4.

7 INVERSE TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

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What You Should Learn
Evaluate and graph the inverse sine function.

Evaluate and graph the other inverse

trigonometric functions.

Evaluate and graph the compositions of

trigonometric functions.

2
Inverse Sine Function

3
Inverse Sine Function
For a function to have an inverse function, it must be one-to-onethat
is, it must pass the Horizontal Line Test.

Restrict the domain to the interval / 2 x

/ 2, the following properties hold.

1. On the interval [ / 2, / 2], the function

y = sin x is
increasing.

sin x has an inverse function 2. On the interval [ / 2, / 2], y = sin x

takes on its full
on this interval. range of values, 1 sin x 1.

By definition, the values of inverse 3. On the interval [ / 2, / 2], y = sin x is

trigonometric functions are always one-to-one.
in radians.
4
Inverse Sine Function
On the restricted domain / 2 x / 2, y = sin x has a
unique inverse function called the inverse sine function.

y = arcsin x or y = sin 1 x.

means the angle (or arc) whose sine is x.

5
Inverse Sine Function

6
Example 1 Evaluating the Inverse Sine Function

If possible, find the exact value.

a. b. c.

Solution:
a. Because for ,

. Angle whose sine is

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Example 1 Solution contd

b. Because for ,

. Angle whose sine is

c. It is not possible to evaluate y = sin 1 x when x = 2

because there is no angle whose sine is 2.

Remember that the domain of the inverse sine function

is [1, 1].

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Example 2 Graphing the Arcsine Function

Sketch a graph of y = arcsin x.

Solution:
In the interval [ / 2, / 2],

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Example 2 Solution contd

y = arcsin x

Domain: [1, 1]
Range: [ / 2, / 2]

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Other Inverse Trigonometric
Functions

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Other Inverse Trigonometric Functions
The cosine function is decreasing and one-to-one on the
interval 0 x .

cos x has an inverse function on this interval.

On the interval 0 x the cosine function has an inverse

functionthe inverse cosine function:
y = arccos x or y = cos 1 x.

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Other Inverse Trigonometric Functions

DOMAIN: [1,1] DOMAIN: [1,1] DOMAIN:

RANGE: RANGE: [0, ] RANGE:
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Example 3 Evaluating Inverse Trigonometric Functions

Find the exact value.

a. arccos b. cos 1(1)

c. arctan 0 d. tan 1 (1)

Solution:
a. Because cos ( / 4) = , and / 4 lies in [0, ],

. Angle whose cosine is

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Example 3 Solution contd

b. Because cos = 1, and lies in [0, ],

cos 1(1) = . Angle whose cosine is 1

c. Because tan 0 = 0, and 0 lies in ( / 2, / 2),

arctan 0 = 0. Angle whose tangent is 0

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Example 3 Solution contd

d. Because tan( / 4) = 1, and / 4 lies in ( / 2, / 2),

tan 1 (1) = . Angle whose tangent is 1

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Compositions of Functions

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Compositions of Functions
For all x in the domains of f and f 1, inverse functions have the
properties

f (f 1(x)) = x and f 1(f (x)) = x.

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Compositions of Functions
These inverse properties do not apply for arbitrary values
of x and y.

The property arcsin(sin y) = y

is not valid for values of y outside the interval [ / 2, / 2].

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Example 5 Using Inverse Properties
If possible, find the exact value.

a. tan[arctan(5)] b. c. cos(cos 1 )

Solution:
a. Because 5 lies in the domain of the arctan function, the
inverse property applies, and you have

tan[arctan(5)] = 5.

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Example 5 Solution contd

b. In this case, 5 / 3 does not lie within the range of the

arcsine function, / 2 y / 2.

However, 5 / 3 is coterminal with

which does lie in the range of the arcsine function,

and you have

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Example 5 Solution contd

c. The expression cos(cos 1) is not defined because

cos 1 is not defined.

Remember that the domain of the inverse cosine

function is [1, 1].

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Example 6 Evaluating Compositions of Functions

2
Find the exact value: tan arccos
3

2 2
Let = arccos , then cos = > 0, therefore, u is in QI
3 3

2
2
2 sin 1 3 5
tan arccos = tan = = =
3 cos 2 2
3

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Example 6 Evaluating Compositions of Functions

3
Find the exact value: cos arc( )
5

3 3
Let = arc( ), then sin = < 0, therefore, u is in
5 5
Q IV

2
3 3 4
cos arc( ) = 1 =
5 5 5

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Example
Write the expression as an algebraic expression in x:
1
sin arccos 3 , 0
3

sin arccos 3 = 1 9 2

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