We often need to convert inverse of cos to either inverse of sin, tan, sec, cosec , cot .In this post we will see how we can do it easily
Inverse of cos to inverse of sin
Case 1
cos−1x and x > 0
Now we can write as
θ=cos−1x
cosθ=x
Now we know that here θ∈[0,π/2], so it is an acute angle
Now it can be written as
cosθ=x1=basehyp
In Right angle triangle

Now then perp becomes
perp=√1−x2
So , sinθ=perphyp=√1−x2
or
θ=sin−1√1−x2
or cos−1x=sin−1√1−x2
Case II
cos−1x and x < 0
So value of the function will be in the range [π/2,π]
Now we know from the property that
cos^{-1} (-x)= \pi – cos^{-1} (x)
This can be written as
cos^{-1} x = \pi – cos^{-1} |x| = \pi – sin^{-1} \sqrt { 1 -|x|^2}= \pi – sin^{-1} \sqrt { 1 -x^2}
This makes sense also as Range of the cos and sin function differ. We can convert with out worrying about the sign in [0, \pi/2] as it is common
Thus ,we have different formula depending on the values of x
Inverse of cos to inverse of tan
Case 1
cos^{-1} x and x > 0
from the above, we can write that
tan \theta = \frac {perp}{base} = \frac {\sqrt {1-x^2}}{x}
or
cos^{-1} x = tan^{-1} \frac {\sqrt {1-x^2}}{x}
Case II
cos^{-1} x and x < 0
Now we know from the property that
cos^{-1} (-x)= \pi – cos^{-1} (x)
This can be written as
cos^{-1} x = \pi – cos^{-1} |x| =\pi – tan^{-1} \frac {\sqrt { 1 -x^2}}{|x|}=\pi + tan^{-1} \frac {\sqrt { 1 -x^2}}{x}
This makes sense also as Range of the cos and tan function differ. We can convert with out worrying about the sign in [0, \pi/2] as it is common
Thus ,we have different formula depending on the values of x
Inverse of cos to inverse of sec
This we already know from the property
cos^{-1} x = sec^{-1} \frac {1}{x}
for all values of x [-1,1]
Inverse of cos to inverse of cosec
Case 1
cos^{-1} x and x > 0
from the above, we can write that
cosec \theta = \frac {1}{\sqrt {1-x^2}}
or
cos^{-1} x = cosec^{-1} \frac {1}{\sqrt {1-x^2}}
Case II
cos^{-1} x and x < 0
So value of the function will be in the range [\pi/2 ,\pi]
Now we know from the property that
cos^{-1} (-x)= \pi – cos^{-1} (x)
This can be written as
cos^{-1} x = \pi – cos^{-1} |x| = \pi – cosec^{-1} \frac {1}}{\sqrt { 1 -x^2}}
This makes sense also as Range of the cos and sin function differ. We can convert with out worrying about the sign in $[0, \pi/2] as it is common
Thus ,we have different formula depending on the values of x
Inverse of cos to inverse of cot
Case 1
cos^{-1} x and x > 0
from the above, we can write that
cot \theta = \frac {x}{\sqrt {1-x^2}}
or
cos^{-1} x = cot^{-1} \frac {x}{\sqrt {1-x^2}}
Case II
cos^{-1} x and x < 0
So value of the function will be in the range [\pi/2 ,\pi]
Now we know from the property that
cos^{-1} (-x)= \pi – cos^{-1} (x)
This can be written as
cos^{-1} x = \pi – cos^{-1} |x| = \pi – cot^{-1} \frac {|x|}}{\sqrt { 1 -x^2}}=cot^{-1} \frac {x}}{\sqrt { 1 -x^2}}
So we have same formula for any values of x
cos^{-1} x = cot^{-1} \frac {x}{\sqrt {1-x^2}}