4.

7 Inverse Trigonometric
Functions
 Inverse functions
• g(x) is the inverse function of f(x) IF
g(f(x)) = x and f(g(x)) = x

We notate an inverse function as f-1(x)

Example f(x) = 4x f-1(x)= x

4
Remember your favorite inverse functions?

Logarithms and exponentials?

f(x) = 2x f-1(x)= log2x

 Starboard demo
NOOO!!
Does it pass
ItDoes
thedoes not
it pass the
horizontal
Restrict
vertical line the
test?
have
line an
sotest?
Yes,domain
it’s ato
function!!
inverse
f(x)= x2 , x ≥ 0
function
Now it passes
the horizontal
line test.
 Consider the graph f(x) = sinx
Is it one-to-one?
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
IT MUST BE RESTRICTED!!

y y = sin x
1
  2 x

1

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.

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

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

Example:
a. arcsin 1    is the angle whose sine is 1 .
2 6 6 2

b. sin 1 3  sin   3
2 3 3 2

This is another way to write arcsin x.

 Cartoon time
• Oh, sine machine. He is soo happy outputting
side to side ratios….
Takes in angles- outputs side to side ratios…

BUT, when his arch enemy ARCSINE comes

along, he has to fight the guy who undoes
everything he does.
Inverse Cosine Function

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

y
y = cos x
1
  2 x

1

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 , ].

Example:
a.) arccos 1    is the angle whose cosine is 1 .
2 3 3 2
1  3  5
b.) cos     cos 5   3
 2  6 6 2

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

 3
2 2 x

 3 
2 2

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 [–/2 , /2].

Example:
a.) arctan 3    is the angle whose tangent is 3 .
6 3
3 6
b.) tan 3  
1
tan   3
3
3
This is another way to write arctan x.
Examples
Consider a slightly different setup:

 
arcsin sin 120   This is also the composition of two
inverse functions but…

 3

arcsin    60 .


 2 
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.
 Warm-up
Find the six Triangle A
1 1
trig functions
Ө 2
of Ө=30o
3
2

Triangle B
2
1
30
3
2
• Page 328 #1-4; 6-8; 13-20; 37; 40; 49-55; 71
 Restricted domain
• How to tell if a function has an inverse
function
Examples
 y -1 1 0 -2 2
For a function to have an inverse function, it
has to be one-to-one
X -1 1 0 -2 2
y 1 1 0 4 4

Does it pass
the horizontal
line test?

NOOO!! Does it pass

It does not the vertical
have an