MUST DO QUESTIONS

ON
INVERSE TRIGONOMETIC FUNCTIONS
FOR
CBSE-2025
 BASIC CONCEPTS

GRAPH OF INVERSE TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

y = sin – 1 x y = cos – 1 x

y = tan – 1 x
y = cot – 1 x

y = cosec– 1 x
y = sec– 1 x
 FUNCTION DOMAIN PRINCIPAL RANGE
 
y = sin – 1 x [– 1, 1] [ , ]
2 2
y = cos – 1 x [– 1, 1] [0,  ]
y= tan – 1 x R  
( , )
2 2
y = cot – 1 x R (0,  )
y = sec – 1 x R – ( – 1, 1) 
[0,  ]  { }
2
y = cosec – 1 x R – (– 1, 1)  
[ , ]  {0}
2 2
 when x [1,1]  
 sin 1 (sin x)  x, when x  [  , ]
2 2

sin1 x  cos1 x  .  cos 1 (cos x )  x, when x  [0,  ]
2
 
 when x [1,1]  tan 1 (tan x )  x, when x  ( 
, )
2 2
  cot (cot x)  x, when x  (0,  )
1
tan 1 x  cot 1 x  .
2  
 when x  R  (1,1)  cos ec 1 (cos ec x)  x, when x  [  , ]  {0}
2 2
 
sec1 x  cos ec1 x  .  sec 1 (sec x)  x, when x  [0,  ]  { }
2 2

 sin(sin 1 x)  x, when x  [ 1,1]

 cos(cos 1 x)  x, when x  [ 1,1]
 tan(tan 1 x )  x, when x  R
 cot(cot 1 x )  x, when x  R
 cos ec(cos ec 1 x )  x, when x  R  ( 1,1)
 sec(sec 1 x)  x, when x  R  ( 1,1)
 sin 1 (  x )   sin 1 ( x ), when x  [ 1,1]
 cos 1 ( x )    cos 1 ( x ), when x  [ 1,1]
 tan 1 ( x )   tan 1 ( x), when x  R
 cot 1 ( x )    cot 1 ( x ), when x  R
 cos ec 1 (  x)   cos ec 1 ( x), when x  R  ( 1,1)
 sec 1 ( x )    sec 1 ( x), when x  R  (1,1)

   
: 0
6 4 3 2
1 1 3
sin  0 1
2 2 2
3 1 1
cos  1 0
2 2 2
1
tan  0 1 3 N .D.
3
 1 1 1  1
Find the principal value of sin ( )  cos ( ).
2 2
1 1 1     
SOLUTION : As,sin ( )  sin (sin )  ,  [ , ]
2 6 6 6 2 2
1 1  
cos 1 ( )    cos 1 ( )    ,  [0,  ]
2 2 3 3
1 1  
so,sin 1 ( )  cos 1 ( )    
2 2 6 3
 2 5
  
6 3 6

1
Find the principal value of sec 1 (2) + sin 1 ( ) + tan 1 (  3).
2
1 1 1
SOLUTION : As, sec (2)  cos ( )
2
    
tan 1 (  3)   tan 1 ( 3)   tan 1 (tan )   ,  ( , )
3 3 3 2 2
1 1   
so, cos 1 ( ) + sin 1 ( ) + tan 1 (  3)   
2 2 2 3 6

NOTE : cos 1 x + sin 1 x 
2
Find the range of the function f  x   tan 1 x  cot 1 x.
1 1 
SOLUTION : As, tan x  cot x 
2

s o, f ( x )  (A constant function)
2

Thus range of f  x  is { }.
2
1 21
If sin x  sin y  , then find the value of cos 1 x  cos 1 y.
3
1 1  1 
SOLUTION : As, sin x  cos x   cos x   sin 1 x
2 2
2 
cos 1 x  cos 1 y    (sin 1 x  sin 1 y )     .
3 3

If a  2 sin 1 x  cos 1 x  b, then find the value a and b.


SOLUTION : we know that , sin 1 x  cos 1 x 
2
  
and  sin 1 x  ,  0  (sin 1 x )   
2 2 2
 0  (sin 1 x )  sin 1 x  cos 1 x  
 0  2 sin 1 x  cos 1 x   , but Given, a  2 sin 1 x  cos 1 x  b
Thus, a  0 and b  
Find the domain of f ( x)  cos 1 1  x .
SOLUTION : We know that , Domain of cos 1  is [ 1,1]
so, 1  x  [ 1,1]
 1  1  x  1
on squaring both the sides, (Negative terms becomes positive)
 0  (1  x )  1
 0  x  1  1
1 x  0
Thus, Domain of cos 1 1  x is [0,1] .

Find the domain of f ( x)  sin 1 (  x 2 ) .

SOLUTION : We know that , Domain of sin 1  is [ 1,1]
so,  x 2  [ 1,1]
 1   x 2  1
 1  x 2  1
But x 2 is always positive, so
 0  x2  1
Thus, Domain of sin 1 (  x 2 ) is [0,1] .
Find the domain of f ( x)  sin 1 ( x 2  4).
SOLUTION : We know that , Domain of sin 1  is [ 1,1]
so, ( x 2  4)  [ 1,1]
 1  x 2  4  1
 3  x2  5
Now, when x 2  3  ( x  3)(x  3)  0
 ve  ve  ve
   |    |   
  3 3 

 x  ( ,  3]  [ 3,  )
And when x 2  5  ( x  5)(x  5)  0
 ve  ve  ve
   |    |   
  5 5 

 x  [  5, 5]

Thus, Common Values of x are x  [  5,  3]  [ 3, 5]

Thus, Domain of sin 1 ( x 2  4) is [  5,  3]  [ 3, 5].

Find the domain of f ( x )  sin 1 (2 x  3) .
SOLUTION : We know that , Domain of sin 1  is [ 1,1]
so, 2 x  3  [1,1]
 1  2 x  3  1
 1  3  2 x  1  3
 4  2 x  2
 2  x   1
Thus, Domain of sin 1 (2 x  3) is [ 2, 1] .

If sin 1 x1  sin 1 x2   , then find the value of ( x1  x2 ).

SOLUTION : As,sin 1 x1  sin 1 x2  
1 1   
 sin x1  sin x2  2( )   .... (1)
2 2 2
 
As,Principal Range of sin 1 x is [ , ]
2 2
so, Equation(1) holds only when each term on LHS is equal
 
to (since Maximum value of sin 1 x is )
2 2
 
Thus,sin 1 x1  sin 1 x2   x1  x2  sin 1
2 2
Now, x1  x2  1  1  2.
If cos 1 a  cos 1 b  2 , then find the value of ( a  b) 2 .
SOLUTION : As, cos 1 a  cos 1 b  2
 cos 1 a  cos 1 b  2( )     .... (1)
As,Principal Range of cos 1 x is [0,  ]
so, Equation(1) holds only when each term on LHS is equal
to  (since Maximum value of cos 1 x is  )
Thus, cos 1 a  cos 1 b  
 a  b  cos   1
Now, (a  b) 2  ( 1  1) 2  0.

If graph of f ( x ) is shown below, identify the function f ( x)

1
and hence find the value of f (  ).
2

SOLUTION : As, the graph of function cos 1 x is given,

( HINT : Graph plotted from  1 to 1& at x  1, f ( x)   )
so, f ( x)  cos 1 x
1 1 1  2
Now, f (  )  cos 1 ( )    cos 1 ( )    
2 2 2 3 3
MCQ
1
The value of the expression cos ec 1 (2) + cos 1 ( ) + tan 1 ( 1) is
2
   
( a) (b) ( c) (d )
4 3 6 2
1
SOLUTION : cos ec 1 (2) + cos 1 ( ) + tan 1 (1)
2
1 1    
 sin 1 ( ) + cos 1 ( ) + tan 1 ( 1)   tan 1 (1)   
2 2 2 2 4 4
(option a )

ASSERTION ( A) : Domain of y = cos 1 x is [ 1,1].

REASONING ( R ) : The range of the principal value branch of

y = cos 1 x is [0, ]  { }.
2
SOLUTION : As, A is true but R is false. OPTION (c )
  13  
ASSERTION ( A) : cos 1  cos  is equal to .
 6  6
REASONING ( R ) : The range of the principal value branch of the
function y = cos 1 x is [0, ].
 13  1     1    
SOLUTION : As, cos 1  cos   cos  cos  2    cos cos  
 6    6   
  6 
 13  
so, cos 1  cos  is equal to
 6  6
Both A & R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. OPTION ( a)

1 1
Find the principal value of cos 1 ( )  tan 1 ( )  cosec1 (2).
2 3
1 1
Solution: cos 1 ( )  tan 1 ( )  cosec 1 (2)
2 3
   
   
3 6 3 6
1 1
Find the principal value of tan 1 (1)  cos 1 ( )  sin 1 ( )
2 2
 1  1
Solution: tan 1 (1)    cos 1 ( )   sin 1 ( )
 2  2
     2
      
4  3 4 3
 3
Find the principal value of sin 1 (sin ).
5
1  
SOLUTION: We know that sin (sin x)  x,if x [ , ]
2 2
3 3 3  
So,NOTE : sin 1 (sin )  Because  1080  [ , ]
5 5 5 2 2
3 2 2 2
Thus,sin 1 (sin )  sin 1 (sin(  ))  sin 1 (sin ) 
5 5 5 5
2  
As,  72  [ , ]
0

5 2 2
1 34
Find the principal value of sin (cos ).
5
SOLUTION: We know that cos1 (cos x)  x, if x [0, ]

& sin 1 x  cos 1 x 
2
1 34  1 34  1 30  4
So,sin (cos )   cos (cos )   cos (cos )
5 2 5 2 5
 4  4
  cos 1 (cos(6  ))   cos1 (cos( ))
2 5 2 5
34  4 5  8 3 4
sin 1 (cos )    since, [0, ].
5 2 5 10 10 5
 43
Find the principal value of sin 1 (cos).
5
SOLUTION: We know that cos 1 (cos x)  x, if x [0, ]

& sin 1 x  cos1 x 
2
43  43  40  3
So,sin 1 (cos )   cos 1 (cos )   cos1 (cos )
5 2 5 2 5
 3  3
  cos1 (cos(8  ))   cos 1 (cos( ))
2 5 2 5
43  3 5  6  3
sin 1 (cos )    since, [0, ].
5 2 5 10 10 5

13
1
Find the principal value of sin (sin ).
7
 
SOLUTION: We know that sin 1 (sin x)  x, if x [ , ]
2 2
1 13 13
so,sin (sin )
7 7
13 14   
Thus,sin 1 (sin )  sin 1 (sin )  sin 1 (sin(2  ))
7 7 7
1  1  
 sin ( sin( ))   sin (sin( ))   .
7 7 7
 11
1
Find the principal value of cos (cos ).
6
SOLUTION: We know that cos1 (cos x)  x, if x [0, ]
11 11
so,cos 1 (cos )
6 6
11 12   
1
Thus,cos (cos 1
)  cos (cos )  cos (cos(2  ))
1

6 6 6
 
 cos 1 (cos( ))  .
6 6

 2 1   1   1 
If a  sin 1 
2
  cos  
 2 
and b  tan 1
 
3  cot 1 
 3

 
then find the value of ( a  b).
 1  1  1    11
SOLUTION : a  sin 1      cos       
 2 2 4 3 12
 1  2 
 
b  tan 1 3    cot 1  
 3 3
   
3
11  4 7
Thus,( a  b )  
12 12
 7 7
Find the principal value of cos1 (cos
)  sin 1 (sin ).
6 6
SOLUTION: We know that cos1 (cos x)  x, if x  [0, ]
1  
&sin (sin x)  x, if x [ , ]
2 2
1 7 7 1 7 7
so,cos (cos )  & sin (sin ) 
6 6 6 6
7 7
Thus,cos1 (cos )  sin 1 (sin )
6 6
6   6  
 cos1 (cos )  sin 1 (sin )
6 6
 
 cos1 (cos(  ))  sin 1 (sin(  ))
6 6
   
2 
 cos ( cos( ))  sin ( sin( ))        =
1 1

6 6 6 6 3 3
 
 3 1
Find the Value of sin(  sin ).
2 2
SOLUTION: We know that,
 3 3  
sin 1 ( )   sin 1 ( )   sin 1 (sin ) 
2 2 3 3
  3      1
So,sin(  sin 1 )  sin(  )  sin(  )  cos 
2 2 2 3 2 3 3 2
 3 1 1
sin(  sin )
2 2 2

1 1 1
Find the Value of cos [sin(cos )].
2
1 1 1  
SOLUTION: We know that, cos ( )  cos (cos ) 
2 3 3
1  3 
So, cos1[sin(cos1 )]  cos1[sin( )]  cos 1 ( )  cos 1 (cos )
2 3 2 6


6
1 
 cos1[sin(cos1 )] 
2 6
 2
1
Find the Value of x, if cos(sin  cos1 x)  0.
5

SOLUTION: We know that, cos 0
2
2
1 1 1 2 1 
so, As cos(sin  cos x)  0  sin  cos x 
5 5 2
1 1 
Further , Note sin x  cos x 
2
2
x 
5
 1 1 5
Find the value of P  sin( cos ( )).
2 13
5 5
SOLUTION : Let cos ( )    cos  
1

13 13
 1  cos 
Thus, P  sin( ) 
2 2

FORMULA USED : 1  cos   2 sin 2

2
5
1
13 13  5 8 4
P   
2 26 26 13
1 1 5 2
 P  sin( cos ( )) 
2 13 13
 1 3
Find the value of P  cos( cos 1 ( )).
2 5
3 3
SOLUTION : Let cos 1 ( )    cos  
5 5
 1  cos  
Thus, P  cos( )  FORMULA USED : 1  cos   2 cos 2
2 2 2
3
1
P 5  53  8  4
2 10 10 5
1 3 2
 P  cos( cos 1 ( )) 
2 5 5

1 2
Find the value of P  tan( cos 1 ( )).
2 5
2 2
SOLUTION : Let cos 1 ( )    cos  
5 5

FORMULA USED : 1  cos   2 sin 2
 1  cos  2
Thus, P  tan( ) 
2 1  cos  
1  cos   2 cos 2
2
2
1
5  52 52 52 ( 5  2) 2
P     52
2 52 52 52 54
1
5
1 2
 P  tan( cos 1 ( ))  5  2
2 5
 cos x  
Express tan 1 ( ),  x  in simplest form.
1  sin x 2 2
cos x
SOLUTION : Let , P  tan 1 ( )
1  sin x
x x
FORMULA USED : 1  sin x  (cos  sin ) 2
2 2
x x
cos x  cos 2  sin 2
2 2
x x x x
cos 2  sin 2 cos  sin
cos x 2 2 )  tan 1 ( 2 2 )
P  tan 1 ( )  tan 1 (
1  sin x x x x x
(cos  sin ) 2 (cos  sin )
2 2 2 2
x
Now, Divide by cos
2
x
1  tan
P  tan 1 ( 2 )  tan 1 (tan(   x ))    x
x 4 2 4 2
(1  tan )
2
   x   x 
Since, x    0   .
2 2 4 2 4 4 2 2
The graph drawn below depicts

(a) y = cos 1 x (b) y = cot 1 x (c) y = sin 1 x (d) y = cosec 1 x

Answer: y = cos 1 x (option (a))


If cot 1 (3x  5)  , then find the range of the values of x.
4
Solution: First of all, we must know cot 1 x is strictly decreasing
function in its domain i.e. cot 1a  b  a  cot b
1  
Thus,cot (3 x  5)   (3x  5)  cot  3x  5  1
4 4
4
 3 x  4  x 
3
4
 x  ( , )
3
 
If cos 1 (3 x  5)  , then find the range of the values of x.
3
Solution: First of all, we must know cos 1 x is strictly decreasing
function in its domain i.e. cos 1a  b  a  cos b
  1
Thus,cos 1 (3 x  5)   (3 x  5)  cos  3x  5 
3 3 2
1 9 3
 3x   5  3x  x
2 2 2
 3 
But Answer is not  , 
 2 
As for domain of cos 1 (3 x  5), 1  3 x  5  1  6  3 x  4
4
 2  x 
3
3
 x  [2, )
2
 
If sin 1 (3x  5)  , then find the range of the values of x.
6
Solution: First of all, we must know sin 1 x is strictly increasing
function in its domain i.e. sin 1 a  b  a  sin b
  1
Thus,sin 1 (3 x  5)   (3x  5)  sin  3x  5 
6 6 2
1 9 3
 3x   5  3x  x
2 2 2
 3 
But Answer is not  ,  
 2 
As for domain of sin 1 (3 x  5), 1  3 x  5  1  6  3 x  4
4
 2  x 
3
3 4
 x( , ]
2 3
 
If tan 1 (3x  5)  , then find the range of the values of x.
4
Solution: First of all, we must know tan 1 x is strictly increasing
function in its domain i.e. tan 1 a  b  a  sin b
 
Thus, tan 1 (3x  5)   (3 x  5)  tan  3x  5  1
4 4
4
 3 x  4  x 
3
4
 x  ( , )
3