MA161 - Lesson 3: Trigonometry Review and Inverse Trig Functions

Warm-up: Basic Trigonometric Functions

Right Triangle Diagram: The handwritten notes show a right triangle with angle θ, where the sides are labeled as hypotenuse, opposite, and adjacent, illustrating the foundation for trigonometric ratios.

Basic Trigonometric Functions: For angle \(\theta\) in a right triangle:

Reciprocal Functions:

Periodicity: All trigonometric functions are periodic: \(f(\theta) = f(\theta + p)\) for some period \(p\).

Unit Circle and Angle Measurement

Unit Circle Diagram: The handwritten notes show a unit circle with different angles marked in multiple quadrants, illustrating positive (counterclockwise) and negative (clockwise) angle measurement from the positive x-axis.

Angle Measurement:

Unit Circle Definitions:

Signs in Different Quadrants:

Measuring Angles: Degrees and Radians

Radian Measure: Radian is the conventional unit in mathematics

Circle Arc Diagram: The handwritten notes show a circle with radius r and arc length s, illustrating the relationship between angle measure θ, radius, and arc length.

Arc Length Formula: \(s = r\theta\) (where \(\theta\) is in radians)

Definition: 1 radian is the angle measure when arc length equals the radius.

Review of Sine Function and Transformations

Sine Wave Graph: The handwritten notes show a complete sine wave with amplitude, period, and key points marked, illustrating the standard sine function y = sin θ.

General Sine Function:

\[f(\theta) = a\sin(b(\theta - c)) + d\]

Inverse Trigonometric Functions

Inverse Sine Function

Sine Function Restriction: The handwritten notes show the sine function with the domain restricted to [-π/2, π/2] highlighted, demonstrating how to make the function one-to-one for the inverse to exist.

Inverse Sine: \(\arcsin(x) = \sin^{-1}(x)\)

If \(\sin^{-1}(x) = \theta\), then \(\sin \theta = x\)

Domain: \([-1, 1]\)

Range: \(\left[-\frac{\pi}{2}, \frac{\pi}{2}\right]\)

Restriction for Inverse: Restrict domain to \(\left[-\frac{\pi}{2}, \frac{\pi}{2}\right]\) ⟹ Range: \([-1, 1]\)

This makes the sine function one-to-one, so the inverse function exists.

Example: Evaluating Inverse Sine

Evaluate \(\sin^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)\):

Solution:

Let \(\sin^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{2}\right) = \theta\), so \(\sin \theta = \frac{1}{2}\)

\(\theta\) is in \(\left[-\frac{\pi}{2}, \frac{\pi}{2}\right]\)

Since \(\sin\left(\frac{\pi}{6}\right) = \frac{1}{2}\) and \(\frac{\pi}{6}\) is in the range,

\(\sin^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{2}\right) = \frac{\pi}{6}\)

Inverse Cosine Function

Cosine Function Restriction: The handwritten notes show the cosine function with domain restricted to [0, π], making it decreasing and one-to-one for the inverse to exist.

Inverse Cosine: \(\arccos(x) = \cos^{-1}(x)\)

If \(\cos^{-1}(x) = \theta\), then \(\cos \theta = x\)

Domain: \([-1, 1]\)

Range: \([0, \pi]\)

Example: Evaluating Inverse Cosine

Evaluate \(\cos\left(\cos^{-1}\left(\frac{4\pi}{3}\right)\right)\):

Unit Circle Reference: The handwritten notes show a unit circle with angle 4π/3 marked, along with its reference angle and coordinates, helping to find the cosine value.

Solution:

Find \(\theta\) in \([0, \pi]\) such that \(\cos\left(\cos^{-1}\left(\frac{4\pi}{3}\right)\right) = \theta\)

\(\cos \theta = \cos\left(\frac{4\pi}{3}\right)\)

\(\frac{4\pi}{3} = \pi + \frac{\pi}{3}\), so \(\cos\left(\frac{4\pi}{3}\right) = -\cos\left(\frac{\pi}{3}\right) = -\frac{1}{2}\)

\(\theta = \frac{2\pi}{3}\) (since this is in \([0, \pi]\) and \(\cos\left(\frac{2\pi}{3}\right) = -\frac{1}{2}\))

Inverse Tangent Function

Tangent Function Restriction: The handwritten notes show the tangent function with domain restricted to (-π/2, π/2), avoiding the vertical asymptotes and making it one-to-one.

Inverse Tangent: \(\arctan(x) = \tan^{-1}(x)\)

If \(\tan^{-1}(x) = \theta\), then \(\tan \theta = x\)

Domain: \((-\infty, \infty)\)

Range: \(\left(-\frac{\pi}{2}, \frac{\pi}{2}\right)\)

Example: Finding Trigonometric Values

Find \(\cos(\tan^{-1}(x))\):

Right Triangle Construction: The handwritten notes show a right triangle constructed to represent tan⁻¹(x), with opposite side x, adjacent side 1, and hypotenuse √(1+x²).

Solution:

Let \(\tan^{-1}(x) = \theta\), so \(\tan \theta = x\)

Find \(\cos \theta\)

From the right triangle: \(\tan \theta = x = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{adjacent}}\)

Let opposite = \(x\), adjacent = 1

Then hypotenuse = \(\sqrt{x^2 + 1}\)

Therefore: \(\cos \theta = \frac{\text{adjacent}}{\text{hypotenuse}} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{1 + x^2}}\)

Key Strategy for Inverse Trig Problems: When evaluating expressions involving inverse trigonometric functions, construct a right triangle using the definition of the inverse function, then use the triangle to find other trigonometric values.