Faculty of Applied Sciences

Department of Mathematics and Physics

Mathematics 1B

(MTM151X)

Extra Notes: Inverse Functions

Diploma in mathematical Sciences

Lecturer: Marlon Junaide Don

2022
Contents
One-to-one functions.............................................................................................................................. 3
Horizontal line test .............................................................................................................................. 4
Inverse functions..................................................................................................................................... 5
How to find the inverse function of one-to-one function 𝑓𝑓. .............................................................. 5
Sketching the function and its inverse. ............................................................................................... 5
Trigonometric functions.......................................................................................................................... 6
Degrees ............................................................................................................................................... 6
Radians ................................................................................................................................................ 6
How to convert degrees to radians................................................................................................. 6
Trigonometric functions...................................................................................................................... 7
Reciprocal trig functions ..................................................................................................................... 8
Inverse Trigonometric Functions ............................................................................................................ 9
How to simplify inverse trigonometric expressions. ........................................................................ 10
Derivatives of inverse trigonometric functions. ............................................................................... 11
One-to-one functions
Definition
A function 𝑓𝑓 is called a one-to-one function if it never takes on the same value twice, that is,
𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥1 ) ≠ 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥2 )
whenever, 𝑥𝑥1 ≠ 𝑥𝑥2 .
Example 1.

𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑥𝑥 − 2

1. -1.
2. 0.
3. 1.
4. 4.

A B

Notice that 𝑓𝑓 never takes on the same value twice, i.e., there are no inputs in A that have the same
outputs in B. Therefore, the function 𝑓𝑓 is one-to-one.

Example 2.
𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑥𝑥 2 − 2

-2

-1. 2.
0. -1.
1. -2.
2.

A B

Notice that 𝑔𝑔 takes on the same value twice, i.e., there are inputs in A that have the same output in
B. Therefore, the function 𝑔𝑔 is not one-to-one.

Caution: if a function is not one-to-one than we say that the function is not one-to-one, we do not
say it is one-to-many.
Horizontal line test
Horizontal line test: A function is one-to-one if and only if no horizontal line intersects its
graph more than one
Example

𝑦𝑦
𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑥𝑥 3

𝑥𝑥

𝑓𝑓 is one-to-one because no horizontal line intersects its graph more than one.

Example
𝑦𝑦
𝑔𝑔(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑥𝑥 2

𝑥𝑥

The function 𝑔𝑔 is not one to one because there are horizontal lines that intersects the graph
more than once.
One-to-one functions are important they are precisely the functions that possess inverse
functions.
Inverse functions
Definition
Let 𝑓𝑓 be a one-to-one function with domain A and range B. then its inverse function (denoted by
𝑓𝑓 −1 ) has domain B and range A and is defined by

𝑓𝑓 −1 (𝑦𝑦) = 𝑥𝑥 ⟺ 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑦𝑦
for any 𝑦𝑦 in B.

How to find the inverse function of one-to-one function 𝑓𝑓.

• Step 1: Write 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥).
• Solve the equation for 𝑥𝑥 in terms of 𝑦𝑦
• To express 𝑓𝑓 −1 as a function of 𝑥𝑥, interchange 𝑥𝑥 and 𝑦𝑦. The resulting function is 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑓𝑓 −1 (𝑥𝑥).

Example: Find the inverse function 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑥𝑥 3 + 2.

• Step 1: Write 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥).

𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥 3 + 2.

• Solve the equation for 𝑥𝑥 in terms of 𝑦𝑦

𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥 3 + 2
𝑥𝑥 3 = 𝑦𝑦 − 2
𝑥𝑥 = 3�𝑦𝑦 − 2

• Finally, we interchange 𝑥𝑥 and 𝑦𝑦

3
𝑦𝑦 = √𝑥𝑥 − 2
and
3
𝑓𝑓 − (𝑥𝑥) = √𝑥𝑥 − 2.

Sketching the function and its inverse.

Sketch the graphs of 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 3𝑥𝑥 and its inverse function using the same coordinate axes.

First, we sketch the curve 𝑦𝑦 = 3𝑥𝑥 and then reflect about the line 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥 to get the graph of 𝑓𝑓 −1 .

𝑦𝑦 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 3𝑥𝑥

(2,9)

(0,1)
(9,2)
𝑥𝑥
(1,0)
Trigonometric functions
You are by now probably used to the idea of measuring angles in degrees because use it in everyday
language. However, at university we will be focusing on calculus a lot and as a result we have to
convert to radians since Calculus is always done in radian measure. Degree (a right angle is 90
degrees) and gradian measure (a right angle is 100 grads) have their uses. Outside of the calculus
they may be easier to use than radians.

Degrees
A circle is comprised of 360°, which is called one revolution.

Radians
1 revolution measured in radians is 2π, where π is the constant approximately 3.14.

1. 360° = 2π radians (1 revolution)

2. 180° = π radians.

Example: Convert 60° into radians.

𝜋𝜋
1° =
180
𝜋𝜋
60° × 1° = 60° ×
180
°
𝜋𝜋
60 =
3
Trigonometric functions
𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = sin 𝑥𝑥

• Notice, the range of the sine function is [−1, 1] and the domain is (−∞, ∞)
• Also notice that the 𝑥𝑥-intercepts are always in the form 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛. Where 𝑛𝑛 is an integer.
• This is an odd function because it is symmetric with respect to the origin.
• The period is 2π because the sine wave repeats every 2π units.

• Notice, the range of the cosine function is [−1, 1] and the domain is (−∞, ∞)
• This is an even function because it is symmetric with respect to the 𝑦𝑦- axis therefore for all
𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐( −𝑥𝑥 ) = 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 (𝑥𝑥)
• The period is also 2π because the cosine wave repeats every 2π units.

𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = tan 𝑥𝑥
 𝜋𝜋
Notice, the range of the tangent function is (−∞, ∞) and the domain is {𝑥𝑥|𝑥𝑥 ≠ 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 + , where n is
2
any integer}

• The 𝑥𝑥 intercepts are always in the form of 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛

• The period is 𝜋𝜋

• The tangent will be zero wherever the numerator (sine) is zero

• The tangent will be undefined wherever the denominator (cosine) is zero

• The graph of the tangent function has vertical asymptotes at values of 𝑥𝑥 in the form of
𝜋𝜋
𝑥𝑥 = 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 +
2

• Since the graph is symmetrical about the origin, the function is an odd function

Reciprocal trig functions

𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = csc 𝑥𝑥
1
To draw the graph of 𝑦𝑦 = csc 𝑥𝑥 = . We first have to look at where the denominator (sin 𝑥𝑥) is
sin 𝑥𝑥
undefined. At these points, the graph of 𝑓𝑓 will have asymptotes, see figure below. To draw the graph
we will first complete the table of values choosing values between 0 and 2𝜋𝜋 radians and plot the
ordered pair �𝑥𝑥; 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)�.

𝑥𝑥
sin 𝑥𝑥
csc 𝑥𝑥
Inverse Trigonometric Functions
Inverse Sine Function (denoted by sin−1 𝑥𝑥 = arcsin 𝑥𝑥).

The trigonometric function 𝑦𝑦 = sin 𝑥𝑥 is not one-to-one, hence in order to create an inverse, we must
restrict its domain.
1
Note: sin−1 𝑥𝑥 ≠ sin 𝑥𝑥

The restricted sine function is given by

𝜋𝜋 𝜋𝜋
sin 𝑥𝑥 − < 𝑥𝑥 <
𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = � 2 2
undefined otherewise
𝜋𝜋 𝜋𝜋
With Domain = �− , � and Range = [−1,1].
2 2

𝜋𝜋 𝜋𝜋
The inverse sine function, sin−1 𝑥𝑥, has domain [−1,1] and range �− , � and is obtained from that
2 2
of the restricted sine function by reflection about the line 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥.
How to simplify inverse trigonometric expressions.

1. Simplify the expression cos(arctan 𝑥𝑥)).

Let 𝑦𝑦 = arctan 𝑥𝑥 (𝑦𝑦 = tan−1 𝑥𝑥) then tan 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥. Therefore, cos(arctan 𝑥𝑥)) = cos 𝑦𝑦.
There are two ways to finding cos 𝑦𝑦.

Using the trigonometric identity Using a diagram

If tan 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥 then
sec 2 𝑦𝑦 = 1 + tan2 𝑦𝑦
Since tan 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥, we have
sec 2 𝑦𝑦 = 1 + 𝑥𝑥 2
sec 𝑦𝑦 = �1 + 𝑥𝑥 2
So
cos(arctan 𝑥𝑥)) = cos 𝑦𝑦 Therefore,
1 cos(arctan 𝑥𝑥)) = cos 𝑦𝑦
=
sec 𝑦𝑦 1
1 =
= √1 + 𝑥𝑥 2
√1 + 𝑥𝑥 2

2𝑥𝑥
2. Find in terms of 𝑥𝑥: cos(sin−1 3
).
2𝑥𝑥 2𝑥𝑥
Let sin−1 3
= 𝑦𝑦. Then sin 𝑦𝑦 = .
3

3 2𝑥𝑥
Angle is 𝑦𝑦

9 − 4𝑥𝑥 2
Therefore,
2𝑥𝑥
cos(sin−1 ) = cos 𝑦𝑦
3
9 − 4𝑥𝑥 2
=
3
Derivatives of inverse trigonometric functions.
We use implicit differentiation to find the derivative of a inverse trigonometric function. For
example, to find the derivative of 𝑦𝑦 = arcsin 𝑥𝑥, we first rewrite it in its equivalent form as 𝑥𝑥 = sin 𝑦𝑦,
𝜋𝜋 𝜋𝜋
for − < 𝑦𝑦 < . Differentiating
2 2

sin 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥
implicitly with respect to x, we obtain
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
cos 𝑦𝑦 . = 1.
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
This implies that
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 1
=
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 cos 𝑥𝑥
𝑥𝑥
To find cos 𝑥𝑥, we use sin 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥 �sin 𝑦𝑦 = �to draw a right angle triangle with angle 𝑦𝑦. That is,
1

1
𝑥𝑥
Angle is 𝑦𝑦

√1 − 𝑥𝑥 2

Now we can find cos 𝑥𝑥 from the triangle, i.e.,

√1 − 𝑥𝑥 2
cos 𝑥𝑥 =
1

So
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 1
=
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 √1 − 𝑥𝑥 2
1
1
=
√1 − 𝑥𝑥 2

In general, if 𝑦𝑦 = arcsin 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥), then

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑓𝑓′(𝑥𝑥)
=
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 2
�1 − �𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)�
Example
Find the derivative of arcsec(𝑥𝑥 2 + 1).
𝑥𝑥 2 +1
Let 𝑦𝑦 = arcsec(𝑥𝑥 2 + 1)., then sec 𝑦𝑦 = 𝑥𝑥 2 + 1 = .
1

𝑥𝑥 2 + 1 �(𝑥𝑥 2 + 1)2 − 1

Angle is 𝑦𝑦

1
So
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
sec 𝑦𝑦 tan 𝑦𝑦 = 2𝑥𝑥
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 2𝑥𝑥
=
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 sec 𝑦𝑦 tan 𝑦𝑦
2𝑥𝑥
=
(𝑥𝑥 2 + 1)�(𝑥𝑥 2 + 1)2 − 1

In general,
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑓𝑓′(𝑥𝑥)
𝑦𝑦 = arcsec 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) ⇒ =
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 2
𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)��𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)� − 1

Therefore we can use this general equation to find the derivative. That is, to find the derivative of
y = arcsec(𝑥𝑥 2 + 1). We notice that in this case

𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑥𝑥 2 + 1 ⇒ 𝑓𝑓 ′ (𝑥𝑥) = 2𝑥𝑥

Therefore,
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑓𝑓′(𝑥𝑥)
=
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 2
𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)��𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)� − 1

2𝑥𝑥
=
(𝑥𝑥 2 + 1)�(𝑥𝑥 2 + 1)2 − 1

Example
Find the derivative of arctan 𝑥𝑥 2 .

To find the derivative we will use the formula below.

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑓𝑓′(𝑥𝑥)
𝑦𝑦 = arctan 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) ⟹ =
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 1 + [𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)]2
In this case

𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑥𝑥 2 ⟹ 𝑓𝑓 ′ (𝑥𝑥) = 2𝑥𝑥

Therefore,
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑓𝑓 ′ (𝑥𝑥)
=
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 1 + [𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)]2
2𝑥𝑥
=
1 + (𝑥𝑥 2 )2
2𝑥𝑥
=
1 + 𝑥𝑥 2
Example
𝑦𝑦 = ln(arccot 2𝑥𝑥)
Recall if

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 −𝑓𝑓′(𝑥𝑥)
𝑦𝑦 = arccot 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) ⇒ =
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 1 + [𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)]2
In this case 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 2𝑥𝑥 ⇒ 𝑓𝑓 ′ (𝑥𝑥) = 2.

So
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 1 2
= .
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 arccot 2𝑥𝑥 1 + (2𝑥𝑥)2
Example
2
𝑦𝑦 = 𝑒𝑒 𝑥𝑥 arccosec 𝑒𝑒 𝑥𝑥
Recall that
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 −𝑓𝑓′(𝑥𝑥)
𝑦𝑦 = arccosec 𝑥𝑥 ⟹ =
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 2
𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)��𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)� − 1

In this case

𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 𝑒𝑒 𝑥𝑥 ⇒ 𝑓𝑓 ′ (𝑥𝑥) = 𝑒𝑒 𝑥𝑥
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
To find we will make use of the product rule. Therefore,
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 2 2 −𝑒𝑒 𝑥𝑥
= 2𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥 arccosec 𝑒𝑒 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑒𝑒 𝑥𝑥
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑒𝑒 𝑥𝑥 �(𝑒𝑒 𝑥𝑥 )2 − 1

Example
3𝑥𝑥 −5 arctan 4𝑥𝑥
𝑦𝑦 =
𝑒𝑒 −2𝑥𝑥 √𝑥𝑥 3 − 1
We first simplify the equation by taking the log of both sides.

3𝑥𝑥 −5 arctan 4𝑥𝑥

ln 𝑦𝑦 = ln
𝑒𝑒 −2𝑥𝑥 √𝑥𝑥 3 − 1
= ln 3𝑥𝑥 −5 arctan 4𝑥𝑥 + ln 𝑒𝑒 −2𝑥𝑥 �𝑥𝑥 3 − 1
1
= ln 3 + ln 𝑥𝑥 −5 + ln(arctan 4𝑥𝑥) + ln 𝑒𝑒 −2𝑥𝑥 + ln(𝑥𝑥 3 + 1)2
 1
= ln 3 − 5 ln 𝑥𝑥 + ln(arctan 4𝑥𝑥) − 2𝑥𝑥 ln 𝑒𝑒 + ln(𝑥𝑥 3 + 1)
2
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 5 1 4 3𝑥𝑥 2
= − + −2+
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑥𝑥 arctan 4𝑥𝑥 1 + (4𝑥𝑥)2 2(𝑥𝑥 3 + 1)
Recall that
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑓𝑓′(𝑥𝑥)
𝑦𝑦 = arctan 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) ⟹ = .
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 1 + [𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)]2