A-Level Maths:

Core 3
for Edexcel

C3.3 Trigonometry 1

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Contents The inverse trigonometric functions

The inverse trigonometric functions

The reciprocal trigonometric functions
Trigonometric identities
Examination-style question

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The inverse of the sine function

Suppose we wish to find θ such that

sin θ = x
In other words, we want to find the angle whose sine is x.
This is written as θ = sin–1 x or θ = arcsin x

In this context, sin–1 x means the inverse of sin x.

This is not the same as (sin x)–1 which is the reciprocal of

sin x, 1 .
sin x

Is y = sin–1 x a function?

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The inverse of the sine function

We can see from the graph y

y = sin x
of y = sin x between x = –2π
and x = 2π that it is a many- x
to-one function:
y
The inverse of this graph is y = sin–1 x
not a function because it is
one-to-many:

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The inverse of the sine function

However, remember that if we use a calculator to find sin–1 x

(or arcsin x) the calculator will give a value between –90° and
90° (or between – 2 ≤ x ≤ 2 if working in radians).
There is only one value of sin–1 x in this range, called the
principal value.
So, if we restrict the domain of f(x) = sin x to –  ≤ x ≤  we
2 2
have a one-to-one function:
y
1 y = sin x

  x
 2 2
–1

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The graph of y = sin–1 x

Therefore the inverse of f(x) = sin x, – 2 ≤ x ≤ 2 , is also a

one-to-one function:
f –1(x) = sin–1 x
y y = sin–1 x
The graph of y = sin x –1 
2
is the reflection of 1 y = sin x
y = sin x in the line y = x:
(Remember the scale 1 2 x
 2 –1
used on the x- and y-axes –1
must be the same.)  2
The domain of sin–1 x is the same as the range of sin x :
–1 ≤ x ≤ 1
The range of sin–1 x is the same as the restricted domain of
sin x :
– 2 ≤ sin–1 x ≤ 2
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The inverse of cosine and tangent

We can restrict the domains of cos x and tan x in the same way
as we did for sin x so that

if f(x) = cos x for 0≤x≤π

then f –1(x) = cos–1 x for –1 ≤ x ≤ 1.

And if f(x) = tan x for – 2 < x < 2

then f –1(x) = tan–1 x for x .

The graphs cos–1 x and tan–1 x can be obtained by reflecting

the graphs of cos x and tan x in the line y = x.

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The graph of y = cos–1 x
y
y= cos–1 x



2
1

0   x
–1 1 2

–1 y = cosx
The domain of cos–1 x is the same as the range of cos x :
–1 ≤ x ≤ 1
The range of cos–1 x is the same as the restricted domain of
cos x :
0 ≤ cos–1 x ≤ π
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The graph of y = tan–1 x
y y = tan
tanxx


2 y = tan–1 x

 2 
2
x

 2

The domain of tan–1 x is the same as the range of tan x :

x
The range of tan–1 x is the same as the restricted domain of
tan x :
– 2 < tan–1 x < 2
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Problems involving inverse trig functions

3
Find the exact value of sin–1 2
in radians.

To solve this, remember the angles whose trigonometric ratios

can be written exactly:
   
radians 0 6 4 3 2

degrees 0° 30° 45° 60° 90°

1 1 3
sin 0 2 2 2
1
3 1 1
cos 1 2 2 2 0
tan 0
1
3 1 3 
From this table
sin–1 2
3
= 3
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Problems involving inverse trig functions

Find the exact value of sin–1  2

2 in radians.

This is equivalent to solving the trigonometric equation

cos θ = – 22 for 0 ≤ θ ≤ π
this is the range of cos–1x

We know that cos  = 1 = 22

4 2
Sketching y = cos θ for 0 ≤ θ ≤ π :
1
From the graph, cos 34 = – 22
2
2

0   3  θ
So, cos–1  = 34
4 2 4 2
 2
2
2
–1

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Problems involving inverse trig functions

Find the exact value of cos (sin–1 4

7 ) in radians.

7 7
Let sin–1 4
=θ so sin θ = 4

Using the following right-angled triangle: 4

7
7 + a2 = 16 a=3 θ
3
The length of the third side is 3 so
3
cos θ = 4
7
But sin–1 4
= θ so
7 3
cos (sin–1 4
) = 4

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Contents The reciprocal trigonometric functions

The inverse trigonometric functions

The reciprocal trigonometric functions
Trigonometric identities
Examination-style question

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The reciprocal trigonometric functions

The reciprocal trigonometric functions are cosecant, secant

and cotangent.
They are related to the three main trigonometric ratios as
follows:
1 1 1
cosec x = sec x = cot x =
sin x cos x tan x

This is short This is short This is short

for cosecant. for secant. for cotangent.

Notice that the first letter of sin, cos and tan happens to be the
same as the third letter of the corresponding reciprocal
functions cosec, sec and cot.

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The graph of sec x

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The graph of cosec x

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The graph of cot x

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Properties of the graph of sec x

The properties of the graphs of sec x, cosec x and cot x can be

summarized in the following table:
odd
asymptotes f(x) = 0
function domain range period or
at x = when x =
even
x
f(x) = f(x) ≤ –1, 90°+180n°,
x ≠ 90°+180n° never 360° even
sec x f(x) ≥ 1 n
n
x
f(x) = f(x) ≤ –1, 180n°,
x ≠ 180n° never 360° odd
cosec x f(x) ≥ 1 n
n
x
f(x) = 180n°, 90°+180n°,
x ≠ 180n° f(x)  180° odd
cot x n n
n

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Transforming the graph of f(x) = sec x

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Transforming the graph of f(x) = cosec x

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Transforming the graph of f(x) = cot x

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Problems involving reciprocal trig functions

Use a calculator to find, to 2 d.p., the value of:

a) sec 85° b) cosec 200° c) cot –70°

1
a) sec 85° = = 11.47 (to 2 d.p.)
cos85

1
b) cosec 220° = = –1.56 (to 2 d.p.)
sin220

1
c) cot –70° = = –0.36 (to 2 d.p.)
tan  70

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Problems involving reciprocal trig functions

Find the exact value of:

a) cosec 6 b) cot 2 c) sec – 3
3 4

a) sin 6 = 1
2
so, cosec 6 = 2

b) tan 2 = –tan (π – 2 ) θ is in the 2nd quadrant

3 3 so tan θ = tan (π – θ)
= – tan 3
=– 3
so, cot 23 = – 1 = – 3
3 3
c) cos – 34 = –cos(– 3 + π) θ is in the 3rd quadrant
4
so cos θ = –cos (θ + π)
= – cos 
4
=– 1
2
so, sec – 34 = – 2
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Problems involving reciprocal trig functions
3
Given that x is an acute angle and tan x = 4
find the exact
values of cot x, sec x and cosec x.

Using the following right-angled triangle:

5
The length of the hypotenuse is 3
x
9 +16 = 5
4
So
3 4 3
tan x = 4 cos x = 5 sin x = 5

Therefore
4 5 5
cot x = 3 sec x = 4 cosec x = 3

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Problems involving reciprocal trig functions

Prove that tan x sin x  sec x  cos x.

LHS = tan x sin x

sin x
= sin x
cos x
sin2 x
=
cos x
1  cos2 x
= Using sin2x + cos2x = 1
cos x
1 cos2 x
= 
cos x cos x
= sec x  cos x = RHS
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Problems involving reciprocal trig functions

Solve sec (x + 20°) = 2 for 0 ≤ x ≤ 360°.

sec( x + 20 ) = 2

1
=2
cos( x + 20 )

1
cos (x + 20°) =
2

x + 20° = 60° or 300°

x = 40° or 280°

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Contents Trigonometric identities

The inverse trigonometric functions

The reciprocal trigonometric functions
Trigonometric identities
Examination-style question

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Trigonometric identities

Earlier in the course you met the following trigonometric

identities:
sin
 tan (cos  0) 1
cos

sin2   cos2   1 2

We can write these identities in terms of sec θ, cosec θ and cot θ.

Using 1
1 1 cos
cot  = = =
tan sin
cos  sin
So
cos
 cot  (sin  0)
sin
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Trigonometric identities

sin2   cos2   1 2

Dividing 2 through by cos2θ gives

sin2  cos2  1
+ 
cos2  cos2  cos2 

tan2  +1  sec 2 

Dividing 2 through by sin2θ gives

sin2  cos2  1
+ 
sin  sin  sin2 
2 2

1+ cot 2   cosec 2

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Trigonometric identities

tan x
Show that   cot x.
1  sec x
2

tan x
LHS =
1  sec 2 x
tan x
= Using sec2x = tan2x + 1
1  tan2 x  1
tan x
=
 tan2 x
1
=
 tan x
=  cot x = RHS
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Trigonometric identities

Given that x is an obtuse angle and cosec x = 5, find the

exact value of tan x.

cosec x = 5
cosec2 x = 25
Using cosec2 x ≡ 1 + cot2 x,
1 + cot2 x = 25
cot2 x = 24
cot x = ±√24 = ±2√6
x is obtuse and so cot x is negative (since tan x is negative in
the second quadrant). Therefore:
1
cot x = 2 6  tan x = 
2 6
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Trigonometric equations

Solve 2sec 2  = 2 + tan for 0    360

Using sec 2   1+ tan2  :

2(1+ tan2  ) = 2 + tan
2 + 2tan2   2  tan = 0
2 tan2   tan = 0
tan (2tan  1) = 0
tan = 0 or tan = ½
θ = 0°, 180°, 360° θ = 26.6°, 206.6° (to 1 d.p.)
The complete solution set is θ = 0°, 26.6°, 180°, 206.6°, 360°.

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Contents Examination-style question

The inverse trigonometric functions

The reciprocal trigonometric functions
Trigonometric identities
Examination-style question

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Examination-style question

a) Prove that sec θ ≡ cos θ + sin θ tan θ.

b) Hence solve the equation 2 cos θ = 3 cosec θ – 2 sin θ tan θ
in the interval 0° < θ < 360°. Give all solutions in degrees
to 1 decimal place.

sin
a) RHS = cos + sin
cos

cos2  sin2 
= +
cos cos

1
=
cos
= sec  = LHS
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The reciprocal trigonometric functions

b) 2cos = 3cosec   2sin tan

2cos + 2sin tan = 3cosec 
2(cos + sin tan ) = 3cosec 
Using the result given in part a):
2sec  = 3cosec 
2 3
=
cos sin
sin 3
=
cos 2
tan = 32
 = 56.3, 236.3 (to 1 d.p.)
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