CHAPTER 25

Derivatives of Inverse Trig Functions

O ur goal is simple, and the answers will come quickly. We will derive six
new derivative formulas for the six inverse trigonometric functions:

d h °1 i d h i d h °1 i
sin (x) tan°1 (x) sec (x)
dx dx dx
d h °1 i d h °1 i d h °1 i
cos (x) cot (x) csc (x)
dx dx dx

These formulas will flow from the inverse rule from Chapter 24 (page 278):

d h °1 i 1
f (x) = 0 ° °1 ¢ . (25.1)
dx f f (x)

25.1 Derivatives of Inverse Sine and Cosine

Applying the inverse rule (25.1) with f (x) = sin(x) yields

d h °1 i 1
sin (x) = ° °1 ¢ . (25.2)
dx cos sin (x)

We are almost there. We just have to simplify the

° ¢
cos sin°1 (x) in the denominator. To do this recall
√ !
°1 the angle ° º2 ∑ µ ∑ º2
sin (x) = . 1
for which sin(µ ) = x x
sin°1 ( x)
Thus sin°1 (x) It is the angle (between ° º2 and º2 ) of a the | {z }
° ¢
triangle on the unit circle whose opposite side is x. (Be- cos sin°1 (x)
° ¢
cause sin of this angle equals x.) Then cos sin°1 (x) is the
length of the adjacent
p side. By the Pythagorean theorem
° °1 ¢ p
this side length is 1 ° x . Putting cos sin (x) = 1 ° x2
2

into the above Equation (25.2), we get or latest rule:

d h °1 i 1
Rule 20 sin (x) = p
dx 1 ° x2
Derivatives of Inverse Sine and Cosine 287

We reviewed sin°1 (x) In Section 6.1 and presented its graph on page 101.
Figure 25.1 repeats the graph, along with the derivative from Rule 20.

y 1
f (x) = cos°1 (x) f 0 (x) = p
1 ° x2

f (x) = sin°1 (x)

º
2

x
-1 1

° º2

Figure 25.1. The function sin°1 (x) and its derivative. The derivativeis
always positive, reflecting the fact that the tangents to sin°1 (x) have positive
slope. The derivative has vertical asymptotes at x = ±1, as the tangents to
sin°1 (x) become increasingly steep as x approaches ±1.

Now consider cos°1 (x). The tangents to its graph (Figure 25.2 below)
have negative slope, and the geometry suggests that its derivative is negative
the derivative of sin°1 (x). Indeed this turns out to be exactly the case. This
chapter’s Exercise 1 asks you to prove our next rule:

d h °1 i °1
Rule 21 cos (x) = p
dx 1 ° x2

f (x) = cos°1 (x) º

x
-1 1
°1

°1
f 0 (x) = p
1 ° x2

Figure 25.2. The function cos°1 (x) and its derivative.

288 Derivatives of Inverse Trig Functions

25.2 Derivatives of Inverse Tangent and Cotangent

Now let’s find the derivative of tan°1 (x). Putting f (x) = tan(x) into the inverse
rule (25.1), we have f °1 (x) = tan°1 (x) and f 0 (x) = sec2 (x), and we get

d h i 1 1
°1
tan (x) =
2
° 1
¢ = ° ° ¢¢2 . (25.3)
dx °
sec tan (x) sec tan°1 (x)
° ¢
The expression sec tan°1 (x) in the denominator is the
length of the hypotenuse of the triangle to the right.
(See example 6.3 in Chapter 6, page 114.) By the ¢
° ¢
Pythagorean
p theorem, the length is sec tan°1 (x) = °1 ( )
x
1 + x2 . Inserting this into the above Equation (25.4) ° an
c t
s e x
yields tan°1 ( x)
d h i 1 1 1 1
tan°1 (x) = ° ° ¢¢2 = °p ¢2 = .
dx °1
sec tan (x) 1+ x 2 1 + x2

d h i 1
We now have: Rule 22 tan°1 (x) =
dx 1 + x2

We discussed tan°1 (x) in Chapter 6, and its graph is in Figure 6.3. Below
Figure 25.3 repeats the graph, along with the derivative x21+1 .

º f (x) = tan°1 (x)

2
1

x
0 1
f (x) =
1 + x2
° º2

Figure 25.3. The function tan°1 (x) and its derivative 1

1+ x 2
. Note lim 1
2 =0
x!1 1+ x
and lim 1+1x2 = 0, reflecting the fact that the tangent lines to y = tan (x) °1
x!°1
become closer and closer to horizontal as x ! ±1. The derivative bumps up
to 1 at x = 0, where the tangent to y = tan°1 (x) is steepest, with slope 1

Exercise 3 below asks you to mirror the above arguments to deduce:

d h °1 i °1
Rule 23 cot (x) =
dx 1 + x2
Derivatives of Inverse Secant and Cosecant 289

25.3 Derivatives of Inverse Secant and Cosecant

We reviewed sec°1 (x) in Section 6.3. For its derivative, put f (x) = sec(x) into
the inverse rule (25.1), with f °1 (x) = sec°1 (x) and f 0 (x) = sec(x) tan(x). We get

d h °1 i 1
sec (x) = 0 ° °1 ¢
dx f f (x)
1
= ° ¢ ° ¢
sec f °1 (x) · tan f °1 (x)
1
= ° ¢ ° ¢.
sec sec (x) · tan sec°1 (x)
° 1

° ¢
Because sec sec°1 (x) = x, the above becomes

d h °1 i 1
sec (x) = ° ¢. (25.4)
dx x · tan sec°1 (x)
( p
¢ ° x2 ° 1 if x is positive
In Example 6.5 we showed that tan sec°1 (x) = p
° x2 ° 1 if x is negative
With this, Equation 25.4 above becomes
8
1
h i p >
>
< if x is positive
d x x2 ° 1
sec°1 (x) =
dx > 1
>
: p if x is negative.
° x x2 ° 1

But if x is negative, then ° x is positive, and the above consolidates to

d h °1 i 1
Rule 24 sec (x) = p
dx | x| x2 ° 1

This graph of sec°1 (x) and its derivative is shown in Figure 25.3.

y
º

y = f ( x) = sec°1 ( x)
º
2
1
y = f 0 (x) = p
°1 1 | x| x2 ° 1

Figure 25.4. The graph of sec°1 (x) and its derivative. The domain of
both functions is (°1, °1] [ [1, 1). Note that the derivative has vertical
asymptotes at x = ±1, where the tangent line to y = sec°1 (x) is vertical.
290 Derivatives of Inverse Trig Functions

This chapter’s Exercise 2 asks you to use reasoning similar to the above
to deduce our final rule.

d h °1 i °1
Rule 25 csc (x) = p
dx | x| x2 ° 1

Each of our new rules has a chain rule generalization. For example,
Rule 25 generalizes as

d h °1 ° ¢i °1 0 ° g0 (x)
csc g(x) = Ø Ø q g (x) = Ø Ø q .
dx Ø g(x)Ø (g(x))2 ° 1 Ø g(x)Ø (g(x))2 ° 1

Here is a summary of this Chapter’s new rules, along with their chain rule
generalizations.

d h °1 i 1 d h °1 ° ¢i 1
sin (x) = p sin g(x) = q g0 (x)
dx 1 ° x2 dx 2
1 ° (g(x))
d h °1 i °1 d h °1 ° ¢i °1
cos (x) = p cos g(x) = q g0 (x)
dx 1 ° x2 dx
1 ° (g(x))2
d h i 1 d h ° ¢i 1
tan°1 (x) = tan°1 g(x) = g0 (x)
dx 1 + x2 dx 1 + (g(x)) 2

d h °1 i °1 d h °1 ° ¢i °1
cot (x) = cot g(x) = g0 (x)
dx 1 + x2 dx 1 + (g(x))2
d h °1 i 1 d h °1 ° ¢i g0 (x)
sec (x) = p sec g(x) = Ø Ø q
dx | x| x2 ° 1 dx Ø g(x)Ø (g(x))2 °1
d h °1 i °1 d h °1 ° ¢i ° g0 (x)
csc (x) = p csc g(x) = Ø Øq
dx | x| x2 ° 1 dx Ø g(x)Ø (g(x))2 °1

d hp °1 i d h ° °1 ¢ 12 i 1 ° °1 ¢° 12 d h °1 i
Example 25.1 cos (x) = cos (x) = cos (x) cos (x)
dx dx 2 dx
1° ¢° 1 °1 °1
= cos°1 (x) 2 p = p p .
2 1° x 2 2 cos (x) 1 ° x2
°1

°1
d h tan°1 ( x) i °1 d h i °1 1 etan ( x)
Example 25.2 e = etan ( x) tan°1 (x) = etan ( x) = .
dx dx 1+ x2 1+ x 2

d h ° ¢i 1 d h xi 1 ex
Example 25.3 tan°1 e x = e = e x
= .
dx 1 + (e x )2 dx 1 + e2 x 1 + e2 x
Summary of Derivative Rules 291

25.4 Summary of Derivative Rules

We have reached the end of our derivative rules. In summary, we have
the following rules for specific functions. The corresponding chain rule
generalizations are shown to the right.

Rule Chain Rule Generalization

Constant d £ §
c =0
Rule dx
Identity d £ §
x =1
Rule dx
Power d h ni d £° ¢n § ° ¢n°1 0
x = nx n°1 g ( x) = n g ( x) g ( x)
Rule dx dx
d h xi d h g ( x) i
Exp e = ex e = e g ( x) g 0 ( x )
dx dx
Rules d h xi d h g ( x) i
a = ln(a)a x a = ln(a)a g( x) g0 ( x)
dx dx
d h § 1 d h ° ¢i 1 0
Log ln( x) = ln g( x) = g ( x)
dx x dx g ( x)
Rules d h i 1 d h ° ¢i 1
loga ( x) = loga g( x) = g 0 ( x)
dx x ln(a) dx g( x) ln(a)
d h i d h ° ¢i ° ¢
sin( x) = cos( x) sin g( x) = cos g( x) g0 ( x)
dx dx
d h i d h ° ¢i ° ¢
cos( x) = ° sin( x) cos g( x) = ° sin g( x) g0 ( x)
dx dx
d h i d h ° ¢i ° ¢
Trig tan( x) = sec2 ( x) tan g( x) = sec2 g( x) g0 ( x)
dx dx
Rules d h i d h ° ¢i ° ¢
cot( x) = ° csc2 ( x) cot g( x) = ° csc2 g( x) g0 ( x)
dx dx
d h i d h ° ¢i ° ¢ ° ¢
sec( x) = sec( x) tan( x) sec g( x) = sec g( x) tan g( x) g0 ( x)
dx dx
d h i d h ° ¢i ° ¢ ° ¢
csc( x) = ° csc( x) cot( x) csc g( x) = ° csc g( x) cot g( x) g0 ( x)
dx dx
d h °1 i 1 d h °1 ° ¢i 1
sin ( x) = p sin g ( x) = p g 0 ( x)
dx 1 ° x2 dx 1 ° ( g( x)) 2
d h i °1 d h °1 ° ¢i °1
cos°1 ( x) = p cos g ( x) = p g 0 ( x)
dx 1 ° x2 dx 1 ° ( g( x)) 2
Inverse d h i 1 d h ° ¢i 1
Trig tan°1 ( x) = tan °1
g ( x) = g 0 ( x)
dx 1 + x2 dx 1 + ( g( x))2
Rules d h °1 i °1 d h °1 ° ¢i °1
cot ( x) = cot g ( x) = g 0 ( x)
dx 1 + x2 dx 1 + ( g( x))2
d h i 1 d h °1 ° ¢i 1
sec°1 ( x) = p sec g ( x) = p g 0 ( x)
dx | x| x2 ° 1 dx | g( x)| ( g( x))2 ° 1
d h i °1 d h °1 ° ¢i °1
csc°1 ( x) = p csc g ( x) = p g 0 ( x)
dx | x| x2 ° 1 dx | g( x)| ( g( x))2 ° 1
 292 Derivatives of Inverse Trig Functions

In addition we have the following general rules for the derivatives of

combinations of functions.
d £ §
Constant Multiple Rule: c f (x) = c f 0 (x)
dx
d £ §
Sum/Difference Rule: f (x) ± g(x) = f 0 (x) ± g0 (x)
dx
d £ §
Product Rule: f (x)g(x) = f 0 (x)g(x) + f (x)g0 (x)
dx
∑ ∏
d f (x) f 0 (x)g(x) ° f (x)g0 (x)
Quotient Rule: =
dx g(x) (g(x))2
d £ ° ¢§
Chain Rule: f g(x) = f 0 (g(x)) g0 (x)
dx
d £ °1 § 1
Inverse Rule: f (x) = ° ¢
dx f0 f °1 (x)
We used this last rule, the inverse rule, to find the derivatives of ln(x)
and the inverse trig functions. After it has served these purposes it is mostly
retired for the remainder of Calculus I, except for the stray exercise or quiz
or test question.
This looks like a lot of rules to remember, and it is. But through practice
and usage you will reach the point of using them automatically, with hardly
a thought. Be sure to get enough practice!

Exercises for Chapter 25

d h °1 i °1
1. Show that cos (x) = p .
dx 1 ° x2
d h °1 i °1
2. Show that csc (x) = p .
dx | x| x2 ° 1
d h °1 i °1
3. Show that cot (x) = .
dx 1 + x2
Find the derivatives of the given functions.
°p ¢ ° ¢
4. sin°1 2x 5. ln tan°1 (x) 6. e x tan°1 (x)
° ¢ ° ¢ ° ¢
7. tan°1 º x 8. sec°1 º x 9. ln sin°1 (x)
° ¢ ° ¢
10. cos°1 º x 11. sec°1 x5
°1
12. etan (º x)
° ¢ ° ¢ ° ¢
13. tan°1 ln(x) + º 14. tan°1 x sin(x) 15. x sin°1 ln(x)
 Summary of Derivative Rules 293

Exercise Solutions for Chapter 25

d h °1 i °1
1. Show that cos (x) = p .
dx 1 ° x2
d h °1 i 1
By the inverse rule, cos (x) = ° ¢.
dx ° sin cos°1 (x)

Now we simplify the denominator.

From the standard diagram for
° ¢ OPP
cos°1 (x) we get sin cos°1 (x) = HYP =
p p 1
1° x 2
1 1 ° x2 . With this, the above
=
cos°1 (x)
d h °1 i °1 0
becomes cos (x) = p . º
dx 1 ° x2 x

d h °1 i °1
3. Show that cot (x) = .
dx 1 + x2
Suggestion: Verify the identity cot°1 (x) = º
2 ° tan°1 (x). Then differentiate
both sides of this.
d h ° ¢i 1 d h i 1 1 1
5. ln tan°1 (x) = tan°1
(x) = = ° ¢
dx tan°1 (x) dx tan°1 (x) 1 + x2 tan°1 (x) 1 + x2

d h ° ¢i º º
7. tan°1 º x = 2
=
dx 1 + (º x) 1 + º2 x 2
d h ° °1 ¢ i 1 d h °1 i 1 1 1
9. ln sin (x) = 1
sin (x) = 1
p = p
dx sin (x) dx
° °
sin (x) 1° x 2 1
sin (x) 1° x2
°

d h °1 ° 5 ¢ i 1 5x4 5
11. sec x = Ø Ø q° ¢ 5x4 = Ø Øp = Ø Øp
dx Ø x5 Ø x5 2 ° 1 Ø x5 Ø x10 ° 1 Ø xØ x10 ° 1

d h ° ¢ i 1 1 1
13. tan°1 ln(x) + º = ° ¢2 = ° ¢2
dx 1 + ln(x) x x + x ln(x)

d h ° ¢i ° ¢ d h °1 ° ¢i
15. x sin°1 ln(x) = 1 · sin°1 ln(x) + x sin ln(x)
dx dx
° ¢ 1 1 ° ¢ 1
= sin°1 ln(x) + x q ° ¢2 x = sin
°1
ln(x) + q ° ¢2
1 ° ln(x) 1 ° ln(x)