1M2 Course Notes §2 Hyperbolic functions

Inverse Hyperbolic Functions

Written sinh−1 , cosh−1 , tanh−1 etc. For example, if u = cosh x

then x = cosh−1 u. Note that if u = cosh x then u ≥ 1, so it follows that
cosh−1 u is only defined if u ≥ 1.
Example y = sinh x = 1.475; what is x?
By definition x = sinh−1 (1.475)
ex − e−x
= 1.475 (1)
2

The same procedure for inverse hyperbolic cosine gives 2 possible val-
ues (cosh−1 is not single valued because cosh(−x) = cosh x). You should
check this yourself.
General forms
Application of the same procedure as above for arbitrary y gives:
p
sinh−1 y = ln(y + y2 + 1) (2)
(3)
p p
cosh−1 y = ± ln(y + y2 − 1) = ln(y ± y2 − 1) (4)
· ¸ (5)
1 1 + y
tanh−1 y = ln (6)
2 1−y

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1M2 Course Notes §2 Hyperbolic functions

Hyperbolic Identities
Hyperbolic functions have identities similar to the corresponding trig. iden-
tities, but not always the same. For example:
cosh2 x − sinh2 x = 1 (7)
instead of cos2 x + sin2 x = 1. And
sech2 x = 1 − tanh2 x (8)
instead of sec2 x = 1 + tan2 x. And
sinh 2x = 2 sinh x cosh x (9)
like sin 2x = 2 sin x cos x, but
cosh 2x = cosh2 x + sinh2 x (10)
instead of cos 2x = cos2 x − sin2 x.
Osborn’s Rule

Hyperbolic and trigonometric functions are related in the following way:

sin ix = i sinh x
cos ix = cosh x.
This allows us to derive identities for hyperbolic functions from the corre-
sponding identities for trigonometric functions.
Consider for example the trigonometric identity
cos 2x = cos2 x − sin2 x.
To derive the corresponding hyperbolic identity we substitute x = iz and
obtain

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1M2 Course Notes §2 Hyperbolic functions

This procedure of obtaining hyperbolic from trigonometric identities is

summarized as Osborne’s rule:
1. Change trig. functions to corresponding hyperbolic functions
2. Reverse the sign (+/−) of terms containing a product of 2 of sinh, tanh,
coth or cosech (e.g. sinh2 x, sinh x tanh x, sinh3 x, etc.).

Derivatives of hyperbolic functions and their inverses

Hyperbolic functions
µ ¶
d d ex − e−x ex + e−x
sinh x = = = cosh x
dx dx 2 2
Similarly:
d d
cosh x = sinh x, and tanh x = sech2 x. (11)
dx dx

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1M2 Course Notes §2 Hyperbolic functions

Inverse hyperbolic functions

For example, if y = sinh−1 u what is dy/du?

We now want
p cosh y in terms
√ of u. Using cosh2 y − sinh2 y = 1,
cosh y = 1 + sinh2 y = 1 + u2 . This gives us:
d 1
(sinh−1 u) = √ (12)
du 1 + u2
Using similar methods, we find that the derivative of inverse hyperbolic
cosine depends on whether it is positive or negative, and is undefined for
cosh−1 u = 0:
d 1
(cosh−1 u) = √ (cosh−1 u > 0) (13)
du 2
u −1
d −1
(cosh−1 u) = √ (cosh−1 u < 0). (14)
du 2
u −1
That there are two possible values should not be surprising: after all cosh−1 (u)
has 2 values for each u > 1.
Note that we have learned two new integrals from this:

Z Z
1 −1 1
√ du = sinh u +C, √ du = cosh−1 u +C,
u2 + 1 u2 − 1

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1M2 Course Notes §2 Hyperbolic functions

Hyperbolic vs. Circular functions

Why are they called hyperbolic functions?

If x = cos θ and y = sin θ, then as θ varies this point sweeps out a circle
(since x2 + y2 = cos2 θ + sin2 θ = 1). For this reason cosine and sine are
often called circular functions.
If on the other hand, we put x = cosh θ and y = sinh θ, then as θ varies
the point sweeps out one branch of the hyperbola x2 − y2 = 1 So these are
called hyperbolic functions.

3.5 February 6, 2009