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Inverse Trig Functions Homework Key



You've studied how the trigonometric functions sin ( x ) , cos ( x ) , and tan ( x ) can be used to find an unknown side length of a right triangle, if one side length and an angle measure are known.




Inverse Trig Functions Homework Key




In other words, we asked what angles, \(x\), do we need to plug into cosine to get \(\frac\sqrt 3 2\)? This is essentially what we are asking here when we are asked to compute the inverse trig function.


Inverse trigonometric functions are the inverse of normal trigonometric functions. Alternatively denoted as cyclometric or arcus functions, these inverse trigonometric functions exist to counter the basic trigonometric functions, such as sine (sin), cosine (cos), tangent (tan), cotangent (cot), secant (sec), and cosecant (cosec). When trigonometric ratios are calculated, the angular values can be calculated with the help of the inverse trigonometric functions.


The term Arcus functions, or Arc functions, is also used to denote inverse trigonometric functions. If a normal trigonometric function is being considered, it has a value. Using the inverse trigonometric function, we can calculate the arc length that is used to get that specific value. Whatever operation the basic trigonometric function performs, the inverse trigonometric function does exactly the opposite.


When considering right-angled triangles, the concept of trigonometry comes into play. Using the trigonometric functions, students can measure the angles created in the triangle by the base, height, or hypotenuse. Using the inverse trigonometric functions, the exact value of the created angle can be measured.


As stated before, the inverse trigonometric functions are the exact opposites of the basic trig functions. There are six basic functions in trigonometry. Every trigonometric ratio can be expressed with the help of these functions. As a result, there are also six inverse trigonometric functions, each acting as an inverse for the six trigonometric functions.


Inverse trigonometric functions have some major real-life applications. Examples include operations in navigating, processes in geometry, describing terms in physics, and applications in engineering work.


To find solutions to a trigonometric equation start by taking the inverse trig function (like inverse sin, inverse cosine, inverse tangent) of both sides of the equation and then set up reference angles to find the rest of the answers.


The inverse trigonometric functions are defined for the right triangle. If two sides of the right triangle is known then by using the inverse trigonometric function remaining side and angle can be determined. If adjacent and the hypotenuse is known then the angle eq\theta/eq for the right triangle is determined as:


Now, all we have to do is plug this into our calculator and then we have our answer! The inverse trig functions are typically found by hitting the 2nd key and then the trig function key. If we do this, we find that:


Remember, inverse trig functions are just the opposite of trig functions. Trig functions are used to find the ratio of the sides of a triangle as related to the angle, and inverse trig functions help you figure out what that angle measure is when given the ratio of the sides.


The inverse of a tangent trig function can be written as \(\textarctanx\), \(\textatanx\), or \(\texttan^-1x\). Inverse trig functions are used to calculate the angle measures of a right triangle, when the side measures are known.


The opposite and adjacent side lengths are provided, so the TOA, or tangent function will be used. The equation will start out as \(\texttanx=\frac5162\), but in order to solve for \(x\) we will need to use the inverse of this trig function. \(\texttanx=\frac5162\) becomes \(x=\texttan^-1\frac5162\) which simplifies to \(x=39.4\).


Angle \(x\) can be calculated using an inverse trig function. The side lengths that are opposite and adjacent to angle \(x\) are provided, which represents TOA, or the tangent function. The equation will start out as \(\texttanx=\frac103\), and in order to solve for \(x\) we need to use the inverse of this trig function. \(\texttanx=\frac103\) becomes \(x=\texttan^-1\frac103\), which simplifies to \(x=73.3\). This means that the measure of angle \(x\) is \(73.3\).


In addition to the trigonometric functions that we are familiar with at this point such as sine, cosine, and tangent, we also have what are called the inverse trigonometric functions. It is these functions that we will be talking about in this video lesson. What exactly are they? They are the inverse functions of our trig functions.


However, in trigonometry, the inverse function here is not 1 divided by the function. This inverse function allows you to solve for the argument. For example, if you have the problem sin x = 1, we can solve the problem by multiplying both sides by the inverse sine function. The inverse sine function cancels the sine function on the left side and we are left with x = sin^-1 (1). Evaluating the right side allows us to find the angle of the sine function that fits the problem.


As you have just seen, the notation for these inverse trigonometric functions is unique. We use an exponent of -1 to let us know that we are dealing with the inverse trig function. We can write our inverse trig functions like this:


This is the notation that you will see most often in textbooks and various trig problems. And this is most likely the notation you will use when writing out your problems. But, in trigonometry, we also have formal names for these functions. We call the inverse sine function the arcsine function, the inverse cosine function the arccosine function, and the inverse tangent function the arctangent function. While you will see the first notation more often in problems, you will come across these formal names in math discussions. So, it's good to know both. It's easy to remember these names if you link the arc with the -1 exponent. All the inverse trigonometric functions begin with the prefix arc- followed by the name of the trig function that we already know.


All of these graphs repeat every so often. The tangent function repeats every pi spaces while the sine and cosine functions repeat every 2pi spaces. Each time the function repeats, we get the same output answer. Because these functions repeat, we have to limit the range, or output values, of our inverse trig functions. Otherwise, we would get different answers each time.


By limiting the range of our inverse function, we find the principal or primary value of our inverse function. This is what is going inside your calculator whenever you perform an inverse trig function. It gives you an answer within the accepted range. If we didn't limit our range, our calculator wouldn't know which answer to give you since the answers repeat every 2pi for the sine and cosine functions and pi for the tangent function. The following are the accepted limited ranges for our inverse trigonometric functions:


These ranges don't exactly correspond to how our regular trig functions repeat. This time, we have the inverse cosine function that is limited between 0 and pi. The inverse sine function is limited to between -pi/2 and pi/2 including those points. The inverse tangent function has the same limited range as the inverse sine except the two points of -pi/2 and pi/2 are not included.


Because our inverse functions are limited to their range, so is our function when we graph it. Instead of our functions continuing forever like our sine, cosine, and tangent graphs, our arcsine, arccosine, and arctangent graphs only show the graph within the accepted limited range.


Let's review what we've learned. Inverse trigonometric functions are the inverse functions of our trig functions. Our trig functions are our usual functions of sine, cosine, and tangent. There are two ways to write our inverse functions. We can call them by name. We have the inverse of sine is arcsine, the inverse of cosine is arccosine, and the inverse of tangent is arctangent. We can also write them using the -1 exponent symbol.


This inverse function allows us to find the angle of a trig function. For example, to find the angle for the problem sin x = 1, we apply the inverse sine function to both sides of the equation. It cancels with the sine function on the left side and we are left with x = sin^-1 (1). We evaluate the right side to find our answer. We can use our calculator to find the answer. If we do, we will get the primary answer.


Remember, our sine and cosine functions repeat every 2pi spaces and our tangent function repeats every pi spaces. Because our inverse functions are limited to the primary answer, each inverse function also has a limited range. They are as follows:


The graphs of the inverse functions also shows this limited range. This graph shows the arcsine function as the red line, the arccosine function as the blue line, and the arctangent function as the purple line:


Today (formally July 10) an answer (not mine) to integrating $y \ln y$ was deleted. The one line answer said that the same technique (presumably the one in another of the answers) could be used for inverse trig. functions. While this remark does not add much, and gives no detail, it is certainly not incorrect.


The exam will be on the material covered since the first midterm, that is, it will include material from Chapter 13 and parts of Chapters 15 and 16 (see the checklist below for details), with the exception of the following:Formal definition of limits and continuity of vector functions (part of Section 13.1)Formula (11) in Section 13.3 for the curvature of a plane curve (but know the two general formulas for curvature)Normal and osculating planes and circles (in Section 13.3)Motion in space (Section 13.4)As a general rule, anything that was covered in class or in the homework assignments is fair game for the exam! If you are not sure, ask before the exam. Exam related questions by email will in general not be answered; instead, this page will be updated periodically in the days leading up to the exam. If you want an answer right away, ask me in person. Note that while material from Chapters 12 and 14 will not be tested directly, these chapters contain many foundational concepts that we will continue to use throughout the semester, and you are responsible for these concepts and techniques in applications to the current material (for example, the dot product appears in the evaluation of line integrals of vector fields, and partial derivatives are essential to determine if a given vector field is conservative). Similar remarks apply to Calculus I skills (see below for details). 2ff7e9595c


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