Inverse trigonometric functions

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In mathematics, the inverse trigonometric functions (occasionally called cyclometric functions[1]) are the inverse functions of the trigonometric functions (with suitably restricted domains). Specifically, they are the inverses of the sine, cosine, tangent, cotangent, secant, and cosecant functions. They are used to obtain an angle from any of the angle's trigonometric ratios. Inverse trigonometric functions are widely used in engineering, navigation, physics, and geometry.


There are several notations used for the inverse trigonometric functions.

The most common convention is to name inverse trigonometric functions using an arc- prefix, e.g., arcsin(x), arccos(x), arctan(x), etc. This convention is used throughout the article. When measuring in radians, an angle of θ radians will correspond to an arc whose length is rθ, where r is the radius of the circle. Thus, in the unit circle, "the arc whose cosine is x" is the same as "the angle whose cosine is x", because the length of the arc of the circle in radii is the same as the measurement of the angle in radians.[2] Similarly, in computer programming languages the inverse trigonometric functions are usually called asin, acos, atan.

The notations sin−1(x), cos−1(x), tan−1(x), etc., as introduced by John Herschel in 1813,[3][4] are often used as well, but this convention logically conflicts with the common semantics for expressions like sin2(x), which refer to numeric power rather than function composition, and therefore may result in confusion between multiplicative inverse and compositional inverse. The confusion is somewhat ameliorated by the fact that each of the reciprocal trigonometric functions has its own name—for example, (cos(x))−1 = sec(x). Nevertheless, certain authors advise against using it for its ambiguity.[5]

Another convention used by a few authors[6] is to use a majuscule (capital/upper-case) first letter along with a −1 superscript, e.g., Sin−1(x), Cos−1(x), Tan−1(x), etc., which avoids confusing them with the multiplicative inverse, which should be represented by sin−1(x), cos−1(x), etc.

Basic properties[edit]

Principal values[edit]

Since none of the six trigonometric functions are one-to-one, they are restricted in order to have inverse functions. Therefore the ranges of the inverse functions are proper subsets of the domains of the original functions

For example, using function in the sense of multivalued functions, just as the square root function y = x could be defined from y2 = x, the function y = arcsin(x) is defined so that sin(y) = x. There are multiple numbers y such that sin(y) = x; for example, sin(0) = 0, but also sin(π) = 0, sin(2π) = 0, etc. When only one value is desired, the function may be restricted to its principal branch. With this restriction, for each x in the domain the expression arcsin(x) will evaluate only to a single value, called its principal value. These properties apply to all the inverse trigonometric functions.

The principal inverses are listed in the following table.

Name Usual notation Definition Domain of x for real result Range of usual principal value
Range of usual principal value
arcsine y = arcsin(x) x = sin(y) −1 ≤ x ≤ 1 π/2yπ/2 −90° ≤ y ≤ 90°
arccosine y = arccos(x) x = cos(y) −1 ≤ x ≤ 1 0 ≤ yπ 0° ≤ y ≤ 180°
arctangent y = arctan(x) x = tan(y) all real numbers π/2 < y < π/2 −90° < y < 90°
arccotangent y = arccot(x) x = cot(y) all real numbers 0 < y < π 0° < y < 180°
arcsecant y = arcsec(x) x = sec(y) x ≤ −1 or 1 ≤ x 0 ≤ y < π/2 or π/2 < yπ 0° ≤ y < 90° or 90° < y ≤ 180°
arccosecant y = arccsc(x) x = csc(y) x ≤ −1 or 1 ≤ x π/2y < 0 or 0 < yπ/2 −90° ≤ y < 0° or 0° < y ≤ 90°

(Note: Some authors define the range of arcsecant to be ( 0 ≤ y < π/2 or πy < 3π/2 ), because the tangent function is nonnegative on this domain. This makes some computations more consistent. For example using this range, tan(arcsec(x)) = x2 − 1, whereas with the range ( 0 ≤ y < π/2 or π/2 < yπ ), we would have to write tan(arcsec(x)) = ±x2 − 1, since tangent is nonnegative on 0 ≤ y < π/2 but nonpositive on π/2 < yπ. For a similar reason, the same authors define the range of arccosecant to be −π < y ≤ −π/2 or 0 < yπ/2.)

If x is allowed to be a complex number, then the range of y applies only to its real part.

Relationships between trigonometric functions and inverse trigonometric functions[edit]

Trigonometric functions of inverse trigonometric functions are tabulated below. A quick way to derive them is by considering the geometry of a right-angled triangle, with one side of length 1, and another side of length x (any real number between 0 and 1), then applying the Pythagorean theorem and definitions of the trigonometric ratios. Purely algebraic derivations are longer.[citation needed]

Trigonometric functions and inverse3.svg
Trigonometric functions and inverse.svg
Trigonometric functions and inverse2.svg
Trigonometric functions and inverse5.svg
Trigonometric functions and inverse6.svg
Trigonometric functions and inverse4.svg

Relationships among the inverse trigonometric functions[edit]

The usual principal values of the arcsin(x) (red) and arccos(x) (blue) functions graphed on the cartesian plane.
The usual principal values of the arctan(x) and arccot(x) functions graphed on the cartesian plane.
Principal values of the arcsec(x) and arccsc(x) functions graphed on the cartesian plane.

Complementary angles:

Negative arguments:

Reciprocal arguments:

If you only have a fragment of a sine table:

Whenever the square root of a complex number is used here, we choose the root with the positive real part (or positive imaginary part if the square was negative real).

From the half-angle formula, , we get:

Arctangent addition formula[edit]

This is derived from the tangent addition formula

by letting

In calculus[edit]

Derivatives of inverse trigonometric functions[edit]

The derivatives for complex values of z are as follows:

Only for real values of x:

For a sample derivation: if , we get:

Expression as definite integrals[edit]

Integrating the derivative and fixing the value at one point gives an expression for the inverse trigonometric function as a definite integral:

When x equals 1, the integrals with limited domains are improper integrals, but still well-defined.

Infinite series[edit]

Like the sine and cosine functions, the inverse trigonometric functions can be calculated using power series, as follows. For arcsine, the series can be derived by expanding its derivative, , as a binomial series, and integrating term by term (using the integral definition as above). The series for arctangent can similarly be derived by expanding its derivative in a geometric series and applying the integral definition above (see Leibniz series).


, where is the golden ratio.

Leonhard Euler found a more efficient series for the arctangent, which is:

(Notice that the term in the sum for n = 0 is the empty product which is 1.)

Alternatively, this can be expressed:

Variant: Continued fractions for arctangent[edit]

Two alternatives to the power series for arctangent are these generalized continued fractions:

The second of these is valid in the cut complex plane. There are two cuts, from −i to the point at infinity, going down the imaginary axis, and from i to the point at infinity, going up the same axis. It works best for real numbers running from −1 to 1. The partial denominators are the odd natural numbers, and the partial numerators (after the first) are just (nz)2, with each perfect square appearing once. The first was developed by Leonhard Euler; the second by Carl Friedrich Gauss utilizing the Gaussian hypergeometric series.

Indefinite integrals of inverse trigonometric functions[edit]

For real and complex values of z:

For real x ≥ 1:

For all real x not between -1 and 1:

The absolute value is necessary to compensate for both negative and positive values of the arcsecant and arccosecant functions. The signum function is also necessary due to the absolute values in the derivatives of the two functions, which create two different solutions for positive and negative values of x. These can be further simplified using the logarithmic definitions of the inverse hyperbolic functions:

The absolute value in the argument of the arcosh function creates a negative half of its graph, making it identical to the signum logarithmic function shown above.

All of these antiderivatives can be derived using integration by parts and the simple derivative forms shown above.


Using , set





Back-substitute for x to yield

Extension to complex plane[edit]

Since the inverse trigonometric functions are analytic functions, they can be extended from the real line to the complex plane. This results in functions with multiple sheets and branch points. One possible way of defining the extensions is:

where the part of the imaginary axis which does not lie strictly between −i and +i is the cut between the principal sheet and other sheets;

where (the square-root function has its cut along the negative real axis and) the part of the real axis which does not lie strictly between −1 and +1 is the cut between the principal sheet of arcsin and other sheets;

which has the same cut as arcsin;

which has the same cut as arctan;

where the part of the real axis between −1 and +1 inclusive is the cut between the principal sheet of arcsec and other sheets;

which has the same cut as arcsec.

Logarithmic forms[edit]

These functions may also be expressed using complex logarithms. This extends in a natural fashion their domain to the complex plane.

Elementary proofs of these relations proceed via expansion to exponential forms of the trigonometric functions.

Example proof[edit]

Using the exponential definition of sine, one obtains


Solving for

(the positive branch is chosen)

Inverse trigonometric functions in the complex plane
Complex arcsin.jpg
Complex arccos.jpg
Complex arctan.jpg
Complex ArcCot.jpg
Complex ArcSec.jpg
Complex ArcCsc.jpg


General solutions[edit]

Each of the trigonometric functions is periodic in the real part of its argument, running through all its values twice in each interval of 2π. Sine and cosecant begin their period at 2πkπ/2 (where k is an integer), finish it at 2πk + π/2, and then reverse themselves over 2πk + π/2 to 2πk + 3π/2. Cosine and secant begin their period at 2πk, finish it at 2πk + π, and then reverse themselves over 2πk + π to 2πk + 2π. Tangent begins its period at 2πkπ/2, finishes it at 2πk + π/2, and then repeats it (forward) over 2πk + π/2 to 2πk + 3π/2. Cotangent begins its period at 2πk, finishes it at 2πk + π, and then repeats it (forward) over 2πk + π to 2πk + 2π.

This periodicity is reflected in the general inverses where k is some integer:

Which, written in one equation, is:
Which, written in one equation, is:

Application: finding the angle of a right triangle[edit]

A right triangle.

Inverse trigonometric functions are useful when trying to determine the remaining two angles of a right triangle when the lengths of the sides of the triangle are known. Recalling the right-triangle definitions of sine, for example, it follows that

Often, the hypotenuse is unknown and would need to be calculated before using arcsine or arccosine using the Pythagorean Theorem: where is the length of the hypotenuse. Arctangent comes in handy in this situation, as the length of the hypotenuse is not needed.

For example, suppose a roof drops 8 feet as it runs out 20 feet. The roof makes an angle θ with the horizontal, where θ may be computed as follows:

In computer science and engineering[edit]

Two-argument variant of arctangent[edit]

Main article: atan2

The two-argument atan2 function computes the arctangent of y / x given y and x, but with a range of (−ππ]. In other words, atan2(yx) is the angle between the positive x-axis of a plane and the point (xy) on it, with positive sign for counter-clockwise angles (upper half-plane, y > 0), and negative sign for clockwise angles (lower half-plane, y < 0). It was first introduced in many computer programming languages, but it is now also common in other fields of science and engineering.

In terms of the standard arctan function, that is with range of (−π/2, π/2), it can be expressed as follows:

It also equals the principal value of the argument of the complex number x + iy.

This function may also be defined using the tangent half-angle formulae as follows:

provided that either x > 0 or y ≠ 0. However this fails if given x ≤ 0 and y = 0 so the expression is unsuitable for computational use.

The above argument order (y, x) seems to be the most common, and in particular is used in ISO standards such as the C programming language, but a few authors may use the opposite convention (x, y) so some caution is warranted. These variations are detailed at atan2.

Arctangent function with location parameter[edit]

In many applications[which?] the solution of the equation is to come as close as possible to a given value . The adequate solution is produced by the parameter modified arctangent function

The function rounds to the nearest integer.

Numerical accuracy[edit]

For angles near 0 and π, arccosine is ill-conditioned and will thus calculate the angle with reduced accuracy in a computer implementation (due to the limited number of digits).[8] Similarly, arcsine is inaccurate for angles near −π/2 and π/2. To achieve full accuracy for all angles, arctangent or atan2 should be used for the implementation.[8]

See also[edit]


  1. ^ For example Dörrie, Heinrich (1965). Triumph der Mathematik. Trans. David Antin. Dover. p. 69. ISBN 0-486-61348-8. 
  2. ^ Beach, Frederick Converse; Rines, George Edwin, eds. (1912). "Inverse trigonometric functions". The Americana: a universal reference library. 21. 
  3. ^ Cajori, Florian (1919). A History of Mathematics (2 ed.). New York, USA: The Macmillan Company. p. 272. 
  4. ^ Herschel, John Frederick William (1813). "On a remarkable Application of Cotes's Theorem". Philosophical Transactions. Royal Society, London. 103 (1): 8. 
  5. ^ Korn, Grandino Arthur; Korn, Theresa M. (2000) [1961]. "21.2.-4. Inverse Trigonometric Functions". Mathematical handbook for scientists and engineers: Definitions, theorems, and formulars for reference and review (3 ed.). Mineola, New York, USA: Dover Publications, Inc. p. 811. ISBN 978-0-486-41147-7. 
  6. ^ Bhatti, Sanaullah; Nawab-ud-Din; Ahmed, Bashir; Yousuf, S. M.; Taheem, Allah Bukhsh (1999). "Differentiation of Trigonometric, Logarithmic and Exponential Functions". In Ellahi, Mohammad Maqbool; Dar, Karamat Hussain; Hussain, Faheem. Calculus and Analytic Geometry (1 ed.). Lahore: Punjab Textbook Board. p. 140. 
  7. ^ Borwein, Jonathan; Bailey, David; Gingersohn, Roland (2004). Experimentation in Mathematics: Computational Paths to Discovery (1 ed.). Wellesley, MA:A K Peters. p. 51. ISBN 1-56881-136-5. 
  8. ^ a b Gade, Kenneth (2010). "A non-singular horizontal position representation" (PDF). The Journal of Navigation. Cambridge University Press. 63 (3): 395–417. doi:10.1017/S0373463309990415. 

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