HPC

section 4.7 class notes

Inverse Trig Functions

First, lets picture the six basic trig function graphs.

Our goal: To find and work with the inverse functions of the six trig functions.

What should we remember about inverse functions?
Notation for the inverse of f ( x ) is f 1 ( x )

The inverse of f ( x ) is a function only if f ( x ) is one-to-one

The inputs of f ( x ) become the outputs of f 1 ( x ) . The outputs of f ( x )

become the inputs of f 1 ( x ) . The domain of f ( x ) =the range of f 1 ( x ) . The

range of f ( x ) =the domain of f 1 ( x ) .

The graph of a function and its inverse are symmetric to the line y = x
If f and g are inverse functions, then f ( g ( x )) = x , for each x in the domain of
g and f ( g ( x )) = x for each x in the domain of g

HPC section 4.7 class notes

Inverse Trig Functions

What if we took only part of the graph of sinx, what if we find a section that would
be a one-to-one function if we limited the domain? Can you find a section you think
would be best? State the domain and range of the section you select.

Then, we can take those points and switch the x and y values, to create the graph of
the inverse of sine, or y = sin 1 x . State the domain and range of y = sin 1 x









We could do a similar procedure for each of the other 5 trig functions, to find a
section of the graph that would be one-to-one, and thus, invertible.

HPC section 4.7 class notes

Inverse Trig Functions

*Common notations for inverse of y = sin x include Sin 1 x , sin 1 x , and arcsin x .

Find the exact value of each expression, in radians.

"
2%
" 1%
1. sin 1 $ '
2. cos 1 ( 0 )
3. tan 1 3
4. cos 1 $
'
# 2&
# 2 &

( )

" 2 3%
5. csc 1 $
'
# 3 &

" 2 3%
6. csc 1 $

3 '&
#

7. sec 1 2

8. cot 1 ( 1)

NOTE: Inverse functions may be easier to remember if they are translated into words. For example:

# &
sin 1 x = the number (in the interval % , ( ) whose sine is x.
$ 2 2'

Composite Function with Inverses: Simplify each expression.

"
"
"
" 12 % %
" 3% %
" 1%%
9. cos $ tan 1 $ ' '
10. sin $ cos 1 $ ' '
11. cos $ tan 1 $ ' '
# 5 &&
# 5&&
# 7&&
#
#
#

#
# &&
12. cos 1 % cos % ( (
$ 6''
$

13. sin 1 ( sin (170 ))

15. cot 1 ( cot ( 315 ))

16. sin sin 1 ( 2 )

14. sin 1 ( sin ( 130 ))

"
" 36 x 2 % %
17. sin $ cos 1 $
' '
6
#
&&
#