The Inverse Sine,

Cosine, and
Tangent Functions
Prepared by
Dr. Rania Hafez
 One-to-One Functions
 A one-to-one function is a function f
such that any two different inputs give
two different outputs
 Satisfies the horizontal line test
 Functions may be made one-to-one by
restricting the domain
 Inverse Functions
 Inverse Function: Function f {1 which
undoes the operation of a one-to-one
function f.
 Inverse Functions
 For every x in the domain of f,
f {1(f(x)) = x
and for every x in the domain of f {1,
f(f {1(x)) = x
 Domain of f = range of f {1, and
range of f = domain of f {1
 Graphs of f and f {1, are symmetric with respect to
the line y = x
 Activity
(Math connection ch 3.6 p282)
Conclusion
 Inverse Sine Function
 The sine function is not one-to-one
 We restrict to domain
4

3     3



 

 
 



2 2 2 2

-2

-4
 Inverse Sine Function
 Inverse sine function: Inverse of the
domain-restricted sine function
3




2




2

-4 -2 2 4




2



3




2
 Inverse Sine Function
y = sin{1x means x = sin y
 Must have {1 · x · 1 and
 Domain is {1 · x · 1
 Range is
Exact Values of the Inverse Sine
Function
 Example. Find the exact values of:
(a) Problem:

Answer:

(b) Problem:

Answer:
 Approximate Values of the
Inverse Sine Function
 Example. Find approximate values of
the following. Express the answer in
radians rounded to two decimal
places.
(a) Problem:
Answer:
(b) Problem:
Answer:
 Inverse Cosine Function
 Cosine is also not one-to-one
 We restrict to domain [0, ¼]
4

3     3



 

 
 



2 2 2 2

-2

-4
 Inverse Cosine Function
 Inverse cosine function: Inverse of the
domain-restricted cosine function
3




2




2

-4 -2 2 4




2



3




2
 Inverse Cosine Function
y = cos{1x means x = cos y
 Must have {1 · x · 1 and 0 · y · ¼
 Can also write y = arccos x
 Domain is {1 · x · 1
 Range is 0 · y · ¼
 Exact Values of the Inverse
Cosine Function
 Example. Find the exact values of:
(a) Problem:
Answer:
(b) Problem:
Answer:
(c) Problem:
Answer:
 Approximate Values of the
Inverse Cosine Function
 Example. Find approximate values of
the following. Express the answer in
radians rounded to two decimal
places.
(a) Problem:
Answer:
(b) Problem:
Answer:
 Inverse Tangent Function
 Tangent is not one-to-one (Surprise!)
 We restrict to domain
6

3    3
2 


 
 
  


 2
2 2 2 2

-2

-4

-6
 Inverse Tangent Function
 Inverse tangent function: Inverse of
the domain-restricted tangent
function 3




2





2

-4 -2 2 4





2



3




2
 Inverse Tangent Function
y = tan{1x means x = tan y
 Have {1 · x · 1 and
 Also write y = arctan x
 Domain is all real numbers
 Range is
 Exact Values of the Inverse
Tangent Function
 Example. Find the exact values of:
(a) Problem:
Answer:
(b) Problem:
Answer:
WARNING!
 Note that

So ,
Many books write
y = arcsin x
y = arccosin x
y = arctan x
Group work
Group work
Pair work
Exact Values Involving Inverse
Trigonometric Functions
 Example. Find the exact values of the
following expressions
(a) Problem:

Answer:

(b) Problem:

Answer:
Exact Values Involving Inverse
Trigonometric Functions
 Example. Find the exact values of the
following expressions
(c) Problem: cosec

Answer:

(d) Problem:

Answer:
 The table below will summarize the parameters we have so far.
Remember, the angle is the input for a trig function and the ratio is
the output. For the inverse trig functions the ratio is the input and the
angle is the output.

arcsin(x) arccos(x) arctan(x)

Domain 1  x  1 1  x  1    x  

Range     
 x 0 x  x
2 2 2 2 2

When x<0, y=arcsin(x) will be in which quadrant? y<0 in IV

When x<0, y=arccos(x) will be in which quadrant? y>0 in II

When x<0, y=arctan(x) will be in which quadrant? y<0 in IV