Inverse Trig Functions

Let us begin with a simple question:

What is the first pair of inverse functions that pop

into YOUR mind?

This may not be your pair but

this is a famous pair. But
something is not quite right
with this pair. Do you know
what is wrong?

Congratulations if you guessed that the top function

does not really have an inverse because it is not 1-1
and therefore, the graph will not pass the horizontal
line test.
Consider the graph of

Note the two points

on the graph and
also on the line
y=4.
f(2) = 4 and f(-2) = 4
so what is an
inverse function
supposed to do with
4?

By definition, a function cannot generate two different

outputs for the same input, so the sad truth is that this
function, as is, does not have an inverse.
So how is it that we arrange for this function to have an
inverse?

We consider only one half y=x

of the graph: x > 0. 4

The graph now passes

the horizontal line test 2
and we do have an
inverse:

Note how each graph reflects across the line y = x onto

its inverse.
A similar restriction on the domain is necessary to
create an inverse function for each trig function.

Consider the sine function.

You can see right

away that the sine
function does not
pass the horizontal
line test.
But we can come up
with a valid inverse
function if we restrict
the domain as we did
with the previous
function.

How would YOU restrict the domain?

Take a look at the piece of the graph in the red frame.
We are going to build
the inverse function
from this section of
the sine curve
because:
This section picks
up all the outputs of
the sine from –1 to
1.
This section includes
the origin. Quadrant I
angles generate the
positive ratios and
negative angles in
Quadrant IV generate Lets zoom in and look at some
the negative ratios. key points in this section.
I have plotted the special angles on the curve and the
table.
The new table generates the graph of the inverse.
The domain
of the chosen
To get a good section of the
look at the sine is
graph of the
So the range
inverse
of the arcsin
function, we
is
will “turn the
tables” on
the sine The range of
function. the chosen
section of the
sine is [-1
,1] so the
domain of the
arcsin is [-1,
1].
Note how each point on the original graph gets
“reflected” onto the graph of the inverse.

etc.

You will see the

inverse listed
as both:
In the tradition of inverse functions then we have:

Unless you are

instructed to
use degrees,
you should
assume that
inverse trig
functions will
generate
outputs of real
numbers (in
radians).
The thing to remember is that for the trig function the
input is the angle and the output is the ratio, but for the
inverse trig function the input is the ratio and the output
is the angle.
The other inverse trig functions are generated by using
similar restrictions on the domain of the trig function.
Consider the cosine function:

What do you
think would be
a good domain
restriction for
the cosine?
Congratulations if
you realized that
the restriction we
used on the sine
is not going to
work on the
cosine.
The chosen section for the cosine is in the red frame. This
section includes all outputs from –1 to 1 and all inputs in
the first and second quadrants.
Since the domain and range for the section are
the domain and range for the inverse cosine are
The other trig functions require similar restrictions on
their domains in order to generate an inverse.
Like the sine function, the domain of the section of the
tangent that generates the arctan is

y=arctan(x)
y=tan(x)
 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

Range

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
Inverse Sine Function
Recall that for a function to have an inverse, it must be a
one-to-one function and pass the Horizontal Line Test.

f(x) = sin x does not pass the Horizontal Line Test

and must be restricted to find its inverse.

y y = sin x

Sin x has an inverse

function on this interval.
The inverse sine function is defined by
y = arcsin x if and only if sin y = x.
Angle whose sine is x

The domain of y = arcsin x is [–1, 1].

The range of y = arcsin x is [–π/2 , π/2].

Example:

This is another way to write arcsin x.

Inverse Cosine Function

f(x) = cos x must be restricted to find its inverse.

y
y = cos x
x

Cos x has an inverse

function on this interval.
The inverse cosine function is defined by
y = arccos x if and only if cos y = x.
Angle whose cosine is x

The domain of y = arccos x is [–1, 1].

The range of y = arccos x is [0 , π].

Example:

This is another way to write arccos x.

Inverse Tangent Function
f(x) = tan x must be restricted to find its inverse.
y
y = tan x

Tan x has an inverse

function on this interval.
The inverse tangent function is defined by
y = arctan x if and only if tan y = x.
Angle whose tangent is x
The domain of y = arctan x is .
The range of y = arctan x is [–π/2 , π/2].

Example:

This is another way to write arctan x.

Graphing Utility: Graph the following inverse functions.
Set calculator to radian mode.
π

a. y = arcsin x –1.5 1.5

–π
2π

b. y = arccos x –1.5 1.5

–π
π

–3
c. y = arctan x 3

–π
Graphing Utility: Approximate the value of each expression.
Set calculator to radian mode.

a. cos–1 0.75 b. arcsin 0.19

c. arctan 1.32 d. arcsin 2.5

 You should be able to do inverse trig calculations
without a calculator when special angles from the
special triangles are involved. You should also be able to
do inverse trig calculations without a calculator for
quadrantal angles.
Its not that bad. Quadrantal
angles are the angles between
the quadrants—angles like

To solve arccos(-1) for example,

you could draw a quick sketch of
the cosine section:

And observe that arccos(-1) =

But a lot of people feel comfortable using the
following sketch and the definitions of the trig ratios.

For arccos(-1) for example, r=1

you can observe that, since
the point (-1, 0) is
the one we want. That point
is on the terminal side of

So, since

So, arccot(0)
Or for arccot(0), you can observe
that, since the point (0, Good luck getting
1) that answer off of
is the one we want. That point is a calculator.
Finally, we encounter the composition of trig functions
with inverse trig functions. The following are pretty
straightforward compositions. Try them yourself before
you click to the answer.

so

First, what do we know about

We know that is an angle whose sine is
Did you suspect from the beginning that this was the
answer because that is the way inverse functions are
SUPPOSED to behave? If so, good instincts but….
Consider a slightly different setup:

This is also the

composition of two
inverse functions but…

Did you suspect the answer was going to be 120

degrees? This problem behaved differently because
the first angle, 120 degrees, was outside the range of
the arcsin. So use some caution when evaluating the
composition of inverse trig functions.

The remainder of this presentation consists of

practice problems, their answers and a few complete
solutions.
First, some calculator problems. On most calculators,
you access the inverse trig functions by using the 2nd
function option on the corresponding trig functions.
The mode button allows you to choose whether your
work will be in degrees or in radians.
You have to stay on top of this because the answer is
not in a format that tells you which mode you are in.

Answers and selected complete solutions can be

found after the exercises.
Find the
exact value
of each
expression
without using
a calculator.
When your
answer is an
angle,
express it in
radians.
Work out the
answers
yourself
before you
click.
On most calculators, you access the inverse trig functions
by using the 2nd function option on the corresponding trig
functions. The mode button allows you to choose whether
your work will be in degrees or in radians. You have to
stay on top of this because the answer is not in a format
that tells you which mode you are in.

Use a calculator. For 17-20, Use a calculator. For 21-24,

express your answers in
round to the nearest tenth
of a degree. radians rounded to the
nearest hundredth.
Use a calculator. When your answer is an angle, express
it in radians rounded to the hundredth’s place. When
your answer is a ratio, round it to four decimal places,
but don’t round off until the very end of the problem.

Answers appear in the following slides.

Answers for problems 1 – 9.

Negative ratios for arccos

generate angles in Quadrant II.
y

2
1
x

The reference angle is

so the answer is
 y
2 14.

x
-1

y
15.

1
x

2
Answers for 17 – 30.