2

Chapter
INVERSE TRIGONOMETRIC
FUNCTIONS

NCERT CRUX
(iv) y = cot–1x
Graph of Inverse Trigonometric Y
Functions
π
(i) y = sin–1x
Y π/2
π/2
X
O

–1
0 1 X
(v) y = sec–1x
Y

–π/2 π

(ii) y = cos–1x π/2

Y
X
π –1 O 1

π/2
(vi) y = cosec–1x
X
–1 O 1 Y

π/2
(iii) y = tan–1x
–1
X
Y O 1
π/2
–π/2
X
O
–π/2 All inverse trigonometric functions are monotonic. i.e., either
they are increasing or decreasing in their entire domain.
 2 NTA CUET (UG) - Mathematics PW

π
Domain and Range of Inverse (ii) tan −1 x + cot −1 x = : x∈R
2
Trigonometric Functions π
(iii) sec −1 x + cosec=
−1
x : x ≤ − 1 or x ≥ 1
2
Function Domain Range
 π π Property IV
sin–1 x [–1, 1] − 2 , 2 
   −1  x + y 
 π + tan   if x, y > 0 and xy > 1
cos–1 x [–1, 1] [0, p]   1 − xy 
  x+y 
 π π (i) tan −1 x + tan −1 y  tan −1 
=  if xy < 1
tan–1 x (–∞, ∞) − ,    1 − xy 
 2 2 
− π + tan −1  x + y  if
 
x, y < 0 and xy > 1
  1 − xy 
cot–1 x (–∞, ∞) (0, p)
 −1  x − y 
π  π + tan   if x > 0, y < 0 and xy < −1
sec–1 x R – (–1, 1) [0, π] −     1 + xy 
2 
(ii) tan −1 x − tan −1 y  tan −1  x − y 
= if xy > −1
  1 + xy 
 π π 
cosec–1 x R – (–1, 1)  − 2 , 2  − {0} −π + tan −1  x − y  if
 
x < 0, y > 0 and xy < −1
    1 + xy 
Note:
Property V
 The symbol sin–1x should not be confused with
(sin x)–1. Infact sin–1x is an angle, the value of whose {
(i) cos–1x + cos–1y = cos–1 xy − 1 − x 2 1 − y 2 }
sine is x, similarly for other trigonometric functions. if –1 ≤ x, y ≤ 1 and x + y ≥ 0
 The smallest numerical value, either positive or negative,
of q is called the principal value of the function. {
(ii) cos–1x – cos–1y = cos–1 xy + 1 − x 2 1 − y 2 }
 Whenever no branch of an inverse trigonometric function if –1 ≤ x, y ≤ 1 and x + y ≥ 0
is mentioned, we mean the principal value branch. The
value of the inverse trigonometric function which lies in {
(iii) sin–1x + sin–1y = sin–1 x 1 − y 2 + y 1 − x 2 }
the range of the principal branch is its principal value. if –1 ≤ x, y ≤ 1 and x2 + y2 ≤1

{
2
(iv) sin–1x – sin–1y = sin–1 x 1 − y − y 1 − x
2
}
Properties of Inverse if –1 ≤ x, y ≤ 1 and x2 + y2 ≤1
Trigonometric Functions
Property VI
Property I  2x 
=(i) 2 tan −1 x sin −1  , x ≤ 1
1  1+ x2 
sin −1
(i) = cosec −1 , x ≥ 1 or x ≤ −1
x  1− x2 
1 (ii) 2 tan −1 x cos −1 
= , x ≥ 0
cos −1
(ii) = sec −1 x, x ≥ 1 or x ≤ −1  1+ x2 
x
 2x 
1 (iii)
= 2 tan −1 x tan −1   , −1 < x < 1
tan −1
(iii) = cot −1 x, x > 0  1− x2 
x
Property VII
Property II
 x 
(i) sin–1 (– x) = – sin–1 x, for all x ∈ [–1, 1] 1
sin −= x cos −1 1 −=
x 2 tan −1  
 2
(ii) –1 –1
cos (– x) = π – cos x, for all x ∈ [–1, 1]  1− x 
(iii) tan–1 (– x) = – tan–1 x, for all x ∈ R 1− x2  1  −1  1 
(iv) –1 –1
cosec (– x) = – cosec x,for all x ∈ (– ∞, –1] ∪ [1, ∞)    == cot −1 sec
= −1
  cosec  
x  2  x
 1− x 
(v) sec–1 (– x) = π – sec–1 x, for all x ∈(– ∞, –1] ∪ [1, ∞)
Proof:
(vi) cot–1 (– x) = π – cot–1 x, for all x ∈ R
Let sin–1x = θ. Then x = sin θ
Property III
π
Now, cos θ = 1 − sin 2 θ ⇒ cos θ= 1 − x 2
(i) sin x + cos =
−1
x −1
: −1 ≤ x ≤ 1
2 Note: Similarly, you can derive for other trigonometric functions.