DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS

MODULE 5

DIFFERENTIATION OF
INVERSE TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

Trigonometric functions, just like algebraic functions, also have their corresponding
inverse function.
𝑎
From the given figure, sin A = and if we wish to find the
𝑐
value of angle A, the inverse trigonometric function will be
used.
𝑎 𝑎
∴ A = Arcsin or A = Sin-1 but the notation “Sin-1” is
𝑐 𝑐
carefully used because it can be mistaken as an exponent when
the truth is it is not.

Given y = sin x, then its inverse is x = Arcsin y. Now, let us derive the derivative
of Arcsin u where u is a differentiable function of x.
Let y = Arcsin u
Then u = sin y
d d
(u) = (sin y) Differentiate implicitly with respect to x.
dx dx
du dy dy
= cos y ∙ Solve for
dx dx dx
dy 1 du
= ∙ From the Pythagorean identity, cos y = √1 − sin2 y
dx cos y dx
dy 1 du
= ∙ From the given, y = Arcsin u and u = sin y,
dx 2 dx
√1−sin y

d 1 du
∴ (Arcsin u) = ∙
dx √1−u2 dx

Differential Calculus | Derivatives of Inverse Trigonometric Functions | Page 1 of 6

Derivatives of Inverse Trigonometric Functions
Let u be a differentiable function of x
d 1 du
I. (Arcsin u) = ∙
dx √1 − u2 dx
Note:
d −1 du
II. (Arccos u) = ∙ The Arcsine and Arccosine,
dx √1 − u2 dx
Arctangent and Arccotangent,
d 1 du and Arcsecant and Arccosecant
III. (Arctan u) = ∙
dx 1+ u2 dx have equal derivatives but of the
d −1 du different sign.
IV. (Arccot u) = ∙
dx 1+ u2 dx
d 1 du
V. (Arcsec u) = ∙
dx u √u2 − 1 dx

d −1 du
VI. (Arccsc u) = ∙
dx u √u2 − 1 dx

EXAMPLE 1. Find the first derivative of y = Arcsin 2x.

Here u = 2x.
1 d
∴ y’ = ∙ ( 2x )
dx
√1 − (2x)2

2
= Ans.
√1 − 4x2

EXAMPLE 2. Find y’ if y = Arccos (x – 1)

-1 d
∴ y’ = ∙ (x–1)
dx
√1 − (x − 1)2

-1
= ∙1
√1 − (x2 −2x+1)

-1
= Ans.
√2x − x2

Differential Calculus | Derivatives of Inverse Trigonometric Functions | Page 2 of 6

EXAMPLE 3. Find y” if y = Arctan 4x
1 d
∴ y’ = 2 ∙ ( 4x )
1 + (4x) dx
1
= ∙4
1 + 16x2
4
=
1 + 16x2
d 4 𝒄
∴ y” = ( 2 ) →
dx 1 + 16x 𝒗
-4 d
= ∙ ( 1 + 16x2 )
2 2 dx
(1 + 16x )

-4
= ∙ 32x
2 2
(1 + 16x )

-128x
= Ans. (no need to expand the denominator)
2 2
(1 + 16x )

EXAMPLE 4. Find y’ of the function y = Arccot tan x

-1 d
∴ y’ = 2 ∙ ( tan x )
1 + (tan x) dx

-1 d
= ∙ sec2x ∙ (x)
1+ tan2 x dx

-sec2 x
= since 1 + tan2x = sec2x
sec2 x
= -1 Ans.

Differential Calculus | Derivatives of Inverse Trigonometric Functions | Page 3 of 6

EXAMPLE 5. Find the first derivative of y = Arcsec 6ax
1 d
∴ y’ = ∙ ( 6ax )
dx
6ax √(6ax)2 − 1

6a
=
6ax √36a2 x2 −1
1
= Ans.
x √36a2 x2 −1

EXAMPLE 6. Find the first derivative of y = Arccsc6x

Here y = Arccsc6x = ( Arccsc x )6 → un

d
∴ y’ = 6 ( Arccsc x )5 ∙ ( Arccsc x )
dx
−1 d
= 6 Arccsc5x ∙ ∙ (x)
x √x2 − 1 dx

−6arccsc5 x
= Ans.
x √x2 − 1

EXAMPLE 7. Find y’ of xy = Arctan xy

d d
( xy ) = ( Arctan xy )
dx dx
1 d
xy' + y = 2 ∙ ( xy )
1 + (xy) dx

1
xy' + y = ∙ ( xy’ + y ) Multiply 1 + x2y2 on both sides
1 + x2 y2

( xy’ + y ) ( 1 + x2y2 ) = xy’ + y

xy' ( 1 + x2y2 ) + y ( 1 + x2y2 ) = xy’ + y

xy' ( 1 + x2y2 ) – xy’ = y – y ( 1 + x2y2 )

Differential Calculus | Derivatives of Inverse Trigonometric Functions | Page 4 of 6

y’ [ x ( 1 + x2y2 ) – x ] = y [ 1 – ( 1 + x2y2 ) ]

y ( −x2 y2 )
y’ =
x3 y2
y
=− x Ans.

EXAMPLE 8. Find y’ of Arccos y + Arcsin x = 2

d d
( Arccos y ) + ( Arcsin x ) = 0
dx dx
-1 d 1 d
∙ (y)+ ∙ (x) = 0
√1 − y2 dx √1 − x2 dx

-y' 1
+ =0
√1 − y2 √1 − x2
-y' -1
=
√1 − y2 √1 − x2

√1 − y2
y’ = Ans.
√1 − x2

EXAMPLE 9. Find y’ if x = Arctan t and y = ( 1 + t2 )9

dx d dy d
∴ = ( Arctan t ) ∴ = ( 1 + t2 )9
dt dt dt dt
1 d
= = 9 ( 1 + t2 )8 ∙ ( 1 + t2 )
1 + t2 dt

= 18t ( 1 + t2 )8
dy dy dt
∴ = ∙
dx dt dx

= 18t ( 1 + t2 )8 ∙ ( 1 + t2 ) Grouping symbols!

= 18t ( 1 + t2 )9 Ans.

Differential Calculus | Derivatives of Inverse Trigonometric Functions | Page 5 of 6

Exercise 5.1
Name: _________________________________________ Date: _______________________
Course, Year and Section: _________________________

Find the first derivative of the following functions with respect to x.

1. y = Arctan ( 1 – 2x )

2. y = Arcsin √x

3. x Arcsin a + y Arccos b = 1

Differential Calculus | Derivatives of Inverse Trigonometric Functions | Page 6 of 6