What are inverse trigonometric functions and when do you use it?

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Answer 1 · 2014-11-02T11:22:43

Inverse trigonometric functions are useful in finding angles.

Example

If #cos theta=1/sqrt{2}#, then find the angle #theta#.

By taking the inverse cosine of both sides of the equation,

#=> cos^{-1}(cos theta)=cos^{-1}(1/sqrt{2})#

since cosine and its inverse cancel out each other,

#=> theta = cos^{-1}(1/sqrt{2})=pi/4#

I hope that this was helpful.