MATH ED 13: TRIGONOMETRY
Chapter V: INVERSE TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS
If a one – to – one functions f has domain A and range B, then its inverse function f −1 is the function with
domain B and range A as defined by f ( x )= y ↔ f −1 ( y )=x .
Graphically, the inverse function of reverses the action of f , hence for a function to have an inverse,
there must be a one – to – one correspondence between the elements of A and the elements of B.
The trigonometric functions are not one – to – one, however we can give restrictions to the domain so that the
resulting functions are one – to – one.
−π π
Consider the portion of the graph of y=sin x from to . This restriction gives us a one – to – one
2 2
function and allows us to define inverse function y=arcsin x .
The graph of y=arcsin x can be obtained by a mirror reflection of y=sin x with respect to the line y=x ,
hence the two functions are symmetric with respect to the line y=x .
A. Inverse Trigonometric Functions
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EXAMPLE 1: Write the following expressions using inverse trigonometric functions.
EXAMPLE 2: Find the exact value of arccos
√3 .
2
Solution: The expression arccos
√3 implies that there is an angle θ , whose cosine is
√3 , or cos θ= √3 .
2 2 2
Going back to our table of trigonometric function values of special angles, we find that 30° is the angle
whose cosine is
√3 , hence arccos √3 =30 ° , and θ=30° , 30 ° is within the range of the inverse cosine
2 2
function.
(
EXAMPLE 3: Find the exact value of cos arcsin
3
5
. )
3
Solution: We start working on the quantity inside the parentheses. As in the first example, arcsin implies
5
that
3 opposite
there is an angle θ whose sine is . Using the definition sin θ= , we can draw a right
5 hypotenuse
triangle and label the parts as shown in the figure.
Then by Pythagorean theorem, the side adjacent to θ has length 4 units. Going back to the problem,
(
cos arcsin
3
5) 3 4
5 5 (
3 4
, the cosine of the angle θ whose sin is is as we see in the figure, hence, cos arcsin = .
5 5 )
[
EXAMPLE 4: Find the exact value of cos arctan +arccos
2
5
1
√2].
Solution:
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Using the identity cos ( A+ B ) =cos A cos B−sin A cos B and at the same time referring to the figures above,
substitute:
[ 2
cos arctan +arccos
5
1
√2 ] (2
=cos arctan cos arccos
5
1
√2 ) ( ) (2
−sin arctan sin arccos
5 ) (
1
√2 )
5 1 2 1
¿ . − .
√ 29 √ 2 √29 √ 2
5−2
¿
√58
3
¿
√ 58
EXAMPLE 5: Solve for x using inverse trigonometric functions.
a. 5 y=cos 2 x
Solution: 5 y=cos 2 x
2 x=arccos 5 y
1
x= arccos 5 y
2
π
b. arctan ( sin x )=
6
π
Solution: arctan ( sin x )=
6
π
sin x=tan
6
1
sin x=
√3
x=arcsin
( )1
√3
2
c. y= cot x
5
5
Solution: y=cot x
2
5
x=arccot y
2
1
d. y= sec x
2
Solution: 2 y=sec x
x=arcsec 2 y
B. Inverse Trigonometric Equations
Solving inverse trigonometric equations is similar to solving trigonometric equations, that is, we solve
for the values of the unknowns and always consider the range of the function involved.
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EXAMPLE 1: Solve for x if arctan ( )
x+2 2 π
√3
= .
3
Solution: We write the expression as
x+2 2π
=tan and applying the definition to obtain
√3 3
x+2
=− √ 3
√3
Then solving for x,
x +2=−3 and x=−5 .
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