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Inverse Trigonometric Function Derivatives

This document discusses the derivatives of inverse trigonometric functions, including: 1) The inverse sine function sin-1(x) with a derivative of (1/√(1-x2)) 2) The inverse cosine function cos-1(x) with a derivative of (-1/√(1-x2)) 3) The inverse tangent function tan-1(x) with a derivative of (1/(1+x2))

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465 views4 pages

Inverse Trigonometric Function Derivatives

This document discusses the derivatives of inverse trigonometric functions, including: 1) The inverse sine function sin-1(x) with a derivative of (1/√(1-x2)) 2) The inverse cosine function cos-1(x) with a derivative of (-1/√(1-x2)) 3) The inverse tangent function tan-1(x) with a derivative of (1/(1+x2))

Uploaded by

Nihad Mohammed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Arkansas Tech University

MATH 2914: Calculus I


Dr. Marcel B. Finan

3.5 Derivatives of Inverse Trigonometric Functions


In this section we introduce the inverse trigonometric functions and then
find their derivatives.

The Inverse Sine Function


The function f (x) = sin x is increasing on the interval [− π2 , π2 ]. Thus, f (x)
is one-to-one and consequently it has an inverse denoted by
f −1 (x) = sin−1 x.
We call this new function the inverse sine function.
From the definition of inverse functions discussed in Section 3.2, we have
the following properties of sin−1 (x) :
(i) Dom(sin−1 x) = Range(sin x) = [−1, 1].
(ii) Range(sin−1 x) = Dom(sin x) = [− π2 , π2 ].
(iii) sin (sin−1 x) = x for all −1 ≤ x ≤ 1.
(iv) sin−1 (sin x) = x for all − π2 ≤ x ≤ π2 .
(v) y = sin−1 x if and only if sin y = x. Using words, the notation y = sin−1 x
gives the angle y whose sine value is x.
Remark 3.5.1
If x is outside the interval [− π2 , π2 ] then we look for the angle y in the interval
[− π2 , π2 ] such that sin x = sin y. In this case, sin−1 (sin x) = y. For example,
sin−1 (sin 5π 6 ) = sin
−1
(sin π6 ) = π6 .
The graph of y = sin−1 x is the reflection of the graph of y = sin x about
the line y = x as shown in Figure 3.5.1.

Figure 3.5.1
To find the derivative of the inverse sine, we let y = sin−1 x for −1 ≤ x ≤ 1.
Thus, sin y = x. Applying the implicit differentiation process, we find
1 1
y 0 cos y = 1 =⇒ y 0 = =√ , −1<x<1
cos y 1 − x2
p √
where cos y = ± 1 − sin2 y = 1 − x2 (draw a right triangle with hy-
potenuse of length 1, acute angle y, and opposite side of length x). Note we
chose the positive sign since cos y ≥ 0 for − π2 ≤ y ≤ π2 .
Now, if y = sin−1 (u(x)) then by the chain rule, we have
1
y0 = √ · u0 .
1 − u2
The Inverse Cosine function
In order to define the inverse cosine function, we will restrict the function
f (x) = cos x over the interval [0, π]. There the function is always decreasing.
Therefore f (x) is one-to-one function. Hence, its inverse will be denoted by

f −1 (x) = cos−1 x.

We call cos−1 x the inverse cosine function.


The following are consequences of the definition of inverse functions:
(i) Dom(cos−1 x) = Range(cos x) = [−1, 1].
(ii) Range(cos−1 x) = Dom(cos x) = [0, π].
(iii) cos (cos−1 x) = x for all −1 ≤ x ≤ 1.
(iv) cos−1 (cos x) = x for all 0 ≤ x ≤ π.
(v) y = cos−1 x if and only if cos y = x. Using words, the notation y =
cos−1 x gives the angle y whose cosine value is x.

Remark 3.5.2
If x is outside the interval [0, π] then we look for the angle y in the interval
[0, π] such that cos x = cos y. In this case, cos−1 (cos x) = y. For example,
cos−1 (cos 7π
6 ) = cos
−1 (cos 5π ) = 5π .
6 6

The graph of y = cos−1 x is the reflection of the graph of y = cos x about


the line y = x as shown in Figure 3.5.2.

2
Figure 3.5.2
To find the derivative of the inverse cosine function, we argue in a way
similar to the inverse sine function and find
d 1
(cos−1 x) = − √ , −1<x<1
dx 1 − x2
and
d 1
(cos−1 u(x)) = − √ · u0 .
dx 1−u 2

The Inverse Tangent Function


Although not one-to-one on its full domain, the tangent function is one-to-
one when restricted to the interval (− π2 , π2 ) since it is increasing there. Thus,
the inverse function exists and is denoted by
f −1 (x) = tan−1 x.
We call this function the inverse tangent function.
As before, we have the following properties:
(i) Dom(tan−1 x) = Range(tan x) = (−∞, ∞).
(ii) Range(tan−1 x) = Dom(tan x) = (− π2 , π2 ).
(iii) tan (tan−1 x) = x for all x.
(iv) tan−1 (tan x) = x for all − π2 < x < π2 .
(v) y = tan−1 x if and only if tan y = x. In words, the notation y = tan−1 x
means that y is the angle whose tangent value is x.

Remark 3.5.3
If x is outside the interval (− π2 , π2 ) and x 6= (2n + 1) π2 , where n is an
integer, then we look for the angle y in the interval (− π2 , π2 ) such that
tan x = tan y. In this case, tan−1 (tan x) = y. For example, tan−1 (tan 5π
6 )=
−1 π π
tan (tan (− 6 )) = − 6 .

3
The graph of y = tan−1 x is the reflection of y = tan x about the line
y = x as shown in Figure 3.5.3. Note that the lines y = ± π2 are horizontal
asymptotes. That is

lim tan−1 x = − π2 and lim tan−1 x = π2 .


x→−∞ x→∞

To find the derivative of the inverse tangent, we write y = tan−1 x if and


only if tan y = x. Applying the implicit differentiation process, we find
1
y 0 sec2 y = 1 =⇒ y 0 = cos2 y =
1 + x2

where we use the trigonometric identity cos (tan−1 x) = 1+x


1
2 (right triangle
figure)
Now, for y = tan−1 (u(x)) we apply the chain rule and obtain

d 1
(tan−1 (u(x))) = · u0 .
dx 1 + u2

Figure 3.5.3

Common questions

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The lines y = ± π/2 are horizontal asymptotes for the inverse tangent function because as x approaches ± infinity, the values of tan^{-1}(x) approach ± π/2, respectively. This reflects the behavior of the tangent function within its principal interval (−π/2, π/2), where the tangent function has vertical asymptotes. Since the inverse tangent is defined within this interval only, its reflection over the line y = x results in horizontal asymptotes rather than vertical, matching these limits .

The derivative of the inverse cosine function is derived in a manner similar to the inverse sine function. It is given as d/dx(cos^{-1}(x)) = -1/√(1 - x^2) for -1 < x < 1. By applying implicit differentiation to y = cos^{-1}(x), where cos(y) = x, and using the chain rule, we find the derivative after recognizing that -sin(y) is involved, since sin^2(y) + cos^2(y) = 1. The negative sign comes from the decreasing nature of the cosine function in the restricted interval .

The range of the tangent function when restricted to the interval (−π/2, π/2) is all real numbers (−∞, ∞). This wide range allows the inverse tangent function, tan^{-1}(x), to have a domain of all real numbers (−∞, ∞). However, the range of the inverse tangent function is confined to (−π/2, π/2), which corresponds to the domain of the principal interval of the tangent function. This characteristic is essential for allowing tan^{-1}(x) to map any input x to a specific angle y, whose tangent value is x .

The graph of the inverse sine function, y = sin^{-1}(x), is the reflection of the graph of the sine function, y = sin(x), about the line y = x . This is characteristic of inverse functions, as reflecting across the line y = x switches the roles of the domains and ranges, effectively reversing the mapping of the original function.

Implicit differentiation is necessary for deriving the derivatives of inverse trigonometric functions because direct differentiation of inverse functions is not straightforward. Using implicit differentiation to obtain the derivative of sin^{-1}(x) involves setting y = sin^{-1}(x), implying sin(y) = x, and differentiating both sides with respect to x. This approach utilizes the chain rule and trigonometric identities to solve for dy/dx in terms of x, overcoming the challenge of the inverse functions' non-linear relationships .

The inverse cosine function, denoted as cos^{-1}(x), requires the cosine function to be restricted to the interval [0, π] to be one-to-one. This restriction ensures that each angle maps to a unique cosine value, allowing the existence of an inverse function. Consequently, the domain of cos^{-1}(x) is [−1, 1], and the range is [0, π]. This is because the inverse function specifically gives the angle y in [0, π] whose cosine value is x, fulfilling the definition of a valid inverse function with a distinct mapping .

The expression y = cos^{-1}(cos(x)) equals x for all x in the interval [0, π]. This validity condition is necessary because cos^{-1}(x) is only the inverse of cos(x) when x is within the restricted domain of the cosine function that ensures it is one-to-one. Any x outside this interval may instead reflect other angles within the interval due to cosine's periodic nature .

The derivative of the inverse tangent function is derived by letting y = tan^{-1}(x), which implies tan(y) = x. Using implicit differentiation, we find y' sec^2(y) = 1. Utilizing the trigonometric identity sec^2(y) = 1 + tan^2(y), and knowing that tan(y) = x, we rewrite sec^2(y) as 1 + x^2. Thus, the derivative is y' = 1/(1 + x^2). This derivation exploits known trigonometric identities in combination with implicit differentiation .

The reflection property of inverse trigonometric functions states that the graph of an inverse trigonometric function is the reflection of its corresponding trigonometric function about the line y = x. For instance, the graph of y = sin^{-1}(x) is the reflection of y = sin(x) about y = x. This means that if you take any point (a, b) on the graph of y = sin(x), the reflected point (b, a) should be on the graph of y = sin^{-1}(x).

The inverse sine function, denoted as sin^{-1}(x), has the following properties: the domain is [−1, 1] which is the range of the sine function, and the range is [−π/2, π/2], which corresponds to the domain of the sine function. Also, sin(sin^{-1}(x)) = x for all x in [−1, 1] and sin^{-1}(sin(x)) = x for all x in [−π/2, π/2]. These properties are crucial because they establish that sin^{-1}(x) gives the angle y whose sine value is x .

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