Mathematical Investigations IV

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Mathematical Investigations IV
Trigonometry – Beyond the Right Triangles
Inverse Trig Functions

For all problems, find all values in radians, giving exact values wherever possible. Use your calculator only to
check answers as necessary.

Let’s recall a few things about inverse functions

Analytically, if functions ƒ and g are inverses,

then

Graphically, if functions ƒ and g are inverses,

then

Functions have inverses that are functions if and only if they are one-to-one. What does it mean
to say that a function is “one-to-one”?

graphs are not meaningful without scales on both axes!

1. Now consider the inverse trig functions and sketch the following.
y = sin(x) the relation x = sin(y)

Sketch part of the graph of x = sin(y) above State the domain and range of y = sin −1 (x) .
to create the inverse function y = sin −1 (x) .
Domain: [-1,1]

Range: [-pi/2,pi/2]

(Verify your graph with your calculator.)

Trig. 6.1 Rev. F19

Mathematical Investigations IV
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2. Find the exact value (without using your calculator!) of the following, keeping in mind
the domain and range of y = sin −1 (x) determined on the previous page.
the inverse of sin, you can reference the unit circle or look at the opposite angle and calculate
⎛ 3⎞ ⎛ 1⎞ ⎛ 2⎞
sin −1 ⎜ ⎟ sin −1 ( −1) sin −1 ⎜ − ⎟ sin −1 ⎜ ⎟
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠
-pi/2 -pi/6
pi/3 pi/4

3. Sketch the graph of y = cos −1 (x) , marking the scale clearly on each axis.
State the domain and range.

Domain: [-1,1]

Range: [0,pi]

4. Find the exact value of the following, without using your calculator. (Don’t forget about
domain and range.)

⎛ 2⎞ ⎛ 3⎞
cos−1 ⎜ ⎟
⎛ 1⎞
cos −1 ⎜ − ⎟ cos −1 ( −1) cos−1 ⎜ ⎟
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠
pi pi/6
pi/4 2pi/3

5. Sketch the graph of y = tan −1 (x) , marking the scale clearly.

State the domain and range.

Domain: [-inf,inf]

Range:
[-pi/2,pi/2]

Trig. 6.2 Rev. F19

Mathematical Investigations IV
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6. Find the exact value of the following.

⎛ 3⎞
tan −1 (1) tan −1 (−1) tan −1 ( )
3 tan −1 ⎜ ⎟
⎝ 3 ⎠
pi/4 -pi/4
pi/3 pi/6
7. Find exact values for each of the following. (No calculators!)
Use our old answers, and calculate that way
⎛ ⎛ 3π ⎞ ⎞
a. (
sin sin −1 ( −1) ) b. sin −1 ⎜ sin ⎜ ⎟ ⎟
⎝ ⎝ 2 ⎠⎠
-pi/2

sin(-pi/2)= -1
⎛ ⎛ 3π ⎞ ⎞ ⎛ ⎛ π ⎞⎞
c. tan −1 ⎜ tan ⎜ ⎟ ⎟ d. cos −1 ⎜ cos ⎜ − ⎟ ⎟ pi/4 the inverse cosine and cosine cancel
⎝ ⎝ 4 ⎠⎠ ⎝ ⎝ 4⎠⎠
to stay the same as pi/4
-pi/4
⎛ ⎛ 4⎞ ⎞ ⎛ ⎛ 2⎞ ⎞
e sin ⎜ cos −1 ⎜ ⎟ ⎟ f. sin ⎜ tan −1 ⎜ ⎟ ⎟
⎝ ⎝ 5⎠ ⎠ ⎝ ⎝ 3⎠ ⎠
3/5

g. (
cos sin −1 ( a ) ) h. (
tan cos −1 ( a ) )
For these formulas you need t think about the formula
and the similarity of the unit circle and the problem

5
8. Given tan(x) = , find the value of cos(x) (without using your calculator!).
7
The way we solve this is that we

9. Solve each equation over the given domain. Give answers to the nearest hundredth of a
degree.
2 2
a. tan(3x + 4) = for 0 < x < 90o b. tan(3x + 4) = − for 0 < x < 180o
3 3

Trig. 6.3 Rev. F19