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Maths (/maths/) > Math Article (/maths/articles/) > Inverse Trigonometric Functions (/maths/inverse-trigonometric-

functions/)

Inverse Trigonometric Functions

Inverse trigonometric functions are defined as the inverse functions of the basic trigonometric
functions, which are sine, cosine, tangent, cotangent, secant and cosecant functions. They are
also termed arcus functions, antitrigonometric functions or cyclometric functions. These inverse
functions in trigonometry are used to get the angle with any of the trigonometry ratios (https://
byjus.com/maths/trigonometric-ratios/). The inverse trigonometry functions have major
applications in the field of engineering, physics, geometry and navigation.

Table of Contents

• Definition

• Formulas

• Graphs

• Table

• Derivatives

• Properties

• Examples

What Are Inverse Trigonometric Functions?

Inverse trigonometric functions are also called “arc functions” since, for a given value of
trigonometric functions, they produce the length of arc needed to obtain that particular value.
The inverse trigonometric functions perform the opposite operation of the trigonometric
functions such as sine, cosine, tangent, cosecant, secant and cotangent. We know that

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functions such as sine, cosine, tangent, cosecant, secant and cotangent. We know that
trigonometric functions are applicable, especially to the right-angle triangle. These six
important functions are used to find the angle measure in the right-angle triangle when two
sides of the triangle measures are known.

Formulas
The basic inverse trigonometric formulas are as follows:

Inverse Trig Functions Formulas

Arcsine sin-1(-x) = -sin-1(x), x ∈ [-1, 1]

Arccosine cos-1(-x) = π -cos-1(x), x ∈ [-1, 1]

Arctangent tan-1(-x) = -tan-1(x), x ∈ R

Arccotangent cot-1(-x) = π – cot-1(x), x ∈ R

Arcsecant sec-1(-x) = π -sec-1(x), |x| ≥ 1

Arccosecant cosec-1(-x) = -cosec-1(x), |x| ≥ 1

Inverse Trigonometric Functions Graphs

There are particularly six inverse trig functions for each trigonometry ratio (https://byjus.com/
maths/trigonometric-ratios/). The inverse of six important trigonometric functions are

• Arcsine

• Arccosine

• Arctangent

• Arccotangent

• Arcsecant

• Arccosecant

Let us discuss all six important types of inverse trigonometric functions, along with its definition,
formulas, graphs, properties and solved examples.

Arcsine Function
The arcsine function is an inverse of the sine function denoted by sin-1x. It is represented in the

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graph as shown below.

Domain -1 ≤ x ≤ 1

Range -π/2 ≤ y ≤ π/2

Arccosine Function
The arccosine function is the inverse of the cosine function denoted by cos-1x. It is represented
in the graph as shown below.

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Therefore, the inverse of the cos function can be expressed as y = cos-1x (arccosine x)

Domain and range of arcsine function are as follows:

Domain -1≤x≤1

Range 0≤y≤π

Arctangent Function
The arctangent function is the inverse of the tangent function denoted by tan-1x. It is
represented in the graph as shown below.

Therefore, the inverse of the tangent function can be expressed as y = tan-1x (arctangent x)

Domain and range of arctangent are as follows:

Domain -∞ < x < ∞

Range -π/2 < y < π/2

Arccotangent (Arccot) Function

The arccotangent function is the inverse of the cotangent function denoted by cot-1x.

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The arccotangent function is the inverse of the cotangent function denoted by cot

Therefore, the inverse of the cotangent function can be expressed as y = cot-1x (arccotangent
x)

Domain and range of arccotangent are as follows:

Domain -∞ < x < ∞

Range 0<y<π

Arcsecant Function
What is the arcsecant (arcsec) function? The arcsecant function is the inverse of the secant
function denoted by sec-1x. It is represented in the graph as shown below.

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Therefore, the inverse of the secant function can be expressed as y = sec-1x (arcsecant x)

Domain and range of arcsecant are as follows:

Domain -∞ ≤ x ≤ -1 or 1 ≤ x ≤ ∞

Range 0 ≤ y ≤ π, y ≠ π/2

Arccosecant Function
What is the arccosecant (arccsc x) function? The arccosecant function is the inverse of the
cosecant function denoted by cosec-1x. It is represented in the graph as shown below.

Therefore, the inverse of the cosecant function can be expressed as y = cosec-1x (arccosecant
x)

Domain and range of arccosecant are:

Domain -∞ ≤ x ≤ -1 or 1 ≤ x ≤ ∞

/2 /2, y

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Range -π/2 ≤ y ≤ π/2, y ≠ 0

Inverse Trigonometric Functions Table

Let us look at all the inverse trigonometric functions with their notation, definition, domain and
range.

Definitio
Function Name Notation Domain of x Range
n

• − π/2 ≤ y ≤ π/2
y=
Arcsine or inverse sine x=sin y −1 ≤ x ≤ 1
sin-1(x) • -90°≤ y ≤ 90°

• 0≤y≤π
Arccosine or inverse y=cos-1(x
x=cos y −1 ≤ x ≤ 1
cosine ) • 0° ≤ y ≤ 180°

Arctangent or • − π/2 < y < π/2

y=tan-1(x For all real
x=tan y
) numbers • -90°< y < 90°
inverse tangent

Arccotangent or • 0<y<π
y=cot-1(x For all real
x=cot y
) numbers • 0° < y < 180°
inverse cot

• 0≤y<π/2 or π/
Arcsecant or 2<y≤π
y=
x=sec y x ≤ −1 or 1 ≤ x
sec-1(x) • 0°≤y<90° or
inverse secant
90°<y≤180°

• −π/2≤y<0 or
0<y≤π/2
y=csc-1(x
Arccosecant x=csc y x ≤ −1 or 1 ≤ x
) • −90°≤y<0°or
0°<y≤90°

Inverse Trigonometric Functions Derivatives

The derivatives of inverse trigonometric functions are first-order derivatives. Let us check out
the derivatives of all six inverse functions here.

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Inverse Trig Function dy/dx

y = sin-1(x) 1/√(1-x2)

y = cos-1(x) -1/√(1-x2)

y = tan-1(x) 1/(1+x2)

y = cot-1(x) -1/(1+x2)

y = sec-1(x) 1/[|x|√(x2-1)]

y = csc-1(x) -1/[|x|√(x2-1)]

Learn in detail the derivation of these functions here: Derivative Inverse Trigonometric Functions
(https://byjus.com/maths/derivative-inverse-trigonometric-functions/)

Also read:

• Graphic Representation Inverse Trigonometric Function (https://byjus.com/maths/

graphic-representation-inverse-trigonometric-function/)

• Trigonometric Identities Class 10 (https://byjus.com/maths/trigonometric-identities-

class-10/)

• Trigonometric Functions Class 11 (https://byjus.com/maths/trigonometric-functions-

class-11/)

• Important Questions Class 12 Maths Chapter 2 Inverse Trigonometric Functions (https://

byjus.com/maths/important-questions-class-12-maths-chapter-2-inverse-
trigonometric-functions/)

Inverse Trigonometric Functions Properties

The inverse trigonometric functions are also known as arc functions. Inverse trigonometric
functions are defined in a certain interval (under restricted domains). Read more on inverse
trigonometric properties here (https://byjus.com/maths/inverse-trigonometric-functions-
properties/).

Trigonometry Basics

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Trigonometry basics include the basic trigonometry and trigonometric ratios, such as sin x, cos
x, tan x, cosec x, sec x and cot x.

Video Lessons on Inverse Trigonometric Functions

Inverse Trigonometric Functions

1,254

Multiple Angles

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2,480

Inverse Trigonometric Functions Problems

Example 1: Find the value of x for sin(x) = 2.

Solution: Given: sin x = 2

x =sin-1(2), which is not possible.

Hence, there is no value of x for which sin x = 2, so the domain of sin-1x is -1 to 1 for the values of
x.

Example 2: Find the value of sin-1(sin (π/6)).

Solution:

sin-1(sin (π/6) = π/6 (Using identity sin-1(sin (x) ) = x)

Example 3: Find sin (cos-1 3/5).

Solution:

Suppose that, cos-1 3/5 = x

So, cos x = 3/5

W e know, sin x = √1–cos2x

9 4
So, sin x = √1– 25 = 5
This implies, sin x = sin (cos-1 3/5) = 4/5

Example 4:

Solve : sin(cot−1x)
Solution:

Let cot−1x = θ ⇒ x = cot θ

Now, cos ec θ = √1 + cot2θ = √1 + x2
T herefore, sin θ = cos1ec θ = √ 1 2 ⇒ θ = sin−1 √ 1
1+x 1+x2
−1/2
Hence, sin (cot−1x) = sin (sin √ 1 2
−1
)= 1
√1+x2
= (1 + x2)
1+x
Example 5:

Solve : sec−1[sec(−30o)]
Solution:

sec−1[sec (−30o)] = sec−1(sec 30o) = 30o

Example 6:

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Example 6:

If sin (sin−1 51 + cos−1x) = 1, then what is the value of x?

Solution:

sin−1 51 + cos−1x = π
2
sin−1 51 = π
2 − cos x = sin−1x
−1

1
x= 5

Practice Problems
Problem 1: Solve: tan(arcsin 12/13)

Problem 2: Find the value of x, cos(arccos 1) = cos x

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