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3.9: Inverse Trigonometric Functions

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    We now turn our attention to finding derivatives of inverse trigonometric functions. These derivatives will prove invaluable in the study of integration later in this text. The derivatives of inverse trigonometric functions are quite surprising in that their derivatives are actually algebraic functions. Previously, derivatives of algebraic functions have proven to be algebraic functions and derivatives of trigonometric functions have been shown to be trigonometric functions. Here, for the first time, we see that the derivative of a function need not be of the same type as the original function.

    Example \(\PageIndex{4A}\): Derivative of the Inverse Sine Function

    Use the inverse function theorem to find the derivative of \(g(x)=\sin^{−1}x\).

    Solution

    Since for \(x\) in the interval \(\left[−\frac{π}{2},\frac{π}{2}\right],f(x)=\sin x\) is the inverse of \(g(x)=\sin^{−1}x\), begin by finding \(f′(x)\). Since

    \[f′(x)=\cos x \nonumber \]

    and

    \[f′\big(g(x)\big)=\cos \big( \sin^{−1}x\big)=\sqrt{1−x^2} \nonumber \]

    we see that

    \[g′(x)=\dfrac{d}{dx}\big(\sin^{−1}x\big)=\dfrac{1}{f′\big(g(x)\big)}=\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{1−x^2}} \nonumber \]

    Analysis

    To see that \(\cos(\sin^{−1}x)=\sqrt{1−x^2}\), consider the following argument. Set \(\sin^{−1}x=θ\). In this case, \(\sin θ=x\) where \(−\frac{π}{2}≤θ≤\frac{π}{2}\). We begin by considering the case where \(0<θ<\frac{π}{2}\). Since \(θ\) is an acute angle, we may construct a right triangle having acute angle \(θ\), a hypotenuse of length \(1\) and the side opposite angle \(θ\) having length \(x\). From the Pythagorean theorem, the side adjacent to angle \(θ\) has length \(\sqrt{1−x^2}\). This triangle is shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\) Using the triangle, we see that \(\cos(\sin^{−1}x)=\cos θ=\sqrt{1−x^2}\).

    A right triangle with angle θ, opposite side x, hypotenuse 1, and adjacent side equal to the square root of the quantity (1 – x2).
    Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): Using a right triangle having acute angle \(θ\), a hypotenuse of length \(1\), and the side opposite angle \(θ\) having length \(x\), we can see that \(\cos(\sin^{−1}x)=\cos θ=\sqrt{1−x^2}\).

    In the case where \(−\frac{π}{2}<θ<0\), we make the observation that \(0<−θ<\frac{π}{2}\) and hence

    \(\cos\big(\sin^{−1}x\big)=\cos θ=\cos(−θ)=\sqrt{1−x^2}\).

    Now if \(θ=\frac{π}{2}\) or \(θ=−\frac{π}{2},x=1\) or \(x=−1\), and since in either case \(\cosθ=0\) and \(\sqrt{1−x^2}=0\), we have

    \(\cos\big(\sin^{−1}x\big)=\cosθ=\sqrt{1−x^2}\).

    Consequently, in all cases,

    \[\cos\big(\sin^{−1}x\big)=\sqrt{1−x^2}.\nonumber \]

    Example \(\PageIndex{4B}\): Applying the Chain Rule to the Inverse Sine Function

    Apply the chain rule to the formula derived in Example \(\PageIndex{4A}\) to find the derivative of \(h(x)=\sin^{−1}\big(g(x)\big)\) and use this result to find the derivative of \(h(x)=\sin^{−1}(2x^3).\)

    Solution

    Applying the chain rule to \(h(x)=\sin^{−1}\big(g(x)\big)\), we have

    \(h′(x)=\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{1−\big(g(x)\big)^2}}g′(x)\).

    Now let \(g(x)=2x^3,\) so \(g′(x)=6x^2\). Substituting into the previous result, we obtain

    \(\begin{align*} h′(x)&=\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{1−4x^6}}⋅6x^2\\[4pt]&=\dfrac{6x^2}{\sqrt{1−4x^6}}\end{align*}\)

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{4}\)

    Use the inverse function theorem to find the derivative of \(g(x)=\tan^{−1}x\).

    Hint

    The inverse of \(g(x)\) is \(f(x)=\tan x\). Use Example \(\PageIndex{4A}\) as a guide.

    Answer

    \(g′(x)=\dfrac{1}{1+x^2}\)

    The derivatives of the remaining inverse trigonometric functions may also be found by using the inverse function theorem. These formulas are provided in the following theorem.

    Derivatives of Inverse Trigonometric Functions

    \[\begin{align} \dfrac{d}{dx}\big(\sin^{−1}x\big) &=\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{1−x^2}} \label{trig1} \\[4pt] \dfrac{d}{dx}\big(\cos^{−1}x\big) &=\dfrac{−1}{\sqrt{1−x^2}} \label{trig2} \\[4pt] \dfrac{d}{dx}\big(\tan^{−1}x\big) &=\dfrac{1}{1+x^2} \label{trig3} \\[4pt] \dfrac{d}{dx}\big(\cot^{−1}x\big) &=\dfrac{−1}{1+x^2} \label{trig4} \\[4pt] \dfrac{d}{dx}\big(\sec^{−1}x\big) &=\dfrac{1}{|x|\sqrt{x^2−1}} \label{trig5} \\[4pt] \dfrac{d}{dx}\big(\csc^{−1}x\big) &=\dfrac{−1}{|x|\sqrt{x^2−1}} \label{trig6} \end{align} \]

    Example \(\PageIndex{5A}\): Applying Differentiation Formulas to an Inverse Tangent Function

    Find the derivative of \(f(x)=\tan^{−1}(x^2).\)

    Solution

    Let \(g(x)=x^2\), so \(g′(x)=2x\). Substituting into Equation \ref{trig3}, we obtain

    \(f′(x)=\dfrac{1}{1+(x^2)^2}⋅(2x).\)

    Simplifying, we have

    \(f′(x)=\dfrac{2x}{1+x^4}\).

    Example \(\PageIndex{5B}\): Applying Differentiation Formulas to an Inverse Sine Function

    Find the derivative of \(h(x)=x^2 \sin^{−1}x.\)

    Solution

    By applying the product rule, we have

    \(h′(x)=2x\sin^{−1}x+\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{1−x^2}}⋅x^2\)

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{5}\)

    Find the derivative of \(h(x)=\cos^{−1}(3x−1).\)

    Hint

    Use Equation \ref{trig2}. with \(g(x)=3x−1\)

    Answer

    \(h′(x)=\dfrac{−3}{\sqrt{6x−9x^2}}\)

    Example \(\PageIndex{6}\): Applying the Inverse Tangent Function

    The position of a particle at time \(t\) is given by \(s(t)=\tan^{−1}\left(\frac{1}{t}\right)\) for \(t≥ \ce{1/2}\). Find the velocity of the particle at time \( t=1\).

    Solution

    Begin by differentiating \(s(t)\) in order to find \(v(t)\).Thus,

    \(v(t)=s′(t)=\dfrac{1}{1+\left(\frac{1}{t}\right)^2}⋅\dfrac{−1}{t^2}\).

    Simplifying, we have

    \(v(t)=−\dfrac{1}{t^2+1}\).

    Thus, \(v(1)=−\dfrac{1}{2}.\)

    Exercise \(\PageIndex{6}\)

    Find the equation of the line tangent to the graph of \(f(x)=\sin^{−1}x\) at \(x=0.\)

    Hint

    \(f′(0)\) is the slope of the tangent line.

    Answer

    \(y=x\)


    3.9: Inverse Trigonometric Functions is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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