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The Derivative & Its Rules · Topic 12 of 23

Inverse Functions and Inverse Trigonometric Derivatives

Every inverse trig derivative is algebraic: ddxarcsinx=11x2\frac{d}{dx}\arcsin x=\frac{1}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}, ddxarctanx=11+x2\frac{d}{dx}\arctan x=\frac{1}{1+x^2}, ddxarcsecx=1xx21\frac{d}{dx}\operatorname{arcsec}x=\frac{1}{|x|\sqrt{x^2-1}}, and the three co-functions are the negatives of these. More generally, inverse slopes are reciprocals: if f(a)=bf(a)=b and f(a)0f'(a)\neq0 then (f1)(b)=1f(a)(f^{-1})'(b)=\frac{1}{f'(a)}.

5 min readFrequent on exams7 formulas6 quick checks
01

Key ideas

5 things to remember
  1. 1

    One-to-one is what buys you an inverse

    ff is invertible on an interval exactly when no horizontal line meets its graph twice. The usable certificate: f>0f'>0 throughout (or f<0f'<0 throughout) forces strictly monotone, hence one-to-one.

  2. 2

    Inverse slopes are reciprocals

    Reflecting across y=xy=x sends (a,b)(a,b) to (b,a)(b,a) and slope mm to 1/m1/m. So (f1)(b)=1f(a)(f^{-1})'(b)=\frac{1}{f'(a)} whenever f(a)=bf(a)=b and f(a)0f'(a)\neq0 — you never need a formula for f1f^{-1}.

  3. 3

    Transcendental functions, algebraic derivatives

    Implicit differentiation of siny=x\sin y=x, tany=x\tan y=x, secy=x\sec y=x produces purely algebraic derivatives. The three co-functions (arccos\arccos, arccot\operatorname{arccot}, arccsc\operatorname{arccsc}) are exactly the negatives of their partners.

  4. 4

    The principal branch decides the answer

    arcsin\arcsin returns an angle in [π2,π2]\left[-\frac{\pi}{2},\frac{\pi}{2}\right], arccos\arccos in [0,π][0,\pi], arctan\arctan in (π2,π2)\left(-\frac{\pi}{2},\frac{\pi}{2}\right). So sin(arcsinx)=x\sin(\arcsin x)=x always, but arcsin(sinθ)=θ\arcsin(\sin\theta)=\theta only for θ\theta already inside the branch.

  5. 5

    Zero derivative means constant on one interval

    F=0F'=0 on an interval makes FF constant there — the MVT corollary behind arcsinx+arccosx=π2\arcsin x+\arccos x=\frac{\pi}{2}. Across a gap in the domain the constant may change.

-6-4-2246-11xyy = π/2y = −π/2arctan is steepest here: slope 1y = arctan xy′ = 1/(1 + x²)
arctanx\arctan x rises toward ±π2\pm\frac{\pi}{2} without ever reaching them, so its derivative 11+x2\frac{1}{1+x^2} (amber, dashed) stays positive but decays like x2x^{-2}. The maximum slope is 11, at x=0x=0.
0.51.01.52.02.53.03.54.01234xyy = x(1.5, 2.25)(2.25, 1.5)y = x²y = √xslope 3slope 1/3
Reflecting y=x2y=x^2 (for x0x\ge0) across y=xy=x gives its inverse y=xy=\sqrt{x}: the point (1.5,2.25)(1.5,2.25) becomes (2.25,1.5)(2.25,1.5) and the tangent slope 33 becomes 13\frac13. That reciprocal is (f1)(b)=1/f(a)(f^{-1})'(b)=1/f'(a).
02

Formulas

What to have memorised
  • Derivative of an inverse

    (f1)(b)=1f(a),f(a)=b\left(f^{-1}\right)'(b)=\frac{1}{f'(a)},\qquad f(a)=b

    Needs ff one-to-one on an interval and f(a)0f'(a)\neq0; if f(a)=0f'(a)=0 the inverse has a vertical tangent.

  • Second derivative of an inverse

    (f1)(b)=f(a)[f(a)]3\left(f^{-1}\right)''(b)=-\frac{f''(a)}{\left[f'(a)\right]^{3}}

    Differentiate g=1/f(g)g'=1/f'(g) with the chain rule; same aa with f(a)=bf(a)=b.

  • arcsin\arcsin and arccos\arccos

    ddxarcsinu=u1u2,ddxarccosu=u1u2\frac{d}{dx}\arcsin u=\frac{u'}{\sqrt{1-u^2}},\qquad \frac{d}{dx}\arccos u=-\frac{u'}{\sqrt{1-u^2}}

    Valid where u<1|u|<1; the derivative blows up at u=±1u=\pm1.

  • arctan\arctan and arccot\operatorname{arccot}

    ddxarctanu=u1+u2,ddxarccotu=u1+u2\frac{d}{dx}\arctan u=\frac{u'}{1+u^2},\qquad \frac{d}{dx}\operatorname{arccot}u=-\frac{u'}{1+u^2}

    No domain restriction: 1+u211+u^2\ge1 is never zero.

  • arcsec\operatorname{arcsec} and arccsc\operatorname{arccsc}

    ddxarcsecu=uuu21,ddxarccscu=uuu21\frac{d}{dx}\operatorname{arcsec}u=\frac{u'}{|u|\sqrt{u^2-1}},\qquad \frac{d}{dx}\operatorname{arccsc}u=-\frac{u'}{|u|\sqrt{u^2-1}}

    Valid where u>1|u|>1. The bars come from sec2y1=tany\sqrt{\sec^2y-1}=|\tan y| — never drop them.

  • Principal ranges

    arcsin[π2,π2],arccos[0,π],arctan(π2,π2)\arcsin\in\left[-\tfrac{\pi}{2},\tfrac{\pi}{2}\right],\qquad \arccos\in\left[0,\pi\right],\qquad \arctan\in\left(-\tfrac{\pi}{2},\tfrac{\pi}{2}\right)

    Check every exact value lands in this interval before you write it.

  • Cofunction identities

    arcsinx+arccosx=π2,arctanx+arccotx=π2\arcsin x+\arccos x=\frac{\pi}{2},\qquad \arctan x+\operatorname{arccot}x=\frac{\pi}{2}

    Differentiate these and the minus signs on the co-derivatives explain themselves.

03

Find the derivative of an inverse at a point

The steps, in order
  1. 1

    Justify invertibility: show f(x)>0f'(x)>0 for all xx in the interval (or f(x)<0f'(x)<0), bounding any trig term with 1sinx1-1\le\sin x\le1.

  2. 2

    Find the input aa with f(a)=bf(a)=b by inspection — try small integers. One-to-one means it is the only one.

  3. 3

    Check f(a)0f'(a)\neq0. If f(a)=0f'(a)=0, stop: (f1)(b)(f^{-1})'(b) does not exist, the inverse has a vertical tangent.

  4. 4

    Write (f1)(b)=1f(a)(f^{-1})'(b)=\dfrac{1}{f'(a)} and evaluate — never differentiate a formula for f1f^{-1}.

  5. 5

    For a tangent line to y=f1(x)y=f^{-1}(x), the point is (b,a)(b,a): y=a+1f(a)(xb)y=a+\dfrac{1}{f'(a)}(x-b).

04

Watch out

The mistakes that cost marks
  • ✗ Wrong

    (f1)(b)=1f(b)(f^{-1})'(b)=\dfrac{1}{f'(b)}

    ✓ Right

    (f1)(b)=1f(a)(f^{-1})'(b)=\dfrac{1}{f'(a)}, where aa is the input with f(a)=bf(a)=b.

    Why: ff' must be fed the input aa, not the output bb.

  • ✗ Wrong

    ddxarctan(3x)=11+9x2\dfrac{d}{dx}\arctan(3x)=\dfrac{1}{1+9x^2}

    ✓ Right

    31+9x2\dfrac{3}{1+9x^2} — the chain-rule factor u=3u'=3 is not optional.

  • ✗ Wrong

    ddxarcsin(u)=u1x2\dfrac{d}{dx}\arcsin(u)=\dfrac{u'}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}

    ✓ Right

    u1u2\dfrac{u'}{\sqrt{1-u^2}}: the inside function goes into the radical too.

  • ✗ Wrong

    ddxarcsecx=1xx21\dfrac{d}{dx}\operatorname{arcsec}x=\dfrac{1}{x\sqrt{x^2-1}}

    ✓ Right

    1xx21\dfrac{1}{|x|\sqrt{x^2-1}} — keep the absolute value.

    Why: Without the bars the slope is negative at x=2x=-2, yet arcsec\operatorname{arcsec} increases there.

  • ✗ Wrong

    arcsin(sin5π6)=5π6\arcsin\left(\sin\frac{5\pi}{6}\right)=\frac{5\pi}{6}

    ✓ Right

    sin5π6=12\sin\frac{5\pi}{6}=\frac12, so the value is π6\frac{\pi}{6}.

    Why: The output must land in [π2,π2]\left[-\frac{\pi}{2},\frac{\pi}{2}\right].

  • ✗ Wrong

    sin1x=1sinx\sin^{-1}x=\dfrac{1}{\sin x}

    ✓ Right

    sin1x=arcsinx\sin^{-1}x=\arcsin x; the reciprocal 1sinx\dfrac{1}{\sin x} is cscx\csc x.

    Why: The 1-1 marks an inverse function, not an exponent.

05

Quick check

Commit to an answer before you reveal one
  1. Q1easy

    Evaluate exactly, using the principal branches:

    (a) arcsin(12)\arcsin\left(-\tfrac12\right) (b) arctan(1)\arctan(-1) (c) arcsec(2)\operatorname{arcsec}(-2) (d) arcsin(sin5π6)\arcsin\left(\sin\tfrac{5\pi}{6}\right) (e) cos(arcsin35)\cos\left(\arcsin\tfrac35\right)

    Hint

    Write the required output interval down first, then find the angle in it with the right trig value.

    Show answer

    Answer

    (a) π6-\frac{\pi}{6} (b) π4-\frac{\pi}{4} (c) 2π3\frac{2\pi}{3} (d) π6\frac{\pi}{6} (e) 45\frac45

    Steps

    (a) Need y[π2,π2]y\in\left[-\frac{\pi}{2},\frac{\pi}{2}\right] with siny=12\sin y=-\frac12: y=π6y=-\frac{\pi}{6}.

    (b) Need y(π2,π2)y\in\left(-\frac{\pi}{2},\frac{\pi}{2}\right) with tany=1\tan y=-1: y=π4y=-\frac{\pi}{4}, not 3π4\frac{3\pi}{4}.

    (c) secy=2\sec y=-2 means cosy=12\cos y=-\frac12; in [0,π][0,\pi] that is y=2π3y=\frac{2\pi}{3}.

    (d) sin5π6=12\sin\frac{5\pi}{6}=\frac12, and arcsin12=π6\arcsin\frac12=\frac{\pi}{6} — cancellation fails because 5π6\frac{5\pi}{6} is outside the branch.

    (e) With θ=arcsin35\theta=\arcsin\frac35, cos2θ=1925=1625\cos^2\theta=1-\frac{9}{25}=\frac{16}{25}, and cosθ0\cos\theta\ge0 on the branch, so cosθ=45\cos\theta=\frac45.

  2. Q2easy

    Differentiate, and state the interval on which your formula is valid:

    (a) y=arcsin(3x)y=\arcsin(3x) (b) y=arctan(x2)y=\arctan\left(x^2\right) (c) y=arccos(x)y=\arccos\left(\sqrt{x}\right)

    Hint

    Identify uu, compute uu', and put uu — not xx — inside the formula.

    Show answer

    Answer

    (a) 319x2\dfrac{3}{\sqrt{1-9x^2}} on 13<x<13-\frac13<x<\frac13. (b) 2x1+x4\dfrac{2x}{1+x^4} for all xx. (c) 12xx2-\dfrac{1}{2\sqrt{x-x^2}} on 0<x<10<x<1.

    Steps

    (a) u=3xu=3x, u=3u'=3: y=319x2y'=\dfrac{3}{\sqrt{1-9x^2}}, needing 9x2<19x^2<1.

    (b) u=x2u=x^2, u=2xu'=2x: y=2x1+x4y'=\dfrac{2x}{1+x^4}, and 1+x411+x^4\ge1 is never zero.

    (c) u=xu=\sqrt{x}, u=12xu'=\dfrac{1}{2\sqrt{x}}, u2=xu^2=x, and arccos\arccos carries a minus sign:

    y=12x1x=12xx2y'=-\frac{1}{2\sqrt{x}\,\sqrt{1-x}}=-\frac{1}{2\sqrt{x-x^2}}

    which needs x>0x>0 (for uu') and x<1x<1 (for the radical).

  3. Q3medium

    Let f(x)=2x+cosxf(x)=2x+\cos x.

    (a) Explain why ff is invertible on R\mathbb{R}. (b) Find an equation of the tangent line to y=f1(x)y=f^{-1}(x) at x=1x=1.

    Hint

    Bound ff' using 1sinx1-1\le\sin x\le1. For (b) you need both the point on the inverse's graph and the slope there.

    Show answer

    Answer

    (a) f(x)=2sinx1>0f'(x)=2-\sin x\ge1>0, so ff is strictly increasing. (b) y=x12y=\dfrac{x-1}{2}.

    Steps

    (a) f(x)=2sinx21=1>0f'(x)=2-\sin x\ge2-1=1>0 for every xx, so ff is strictly increasing on the interval R\mathbb{R}, hence one-to-one; it is continuous and differentiable everywhere.

    (b) Find aa with f(a)=1f(a)=1: f(0)=0+cos0=1f(0)=0+\cos 0=1, so g(1)=0g(1)=0 and the point of tangency is (1,0)(1,0). Then f(0)=2f'(0)=2, so

    g(1)=1f(0)=12,y=0+12(x1)=x12g'(1)=\frac{1}{f'(0)}=\frac12,\qquad y=0+\tfrac12(x-1)=\frac{x-1}{2}

    Check by reflection: the tangent to ff at (0,1)(0,1) has slope 22, and its mirror image has slope 12\frac12.

  4. Q4medium

    Differentiate f(x)=arcsin(x)1x2f(x)=\arcsin(x)\sqrt{1-x^2} and simplify. On what interval is your formula valid? Evaluate f(0)f'(0) and say what it means geometrically.

    Hint

    Product rule; the first term collapses to 1.

    Show answer

    Answer

    f(x)=1xarcsinx1x2f'(x)=1-\dfrac{x\arcsin x}{\sqrt{1-x^2}} on (1,1)(-1,1); f(0)=1f'(0)=1, so the graph crosses the origin tangent to y=xy=x.

    Steps

    Product rule with u=arcsinxu=\arcsin x and v=(1x2)1/2v=\left(1-x^2\right)^{1/2}, so u=11x2u'=\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{1-x^2}} and v=x1x2v'=\dfrac{-x}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}:

    f(x)=11x21x2+arcsinxx1x2=1xarcsinx1x2f'(x)=\frac{1}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}\cdot\sqrt{1-x^2}+\arcsin x\cdot\frac{-x}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}=1-\frac{x\arcsin x}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}

    Both uu' and vv' need 1x2>01-x^2>0, so the formula holds on (1,1)(-1,1); at x=±1x=\pm1 the quotient runs to -\infty and the graph meets the axis vertically.

    f(0)=10=1f'(0)=1-0=1 and f(0)=0f(0)=0.

  5. Q5medium

    Differentiate y=arcsec(3x)y=\operatorname{arcsec}(3x), using the branch with range [0,π2)(π2,π]\left[0,\frac{\pi}{2}\right)\cup\left(\frac{\pi}{2},\pi\right]. Simplify the absolute value, state the domain of yy', and evaluate y(1)y'(-1).

    Hint

    Keep u|u| exactly as the formula demands before simplifying 3x=3x|3x|=3|x|.

    Show answer

    Answer

    y=1x9x21y'=\dfrac{1}{|x|\sqrt{9x^2-1}} for x>13|x|>\frac13; y(1)=24y'(-1)=\dfrac{\sqrt2}{4}.

    Steps

    With u=3xu=3x, u=3u'=3:

    y=33x(3x)21=33x9x21=1x9x21y'=\frac{3}{|3x|\sqrt{(3x)^2-1}}=\frac{3}{3|x|\sqrt{9x^2-1}}=\frac{1}{|x|\sqrt{9x^2-1}}

    using 3x=3x|3x|=3|x|. The formula needs 3x>1|3x|>1, i.e. x>13|x|>\frac13.

    At x=1x=-1: y(1)=118=122=240.354y'(-1)=\dfrac{1}{1\cdot\sqrt{8}}=\dfrac{1}{2\sqrt2}=\dfrac{\sqrt2}{4}\approx0.354.

    Sign check: dropping the bars would give 24-\frac{\sqrt2}{4}, but arcsec(3x)=arccos(13x)\operatorname{arcsec}(3x)=\arccos\left(\frac{1}{3x}\right) is increasing at x=1x=-1, so the slope must be positive.

  6. Q6hard

    Let F(x)=arctanx+arctan(1x)F(x)=\arctan x+\arctan\left(\dfrac1x\right) for x0x\neq0.

    (a) Compute and simplify F(x)F'(x). (b) Is FF constant on its whole domain? Determine FF explicitly.

    Hint

    Zero derivative forces constant only on an interval — look hard at the shape of the domain.

    Show answer

    Answer

    (a) F(x)=0F'(x)=0 for every x0x\neq0. (b) Not constant overall: F(x)=π2F(x)=\frac{\pi}{2} for x>0x>0 and F(x)=π2F(x)=-\frac{\pi}{2} for x<0x<0.

    Steps

    (a) With u=1xu=\frac1x, u=1x2u'=-\frac{1}{x^2}, and multiplying the second fraction top and bottom by x2x^2:

    F(x)=11+x2+1/x21+1/x2=11+x21x2+1=0F'(x)=\frac{1}{1+x^2}+\frac{-1/x^2}{1+1/x^2}=\frac{1}{1+x^2}-\frac{1}{x^2+1}=0

    (b) The domain (,0)(0,)(-\infty,0)\cup(0,\infty) is not an interval, so the zero-derivative corollary of the MVT gives one constant on each piece only. Test each: F(1)=π4+π4=π2F(1)=\frac{\pi}{4}+\frac{\pi}{4}=\frac{\pi}{2}, and F(1)=π4π4=π2F(-1)=-\frac{\pi}{4}-\frac{\pi}{4}=-\frac{\pi}{2}. The constants genuinely differ.

06

On the exam

How this topic is marked
  • Inverse-derivative questions are marked in two halves: one sentence justifying one-to-one from the sign of ff', then the number 1f(a)\frac{1}{f'(a)}. Solving f(a)=bf(a)=b by inspection is expected, not lucky.

  • Chain-rule marks live in uu' and in putting uu inside the radical. If the question says "state where this is valid", the domain is worth its own mark.

  • Exact-value parts are graded on the branch: write the required range first, and keep the bars in arcsec\operatorname{arcsec} and arccsc\operatorname{arccsc}.

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