Inverse Trigonometric

Function
Learning & Revision for the Day
u Inverse Trigonometric Function u Properties of Inverse Trigonometric Function

Inverse Trigonometric Function

Trigonometric functions are not one-one and onto on their natural domains and ranges, so
their inverse do not exists in the whole domain. If we restrict their domain and range, then
their inverse may exists.
y = f ( x) = sin x. Then, its inverse is x = sin −1 y.

NOTE • sin −1 y ≠ (sin y ) −1  1

• sin −1 y ≠ sin  
 y
The value of an inverse trigonometric functions which lies in its principal value branch is
called the principal value of that inverse trigonometric function.
Domain and range of inverse trigonometric functions
Function Domain Range
(Principal Value Branch)
 π π
sin −1 x [− 1, 1] − ,
 2 2 
cos −1 x [−1, 1] [0, π ]
 π π
tan −1 x R − , 
 2 2
cot −1 x R (0, π )
π 
sec −1 x R − (−1, 1) [0, π ] −  
2 
 π π
cosec −1 x R − (−1, 1) − 2 , 2  − {0}
 5. (i) sin −1 x = cos −1 1 − x2
Properties of Inverse
 x   1 − x2 
Trigonometric Functions = tan −1  
 1 − x2 
= cot −1 
x 


−1 −1 π
1. (i) sin x + cos x = ; (−1 ≤ x ≤ 1)  1 
2 −1  1 
= sec −1   = cosex   , if x ∈(0, 1)
π  1− x 
2  x
(ii) tan −1 x + cot −1 x = ; x ∈R
2 (ii) cos −1 x = sin −1 1 − x2
π
(iii) sec −1 x + cosec −1 x = ; (x ≤ − 1 or x ≥ 1)  1 − x2   x  −1  1 
2 = tan −1   = cot −1   = sec  
−1
2. (i) sin (− x) = − sin x; −1
(− 1 ≤ x ≤ 1)  x   1 − x2   x
(ii) cos −1 (− x) = π − cos −1 x; (− 1 ≤ x ≤ 1)  1 
= cosec −1   , if x ∈(0, 1)
(iii) tan −1 (− x) = − tan −1 ( x); (− ∞ < x < ∞)  1 − x2 
(iv) cot −1 (− x) = π − cot −1 x; (− ∞ < x < ∞)  x 
(v) sec −1 (− x) = π − sec −1 x; x ≤ − 1 or x ≥ 1) (iii) tan −1 x = sin −1  
 1 + x2 
(vi) cosec −1 (− x) = − cosec −1 x; (x ≤ − 1 or x ≥ 1)
 1  −1  1 
3. (i) sin −1 (sin x) is a periodic function with period 2π. = cos −1   = cot  
 1 + x2   x
  π π
 x, x∈ − ,  1 + x2 
 2 2  = cosec −1   = sec −1 ( 1 + x2 ), if x ∈ (0, ∞)

 π − x, x ∈  π , 3 π   x 
−1   2 2 
sin (sin x) =  6. (i) sin −1 x + sin −1 y
3π 5π
 x − 2 π, x ∈  , 
  2 2  sin −1 ( x 1 − y2 + y 1 − x 2 ); | x|,| y| ≤ 1 and
 5π 7π  
3 π − x, x ∈  ,   x2 + y2 ≤ 1 or ( xy < 0 and x 2 + y2 > 1)
 2 2   −1
π − sin ( x 1 − y + y 1 − x ); 0 < x, y ≤ 1
2 2
(ii) cos –1 (cos x) is a periodic function with period 2π. =
 x, x ∈ [0, π ]  and x 2 + y2 > 1
2 π − x, x ∈ [π, 2 π ]  −1
− π − sin ( x 1 − y + y 1 − x );
2 2
cos −1 (cos x) = 
 x − 2 π, x ∈ [2 π, 3 π]  − 1 ≤ x, y < 0 and x + y > 1

2 2

4π − x, x ∈ [3 π, 4π ]
(ii) sin −1 x − sin −1 y
(iii) tan −1 (tan x) is a periodic function with period π.  sin −1 ( x 1 − y2 − y 1 − x 2 ); x , y ≤ 1
  π π 
 x, x∈ − ,
 and x + y ≤ 1 or ( xy > 0 and x + y > 1)
2 2 2 2
 2 2 
 
 x − π,  π 3π  −1
 π − sin ( x 1 − y − y 1 − x );
2 2
x∈ , =
−1   2 2 
tan (tan x) =   0 < x ≤ 1, − 1 ≤ y < 0 and x + y > 1
2 2
 3π 5π 
 x − 2 π, x ∈ , 
 2 2 
−1
 − π − sin ( x 1 − y − y 1 − x );
2 2

 5π 7π   − 1 ≤ x < 0, 0 < y ≤ 1 and x 2 + y2 > 1
 x − 3 π, x ∈  ,  
 2 2  (iii) cos −1 x + cos −1 y
(iv) cot −1 (cot x) is a periodic function with period π. cos −1 { xy − (1 − x2 ) (1 − y2 )}; | x |,| y | ≤ 1
cot −1 (cot x) = x; 0 < x < π 
(v) sec −1 (sec x) is a periodic function with period 2π .  and x + y ≥ 0
π π =
sec −1 (sec x) = x; 0 ≤ x < or <x≤π −1
2 π − cos { xy − (1 − x ) (1 − y )};
2 2

2 2 
(vi) cosec −1 (cosec x) is a periodic function with  | x |,| y | ≤ 1 and x + y ≤ 0
−1 −1
period 2 π. (iv) cos x − cos y
π π cos −1 { xy + (1 − x2 ) (1 − y2 )}; | x |,| y | ≤ 1
cosec −1 (cosec x) = x; − ≤ x < 0 or 0 < x ≤ 
2 2
 1 and x ≤ y
4. (i) sin −1   = cosec −1 x, if x ∈ (−∞, − 1] ∪ [1, ∞) =
 x −1
− cos { xy + (1 − x ) (1 − y )};
2 2


−1  1   − 1 ≤ y ≤ 0, 0 < x ≤ 1 and x ≥ y
(ii) cos   = sec −1 x, if x ∈ (−∞, − 1] ∪ [1, ∞)
 x
 1   cot x,
−1
if x > 0
(iii) tan −1   = 
 x  − π + cot −1 x, if x < 0
 (v) tan −1 x + tan −1 y  −1  2 x 
sin  1 + x 2  ; −1 ≤ x ≤1
 −1  x + y 
 tan  1 − xy  ; xy < 1 
   2x 
  x + y (iv) 2 tan −1 x = π − sin −1   ; x >1
=  π + tan −1  ; x > 0, y > 0, xy > 1  1 + x 2 
  1 − xy    2x 
 −1  x + y  − π − sin −1   ; x < −1
 − π + tan   ; x < 0, y < 0, xy > 1  1 + x 2 
  1 − xy 
 −1  1 − x 2 
(vi) tan −1 x − tan −1 y cos  1 + x2  ; 0 ≤ x < ∞
 
−1  x − y  (v) 2 tan −1 x=
tan  1 + xy  ; xy > − 1 − cos −1  1 − x  ; − ∞ < x ≤ 0
2

   
 −1  x − y    1 + x2 
= π + tan  ; xy < − 1, x > 0, y < 0
  1 + xy  NOTE • If sin −1 x + sin −1 y = θ, then cos −1 x + cos −1 y = π − θ
 −1  x − y 
− π + tan   ; xy < − 1, x < 0, y > 0 • If cos −1 x + cos−1 y = θ, then sin −1 x + sin −1 y = π − θ
  1 + xy 
 −1 1
7. (i) 2 sin −1 x sin −1 (3 x − 4 x3 ), if ≤x≤
 2 2
 1 1 
sin −1 {2 x (1 − x 2 )}; − ≤x≤ −1
= π − −1
−
1
< ≤

3
2 2 8. (i) 3 sin x  sin (3 x 4 x ), if x 1
  2
1
− π − sin −1 (3 x − 4 x3 ), if − 1 ≤ x < −1
−1
=  π − sin (2 x 1 − x ); 2
≤ x ≤1
 2  2
− π − sin −1 (2 x 1 − x 2 ); − 1 ≤ x < − 1  1
 2 cos −1 (4 x3 − 3 x), if ≤ x ≤ 1
 2
 cos (2 x − 1);
−1 2
0 ≤ x ≤1  −1 1
(ii) 2 cos −1 x =  −1
(ii) 3 cos −1 x =  2 π − cos −1 (4 x3 − 3 x), if ≤x≤
2 π − cos (2 x 2
− 1); − 1 ≤ x <0  2 2
2 π + cos −1 (4 x3 − 3 x), 1
 −1  2x  if − 1 ≤ x ≤
tan  1 − x 2  ; −1 < x <1  2
  −1  3 x − x 
3
−1 1
  2x   tan  1 − 3 x2  , if <x<
(iii) 2 tan −1 x = π + tan −1  ; x >1  3 3
 1 − x 2    3 x − x 3
 1
 (iii) 3 tan −1 x =  π + tan −1   , if x >
 2x    1 − 3 x2  3
− π + tan −1   ; x < −1
 1 − x 2   −1  3 x − x 
3
−1
− π + tan  1 − 3 x2  , if x <
 3