We cover the inverses to the trigonometric functions sine, cosine, tangent, cotangent, secant, cosecant, and their derivatives. The remarkable fact is that although these functions and their inverses are transcendental (complicated) functions, the derivatives are algebraic functions. Also, we meet my all-time favorite function: arctan.
1. Section 3.5
Inverse Trigonometric Functions
V63.0121.041, Calculus I
New York University
November 1, 2010
Announcements
Midterm grades have been submitted
Quiz 3 this week in recitation on Section 2.6, 2.8, 3.1, 3.2
Thank you for the evaluations
Announcements
Midterm grades have been
submitted
Quiz 3 this week in
recitation on Section 2.6,
2.8, 3.1, 3.2
Thank you for the
evaluations
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 2 / 31
Objectives
Know the deïŹnitions,
domains, ranges, and other
properties of the inverse
trignometric functions:
arcsin, arccos, arctan,
arcsec, arccsc, arccot.
Know the derivatives of the
inverse trignometric
functions.
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 3 / 31
Notes
Notes
Notes
1
Section 3.5 : Inverse Trigonometric FunctionsV63.0121.041, Calculus I November 1, 2010
2. What is an inverse function?
DeïŹnition
Let f be a function with domain D and range E. The inverse of f is the
function f â1
deïŹned by:
f â1
(b) = a,
where a is chosen so that f (a) = b.
So
f â1
(f (x)) = x, f (f â1
(x)) = x
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 4 / 31
What functions are invertible?
In order for f â1
to be a function, there must be only one a in D
corresponding to each b in E.
Such a function is called one-to-one
The graph of such a function passes the horizontal line test: any
horizontal line intersects the graph in exactly one point if at all.
If f is continuous, then f â1
is continuous.
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 5 / 31
Outline
Inverse Trigonometric Functions
Derivatives of Inverse Trigonometric Functions
Arcsine
Arccosine
Arctangent
Arcsecant
Applications
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 6 / 31
Notes
Notes
Notes
2
Section 3.5 : Inverse Trigonometric FunctionsV63.0121.041, Calculus I November 1, 2010
3. arcsin
Arcsin is the inverse of the sine function after restriction to [âÏ/2, Ï/2].
x
y
sin
â
Ï
2
Ï
2
y = x
arcsin
The domain of arcsin is [â1, 1]
The range of arcsin is â
Ï
2
,
Ï
2
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 7 / 31
arccos
Arccos is the inverse of the cosine function after restriction to [0, Ï]
x
y
cos
0 Ï
y = x
arccos
The domain of arccos is [â1, 1]
The range of arccos is [0, Ï]
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 8 / 31
arctan
Arctan is the inverse of the tangent function after restriction to [âÏ/2, Ï/2].
x
y
tan
â
3Ï
2
â
Ï
2
Ï
2
3Ï
2
y = x
arctan
â
Ï
2
Ï
2
The domain of arctan is (ââ, â)
The range of arctan is â
Ï
2
,
Ï
2
lim
xââ
arctan x =
Ï
2
, lim
xâââ
arctan x = â
Ï
2
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 9 / 31
Notes
Notes
Notes
3
Section 3.5 : Inverse Trigonometric FunctionsV63.0121.041, Calculus I November 1, 2010
4. arcsec
Arcsecant is the inverse of secant after restriction to [0, Ï/2) âȘ (Ï, 3Ï/2].
x
y
sec
â
3Ï
2
â
Ï
2
Ï
2
3Ï
2
y = x
Ï
2
3Ï
2
The domain of arcsec is (ââ, â1] âȘ [1, â)
The range of arcsec is 0,
Ï
2
âȘ
Ï
2
, Ï
lim
xââ
arcsec x =
Ï
2
, lim
xâââ
arcsec x =
3Ï
2
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 10 / 31
Values of Trigonometric Functions
x 0
Ï
6
Ï
4
Ï
3
Ï
2
sin x 0
1
2
â
2
2
â
3
2
1
cos x 1
â
3
2
â
2
2
1
2
0
tan x 0
1
â
3
1
â
3 undef
cot x undef
â
3 1
1
â
3
0
sec x 1
2
â
3
2
â
2
2 undef
csc x undef 2
2
â
2
2
â
3
1
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 11 / 31
Check: Values of inverse trigonometric functions
Example
Find
arcsin(1/2)
arctan(â1)
arccos â
â
2
2
Solution
Ï
6
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 12 / 31
Notes
Notes
Notes
4
Section 3.5 : Inverse Trigonometric FunctionsV63.0121.041, Calculus I November 1, 2010
5. Caution: Notational ambiguity
sin2
x = (sin x)2
sinâ1
x = (sin x)â1
sinn
x means the nth power of sin x, except when n = â1!
The book uses sinâ1
x for the inverse of sin x, and never for (sin x)â1
.
I use csc x for
1
sin x
and arcsin x for the inverse of sin x.
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 15 / 31
Outline
Inverse Trigonometric Functions
Derivatives of Inverse Trigonometric Functions
Arcsine
Arccosine
Arctangent
Arcsecant
Applications
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 16 / 31
The Inverse Function Theorem
Theorem (The Inverse Function Theorem)
Let f be diïŹerentiable at a, and f (a) = 0. Then f â1
is deïŹned in an open
interval containing b = f (a), and
(f â1
) (b) =
1
f (f â1(b))
Upshot: Many times the derivative of f â1
(x) can be found by implicit
diïŹerentiation and the derivative of f :
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 17 / 31
Notes
Notes
Notes
5
Section 3.5 : Inverse Trigonometric FunctionsV63.0121.041, Calculus I November 1, 2010
6. Derivation: The derivative of arcsin
Let y = arcsin x, so x = sin y. Then
cos y
dy
dx
= 1 =â
dy
dx
=
1
cos y
=
1
cos(arcsin x)
To simplify, look at a right
triangle:
cos(arcsin x) = 1 â x2
So
d
dx
arcsin(x) =
1
â
1 â x2
1
x
y = arcsin x
1 â x2
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 18 / 31
Graphing arcsin and its derivative
The domain of f is [â1, 1],
but the domain of f is
(â1, 1)
lim
xâ1â
f (x) = +â
lim
xââ1+
f (x) = +â |
â1
|
1
arcsin
1
â
1 â x2
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 19 / 31
Composing with arcsin
Example
Let f (x) = arcsin(x3
+ 1). Find f (x).
Solution
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 20 / 31
Notes
Notes
Notes
6
Section 3.5 : Inverse Trigonometric FunctionsV63.0121.041, Calculus I November 1, 2010
7. Derivation: The derivative of arccos
Let y = arccos x, so x = cos y. Then
â sin y
dy
dx
= 1 =â
dy
dx
=
1
â sin y
=
1
â sin(arccos x)
To simplify, look at a right
triangle:
sin(arccos x) = 1 â x2
So
d
dx
arccos(x) = â
1
â
1 â x2
1
1 â x2
x
y = arccos x
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 21 / 31
Graphing arcsin and arccos
|
â1
|
1
arcsin
arccos
Note
cos Ξ = sin
Ï
2
â Ξ
=â arccos x =
Ï
2
â arcsin x
So itâs not a surprise that their
derivatives are opposites.
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 22 / 31
Derivation: The derivative of arctan
Let y = arctan x, so x = tan y. Then
sec2
y
dy
dx
= 1 =â
dy
dx
=
1
sec2 y
= cos2
(arctan x)
To simplify, look at a right
triangle:
cos(arctan x) =
1
â
1 + x2
So
d
dx
arctan(x) =
1
1 + x2
x
1
y = arctan x
1 + x2
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 23 / 31
Notes
Notes
Notes
7
Section 3.5 : Inverse Trigonometric FunctionsV63.0121.041, Calculus I November 1, 2010
8. Graphing arctan and its derivative
x
y
arctan
1
1 + x2
Ï/2
âÏ/2
The domain of f and f are both (ââ, â)
Because of the horizontal asymptotes, lim
xâ±â
f (x) = 0
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 24 / 31
Composing with arctan
Example
Let f (x) = arctan
â
x. Find f (x).
Solution
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 25 / 31
Derivation: The derivative of arcsec
Try this ïŹrst. Let y = arcsec x, so x = sec y. Then
sec y tan y
dy
dx
= 1 =â
dy
dx
=
1
sec y tan y
=
1
x tan(arcsec(x))
To simplify, look at a right
triangle:
tan(arcsec x) =
â
x2 â 1
1
So
d
dx
arcsec(x) =
1
x
â
x2 â 1
x
1
y = arcsec x
x2 â 1
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 26 / 31
Notes
Notes
Notes
8
Section 3.5 : Inverse Trigonometric FunctionsV63.0121.041, Calculus I November 1, 2010
9. Another Example
Example
Let f (x) = earcsec 3x
. Find f (x).
Solution
f (x) = earcsec 3x
·
1
3x (3x)2 â 1
· 3
=
3earcsec 3x
3x
â
9x2 â 1
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 27 / 31
Outline
Inverse Trigonometric Functions
Derivatives of Inverse Trigonometric Functions
Arcsine
Arccosine
Arctangent
Arcsecant
Applications
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 28 / 31
Application
Example
One of the guiding principles of
most sports is to âkeep your eye
on the ball.â In baseball, a batter
stands 2 ft away from home plate
as a pitch is thrown with a
velocity of 130 ft/sec (about
90 mph). At what rate does the
batterâs angle of gaze need to
change to follow the ball as it
crosses home plate?
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 29 / 31
Notes
Notes
Notes
9
Section 3.5 : Inverse Trigonometric FunctionsV63.0121.041, Calculus I November 1, 2010
10. Solution
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 30 / 31
Summary
y y
arcsin x
1
â
1 â x2
arccos x â
1
â
1 â x2
arctan x
1
1 + x2
arccot x â
1
1 + x2
arcsec x
1
x
â
x2 â 1
arccsc x â
1
x
â
x2 â 1
Remarkable that the
derivatives of these
transcendental functions are
algebraic (or even rational!)
V63.0121.041, Calculus I (NYU) Section 3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions November 1, 2010 31 / 31
Notes
Notes
Notes
10
Section 3.5 : Inverse Trigonometric FunctionsV63.0121.041, Calculus I November 1, 2010