Lesson 9:

Inverse
Trigonometric
Functions
Let us begin with a simple question:

What is the first pair of inverse functions that pop into YOUR
mind?

This may not be your pair but this is a

famous pair. But something is not
quite right with this pair. Do you
know what is wrong?

Congratulations if you guessed that the top function does not

really have an inverse because it is not 1-1 and therefore, the
graph will not pass the horizontal line test.
Consider the graph of
y

Note the two points on 

the graph and also on
the line y=4. 

f(2) = 4 and f(-2) = 4 so 

what is an inverse 

function supposed to do
with 4? 

x
 

By definition, a function cannot generate two different outputs for

the same input, so the sad truth is that this function, as is, does not
have an inverse.
So how is it that we arrange for this function to have an inverse?

y=x
We consider only one half of
the graph: x > 0. 4

The graph now passes the

horizontal line test and we do 2
have an inverse:

x
   

Note how each graph reflects across the line y = x onto its inverse.
A similar restriction on the domain is necessary to create an
inverse function for each trig function.

Consider the sine function.

You can see right away y = sin(x)

y

that the sine function does


not pass the horizontal y = 1/2

line test.

But we can come up with a x

        
valid inverse function if we
restrict the domain as we
did with the previous
function. 

How would YOU restrict the domain?

Take a look at the piece of the graph in the red frame.

We are going to build the y

inverse function from this


section of the sine curve
because:

This section picks up all x

the outputs of the sine         

from –1 to 1.
This section includes the
origin. Quadrant I angles 

generate the positive ratios

and negative angles in
Quadrant IV generate the
negative ratios. Lets zoom in and look at some key
points in this section.
I have plotted the special angles on the curve and the table.
y
y = sin(x)



x
     


The new table generates the graph of the inverse.
The domain of
the chosen
To get a good section of the
look at the sine is
graph of the
So the range of
inverse
the arcsin is
function, we
will “turn the
tables” on the
sine function. The range of the
chosen section of
the sine is [-
1 ,1] so the
domain of the
arcsin is [-1, 1].
Note how each point on the original graph gets “reflected” onto the
graph of the inverse.
y = arcsin(x) y

y = sin(x)



x
 

etc.

You will see the

inverse listed as

both:
In the tradition of inverse functions then we have:

Unless you are

instructed to use
degrees, you
should assume that
inverse trig
functions will
generate outputs
of real numbers (in
radians).

The thing to remember is that for the trig function the input is the
angle and the output is the ratio, but for the inverse trig function the
input is the ratio and the output is the angle.
The other inverse trig functions are generated by using similar
restrictions on the domain of the trig function. Consider the cosine
function:
y
What do you y = cos(x)

think would be a
good domain
restriction for the
cosine?
Congratulations if        
x

you realized that the
restriction we used on
the sine is not going
to work on the cosine.

The chosen section for the cosine is in the red frame. This section
includes all outputs from –1 to 1 and all inputs in the first and second
quadrants.
Since the domain and range for the section are the domain
and range for the inverse cosine are

y y = arccos(x) y
y = cos(x)
 






x
        




x
 

The other trig functions require similar restrictions on their
domains in order to generate an inverse.
Like the sine function, the domain of the section of the
tangent that generates the arctan is


y
y
y=arctan(x)
y=tan(x) 



 



x x
        









 The table below will summarize the parameters we have so far.
Remember, the angle is the input for a trig function and the ratio is
the output. For the inverse trig functions the ratio is the input and the
angle is the output.

arcsin(x) arccos(x) arctan(x)

Domain

Range

When x<0, y=arcsin(x) will be in which quadrant? y<0 in IV

When x<0, y=arccos(x) will be in which quadrant? y>0 in II
When x<0, y=arctan(x) will be in which quadrant? y<0 in IV
The graphs give you the big picture concerning the behavior of the
inverse trig functions. Calculators are helpful with calculations (later
for that). But special triangles can be very helpful with respect to
the basics.

2 1
1

Use the special triangles above to answer the following. Try to figure
it out yourself before you click.
OK, lets try a few more. Try them before you peek.

2 1
1
 Negative inputs for the arccos can be a little tricky.
y
2
2
1
x
-1

From the triangle you can see that arccos(1/2) = 60 degrees. But negative
inputs for the arccos generate angles in Quadrant II so we have to use 60
degrees as a reference angle in the second quadrant.
 You should be able to do inverse trig calculations without a
calculator when special angles from the special triangles are
involved. You should also be able to do inverse trig calculations
without a calculator for quadrantal angles.

Its not that bad. Quadrantal angles are

the angles between the quadrants—
y
angles like y = cos(x)


To solve arccos(-1) for example, you x

could draw a quick sketch of the cosine         

section:

And observe that arccos(-1) =


But a lot of people feel comfortable using the following sketch
and the definitions of the trig ratios.

For arccos(-1) for example, you y

(0, 1)
r=1
can observe that, since
the point (-1, 0) is the
one we want. That point is on the
terminal side of (-1, 0)
(1, 0)
x

So, since
(-1, 0)

Or for arccot(0), you can observe that, So, arccot(0)

since the point (0, 1) Good luck getting that
is the one we want. That point is on the answer off of a
terminal side of 90 degrees. calculator.
Finally, we encounter the composition of trig functions with inverse
trig functions. The following are pretty straightforward
compositions. Try them yourself before you click to the answer.

so

First, what do we know about

We know that is an angle whose sine is

Did you suspect from the beginning that this was the answer because
that is the way inverse functions are SUPPOSED to behave? If so,
good instincts but….
Consider a slightly different setup:

This is also the composition

of two inverse functions
but…

Did you suspect the answer was going to be 120 degrees? This
problem behaved differently because the first angle, 120 degrees,
was outside the range of the arcsin. So use some caution when
evaluating the composition of inverse trig functions.

The remainder of this presentation consists of practice problems,

their answers and a few complete solutions.
First, some calculator problems. On most calculators, you access
the inverse trig functions by using the 2nd function option on the
corresponding trig functions. The mode button allows you to
choose whether your work will be in degrees or in radians.
You have to stay on top of this because the answer is not in a
format that tells you which mode you are in.

Answers and selected complete solutions can be found after

the exercises.
Find the exact
value of each
expression
without using a
calculator.
When your
answer is an
angle, express it
in radians. Work
out the answers
yourself before
you click.
On most calculators, you access the inverse trig functions by using the
2nd function option on the corresponding trig functions. The mode
button allows you to choose whether your work will be in degrees or
in radians. You have to stay on top of this because the answer is not in
a format that tells you which mode you are in.

Use a calculator. For 17-20, Use a calculator. For 21-24,

round to the nearest tenth of a express your answers in radians
degree. rounded to the nearest hundredth.
Use a calculator. When your answer is an angle, express it in radians
rounded to the hundredth’s place. When your answer is a ratio,
round it to four decimal places, but don’t round off until the very
end of the problem.

Answers appear in the following slides.

Answers for problems 1 – 9.

Negative ratios for arccos generate angles

in Quadrant II.
y

2
1
x

The reference angle is

so the answer is
 y
2 14.

x
-1

y
15.

1 x

2
Answers for 17 – 30.