top of page
Writer's pictureUttkarsh Kohli

Inverse Trigonometric Functions

Inverse functions:


In brief, an inverse function is the opposite of any given function.

In mathematics, an inverse function (or anti-function) is a function that "reverses" another function.



If the function f applied to an input x gives a result of y, then applying its inverse function

g to y gives the result x, and vice versa.

i.e., f(x) = y then f ^-1(y) = g(y) = x.

For example,

Let f(x) = x+3 = y ,

Then f ^-1(y) = y -3 = x . [Addition changes to Subtraction]

Let f(x) = 3x = y ,

Then f ^-1(y) = y /3 = x . [Multiplication changes to Division]


The domain Df becomes the range Rf^-1 for the inverse function and the range Rf becomes the domain Df^-1 .


Inverse Trigonometric functions


Tan(θ) = Opposite / Adjacent = y

By the definition of inverse functions,

Inverse tangent = arctan(y) = θ.


Trigonometric functions are periodic functions, thus inverse functions have multiple values for θ. In trigonometric functions, principal values are used.

Domain and Range of [Tan(θ) = Sin(θ)/Cos(θ)]

Tan(θ) is undefined at Cos(θ) = 0.


f(θ) = Tan(θ) = y

Df R - (2n+1)pi/2 , n ∈ Z.

Rf R


Let g(y) = f ^-1(y) = arctan(y) = θ


Dg R

Using principal values,

Rg (-pi/2, pi/2).


-pi/2 and pi/2 are not included as

Tan(-pi/2) and Tan (pi/2) are undefined.


Cot(θ) = Adjacent/Opposite = y

By the definition of inverse functions,

Invers cotangent = arccot(y) = θ.


=> arccot(y) = θ.

=> arccot(Adjacent/Opposite) = θ.


Domain and Range of [Cot(θ) = Cos(θ) / Sin(θ)]

Cot(θ) undefined at Sin(θ) = 0.


f(θ) = Tan(θ) = y

Df R - (n pi) , n ∈ Z.

Rf R


g(y) = f^ -1(y) = arccot(y) = θ

Dg R

Using principal values,

Rg (0 , pi).

0 and pi are not included as

Cot(0) and Cot (pi) are undefined.


Principal Value Range


The principal value of an inverse trigonometric function at a point x is the value of the inverse function at the point x , which lies in the range of the principal branch. For instance, the principal value of tan-1 (1) is 𝜋/4. Since 𝜋 /4 ∈ (-pi/2, pi/2).


As the period of tan⁡(θ) is 𝜋, we can take any interval of length 𝜋 to be the principal range

If the interval contains a point of the form θ = (2n+1)𝜋/2, we have to deal with an asymptote as cos(θ) = 0 for θ = (2n+1)𝜋/2. Thus, to keep the function arctan(x) continuous on the principal branch, we take the range R (-pi/2, pi/2).


Similarly for cot(θ), we can take any interval of length 𝜋 to be the principal range .

If the interval contains a point of the form θ = (n)𝜋, we have to deal with an asymptote as sin(θ) = 0 for θ = (n)𝜋. Thus, to keep the function arccot(x) continuous on the principal branch, we take the range R (0, pi).


Some common values for arctan(x) and arccot(x):




Resources:


89 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Commenti


bottom of page