SECTION 3.

3 DERIVATIVES OF THE INVERSE

TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS: OBJECTIVES
Find the derivative of an inverse function
Find the derivative of the inverse trigonometric functions
 THE DERIVATIVE OF AN INVERSE
FUNCTION
Derivative of an Inverse Function
Let 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑥 = 𝑔(𝑦) be inverse functions. Suppose
𝑓 is differentiable on an open interval containing 𝑥0 and
𝑦0 = 𝑓(𝑥0 ). If 𝑓 𝑥0 ≠ 0, then 𝑔 is differentiable at
𝑦0 = 𝑓(𝑥0 ) and
𝑑 ′
1
𝑔(𝑦)ቚ = 𝑔 𝑦0 =
𝑑𝑦 𝑦0 𝑓′(𝑥0 )
𝑑 𝑑
where the notation 𝑔(𝑦)ȁ𝑦0 = 𝑔′ 𝑦0 means 𝑔(𝑦)
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
evaluated at 𝑦0 .
 Relationship between
the slope of a function and its inverse
• The slope of the inverse function 𝑔(𝑦) at 𝑦0
is the same as the reciprocal of the slope of
the function 𝑓(𝑥) at 𝑥0 .
• Or
𝑑𝑥 1
• = 𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
 FINDING THE DERIVATIVE OF AN
INVERSE FUNCTION EXAMPLE
Example: The function 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 3 + 𝑥 has an inverse
function 𝑔. Find 𝑔′(2).
Solution: Using the theorem with 𝑦0 = 2, we get
1
𝑔′ 2 = where 2 = 𝑓(𝑥0 ).
𝑓′(𝑥0 )

To find 𝑥0 , we use the equation 𝑓 𝑥0 = 𝑥0 3 + 𝑥0 = 2. A

solution is 𝑥0 = 1.
Now 𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = 3𝑥 2 + 1 ⇒ 𝑓 ′ 1 = 3(1)2 + 1 = 4 and
1 1
𝑔′ 2 = = .
𝑓′(1) 4
 DERIVATIVE OF INVERSE SINE
FUNCTION
Derivative of 𝑦 = sin−1 𝑥
Show that the derivative of the inverse sine function
𝑑 1
𝑦 = sin−1 𝑥 is 𝑦 ′ = sin−1 𝑥 = −1 < 𝑥 < 1
𝑑𝑥 1 − 𝑥2
𝜋 𝜋
To find the derivative of 𝑦 = sin−1 𝑥 , −1
≤𝑥≤ 1, −
≤𝑦≤ ,
2 2
we write sin 𝑦 = 𝑥 and differentiate implicitly with respect to 𝑥.
𝑑 𝑑 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 1
sin 𝑦 = 𝑥 ⇒ cos 𝑦 =1⇒ =
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 cos 𝑦
using the fact that cos 2 𝑦 = 1 − sin2 𝑦 →

cos 𝑦 = 1 − sin2 𝑦 = 1 − 𝑥 2 .
 DERIVATIVE OF INVERSE
TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS
−1 ′ 𝑑 1
If 𝑦 = tan 𝑥, then 𝑦 = tan−1 𝑥 = .
𝑑𝑥 1 + 𝑥2

−1 ′ 𝑑 1
If 𝑦 = sec 𝑥, then 𝑦 = sec −1 𝑥 = for 𝑥 > 1.
𝑑𝑥 𝑥 𝑥2 − 1
𝑑 1
If 𝑦 = cos−1 𝑥, then 𝑦′ = cos −1 𝑥 =− for 𝑥 < 1.
𝑑𝑥 1 − 𝑥2
𝑑 1
If 𝑦 = cot −1 𝑥, then 𝑦′ = cot −1 𝑥 = − .
𝑑𝑥 1 + 𝑥2
𝑑 1
If 𝑦 = csc −1 𝑥, then 𝑦 ′ = csc −1 𝑥 =− for 𝑥 > 1.
𝑑𝑥 𝑥 𝑥2 −1
 USING THE CHAIN RULE WITH THE
INVERSE SINE FUNCTION EXAMPLE
Example: Find 𝑦′ if 𝑦 = sin−1 (5𝑥 3 ).
−1 3 𝑑𝑦 1
Solution: If 𝑦 = sin 𝑢 and 𝑢 = 5𝑥 , then = and
𝑑𝑢 1 − 𝑢2
𝑑𝑢
= 15𝑥 2 .
𝑑𝑥

′
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑢 1 15𝑥 2
𝑦 = ⋅ = 15𝑥 2 =
𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑥 1 − 𝑢2 1 − 25𝑥 6
 Examples
𝑑𝑦
• Find
𝑑𝑥
• 1. 𝑦 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 3𝑥
𝑑𝑦 1
• = 2 3
𝑑𝑥 1+(3𝑥)

• 2. 𝑦 = 𝑐𝑠𝑐 −1 (𝑒 4𝑥 )
𝑑𝑦 −1 −1
• = (𝑒 4𝑥 ) =
(𝑒 4𝑥 )2 −1
𝑑𝑥 𝑒 4𝑥 (𝑒 4𝑥 )2 −1