Trigonometry Lecture Notes

Section 6.1

Page 1 of 10

Section 6.1: Inverse Circular Functions

Big Idea: An inverse function computes the input required for a function to give a desired
answer. The trigonometric functions have inverses, but only for restricted intervals of their
domain.
Big Skill: You should be able to state the output of the inverse trigonometric functions for key
values, and use your calculator to compute the output of inverse trigonometric functions for other
values.
Vertical Line test
Any vertical line will intersect the graph of a function in at most one point.
Horizontal Line Test
Any horizontal line will intersect the graph of a one-to-one function in at most one point.
Inverse Function
1
The inverse function of a one-to-one function f is defined as f y, x | x, y belongs to f .
In other words, switch the x and y values of points on the graph of a function to obtain the graph
of an inverse function.
Summary of Inverse Functions
For a one-to-one function, each x-value corresponds to only one y-value, and each yvalue corresponds to only one x-value (i.e., the function passes the vertical line test and
the horizontal line test).
If a function f is one-to-one, then f has an inverse function, which we write as f-1.
The domain of f is the range of f-1, and the range of f is the domain of f-1.
The graphs of f and f-1 are reflections of each other across the line y = x.
To find f-1(x) from an algebraic function f(x), follow these steps:
o Interchange x and y in the equation y = f(x).
o Solve for y.
o The resulting expression that y is equal to is f-1(x).

Trigonometry Lecture Notes

Section 6.1

Page 2 of 10

Practice:
3
1
1. Sow that the inverse of f x x 1 is f x 3 x 1 .

2
2. State one way you could restrict the domain of f x x to make it a one-to-one
function.

Inverse Sine Function

y sin 1 x or y arcsin x means that x sin y , for 2 y 2 .
Note that the domain of the sine function has to be restricted to make it a one-to-one
function in order to define an inverse.

Trigonometry Lecture Notes

Practice:
3. Find y in each equation:
3
y arcsin

1
y sin 1
2

y sin 1

y sin 1

Section 6.1

Page 3 of 10

Trigonometry Lecture Notes

Section 6.1

Page 4 of 10

Graph of the Inverse Sine Function

y sin 1 x OR y arcsin x
Domain:

Range:

Table of Values:
x

y sin 1 x

Notes on the graph of the inverse sine function:

The inverse sine function is increasing and continuous on its domain.
Both the x- and y- intercepts are 0.
The inverse sine function is an odd function.

Trigonometry Lecture Notes

Section 6.1

Page 5 of 10

Inverse Cosine Function

y cos 1 x or y arccos x means that x cos y , for 0 y .
Note that the domain of the cosine function has to be restricted to make it a one-to-one
function in order to define an inverse.

Practice:
4. Find y in each equation:
3
y arccos

1
y cos 1
2

y cos 1

y cos 1 2

Trigonometry Lecture Notes

Section 6.1

Page 6 of 10

Graph of the Inverse Cosine Function

y cos 1 x OR y arccos x
Domain:

Range:

Table of Values:
x

y cos 1 x

Notes on the graph of the inverse cosine function:

The inverse cosine function is decreasing and continuous on its domain.
Its x-intercept is 1, and its y-intercept is /2.
The inverse cosine function is neither odd nor even.

Trigonometry Lecture Notes

Section 6.1

Page 7 of 10

Inverse Tangent Function

y tan 1 x or y arctan x means that x tan y , for 2 y 2 .
Note that the domain of the tangent function has to be restricted to make it a one-to-one
function in order to define an inverse.

Practice:
5. Find y in each equation:
y arccos 3

y tan 1 1

y tan 1 1

y tan 1

Trigonometry Lecture Notes

Section 6.1

Page 8 of 10

Graph of the Inverse Tangent Function

y tan 1 x OR y arctan x
Domain:

Range:

Table of Values:
x

y tan 1 x

Notes on the graph of the inverse tangent function:

The inverse tangent function is increasing and continuous on its domain.
Both the x- and y- intercepts are 0.
The inverse tangent function is odd.
The lines y 2 are horizontal asymptotes.

Trigonometry Lecture Notes

Section 6.1

Inverse Cotangent, Secant, and Cosecant Functions

Page 9 of 10

Trigonometry Lecture Notes

Section 6.1

Page 10 of 10

Finding Inverse Trigonometric Functions with a Calculator

1
1
1
cot 1 u tan 1 sec 1 u cos 1 csc 1 u sin 1
u
u
u
Finding Trigonometric Functions of Inverse Trigonometric Functions
(Note: there are restrictions to the domains and ranges of the formulas below that are being
glossed over)
u
tan sin 1 u
sin sin 1 u u
cos sin 1 u 1 u 2
1 u2
1
1
1 u2
1
sec sin 1 u
csc sin 1 u
cot
sin
u

u
1 u2
u

sin cos 1 u 1 u 2
1

csc cos 1 u

1 u

1 u

1 u
1

csc cot 1 u

csc sec 1 u

cot sec 1 u

u2 1
u
u

tan csc 1 u

1
1 u

1 u

sec sec 1 u u

u2 1

cos csc 1 u

csc csc1 u u

sec csc 1 u

u 1
2

1 u2

1
u

1
u

cot tan 1 u
tan cot 1 u

1 u2
u
1
u

1 u2
u
u

tan tan 1 u u

cos sec 1 u

1
u

sin csc 1 u

cot cos 1 u

sec cot 1 u

u2 1
u
u

sin sec1 u

1
u

cos cot 1 u

1 u

sec tan 1 u 1 u 2

sin cot 1 u

tan cos 1 u

cos tan 1 u

1 u2
u

csc tan 1 u

sec cos 1 u

sin tan 1 u

cos cos 1 u u

cot cot 1 u u

tan sec 1 u u 2 1
1
u2 1
1
u2 1

cot csc 1 u u 2 1