DIFFERENTIATION OF INVERSE TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

None of the six basic trigonometry functions is a one-to-one function. However, in the
following list, each trigonometry function is listed with an appropriately restricted domain,
which makes it one-to-one.

1.  for 
2.  for 
3.  for 
4.  for  , except 
5.  for  , except x = 0
6.  for 

Because each of the above-listed functions is one-to-one, each has an inverse function. The
corresponding inverse functions are

1.  for 
2.  for 
3.  for 
4. arc  for  , except 
5. arc  for  , except y = 0
6. arc  for 

In the following discussion and solutions the derivative of a function h(x) will be denoted
by   or h'(x) . The derivatives of the above-mentioned inverse trigonometric
functions follow from trigonometry identities, implicit differentiation, and the chain rule.
They are as follows.

1.

2.

3.

4. arc

5. arc
 6. arc

In the list of problems which follows, most problems are average and a few are somewhat
challenging.

o PROBLEM 1 : Differentiate   .

o PROBLEM 2 : Differentiate   .

o PROBLEM 3 : Differentiate  arc  arc  .

o PROBLEM 4 : Let  arc  . Solve f'(x) = 0 for x .

o PROBLEM 5 : Let   . Show that f'(x) = 0 .

Conclude that  .

o PROBLEM 6 : Evaluate   .

Some of the following problems require use of the chain rule.

o PROBLEM 7 : Differentiate   .

o PROBLEM 8 : Differentiate   .

o PROBLEM 9 : Differentiate   .

o PROBLEM 10 : Determine the slope of the line tangent to the graph

of   at x = e .

o PROBLEM 11 : Differentiate  arc  . What

conclusion can be drawn from your answer about function y ? What

conclusion can be drawn about functions arc  and   ?

o PROBLEM 12 : Differentiate   .

o PROBLEM 13 : Find an equation of the line tangent to the graph

of   at x=2 .
o PROBLEM 14 : Evaluate   .

o PROBLEM 15 : A movie screen on the front wall in your classroom

is 16 feet high and positioned 9 feet above your eye-level. How far
away from the front of the room should you sit in order to have the
``best" view ? (HINT: Find the largest possible angle   in the given
diagram below.)