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UNIT XIII: INVERSE TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTION

13.0 Intended Learning Outcomes

At the end of this learning packet, the students are expected solve for
the derivatives of inverse trigonometric function.

13.1 Introduction

Derivatives of Inverse Trigonometric Functions

Differentiation of inverse trigonometric functions is a small

and specialized topic. However, these particular derivatives are
interesting to us for two reasons. First, computation of these
derivatives provides a good workout in the use of the chain rule,
the definition of inverse functions, and some basic trigonometry.
Second, it turns out that the derivatives of the inverse
trigonometric functions are actually algebraic functions. This is an
unexpected and interesting connection between two seemingly
very different classes of functions.

It is possible to form inverse functions for restricted versions of all

six basic trigonometric functions. One can construct and use an
inverse cosecant function, for example. However, it is generally
enough to consider the inverse sine and the inverse tangent
functions.

13.2 Topics and Discussion

13.2.1 Inverse in Functions

Consider an equation solved explicitly for x in term of y

(1) x=𝜑(y)
Except where 𝜑 is independent of y, equation (1) also define y as a
function of x
(2) y=𝑓 (x)

When two function 𝜑 (y) and (x) are connected in this way, each is said
To be the inverse of the other. Note that here “inverse” does not mean
“reciprocal”
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If 𝜑(y) is an algebraic function, 𝜄(x) can sometimes be explicitly

expressed in algebraic symbol. In fact, nothing is new in such cases
except the name “inverse function” because the situation has been
familiar to us since the days of elementary algebra. For example,

13.2.2 Inverse Trigonometric Functions

Let y be defined as a function of x by the equation

sin y = x;
i.e., x is the since of y, or, what is exactly the same thing, y is an angle whose since is
x. when this equation is solved for y, new kind of function, neither algebraic nor
trigonometric, is obtained; we must therefore devise a new symbol to denote this
function.

𝑦 = arcsin 𝑥 𝑖𝑓 sin 𝑦 = 𝑥

That is, the function arcsin x is he inverse of the sine, by the definition of inverse
functions.
Similarly, we lay down the definition

𝑦 = 𝑎𝑟𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑥 𝑖𝑓 cos 𝑦 = 𝑥

𝑦 = arctan 𝑥 𝑖𝑓 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑦 = 𝑥

The new function here defined are called inverse trigonometric functions.
The graph of the inverse function

(1) y = arcsin x

is obtained by interchanging the roles of x in the graph (figure below) of

y = arcsin x. Thus the graph of (1) can be found by ref
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13.2.3 Derivatives of the Inverse Trigonometric Function

𝒅 𝒅𝒖/𝒅𝒙
𝟏. (𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝒖) =
𝒅𝒙 √𝟏−𝒖𝟐
𝒅 𝒅𝒖/𝒅𝒙
𝟐. 𝒅𝒙 (𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝒖) = −
√𝟏−𝒖𝟐
𝒅 𝒅𝒖/𝒅𝒙
𝟑. 𝒅𝒙 (𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝒖) = 𝟏+𝒖𝟐
𝒅 𝒅𝒖/𝒅𝒙
𝟒. (𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒄𝒐𝒕 𝒖) = −
𝒅𝒙 𝟏+𝒖𝟐
𝒅 𝒅𝒖/𝒅𝒙
𝟓. (𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒔𝒆𝒄 𝒖) =
𝒅𝒙 𝒖√𝒖𝟐−𝟏
𝒅 𝒅𝒖/𝒅𝒙
𝟔. 𝒅𝒙 (𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒄𝒔𝒄 𝒖) = −
𝒖√𝒖𝟐−𝟏

Example 1. Differentiate y = Arcsin (2 cos 𝜃).

Here, u = 2 cos𝜃, du/d𝜃 = -2sin 𝜃, and u2= (2 co𝜃)2=4cos2𝜃

From the equation above, hence:

𝒅𝒚 −𝟐 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽
=
𝒅𝜽 √𝟏−𝟒𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟐 𝜽
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Example 2. A man on a wharf 20 ft. above the water pulls in a rope to which a boat is
tied, at the rate of 4 ft. per sec. find the rate of change of the angle 𝜃 (fig. 83)
when there is 25 ft. of rope out.
By the figure,
20
𝜃 = 𝐴𝑟𝑐𝑠𝑖𝑛 ,
𝑟
−20𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝑟
𝑑𝜃 −20
𝑟2 𝑑𝑡
= = 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑡
√1− 2
400 𝑟 √𝑟2 −400
𝑟

The length of the out is decreasing at the rate of 4 ft. per sec. hence

𝑑𝑟
= -4
𝑑𝑡
So that when r= 25,
𝒅𝜽 𝟏𝟔
= rad. per sec.
𝒅𝒕 𝟕𝟓

EXERCISE 1: Find the first derivative of the function given

1. y= Arcsin 4x.

2. 𝜃 =Arctan 3𝜑

3. u=Arctan 𝑧
𝑎

4. u=Arcsin𝑎𝑧 ,>0.

5. f (𝜔)=Arctan (1+4𝜔).

6. A ladder 15 ft. long leans against a vertical wall. If the top slides down at 2
ft. per sec., how fast is the angle of elevation of the ladder decreasing,
when the lower end is 12 ft. from the wall?

7. A car drives S. at 20 mi per hr. Another car, starting from the same point
at the same time and traveling 40 mi. per hr., goes E. for 30 min., then
turns N. find the rate of rotation of the line joining the cars (a) 1 hr. after
the start; (b) at the time the second car makes its turns.
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13.7 References

1. Hughes-Hallet, Gleason, McCallum, et. al., “Calculus: Single and

Multivariable, 6th ed., 2013
2. Larson, Ron, Edwards, Bruce, Calculus of a Single Variable 10th
edition, Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning, 2014
3. Love, Clyde, Differential and Integral Calculus, 1916