Inverse

2 Trigonometric
Functions

1. Definition: If f : X Y is one-one onto (bijective) function, then there exists a unique function
f –1 : Y X which assigns each element y Y to a unique element x X such that f(x) = y and is
called inverse function of f.
–1
i.e., f (y) = x f(x) = y, x X and y Y
Principal value branches: Since trigonometric functions being periodic are in general not bijective
(one-one onto) and thus for existence of inverse of trigonometric function we restrict their domain
and co-domain to make it bijective. This restriction of domain and range gives principal value
branch of inverse trigonometric function which are as follows:
Range
Functions Domain
(Principal value branch)
–r r
y = sin–1 x [– 1, 1] : , D
2 2
y = cos–1 x [– 1, 1] [0, ]
–r r
y = cosec–1 x R – (– 1, 1) : , D – { 0}
2 2

[0, r] – % /
r
y = sec–1 x R – (– 1, 1)
2

a– , k
r r
y = tan–1 x R
2 2
y = cot–1 x R (0, )
The value of an inverse trigonometric function which lies in its principal value branch is called the
principal value of that inverse trigonometric function.
2. Principal and general values:
r r
(a) If sin = sin then its principal value is i = a, – < a < and its general value is
n 2 2
= n + (–1) , n Z
(b) If cos = cos then its principal value is = , 0< < and its general value is
= 2n ,n Z
r r
(c) If tan = tan then its principal value is i = a, – 1 a 1 and its general value is
2 2
=n ,n Z

Properties of Inverse Trigonometric Functions

1. (i) sin–1(sin ) = , for all [– /2, /2]
 (ii) cos–1(cos ) = , for all [0, ]
–1
(iii) tan (tan ) = , for all (– /2, /2)
–1
(iv) cosec (cosec ) = , for all [– /2, /2], ! 0
–1
(v) sec (sec ) = , for all [0, ], /2
–1
(vi) cot (cot ) = , for all (0, )
–1
2. (i) sin (sin x) = x, for all x [–1, 1]
–1
(ii) cos (cos x) = x, for all x [–1, 1]
–1
(iii) tan (tan x) = x, for all x R
–1
(iv) cosec (cosec x) = x, for all x (– , –1] [1, )
–1
(v) sec (sec x) = x, for all x (– , –1] [1, )
–1
(vi) cot (cot x) = x, for all x R
3. (i) sin –1 b x l = cosec –1 x,
1
for all x (– , –1] [1, )

(ii) cos –1 b x l = sec –1 x,

1
for all x (– , –1] [1, )

1
(iii) tan –1 c m = ) cot x,
–1
for all x > 0
x
–r + cot –1 x, for all x < 0

4. (i) sin–1 (–x) = – sin–1 x, for all x [–1, 1]

(ii) cos–1 (–x) = – cos–1 x, for all x [–1, 1]
(iii) tan–1 (–x) = – tan–1 x, for all x R
–1 –1
(iv) cosec (–x) = – cosec x, for all x (– , –1] [1, )
(v) sec–1 (–x) = – sec–1 x, for all x (– , –1] [1, )
(vi) cot–1 (–x) = – cot–1 x, for all x R
r
5. (i) sin – 1 x + cos –1 x = , for all x [–1, 1]
2
r
(ii) tan –1 x + cot –1 x = , for all x R
2
r
(iii) sec –1 x + cosec –1 x = , for all x (– , –1] [1, )
2

6. (i) sin –1 x + sin –1 y if –1 x, y 1 and x2 + y2 1

–1 2 2
or
= sin {x 1 – y + y 1 – x }, if xy < 0 and x2 + y2 > 1
–1 –1
(ii) sin x – sin y if –1 x, y 1 and x2 + y2 1
or
= sin –1 {x 1 – y 2 – y 1 – x 2 }, if xy > 0 and x2 + y2 > 1
–1 –1
7. (i) cos x + cos y
= cos –1 {xy – 1 – x 2 1 – y 2 }, if –1 x, y 1 and x + y 0

–1 –1
(ii) cos x – cos y
= cos –1 {xy + 1 – x 2 1 – y 2 }, if –1 x, y 1 and x y
 x+y
8. (i) tan –1 x + tan –1 y = tan –1 d n, if xy < 1
1 – xy
x–y
(ii) tan –1 x – tan –1 y = tan –1 d n, if xy > – 1
1 + xy

(i) 2 sin –1 x = sin –1 _ 2x 1 – x 2 i,

1 1
9. if – #x#
2 2

(ii) 2 cos –1 x = cos –1 ^ 2x 2 – 1 h , if 0 x 1

2x
(iii) 2 tan –1 x = tan –1 d n, if – 1 < x < 1
1 – x2
1 1
10. (i) 3sin–1 x = sin–1 (3x – 4x3), if – #x#
2 2
1
(ii) 3cos–1 x = cos–1 (4x3 – 3x), if #x#1
2
3x – x 3
(iii) 3 tan –1 x = tan –1 e o,
1 1
2
if – <x<
1 – 3x 3 3
2x
11. (i) 2 tan –1 x = sin –1 d n, if –1 x 1
1 + x2
1 – x2
(ii) 2 tan –1 x = cos –1 e o, if 0 x<
1 + x2
x
12. (i) sin –1 x = cos –1 _ 1 – x 2 i = tan –1 f p
1 – x2

1 – x2
= cot –1 e o = sec –1 e
1 –1 1
o = cosec c m
x 1– x 2 x

1 – x2
(ii) cos –1 x = sin –1 _ 1 – x 2 i = tan –1 e o
x
x –1 1
n = sec d n = cosec e
1
= cot –1 d o
–1
1– x 2 x 1 – x2

x 1
(iii) tan –1 x = sin –1 d n = cos e o
–1
1 + x2 1 + x2

1 + x2
= cot –1 c m = sec –1 _ 1 + x 2 i = cosec –1 e o
1
x x
Important substitution to simplify trigonometrical expressions involving inverse trigonometrical
functions.
Expression Substitution
2 2
a +x x = a tan or x = a cot
2 2
a –x x = a sin or x = a cos
2 2
x –a x = a sec or x = a cosec
a+x a–x
or x = a cos 2
a–x a+x
 JK b NO
KK 2 tan a 1 – tan 2 OO
KK 2 2 OO
KK . OO
2 a b
KK 1 + tan 2 OO
2 1 + tan 2
–1 K
<Dividing N r and D r by a1 + tan 2 kd1 + tan 2 nF
K OO a b
= tan K OO
KK a b OO 2 2
KK 1 – tan 2 2 tan OO
KK 2 2
KK + OO
2 a b OO
KK 1 + tan 2 1 + tan 2 O
L 2 P
sin a. cos b
= tan –1 e o = RHS
cos a + sin b
30. If a1, a2, a3, ...., an is an arithmetic progression with common difference d, then evaluate the
following expression. [NCERT Exemplar, HOTS]
d d d d
tan >tan –1 f + p + tan –1 f
+ p + tan –1 f
+ p + .... + tan –1 f
+ pH
1 a1 a2 1 a2 a3 1 a3 a4 1 an–1 an

Sol. We have, a1 = a, a2 = a + d, a3 = a + 2d
and d = a2 – a1 = a3 – a2 = a4 – a3 = .... = an – an – 1
d d d d
Given that, tan >tan –1 f + p + tan –1 f p + tan –1 f p + ... + tan –1 f pH
1 a1 a2 1 + a2 a3 1 + a3 a4 1 + an–1 an

a2 – a1 a – a2 a –a
= tan >tan + tan –1 3 + ... + tan –1 n n–1 H
–1
1 + a2 .a1 1 + a3 .a2 1 + an .an–1
= tan [(tan –1 a2 – tan –1 a1) + (tan –1 a3 – tan –1 a2) + ... + (tan –1 an – tan –1 an–1)]

= tan [tan –1 an – tan –1 a1]

an – a1 x–y
= tan >tan H >a tan –1 x – tan –1 y = tan –1 e oH
–1
1 + an . a1 1 + xy
an – a1
= [a tan (tan –1 x) = x]
1 + an .a1

PROFICIENCY EXERCISE

1. Choose and write the correct option in each of the following questions.
(i) Which of the following corresponds to the principal value branch of tan–1 x?

(a) d – , n (b) <– , F (c) d – , n – {0}

r r r r r r
(d) (0, )
2 2 2 2 2 2

(ii) The value of tan –1 (1) + cos –1 c – m + sin –1 c – m corresponding to principal branches is
1 1
2 2
3r r r 3r
(a) (b) (c) – (d) –
4 4 4 4

(iii) The principal value of sin –1 d n is

– 3
2
2r r 4r 5r
(a) – (b) – (c) (d)
3 3 3 3

66 Xam idea Mathematics–XII

 (iv) The value of tan (sin–1 x) is
x x 1 – x2 1 + x2
(a) (b) (c) x (d) x
2
+
1 x 1 – x2
1 1
(v) If tan –1 x = tan –1 + tan –1 , then x is equal to
2 3
r r r
(a) (b) (c) (d)
4 3 2
(vi) If tan–1 x + 2 cot–1 x = , then x equals
1
(a) 0 (b) 1 (c) –1 (d)
2
(vii) Which of the following is the principal value branch of cosec–1 x?

(c) ; , E (d) ; , E – {0}

–r r
(a) d , n (b) [0, r] – ( 2
r –r r –r r
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
r
(viii) If cos –1 x + cos –1 y = , then the value of sin–1x + sin–1y is
2
r 2r
(a) 0 (b) (c) (d)
2 3
2.

(i) The principal value of cos –1 d – n is _____________ .

3
2

(ii) The set of values of sec –1 c m is _____________ .

1
[NCERT Exemplar]
2
(iii) The value of cos (sin –1 x + cos –1 x), x # 1 is _____________ . [NCERT Exemplar]

(iv) The value of sin –1 d cos c mn is _____________ .

43r
5

3. What is the domain of the function sin–1 x? [CBSE (F) 2010]

–1
4. Write the principal value of cot (– 3 ) . [CBSE (AI) 2010]
–1 –1
5. If 4 cos x + sin x = x.
–1
6. Evaluate: tan (tan (–4)) [NCERT Exemplar]

7. Write the principal value of cos –1 c m – 2 sin –1 c – m

1 1
[CBSE Delhi 2012]
2 2
8. Write the value of sin (cot–1 x)

9. Find the value of sin (2 sin–1 (0.6))

10. Show that sin –1 _ 2x 1 – x 2 i = 2 sin –1 x, –

1 1
#x#
2 2
1
11. Write the simplest form of tan –1 , x > 1.
2
x –1
–1 1
12. Prove that: 3 sin–1 x = sin–1 (3x – 4x3), xe < , F [CBSE 2018]
2 2
x
13. Write the simplest form of tan –1 f p, x < a
a – x2
2

14. Write the principal value of tan –1 3 – cot –1 ^ – 3 h . [CBSE (AI) 2013, CBSE (Delhi) 2018]
 3 3 6
15. Prove that: cos c sin –1 + cot –1 m = [CBSE (AI) 2012]
5 2 5 13

Solve: tan –1 ^x + 1h + tan –1 (x – 1) = tan –1

8
16. [CBSE (AI) 2008]
31
17. If sin[cot–1 (x + 1)] = cos(tan–1 x x. [CBSE Delhi 2015]

Evaluate: tan ' 2 tan –1 c m + 1

1 r
18. [CBSE Ajmer 2015]
5 4
19. Prove the following:
xy + 1 yz + 1
cot –1 d x – y n + cot –1 d y – z n + cot –1 a z – x k = 0 (0 < xy, yz, zx < 1) [CBSE Allahabad 2015]
zx + 1

20. Prove the following:

1 – x2 1 – x2
sin =tan –1 d n + cos –1 e oG = 1, 0 < x < 1 [CBSE Guwahati 2015]
2x 1 + x2
a cos x + b
21. Prove that: 2 tan –1 d tan n = cos –1 c m
a–b x
[CBSE Patna 2015]
a+b 2 a + b cos x

22. If tan –1 c m + tan –1 c m + ... + tan –1 d n = tan –1 i

1 1 1
.
1 + 1.2 1 + 2.3 1 n. (n + 1)
+
[CBSE (F) 2015]
1 + cos x + 1 – cos x
23. Prove that: tan –1 f p=
r x 3r
– , where r < x < [CBSE Sample Paper 2016]
1 + cos x – 1 – cos x 4 2 2

24. Solve for x: tan –1 c m = tan –1 , x > 0

2–x 1 x
[CBSE (East) 2016]
2+x 2 2

25. Prove that: 2 sin –1 c m – tan –1 c m =

3 17 r
[CBSE (East) 2016]
5 31 4
6x – 8x 3
26. Prove that tan –1 e o – tan –1 d
4x 1
2n
2
= tan –1 2x;| 2x | < . [CBSE (North) 2016]
1 – 12x 1 – 4x 3

27. Solve for x: tan –1 ; E + tan –1 <

x–3 x+3
F=
r
[CBSE (AI) 2017]
x–4 x+4 4
1
28. If tan –1 x – cot –1 x = tan e o, x sec –1 b x l .
2
x
3
[CBSE 2019 (65/3/1)]

b l + sin –1 b x l =
3 4 r
29. If sin–1 x x. [CBSE 2019 (65/3/2)]
2

30. Find the value of x, if tan ;sec –1 b x lE = sin ^tan –1 2h , x > 0.

1
[CBSE 2019 (65/3/3)]

+ tan –1 = sin –1 c m
1 2 1 4
31. Prove that tan –1 [CBSE 2020 (65/2/1)]
4 9 2 5

Answers
1. (i) (a) (ii) (a) (iii) (b) (iv) (b) (v) (a) (vi) (a)
(vii) (d) (viii) (b)
5r –r
2. (i) (ii) z (iii) 0 (iv)
6 10
 5r 3 2r 1
3. –1 # x # 1 4. 5. 6. –4 7. 8.
6 2 3 1 + x2
r x r 1 1
9. 0.96 11. – sec –1 x 13. sin –1 a 14. – 16. 17. x = –
2 2 4 2
17 n 2 17 r
18. 22. i = 24. x = 27. ! 28. 3; 29. 5
7 n+2 3 2 6
5
30.
3

SELF-ASSESSMENT TEST
Time allowed: 1 hour Max. marks: 30
1. Choose and write the correct option in the following questions. (4 × 1 = 4)

(i) sin d – sin –1 c – mn is equal to

r 1
3 2
1 1 1
(a) (b) (c) (d) 1
2 3 4
(ii) If cos csin + cos –1 x m = 0 , then x is equal to
–1 3
5
1 3
(a) (b) (c) 0 (d) 1
5 5
r
(iii) If tan –1 a + tan –1 b = , ab < 1 then the value of a + b + ab is
4
(a) 0 (b) –1 (c) 1 (d) 2
2
(iv) Simplify the expression tan * sin –1 4
1 2x 1 1– y
+ cos –1
2 1 + x2 2 1 + y2
x+y x+y
(a) (b) (c) xy (d) x 1–x2 + y 1–x2
1 + xy 1 – xy
2. (2 × 1 = 2)
r
(i) If cot –1 x + cot –1 y = then the value of x + y – xy is _____________ .
4
(ii) The domain of cos–1 (2x – 1) is _____________ .
Solve the following questions. (2 × 1 = 2)

3. Write the principal value of cos –1 c m – 2 sin –1 d – n.

1 3
2 2
4. Write the principal value of cot –1 (– 3 ) .
Solve the following questions. (5 × 2 = 10)

5. Prove that: 3 cos –1 x = cos –1 (4x 3 – 3x), x ! ; , 1E

1
2
3l 2 x – x 3
6. Write the simplest form of tan –1 e o, l > 0;
–l l
3 2
#x# .
l – 3lx 3 3

7. Prove that: cot –1 e o + cot –1 e o + cot –1 d

xy + 1 yz + 1 zx + 1
n = 0 (0 < xy, yz, zx < 1)
x–y y–z z–x
 8. Write the principal value of cos –1 c m – 2 sin –1 c – m
1 1
2 2
x
9. Write the simplest form of tan –1 f p, x < a
a – x2
2

Solve the following questions. (4 × 3 = 12)

10. Prove that: cot c – 2 cot –1 3 m = 7

r
4

11. Prove that: 2 sin –1 c m – tan –1 c m =

3 17 r
5 31 4
6x – 8x 3
12. Prove that tan –1 e o – tan –1 d
4x 1
2n
2
= tan –1 2x;| 2x | < .
1 – 12x 1 – 4x 3
13. Prove the following:
1 – x2 1 – x2
sin =tan –1 d n + cos –1 e oG = 1, 0 < x < 1
2x 1 + x2

Answers
1. (i) (d) (ii) (b) (iii) (c) (iv) (b)
2. (i) –1 (ii) [0, 1]

6. 3 tan –1 c m
5r x 2r x
3. 4. x = 8. 9. sin –1 a
6 l 3