2   2
y = csc x R :   , - 1  1,   
y

2

x
D :   , - 1  1,   
1 1


     
R :  , 0    0 ,  2
 2   2
y = csc-1 x
EXAMPLE:
I. Find the exact values of the following:

1. Arc cos
3 
Ans. 1.
2 6
 2  
2. Arc sin  
 Ans. 2. -
 2  4
 3 5
3. Arc cos 
 Ans. 3.
 2  6

4. Arc sin
3 
Ans. 4.
2 3
 1 2
5. Arc cos   Ans. 5.
 2 3
  2 

6. Sin  
-1
 Ans. 6. -
2  4
 
 1 
7. Sin   
-1
Ans. 7. -
 2 6

-1
8. Cot - 3   Ans. 8.
5
6


9. Arcsec 2 Ans. 9.
3

10. Arctan 2.253 Ans. 10. 1.153 rad.

 2  2
11. Cos  cos
-1
 Ans. 11.
 3  3
  2  
12. Tan  tan
-1
 Ans. 12. -
 3  3

    
13. Sin  tan -  
-1
Ans. 13. -
  4  2
  3 
14. tan  Arcsin  - 
 Ans. 14. - 3
 2
  

15. tan Arc tan 0.6  Ans. 15. 0.6

 -1  8  15
16. cos tan  Ans. 16.
 15  17
 
17. Sin Cos-1 3 x  Ans. 17. 1 - 9x 2

18. cos2Arcsin x Ans. 18. 1 - 2x 2

II. Solve for x:

3
1. Sin x - Cos x  30
-1 -1 0
Ans. 1. x  
2
EXERCISES:
I. Find the exact values of the following:
 2
1. Sin 
-1


 2 
2. Tan-1 3

3. Cot -1 1

 3
4. sin  Cos -1


 2 
 -1 3 
5. tan Sin 
 5