INVERSE TRIGONOMETRICAL FUNCTIONS

Inverse Trigonometrical Functions

1. INVERSE TRIGONOMETRICAL FUNCTIONS
If sin T = x is a trigonometrical equation, then the value of T which satisfies this equation is denoted by sin–1 x and
it is read as ‘sine inverse x’. It is called inverse function of sine. Similarly inverse functions of other trigonometrical
functions are defined. Hence inverse functions of trigonometrical functions are defined as follows-
sin–1 x = T œ sin T = x; cos–1 x = T œ cos T = x
tan–1 x = T œ tan T = x; cot–1 x = T œ cot T = x
sec x = T
–1
œ sec T = x; cosec x = T
–1
œ cosec T = x
2. DOMAIN AND RANGE OF INVERSE FUNCTIONS
As we know that in direct trigonometric functions, we are given the angle and we calculate the trigonometric
ratio (sine, cosine, etc.) or the value at that angle. Also to many values of the angle the value of trigonometric

S 5S 9 S
ratio is same e.g., tanq = 1 for T , , , etc. Inverse trigonometry deals with obtaining the angles, given
4 4 4
the value of a trigonometric ratio. In inverse trigonometry some restrictions have been imposed on the angles,
and these are based on the principle values of the angles.
The inverse of sine function is defined as sin–1x = q or arc sin x = q, where –1 £ x £ 1 and

S S 1 S 5S 13 S 1
– £q £ e.g., sin–1 and nothing else, although sin , sin etc. are also equal to ,
2 2 2 6 6 6 2

§ 3· S 1 1
¨ ¸
sin–1 ¨ 2 ¸ 3 only. Note that sin x ¹ sin x ' sin x = (sin x) .
–1 –1

© ¹

We list below the difinitions of all inverse trigonometric functions with their respective domains and ranges.
Function Domain Range
y = f(x) (permitted value of x) (permitted value of y)
ª S Sº
(i) y = sin–1x [–1, 1] « 2 , 2 »
¬ ¼
(ii) y = cos–1x [–1, 1] [0, p]
§ S S·
(iii) y = tan–1 x (–¥, ¥) ¨ , ¸
© 2 2¹
(iv) y = cot–1 x (–¥, ¥) (0, p)
ª S· §S º
(v) y = sec–1 x (–¥, –1] È [1, ¥) «0, 2 ¸ ‰ ¨ 2 , S »
¬ ¹ © ¼
ª S · § Sº
(vi) y = cosec–1 x (–¥, –1] È [1, ¥) « 2 ,0¸ ‰ ¨ 0, 2 »
¬ ¹ © ¼
 INVERSE TRIGONOMETRICAL FUNCTIONS

§ 1· 2S S S 5S
e.g., cos–1 ¨  ¸ ; tan–1 (–1) = – ; cosec–1 (2) = ; sec–1(–1) = p ; cot–1 (– 3 ) = , etc.
© 2¹ 3 4 6 6

3. PROPERTIES OF INVERSE FUNCTIONS

(i) sin(sin–1x) = x –1 £ x £ 1

cos(cos–1x) = x –1 £ x £ 1

tan(tan–1x) = x –¥ < x < ¥

cot(cot–1x) = x –¥ < x < ¥

sec(sec–1x) = x x £ –1 or x ³ 1

cosec(cosec–1x) = x x £ –1 or x ³ 1

S S
(ii) sin–1(sin q) = q only if – £ q £
2 2
cos–1(cos q) = q only if 0 £ q £ p

S S
tan–1(tan q) = q only if – < q <
2 2
cot–1(cot q) = q only if 0 < q < p

S S
sec–1(sec q) = q only if 0 £ q < or < q £ p
2 2

S S
cosec–1(cosec q) = q only if – £ q < 0 or 0 < q £
2 2

§ 5S · 5S
e.g., tan–1 ¨ tan ¸z
© 6 ¹ 6

§ 5S · § 1 ·
tan–1 ¨ tan ¸ = tan–1 ¨¨  ¸ = –S
¸
© 6 ¹ © 3¹ 6

(iii) sin–1(–x) = –sin–1x –1 £ x £ 1

cos–1(–x) = p – cos–1x –1 £ x £ 1
–1
tan (–x) = – tan x –1
– ¥ < x < ¥
cot (–x) = p – cot x
–1 –1
– ¥ < x < ¥

§ 1·
(iv) sin–1 x = cosec–1 ¨ ¸ –1 £ x < 0 or 0 < x £ 1
©x¹

§ 1·
cos–1 x = sec–1 ¨ ¸ –1 £ x < 0 or 0 < x £ 1
©x¹
§ 1·
tan–1 x = cot–1 ¨ ¸ only if x > 0
©x¹
because range of these two functions are different.
§ 1·
If x < 0, tan–1 x = – p + cot–1 ¨ ¸
©x¹
 INVERSE TRIGONOMETRICAL FUNCTIONS

S
(v) sin–1 x + cos–1x = – 1 £ x £ 1
2

S
tan–1 x + cot–1x = – ¥ < x < ¥
2

S
sec–1 x + cosec–1x = x £ – 1 or x ³ 1
2

§ 5S · § 5S ·
Ex.1 Value of cos–1 ¨ cos ¸ + sin–1 ¨ sin 3 ¸ is
© 3 ¹ © ¹

S 2S 10S
[1] 0 [2] [3] [4]
2 3 3

1 § 5S · 1 § 5S ·
Sol. [1] cos ¨ cos ¸  sin ¨ sin ¸
© 3 ¹ © 3 ¹

ª § S ·º 1 ª § S ·º
= cos–1 «cos ¨ 2S  ¸ »  sin «sin ¨ 2S  ¸ »
¬ © 3 ¹¼ ¬ © 3 ¹¼

S S
 0
3 3

ª §3· § 3 ·º
Ex.2 The value of tan «sin1 ¨ ¸  cos 1 ¨ ¸ » is
¬ ©5¹ © 13 ¹ ¼
6 6 13 17
[1] [2] [3] [4]
17 13 5 6

ª §3· § 3 ·º
Sol. [4] tan « sin1 ¨ ¸  cos1 ¨ ¸»
¬ © ¹
5 © 13 ¹ ¼

ª 3 2 º
§ 1 3 1 2 ·
« 1 4  3 »
tan ¨ tan  tan tan « tan »
© 4 3 ¸¹ « 3 2
1 . »
«¬ 4 3 »¼

ª 17 12 º 17
tan « tan1 u »
¬ 12 6 ¼ 6

4. SUM AND DIFFERENCE FORMULAE

(i) sin–1 x + sin–1y = sin–1 (x 1 y 2 + y 1 x 2 ) if xy < 0 or x2 + y2 £ 1

­
° S  sin1§¨ x 1  y 2  y 1  x 2 ·¸, if x ! 0, y ! 0, x 2  y 2 ! 1
© ¹
= ®° S  sin1§¨ x 1  y 2  y 1  x 2 ·¸, if x  0, y  0 and x 2  y 2 ! 1
¯ © ¹
sin–1 x – sin–1y = sin–1 (x 1 y 2 – y 1 x2 ) if xy ³ 0 and x2 + y2 £ 1

(ii) cos–1 x + cos–1y = cos–1 (xy– 1 x 2 1 y 2 ), if x + y ³ 0

= 2p – cos–1 (xy – 1 x 2 1 y 2 ), if x + y < 0

 INVERSE TRIGONOMETRICAL FUNCTIONS

­ 1§ 2 2 ·
°cos ¨© xy  1  x 1  y ¸¹, if x t 0, y t 0, x d y
(iii) cos x – cos y = ®
–1 –1

° cos 1§¨ xy  1  x 2 1  y 2 ·¸, if x t 0, y t 0 x ! y

¯ © ¹
§ xy ·
(iv) tan–1x + tan–1y = tan–1 ¨¨ 1  xy ¸¸ if x, y > 0 and xy < 1
© ¹
§ xy ·
= p + tan–1 ¨¨ 1  xy ¸¸ if x, y > 0 and xy > 1
© ¹
§ xy ·
tan–1 x – tan–1 y = tan–1 ¨¨ 1  xy ¸¸ if x, y > 0
© ¹

ª x  y  z  xyz º
(v) tan–1x + tan–1y + tan–1z = tan–1 « »
¬1  xy  yz  zx ¼

S
Ex.3 If tan–1 x + tan–1 y + tan–1 z = , then
2
[1] x + y + z – xyz = 0 [2] x + y + z + xyz = 0
[3] xy + yz + zx + 1 = 0 [4] xy + yz + zx –1 = 0
S
Sol. [4] Given that tan–1x + tan–1y + tan–1z = 2

ª x  y  z  xyz º S ª x  y  z  xyz º S 1
Ÿ tan1 « » Ÿ« » tan
¬1  xy  yz  xz ¼ 2 ¬ 1  xy  yz  xz ¼ 2 0
Hence xy + yz + zx – 1 = 0

–1 1  b
2
2a 2x
Ex.4 If sin–1 2 – cos 2 = tan
–1
, then x =
1 a 1 b 1 x2
ab a b
[1] a [2] b [3] [4]
1  ab 1  ab
Sol. [4] Put a = tanT , b = tanI and x = tan \ , then reduced form is sin–1 ( sin 2T) – cos–1(cos 2I ) = tan–1 ( tan 2\)
TI \ Ÿ TI \
tan T  tan I
Taking tan, we get tan ( T – I) = tan \ Ÿ 1  tan T tan I tan \

a b
Substituting these values, we get =x
1  ab
§ 1· § 1·
The value of tan–1(1) + cos–1 ¨  2 ¸ + sin ¨  2 ¸ is equal to
–1
Ex.5
© ¹ © ¹
S 5S 3S 13 S
[1] [2] [3] [4]
4 12 4 12

§ 1· § 1· S 2S S S S 3S
Sol. [3] tan–1 ( 1) + cot–1 ¨  ¸ + sin–1 ¨  ¸   ; 
© 2 ¹ © 2¹ 4 3 6 4 2 4

S
Ex.6 If sin–1 6x + sin–1 6 3 x = – , then x is equal to
2

1 1
[1] – 1 [2] [3] – [4] None of these
12 12
 INVERSE TRIGONOMETRICAL FUNCTIONS

S
Sol. sin–1 6 3 x = – – sin–1 6x
2
= – (sin–1 1 + sin–1 6x)

= – sin–1 (1  (1.(1  (6x)2  6x. 1  1)

Ÿ – sin–1 1  36x 2 sin1(  1  36x 2 )

Ÿ 6 3x  1  36x 2
Ÿ 108 x2 = 1 – 36 x2 Ÿ 144 x2 = 1

1 1
Ÿ x2 = Ÿx=±
144 12

1
But only x = – satifies the equation Ans. [3]
12

5. SOME IMPORTANT RESULTS

1. 2sin–1 x = sin–1 2x 1 x 2 2. 2 cos–1 x = cos–1 (2x2 – 1)

2x 2x 1 x2
3. 2 tan–1 x = tan–1 2
sin 1 2
cos 1 4. 3 sin–1 x = sin–1 (3x – 4x3)
1 x 1 x 1 x2
–1 –1 3 –1 –1
3x  x 3
5. 3 cos x = cos (4x – 3x) 6. 3 tan x = tan
1  3x 2

Ex.7 If A = tan–1 x, then sin 2A =

2x 2x 2x
[1] [2] [3] [4] None of these
1 x2 1 x2 1  x2

2 tan A 2x
Sol. [3] Given that A = tan–1x ; Now x= tan A Ÿ sin 2A =
1  tan2 A 1  x 2

6. MISCELLENEOUS RESULTS

1
ª x º §x· ª 3a 2 x  x 3 º §x·
(i) tan « » sin 1 ¨ ¸ (ii) tan 1
« 2 »
3 tan 1 ¨ ¸
«¬ a(a  3 x ) »¼
2
«¬ a  x 2
2 »¼ ©a¹ ©a¹
ª 1 x2  1 x2 º S 1
(iii) tan 1 « »  cos 1 x 2
« 1 x2  1 x2 » 4 2
¬ ¼

§ x · § 1 x2 · § 1 · § 1·
–1
(iv) sin (x) = cos –1 1  x2 tan1 ¨ ¸ cot 1 ¨ ¸ sec 1¨ ¸ cos ec 1¨ ¸
© 1 x ¹
2 ¨ x ¸ ¨ 2 ¸ ©x¹
© ¹ © 1 x ¹

§ 1 x2 · § x · § 1· § 1 ·
§ 1 x2 · tan 1¨ ¸ cot 1¨ ¸ sec 1¨ ¸ cos ec 1¨ ¸
–1
(v) cos x = sin –1 ¨ ¸ ¨ ¸
© ¹ x ¨ 2 ¸ ©x¹ ¨ 2 ¸
© ¹ © 1 x ¹ © 1 x ¹

§ x · § 1 · § 1· § 1  x2 ·
(vi) tan–1x = sin–1 ¨ ¸ cos1 ¨ ¸ cot 1 ¨ ¸ sec 1 1  x2 cos ec 1 ¨ ¸
© 1 x ¹
2
© 1 x ¹
2
©x¹ ¨ x ¸
© ¹
Ex.8 The value of sin cot–1 tan cos–1 x is equal to

S
[1] x [2] [3] 1 [4] none of these
2
 INVERSE TRIGONOMETRICAL FUNCTIONS

1 1 1
Sol. [1] Let cos–1x = T Ÿ x = cos T Ÿ sec T = Ÿ tan T sec 2 T  1 1 1  x2 ;
x x2 x

§1 ·
Now sin cot–1 tan T = sin cot–1 ¨ 1 x2 ¸ ; Again, putting x = sin T
©x ¹
§1 2 ·
ª 1  sin2 T º
sin cot–1 ¨ x 1  x ¸ sin cot « sin T »
1
= sin cot–1 (cotT) = sinT = x
© ¹ «¬ »¼

SOLVED EXAMPLE
ª1 § 2a · 1 1 § 1  a ·
2
º
Ex.1 tan « sin 1 ¨ 
¸ 2 cos ¨ 2 ¸» =
© 1 a © 1  a ¹¼
2
¬2 ¹

2a 1  a2 2a
[1] [2] [3] [4] None of these
1  a2 1  a2 1  a2

ª 1 1 § 2a · 1 1 § 1  a ·
2
º
Sol. [3] tan « 2 sin ¨ ¸  cos ¨ 2 ¸»
© 1 a ¹ 2 © 1  a ¹¼
2
¬

ª 1 1 § 2 tan T · 1 1 § 1  tan T ·
2
º
= tan « sin ¨ ¸  cos ¨ ¸» (Let a = tan T ]
© 1  tan T ¹ 2 © 1  tan T ¹ ¼
2 2
¬2

ª 1 1 1 º
= tan « sin sin 2T  cos cos 2T »
1

¬2 2 ¼

2 tan T 2a
= tan 2T tan 2T
1  tan2 T 1  a2
Ex.2 If –1 < x < 0 then sin–1 x equals

§
· x § 1 x2 ·
1 x 2 –1 ¨
¸ –1 ¨ ¸
[1] S – cos –1
[2] tan [3] –cot ¨ x ¸ [4] cosec–1x
© 1 x ¹
2
© ¹

S
Sol. [2] ' – 1 < x < 0 , then – < sin–1 x < 0
2
Let sin–1 x = D ? sinD = x

§ x · § x · § x ·
then , tanD = ¨ ¸ ; ?D tan 1 ¨ ¸ ? sin x
1
tan1 ¨ ¸
© 1 x ¹ © 1 x ¹ © 1 x ¹
2 2 2

3 5
Ex.3 cot–1 + sin–1 =
4 13

1 63 1 12 1 65 1 5
[1] sin [2] sin [3] sin [4] sin
65 13 68 12

3 3
Sol. [1] Let cot–1 = T Ÿ cot T =
4 4

1 1 4
and sin T = 1  cot T 2
1  9 /16 5
 INVERSE TRIGONOMETRICAL FUNCTIONS

3 5 4 5
Hence cot–1 + sin–1 = sin–1 + sin–1
4 13 5 13

ª
1 4 25 5 16 º 1 ª 4 12 5 3º ª 48  15 º 1 63
= sin « 5 . 1  169  13 . 1  25 » = sin « .  . » sin1 « » sin 65
¬« ¼» ¬ 5 13 13 5¼ ¬ 65 ¼

§1 1 1 ·
The value of cos ¨ cos
8 ¸¹
Ex.4 is equal to
© 2

3 3 1 1
[1] [2] – [3] [4]
4 4 16 4

1 S
Sol. [1] Let cos–1 T , where 0 < T < . Then
8 2

1 1 1 §1 1· 1
cos1 T Ÿ cos ¨ cos 1 ¸ cos T
2 8 2 ©2 8¹ 2

1 1
Now cos–1 T Ÿ cos T 2 cos2T/2 –1 = 1/8
8 8

T 9 T 3 ª T S T 3º
Ÿ cos2 Ÿ cos « ' 0  2  4 , so cos 2 z  4 »
2 16 2 4 ¬ ¼
Ex.5 1 + cot2 (sin–1x) =

1 1 2
[1] [2] x2 [3] [4]
2x x2 x
Sol. [3] Let sin–1 x = T Ÿ sinT = x

1
Now 1 + cot2T = cosec2 T =
x2

1
Hence 1 + cot2(sin–1x) =
x2

Ex.6 The number of solution of the equation tan–1(x–1) + tan–1 x + tan–1 (x + 1) = tan–1 3x is
[1] 1 [2] 2 [3] 3 [4] 4
Sol. [3] The given equation can be written as

tan–1 ( x – 1) + tan–1 ( x + 1) = tan–1 3x – tan–1x

x  1 x  1 3x  x
tan–1 1  x  1 x  1 = tan–1
1  3x 2

2x 2x
Ÿ Ÿ x + 3x3 = 2x – x3
2  x2 1  3x 2

1
Ÿ 4x3 – x = 0 Ÿ x(4x2 –1) = 0 Ÿ x = 0 , x = r
2

Ex.7 tan–1 x + cot–1 (x + 1) =

[1] tan–1 (x2 + 1) [2] tan–1 (x2 + x) [3] tan–1 (x + 1) [4] tan–1 (x2 + x + 1)
 INVERSE TRIGONOMETRICAL FUNCTIONS

1
Sol. [4] tan–1 x + cot–1 (x + 1) = tan–1 x + tan–1
x 1
ª 1 º
« x  x  1»
1
tan « » –1 2
« 1  x » = tan (x + x + 1)
¬« x  1 »¼
1
Ex.8 The value of sin (2 tan–1 ) + cos ( tan–1 2 2 ) is
3
6 7 14
[1] [2] [3] [4] none of these
15 15 15
1 1
Sol. [3] Let tan–1 = D and tan–1 2 2 = E . Then tanD = and tanE = 2 2 , so that
3 3
1 2 tan D 1
sin ( 2 tan–1 ) + cos ( tan–1 2 2 ) = sin 2D + cosE = 1  tan2 D 
3 1  tan2 E
1
2.
3  1  2. 9  1 3 1

14
1 1  8 3 10 3 5 3 15
1
9
3 4
Ex.9 If cos–1 –sin–1 = cos–1 x , then x =
5 5
[1] 0 [2] 1 [3] –1 [4] 2

3 4 3 16
Sol. [2] cos–1 – sin–1 = cos–1x Ÿ cos1  cos1 1  cos1 x
5 5 5 25

3 3 3 3 9 9
Ÿ cos1  cos1 cos 1 x Ÿ .  1 1 x
5 5 5 5 25 25

9 16 16 9 16
Ÿ  . x Ÿ  x Ÿ x 1
25 25 25 25 25

Ex.10 If T = sin–1 x + cos–1x–tan–1x , x t 0 , then the smallest interval in which T lies is given by
S 3S S S S S
[1] dTd [2]  d Td 0 [3] 0 d T d [4] dTd
2 4 4 4 4 2
S
Sol. [4]T = sin–1 x + cos–1x – tan–1 x = – tan–1 x = cot–1x
2

S S
Since 0 d x d 1 , therefore dTd
4 2
Ex.11 If tan (x + y) = 33 and x = tan–13 , then y will be

§ 1·
[1] 0.3 [2] tan–1 (1.3) [3] tan–1 ( 0.3) [4] tan–1 ¨ ¸
© 18 ¹
Sol. [3] x + y = tan–1 33 Ÿ y = tan-133 – tan–13

33  3 30
= tan–1 = tan–1 Ÿ y = tan–1 ( 0.3)
1  99 100
11S
Ex.12 The equation 2cos–1x + sin–1x = has
6
[1] No solution [2] only one solution [3] Two solutions [4] Three solutions
 INVERSE TRIGONOMETRICAL FUNCTIONS

11S
Sol. [1] Given equation is 2 cos–1 x + sin–1x =
6
11S S 11S
Ÿ cos–1x + ( cos–1 x + sin–1x ) = Ÿ cos–1 x + Ÿ cos–1 x = 4S/ 3
6 2 6
which is not possible as cos–1 x  [0,S]

§1· § 2·
Ex.13 tan–1 ¨ ¸ + tan–1 ¨ 12 ¸ =
© 11 ¹ © ¹

§ 33 · § 1· § 132 ·
[1] tan–1 ¨ ¸ [2] tan–1 ¨ ¸ [3] tan–1 ¨ ¸ [4] None of these
© 132 ¹ ©2¹ © 33 ¹

§ 1· § 2·
Sol. [4] tan–1 ¨ ¸ + tan–1 ¨ ¸
© 11 ¹ © 12 ¹

§ 1 2 ·
¨  ¸ § 12  22 ·
tan1 ¨ 11 12 ¸ tan1 ¨ ¸ § 34 ·
tan1 ¨
§ 17 ·
tan1 ¨ ¸
= ¨¨ 1  1 u 2 ¸¸ © 130 ¹ ¸
© 130 ¹ © 65 ¹
© 11 12 ¹

Ex.14 If 4sin–1x + cos–1x = S , then x is equal to

1 3 1
[1] 0 [2] [3]  [4]
2 2 2

Sol. [2] We know that 4 sin–1 x + cos–1 x = S

Ÿ 3sin–1x + sin–1 x + cos–1 x = S

S S
Ÿ 3sin–1 x = S – Ÿ sin–1 x = S/ 6
2 2

S 1
Ÿ x = sin
6 2

ª 1 § 1 · º
Ex.15 Considering only the principal values, if tan(cos–1 x) = sin «cot ¨ ¸ » , then x is equal to
¬ © 2 ¹¼

1 2 3 5
[1] [2] [3] [4]
5 5 5 3

§ 1· 1
Sol. [4] Put cot–1 ¨ ¸ = T Ÿ cotT =
©2¹ 2

2
? sin T = . Put cos–1 x = I ? x = cos I
5

2 5
Also ' tanI = ? x = cos I =
5 3
–1
Ex.16 2 tan ( cos x ) = tan–1 (cosec2x ), then x =

S S S
[1] [2] S [3] [4]
2 6 3

Sol. [4] 2tan–1 (cosx) = tan–1(cosec2x)

 INVERSE TRIGONOMETRICAL FUNCTIONS

§ 2cos x · § 1 · 2cos x 1
Ÿ tan1 ¨ ¸ tan1 ¨ 2 ¸ Ÿ
© 1  cos x ¹
2
© sin x ¹ sin2 x sin2 x

S
Ÿ 2cos x 1Ÿ x
3

§1 4·
Ex.17 sin ¨ cos1 ¸ =
©2 5¹

1 1 1 1
[1] [2]  [3] [4] 
10 10 10 10

4 4
Sol. [1] Let cos–1 x Ÿ cos x .....(i)
5 5

§1 1 4 · §x·
Now sin ¨ cos ¸ sin ¨ ¸ .....(ii)
©2 5¹ ©2¹

4 x 4
from (i) , cos x = Ÿ 1 – 2 sin2
5 2 5

x 4 1 x 1
Ÿ 2sin2 2 1  5 5
Ÿ sin
2 10
Ex.18 If 0 d x d 1 and T = sin–1 x + cos–1 x – tan–1x, then

[1] T d S / 2 [2] T t S / 4 [3] T S/4 [4] S / 4 d T d S / 2

Sol. [4] T = sin–1 x + cos–1 x – tan–1 x = S/2 – tam–1x

Since 0 d x d 1 Ÿ 0 d tan–1 x d S/4 , we find S/4 d T d S/2

Ex.19 If x > 0 , y > 0 and x > y , then tan–1 ( x/y) + tan–1 [ (x + y) / ( x– y)] is equal to
[1] – S/4 [2] S/4 [3] 3S/4 [4] None of these
x xy
Sol. [1] Since y . x  y ! 1 The given expression is equal to

ª x xy º
« yxy » x2  y 2
« » S  tan 1 S  tan1 1  3S / 4
S + tan–1 «1  x u x  y »  x2  y 2
«¬ y x  y »¼

Ex.20 The principal value of sin–1 (– 3 /2) + cos–1 ( 7S/6 ) is

[1] 5S / 6 [2] S / 2 [3] 3S / 2 [4] None of these

Sol. [2] sin–1  3 / 2 = – sin–1 3 /2 = – S / 3

and cos–1 (cos (7S/ 6) = cos–1 cos (2S – 5S / 6 )

= cos–1 cos ( 5 S / 6) = 5S/6
S 5S S
Hence sin–1 (– 3 / 2 ) + cos–1 (cos 7 S / 6) =  
3 6 2

Ex.21 The value of cos–1 ( –1/2) –2 sin–1 (1/2) + 3 cos–1 ( –1/ 2 ) – 4 tan–1 ( –1) is equal to

[1] 7 S / 4 [2] 11 S / 4 [3] S / 12 [4] 25 S / 12

 INVERSE TRIGONOMETRICAL FUNCTIONS

Sol. [4] The given expression is equal to

2S S 3S § S · 25S
 2u  3u  4¨ ¸
3 6 4 © 4 ¹ 12

Ex.22 If cosec–1x = 2cot–17 + cos–1 ( 3/4) then the value of x is

[1] 44/117 [2] 125/117 [3] 24/7 [4] 5/3

72  1 3
Sol. [2] 2 cot–1 7 + cos–1 ( 3/5) = cot–1  cot 1
2u7 4
[ ' If T = cos ( 3/5) , cos T = 3/5 , cot T = 3/4 ]
–1

= cot–1 ( 24/7) + cot–1 ( 3/4)

ª 24 3 º
« u  1»
cot « 7 4 »
1
–1
44 –1
125
= « 24  3 » = cot 117 = cosec 117
«¬ 7 4 »¼

§S u·
Ex.23 If u = cot–1 tan D  tan 1 tan D , then tan ¨© 4  2 ¸¹ =

[1] tan D [2] cot D [3] tan D [4] cot D

tan D = tan x, then u = cot ( tan x ) – tan (tanx ) = ( S / 2) – x – x = S / 2 – 2x

–1 –1
Sol. [1] Let

§S u· § S u· §S u·
Ÿ 2x = ( S / 2) – u Ÿ x = ¨ 4  2 ¸ Ÿ tanx = tan ¨ 4  2 ¸ Ÿ tan D tan ¨  ¸
© ¹ © ¹ ©4 2¹

Ex.24 If cos–1 x = tan–1 x , then sin ( cos–1x) =

[1] x [2] x2 [3] 1/x [4] 1/x2

Sol. [2] cos–1 x = tan–1 x = T ( say ) Ÿ x = cos T = tan T

1 r 1  4 5 1
Ÿ cos2T = sin T Ÿ sin2 T + sin T –1 = 0 Ÿ sin T Ÿ sin T
2 2

5 1 5 1
So x2 = cos2 T = and sin ( cos–1 x ) = sin T = = x2
2 2

Ex.25 An integral solution of the equation tan–1 x + tan–1 (1/y) = tan–1 3 is

[1] (1, 4) [2] (4 , 13) [3] (2 , 1) [4] none of these

Sol. [4] tan–1x + tan–1 (1/y) = tan–13

x  1/ y x
Ÿ tan–1 1  x / y = tan–13 , if 1 – y ! 0

3x  1
Ÿ x + 1/y = 3 (1 – x/y) Ÿ y =
3x
which is not satisfied by [1] , [2] or [3]

ª x  1º ª x  1º ª 2x  3 º ª 3x  2 º
Ex.26 If y = sec–1 « »  sin1 « » and z = cosec–1 « »  cos1 « » then y + z =
¬ x  1¼ ¬ x  1¼ ¬ 3x  2 ¼ ¬ 2x  3 ¼

[1] 0 [2] S [3] (x – 1) / ( x+ 1) [4] (3x + 2) / ( 2x + 3)

 INVERSE TRIGONOMETRICAL FUNCTIONS

x 1 x 1 1 x  1 x 1 S
Sol. [2] y = sec–1  sin1 = cos  sin1
x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 2

similarly z = S/2 so that y + z = S

Ex.27 If (tan–1 x)2 + (cot–1 x )2 = 5S2 / 8 , then x =

[1] –1 [2] 0 [3] 1 [4] none of these

Sol. [1] The given equation can be written as

(tan–1 x + cot–1 x )2 – 2 tan–1 x cot–1 x = 5S2 / 8

Since tan–1 x + cot–1 x = S/2 we have

(S/2)2 – 2tan–1 x (S/2 – tan–1 x ) = 5S2 / 8

Ÿ 2(tan–1 x)2 – 2 (S/2) tan–1 x – 3S2 / 8 = 0

Ÿ tan–1 x = – S / 4 Ÿ x = –1
Ex.28 If x = 1/5 , the value of cos ( cos–1 x + 2 sin–1 x) is
[1] – 24 / 25 [2] 24 / 25 [3] –1/5 [4] 1/5
Sol. [3] The given expression is equal to
cos (cos–1x + sin–1x + sin–1x) = cos (S/2 + sin–1x)
= – sin ( sin–1x) = –x = – 1/5

§ 1· 1 § 3 ·
Ex.29 The greater of the two angles A=2tan–1 (2 2  1) and B = 3 sin–1 ¨ ¸  sin ¨ ¸ is
©3¹ ©5¹
[1] B [2] A [3] C [4] none of these

Sol. A = 2tan–1 (2 2  1) = 2tan–1 (1.828)

? A > 2tan–1 3 [ 3 = 1.732 < 1.828]

2S
ŸA> ....(1)
3
1 1 S
We have sin–1 < sin–1 =
3 2 6
1 S
Ÿ 3sin–1 
3 2
Using sin 3T = 3sinT – 4 sin3 T

1 § 1 § 1· ·
3

We have sin –1
= sin–1 ¨3 u  4¨ ¸ ¸
3 ¨ 3 © 3 ¹ ¸¹
©

§ 23 ·
= sin–1 ¨ ¸ = sin–1 (0.852)
© 27 ¹

1 § 3· 3
? 3 sin–1 < sin–1 ¨¨ ¸¸ ( = 0.868 > 0.852)
3 © 2 ¹ 2

1 S
i.e. 3 sin–1 < .....(2)
3 3

3 3 S
Also sin–1 = sin–1 (0.6) < sin–1 =
5 2 3
 INVERSE TRIGONOMETRICAL FUNCTIONS

3 S
? sin–1 
5 3
1 3 S S 2S
? B = 3 sin–1 + sin–1 < + =
3 5 3 3 3
2S
?B< .....(3)
3
By (1) and (3), A > B Ans. [2]

Ex.30 The greatest and least values of (sin–1 x)3 + (cos–1 x)3 are

S S S3 S S3 7S3
[1]  , [2]  , [3] , [4] None of these
2 2 8 8 32 8
Sol. We have, (sin–1 x)3 + (cos–1 x)3
= (sin–1 x + cos–1 x)3 – 3 sin–1 x cos–1x (sin–1x + cos–1x)

S3 3S §S · S3 3S2 3S
=  sin1 x ¨  sin1 x ¸ =  sin1 x  (sin1 x)2
8 2 ©2 ¹ 8 4 2

S3 3S ª§ 1 S · º 3S 3
2
S3 3S ª S 1 º
 1 2
  « sin x  »
2 «¬¨© 4 ¸¹ ¼» 32
(sin x) sin x
4 «¬ » = 8
=
8 2 ¼

2
S3 3S § 1 S·
 sin x  ¸
32 2 ¨©
=
4¹

S3
So, the least value is Ans. [3]
32

§ 1 ·
Ex.31 tan–1 (1/3) + tan–1(1/7) + tan–1(1/13) + .....+ tan–1 ¨ 2 ¸ + .....f is equal to
© n  n  1¹
[1] 0 [2] S/4 [3] S/2 [4] 2S/3

§ 1 · § (n  1)  n ·
Sol. Tn = tan–1 ¨ 2 ¸ tan 1 ¨ ¸
© n  n  1¹ © 1  (n  1)n ¹
= tan–1 (n + 1) – tan–1 n
Ÿ T1 = tan (1/3) = tan 2 – tan–1 1
–1 –1

T2 = tan–1 (1/7) = tan–1 3 – tan–1 2

-----------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Tn = tan–1 (n + 1) – tan–1 n
On adding
T1 + T2 + T3 + .....+ Tn = tan–1 (n + 1) – tan–1 1

§ 1 ·
= tan–1 ¨ ¸
©n 2¹

§ 1 ·
? nlim (T1 + T2 + T3 + .....+ Tn) = nlim tan–1 ¨ ¸
of of
© 1 2 / n ¹

S
= tan–1 1 = Ans. [2]
4

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