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Inverse Trig Functions Examples

This document provides examples of evaluating inverse trigonometric functions using triangles drawn on the unit circle. It contains problems involving evaluating inverse trig functions both with trig functions on the inside and outside. The key steps involve identifying the correct quadrant for the triangle based on the domain and range of the inverse trig function, using trig identities and properties of the unit circle to set up and solve for the angle measure.

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Abdirazak Mohamed Haaji Omar
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© © All Rights Reserved
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92 views4 pages

Inverse Trig Functions Examples

This document provides examples of evaluating inverse trigonometric functions using triangles drawn on the unit circle. It contains problems involving evaluating inverse trig functions both with trig functions on the inside and outside. The key steps involve identifying the correct quadrant for the triangle based on the domain and range of the inverse trig function, using trig identities and properties of the unit circle to set up and solve for the angle measure.

Uploaded by

Abdirazak Mohamed Haaji Omar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Inverse Trig Functions Examples

1
One Triangle Inverse Trig

1. For the problems below, draw triangles around the unit circle to answer the question. Be sure to use
the domain/range of the inverse trig function to draw your triangle in the correct quadrant.

√
(a) Evaluate cos−1 ( 3/2).

√
cos−1 ( 3/2) = θ
1/2 = cos(θ) √
What angle θ (around the unit circle) between 0 and π gives us cos(θ) = 3/2?
Our triangle is in quadrant I, where cos(θ) (the x-coordinate) is positive.

The θ we want is θ = π/6.

√
(b) Evaluate arcsin( 2/2).

√
What angle θ (around the unit circle) between −π/2 and π/2 gives us back 2/2 for sin(θ)?

(c) Evaluate sin−1 (2).

Since the domain of sin−1 (x) is between -1 and 1, this function is undefined.

√
(d) Evaluate sec−1 (2/ 3)?
√
What angle θ (around the unit circle) between 0 and π gives us back 2/ 3 for sec(θ)?
(Remember: sec(θ) = 1/cos(θ) = hyp/adj).

2
Inverse Trig on the Inside (One Triangle)
2. For the problems below, draw triangles around the unit circle to answer the question. Be sure to use
the domain/range of the inverse trig function to draw your triangle in the correct quadrant.

(a) Evaluate sin(arctan(1/3)).

arctan(1/3) = θ
tan(θ) = 1/3

What angle θ (around the unit circle) between −π/2 and π/2 makes a triangle where
tan(θ) = 1/3?
Since tan(θ) = 1/3 = y/x is positive, we are in Quadrant I.

r
1

We use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve for r.

(3)2 + (1)2 = r2
10 =√r2
r = 10
(postive because r is the hypotenuse).

We use this triangle to complete the question:


√
sin(arctan(1/3)) = sin(θ) = 1/ 10

(b) Evaluate cos(sin−1 (2/3)).

(c) Evaluate tan(cos−1 (2/3)).

3
Inverse Trig on the Outside (Two Triangle)
3. Evaluate sin−1 (cos(2π/3)).

We use the unit circle to draw a triangle and calculate tan(2π/3).

60

Using the special triangles on the front page, we get that cos(θ) = adj/hyp = −1/2.

Now we will calculate sin−1 (−1/2).

sin−1 (−1/2) = θ
sin(θ) = −1/2
What angle θ between −π/2 and π/2 makes sin(θ) = −1/2?
Since sin(x) is negative (the y-value), we are in Quadrant IV.

30

So we conclude sin−1 (cos(2π/3)) = sin−1 (−1/2) = −π/3

4. Evaluate cos−1 (cos(−2π/3)).

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