Section 3.

5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

Inverse Trigonometric Functions

DEFINITION: The inverse sine function, denoted by sin1 x (or arcsin x), is dened to be
the inverse of the restricted sine function

sin x, x
2
2

DEFINITION: The inverse cosine function, denoted by cos1 x (or arccos x), is dened to
be the inverse of the restricted cosine function
cos x, 0 x

DEFINITION: The inverse tangent function, denoted by tan1 x (or arctan x), is dened
to be the inverse of the restricted tangent function

tan x, < x <

2
2

DEFINITION: The inverse cotangent function, denoted by cot1 x (or arccot x), is dened
to be the inverse of the restricted cotangent function
cot x, 0 < x <

Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

DEFINITION: The inverse secant function, denoted by sec1 x (or arcsec x), is dened to
be the inverse of the restricted secant function
[
]
sec x, x [0, /2) [, 3/2) or x [0, /2) (/2, ] in some other textbooks

DEFINITION: The inverse cosecant function, denoted by csc1 x (or arccsc x), is dened
to be the inverse of the restricted cosecant function
[
]
csc x, x (0, /2] (, 3/2] or x [/2, 0) (0, /2] in some other textbooks

IMPORTANT: Do not confuse

sin1 x,
with

cos1 x,

1
,
sin x

1
,
cos x

tan1 x,

cot1 x,

1
,
tan x

1
,
cot x

FUNCTION
DOMAIN
1
sin x
[1, 1]
cos1 x
[1, 1]
1
tan x
(, +)
1
cot x
(, +)
1
sec x
(, 1] [1, +)
csc1 x
(, 1] [1, +)

sec1 x,
1
,
sec x

csc1 x

1
csc x

RANGE
[/2, /2]
[0, ]
(/2, /2)
(0, )
[0, /2) [, 3/2)
(0, /2] (, 3/2]

Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions

FUNCTION
sin1 x
cos1 x
tan1 x
cot1 x
sec1 x
csc1 x

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

DOMAIN
RANGE
[1, 1]
[/2, /2]
[1, 1]
[0, ]
(, +)
(/2, /2)
(, +)
(0, )
(, 1] [1, +) [0, /2) [, 3/2)
(, 1] [1, +) (0, /2] (, 3/2]
sin(x) = sin x

cos(x) = cos x

tan(x) = tan x

csc(x) = csc x

sec(x) = sec x

cot(x) = cot x

sin(x ) = sin x

cos(x ) = cos x

tan(x ) = tan x

sec(x ) = sec x

csc(x ) = csc x

cot(x ) = cot x

EXAMPLES:
(a) sin1 1 =

[ ]
, since sin = 1 and , .
2
2
2
2 2

( )
[ ]

= 1 and , .
(b) sin1 (1) = , since sin
2
2
2
2 2
[ ]
(c) sin1 0 = 0, since sin 0 = 0 and 0 , .
2 2
(d) sin1

1
[ ]
= , since sin = and , .
2
6
6
2
6
2 2

3
[ ]
= , since sin =
and , .
2
3
3
2
3
2 2

(e) sin

(f) sin

2
[ ]
= , since sin =
and , .
2
4
4
2
4
2 2

EXAMPLES:

cos1 0 = ,
2
tan1 1 =

,
4

cos1 1 = 0,

cos1 (1) = ,

tan1 (1) = ,
4

tan1

cos1

3=

,
3

tan1

EXAMPLES: Find sec1 1, sec1 (1), and sec1 (2).

cos1
= , cos1
=
2
6
2
4
(
)
1

= , tan1
=
6
6
3
3

1
= ,
2
3

Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions

FUNCTION
sin1 x
cos1 x
tan1 x
cot1 x
sec1 x
csc1 x

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

DOMAIN
RANGE
[1, 1]
[/2, /2]
[1, 1]
[0, ]
(, +)
(/2, /2)
(, +)
(0, )
(, 1] [1, +) [0, /2) [, 3/2)
(, 1] [1, +) (0, /2] (, 3/2]
sin(x) = sin x

cos(x) = cos x

tan(x) = tan x

csc(x) = csc x

sec(x) = sec x

cot(x) = cot x

sin(x ) = sin x

cos(x ) = cos x

tan(x ) = tan x

sec(x ) = sec x

csc(x ) = csc x

cot(x ) = cot x

EXAMPLES: Find sec1 1, sec1 (1), and sec1 (2).

Solution: We have
sec1 1 = 0,

sec1 (1) = ,

sec1 (2) =

since
sec 0 = 1,
and

sec = 1,

sec

4
3

4
= 2
3

4 [ ) [ 3 )
0, ,
0,
,
3
2
2

Note that sec

2
is also 2, but
3
sec1 (2) 6=

since

2
3

2 [ ) [ 3 )
6 0,
,
3
2
2

EXAMPLES: Find
tan1 0

cot1 0

cot1 1

sec1

csc1 2

2
csc1
3

Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

EXAMPLES: We have
tan1 0 = 0,

cot1 0 =

,
2

cot1 1 =

,
4

sec1

2=

,
4

csc1 2 =

,
6

csc1 =
3
3

(
)
( )
8
)
EXAMPLES: Evaluate sin arcsin
, arcsin sin
, and arcsin sin
.
7
7
7
(

Solution: Since arcsin x is the inverse of the restricted sine function, we have
sin(arcsin x) = x if x [1, 1]
(

)
sin arcsin
=
7
7

Therefore
but

arcsin(sin x) = x if x [/2, /2]

and

8
arcsin sin
7

)
arcsin sin
=
7
7

and

( (
))
(
( )
)

= arcsin sin
+
= arcsin sin
= arcsin sin
=
7
7
7
7
(

2
EXAMPLES: Evaluate cot arcsin
5

2
and sec arcsin
5

)
.

Solution 1: We have

cos
1 sin2
cot =
=
sin
sin

Since

sec =

1
1
=
cos
1 sin2

2
arcsin x , it follows that cos(arcsin x) 0. Therefore if = arcsin , then
2
2
5

1 sin2
1
cot =
and sec =
sin
1 sin2

hence
(

2
cot arcsin
5
and

and

2
sec arcsin
5

2
1 sin2 arcsin
5
(
)
2
sin arcsin
5

)
=
)
=

1 sin2

1
(

)
=

( )2
2
1

5
21
=
2
2
5

5
1
)=
( )2 = 21
2
2
arcsin
1
5
5

2
2
Solution 2: Put = arcsin , so sin = . Then
5
5

(
(
)
)
2
21
2
5
cot arcsin
and sec arcsin
= cot =
= sec =
5
2
5
21
(
)
EXAMPLES: Evaluate, if possible, cot sin1 2 and sin (tan1 2) .
5

5 !!!

!
!!
!
!!

21

Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

(
)
EXAMPLES: Evaluate, if possible, cot sin1 2 and sin (tan1 2) .
We rst note that sin1
does
( 2 1
) not exist, since 2 6 [1, 1], that is, 2 is not in the domain of
1
sin x. Therefore cot sin 2 does not exist.
We will evaluate sin (tan1 2) in two dierent ways:
Solution 1: We have
tan
sin =
1 + tan2
Since /2 < tan1 x < /2, it follows that cos (tan1 x) > 0. Therefore if = tan1 2, then
sin =
hence

tan
1 + tan2

(
)
tan (tan1 2)
2
2

sin tan1 2 =
=
=
1 + 22
5
1 + tan2 (tan1 2)

Solution 2: Put = tan1 2 = tan1

5

2
2
, so tan = . Then
1
1

(
)
2
sin tan1 2 = sin =
5
(
EXAMPLES: Evaluate sin cot1

))

(
and cos cot1

))
.

Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

(
1

EXAMPLES: Evaluate sin cot

))

(
1

and cos cot

))
.

Solution 1: We have
sin =
1

Since 0 < cot

1 + cot2

x < , it follows that sin(cot

(
1

sin cot

and

and
1

sin =
hence

1
1 + cot2

1 + cot2

cos =

1
2

)
, then

cot
1 + cot2

)) =

1
(
1+

2
)2 = 5
1
2

))
1
1
(
( ))
cot cot

1
1
2
2
cos cot1
=
=
=
(
(
))
(
)
2
2
5
1
1
1 + cot2 cot1
1+
2
2
1

(
1

Solution 2: Put = cot

and

(
1

1 + cot2 cot1
(

cot

x) > 0. Therefore if = cot

and

))

cos =

1
1
, so cot = =
. Then
2
2
(
( ))
1
2
1
sin cot

= sin =
2
5

(
1

cos cot

A
A

))

1
= cos =
5

A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A 5
A
A
A
A
A
A
A

-1
7

Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

THEOREM: We have
(a) (sin1 u)0 =

1
u0
1 u2

(b) (cos1 u)0 =

(c) (tan1 u)0 =

(d) (cot1 u)0 =

1
u0
2
1u

1
u0
1 + u2

1
(e) (sec1 u)0 =
u0
2
u u 1

1
u0
1 + u2

1
(csc1 u)0 =
u0
2
u u 1

(f)

Proof:
(a) Let y = sin1 u, then sin y = u. Therefore
0

(sin y) = u
Since

cos y y = u

u0
y =
cos y
0

1
sin
u} , it follows that cos y 0. Hence
|
{z
2
2
y

cos y =

1 sin2 y = [sin y = u] =

1 u2

y0 =

u0
u0
=
cos y
1 u2

(b) Let y = cos1 u, then cos y = u. Therefore

(cos y)0 = u0

sin y y 0 = u0

y0 =

u0
sin y

1
Since 0 cos
| {z u} , it follows that sin y 0. Hence
y

sin y =

1 cos2 y = [cos y = u] =

1 u2

y0 =

u0
u0
=
sin y
1 u2

(c) Let y = tan1 u, then tan y = u. Therefore

(tan y)0 = u0

sec2 y y 0 = u0

Note, that sec2 y = 1 + tan2 y = [tan y = u] = 1 + u2 . Hence

y0 =

u0
u0
=
sec2 y
1 + u2

y0 =

u0
sec2 y

Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions

(a) (sin1 u)0 =

1
u0
2
1u

(b) (cos1 u)0 =

(c) (tan1 u)0 =

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

(d) (cot1 u)0 =

1
u0
2
1u

1
u0
2
1+u

1
(e) (sec1 u)0 =
u0
2
u u 1

1
u0
1 + u2

(f)

1
(csc1 u)0 =
u0
u u2 1

(d) Let y = cot1 u, then cot y = u. Therefore

(cot y)0 = u0

csc2 y y 0 = u0

y0 =

u0
csc2 y

Note, that csc2 y = 1 + cot2 y = [cot y = u] = 1 + u2 . Hence

y0 =

u0
u0
=

csc2 y
1 + u2

(e) Let y = sec1 u, then sec y = u. Therefore

(sec y)0 = u0

sec y tan y y 0 = u0

y0 =

u0
sec y tan y

1
Since sec
| {z u} [0, /2) [, 3/2), it follows that tan y 0. Hence
y

sec y tan y = sec y sec2 y 1 = [sec y = u] = u u2 1

u0
u0

y =
=
sec y tan y
u u2 1
0

(f) Let y = csc1 u, then csc y = u. Therefore

(csc y)0 = u0

csc y cot y y 0 = u0

y0 =

u0
csc y cot y

1
Since csc
| {z u} (0, /2] (, 3/2], it follows that cot y 0. Hence
y

csc y cot y = csc y csc2 y 1 = [csc y = u] = u u2 1

EXAMPLES:
(a) Let f (x) = x tan1 (1 2x). Find f 0 (x).
(b) Let f (x) = 2sin
(c) Let f (x) =

1 (4x)

. Find f 0 (x).

sec1 (1 3x). Find f 0 (x).

9

u0
u0

y =
=
csc y cot y
u u2 1
0

Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions

(a) (sin1 u)0 =

1
u0
1 u2

(b) (cos1 u)0 =

(c) (tan1 u)0 =

2010 Kiryl Tsishchanka

(d) (cot1 u)0 =

1
u0
1 + u2

1
(e) (sec1 u)0 =
u0
2
u u 1

1
u0
2
1u

1
u0
1 + u2

1
(csc1 u)0 =
u0
2
u u 1

(f)

EXAMPLES:
(a) Let f (x) = x tan1 (1 2x). Then
f 0 (x) = [x tan1 (1 2x)]0 = x0 tan1 (1 2x) + x[tan1 (1 2x)]0
= 1 tan1 (1 2x) + x
= tan1 (1 2x) + x

1
(1 2x)0
2
1 + (1 2x)

1
(2)
1 + (1 2x)2

2x
1 + (1 2x)2
x
= tan1 (1 2x)
1 2x + 2x2
= tan1 (1 2x)

(b) Let f (x) = 2sin

1 (4x)

. Then
[
]0
[
]0
1
1
f 0 (x) = 2sin (4x)
= 2sin (4x) ln 2 sin1 (4x)
= 2sin
= 2sin

1 (4x)

1 (4x)

ln 2
ln 2

1 (4x)+2

2sin
=
(c) Let f (x) =

1
1 (4x)2
1
1 (4x)2

(4x)0
4

ln 2

1 (4x)2

sec1 (1 3x). Then

1
f 0 (x) = [(sec1 (1 3x))1/2 ]0 = (sec1 (1 3x))1/2 [sec1 (1 3x)]0
2
1
1

= (sec1 (1 3x))1/2
(1 3x)0
2
2
(1 3x) (1 3x) 1
1
1

(3)
= (sec1 (1 3x))1/2
2
(1 3x) (1 3x)2 1
=

2(1 3x) 3x(3x 2) sec1 (1 3x)

10