Evaluate the expression.
Table of contents
- 0. Review of College Algebra4h 45m
- 1. Measuring Angles40m
- 2. Trigonometric Functions on Right Triangles2h 5m
- 3. Unit Circle1h 19m
- 4. Graphing Trigonometric Functions1h 19m
- 5. Inverse Trigonometric Functions and Basic Trigonometric Equations1h 41m
- 6. Trigonometric Identities and More Equations2h 34m
- 7. Non-Right Triangles1h 38m
- 8. Vectors2h 25m
- 9. Polar Equations2h 5m
- 10. Parametric Equations1h 6m
- 11. Graphing Complex Numbers1h 7m
5. Inverse Trigonometric Functions and Basic Trigonometric Equations
Inverse Sine, Cosine, & Tangent
Problem 1
Textbook Question
Find the exact value of each expression. sin⁻¹ 1/2
Verified step by step guidance1
Recognize that the expression \( \sin^{-1} \frac{1}{2} \) represents the inverse sine (arcsine) function, which gives the angle whose sine is \( \frac{1}{2} \).
Recall the range of the inverse sine function, which is \( \left[ -\frac{\pi}{2}, \frac{\pi}{2} \right] \), meaning the angle you find must lie within this interval.
Identify the angle \( \theta \) such that \( \sin \theta = \frac{1}{2} \) within the principal range. Use your knowledge of special angles on the unit circle.
Remember that \( \sin \frac{\pi}{6} = \frac{1}{2} \), so \( \theta = \frac{\pi}{6} \) is the angle that satisfies the equation within the allowed range.
Conclude that \( \sin^{-1} \frac{1}{2} = \frac{\pi}{6} \) as the exact value of the expression.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Inverse Sine Function (sin⁻¹ or arcsin)
The inverse sine function, denoted as sin⁻¹ or arcsin, returns the angle whose sine value is a given number. It is defined for inputs between -1 and 1 and outputs angles in the range [-π/2, π/2] or [-90°, 90°]. Understanding this helps find the angle corresponding to a sine value.
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Exact Values of Sine for Special Angles
Certain angles have well-known sine values, such as sin(30°) = 1/2 or sin(π/6) = 1/2. Recognizing these special angles allows you to determine the exact angle for a given sine value without a calculator.
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Domain and Range Restrictions of Inverse Trigonometric Functions
Inverse trig functions have restricted domains and ranges to ensure they are functions. For sin⁻¹, the input must be between -1 and 1, and the output angle lies between -90° and 90°. This restriction ensures a unique angle is returned for each sine value.
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