Why does the range of cot-1(x) differ from tan-1(x)?

In summary, the range of cot-1(x) is (0,π) because the domain of cot(x) is restricted to (- π/2,π/2)\{0}, making it bijective and allowing its inverse to have a range of (0,π). This is similar to the restriction of the domain of cosec(x) to (-π/2, 0) U (0, π/2], resulting in a range of [-π/2, 0) U (0, π/2] for its inverse, csc-1(x). This convention allows for the inverse functions to return the numerically smallest values.
  • #1
pcm
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0

Homework Statement


i wanted to know ,why is the range of cot-1(x) (0,π), unlike tan-1(x)
which has its range (-π/2,π/2). because for sin and cosec inverse range is same, for cos and sec inverse range is same.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


 
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  • #2
The range of a function (or more strictly, its image) is determined by the domain of the inverse function.

So think about the domain of cot(x) and tan(x). For what values of x is each of those functions "undefined"?

What's tan(π/2) or tan(-π/2)?

Now ask yourself what's cot(0) or cot(π).

You might find it helpful to look at a graph of the functions.
 
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  • #3
domain of cot(x) is {real numbers} - {nπ;n is integer}.
cosec(x) has the same domain.
to make these functions bijective,so that we can define inverses,we restrict the domain of cosec(x) to
[-π/2 , 0)[itex]\cup[/itex](0 , π/2].
we can do the same with cot(x), so that we get numerically smallest angle as the output of its inverse function.
also ,by doing this many formulas will simplify (for eg. tan-1(x)=cot-1(1/x) )
with usual conventions ,the above formula has two forms ,one for positive x and one for negative x.
 
  • #4
pcm said:
domain of cot(x) is {real numbers} - {nπ;n is integer}

Well, this was my point. cot(x) is undefined for integer multiples of π. Hence cot-1x can't map to integer multiples of π, which is why the range is defined that way.
 
  • #5
but what about cosec-1(x)?
 
  • #6
pcm said:
but what about cosec-1(x)?

I guess you want to understand what this part means? "to make these functions bijective,so that we can define inverses,we restrict the domain of cosec(x) to
[-π/2 , 0)∪(0 , π/2]." I'll explain this very carefully, so you should have the understanding to apply it to other cases.

The reciprocal of csc(x) is sin(x). Look at the graph of sin(x). Notice that it passes through the origin (0,0). Notice that a maximum is reached at π/2, and a minimum at -π/2. If you consider an x-value within (0, π/2), you will find exactly one other x-value within (π/2, π) that has the same y-value. This means that if you allow a domain of, say, (0, π), the function sin(x) ceases to be injective (and therefore also ceases to be bijective). For an inverse to exist, a function needs to be bijective. Hence the domain of sin(x) needs to be "clipped" on the positive side at π/2. Apply the same argument with the signs reversed for the negative side. Hence the domain of the restricted sine function becomes [-π/2, π/2]. Note that I'm using square brackets here, because you *can* have values of x at the extreme ends, since the sine of those values is well-defined (-1 and +1, respectively).

Now consider cosec(x). It's clear that the same arguments for restricting its domain follow. With one addendum - 0 must be excluded. Why? Because cosec(0) is undefined. The limit of cosec(x) as x -> 0 from the right-hand side (positive) is +∞, whereas the limit from the left-hand side (negative) is -∞. Hence the limit at x=0 of cosec(x) does not exist. Therefore, we must exclude 0 from the domain of cosec(x). A similar argument applies to all values of the form nπ, but since we're only considering the interval [-π/2, π/2], we're only concerned with 0 here.

Therefore, the final domain of csc(x) becomes [-π/2, 0) U (0, π/2]. Notice the curvy brackets on one side of each disjoint subdomain. That means that 0 is excluded. The range (or image) of this restricted csc(x) function is (-∞,-1] U [1, ∞). The restricted cosec function is sometimes written with a capitalised first letter as Csc(x) to distinguish it (the same capitalisation applies to the restricted inverse).

Finally, the domain and range of the inverse is determined by the range and domain, respectively, of the original function. Hence the domain of Csc-1(x) is (-∞,-1] U [1, ∞) and its range is [-π/2, 0) U (0, π/2].

Now apply this same line of reasoning to all the other trig functions and their inverses.
 
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  • #7
thanks for your help Curious3141.

cot function in (-pi/2,pi/2) (0 excluded) is also bijective.so inverse could be defined with its range (-pi/2,pi/2) (0 excluded). it should behave similar to cosecant.
 
  • #8
the attached graph shows
graph of cot-1(x) when
i)domain of cot(x) is restricted to (- π/2,π/2) (the blue discontinuous curve)
ii)domain of cot(x) is restricted to (0,π) (the continuous blue green curve)

has discontinuity got something to do with the definition of this function?
 

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  • #9
pcm said:
the attached graph shows
graph of cot-1(x) when
i)domain of cot(x) is restricted to (- π/2,π/2) (the blue discontinuous curve)
ii)domain of cot(x) is restricted to (0,π) (the continuous blue green curve)

has discontinuity got something to do with the definition of this function?

Yes, you can define it either way (BTW, the first domain for cot x can be [- π/2,π/2]\{0}, i.e. the extreme values are included but zero is excluded).

The corresponding range for the inverse cot can therefore be either:

[- π/2,π/2]\{0}

or

(0,π)

The domain for the inverse cot is (-∞,∞) either way.

It's just a matter of how you wish to define the range of the function prior to using it. Both are equally acceptable. But some prefer to have the function return values that are smallest numerically, so they use the first range.
 
  • #10
thanks for your help.now i got it.it is just a matter of convention.
 

1. What is the meaning of "cot-1(x)"?

The notation "cot-1(x)" represents the inverse function of the cotangent function, also known as the arccotangent function. This function takes in a value of x as an input and returns the angle in radians whose cotangent is x.

2. Why is the range of cot-1(x) from 0 to π?

The range of cot-1(x) is from 0 to π because the cotangent function has a period of π, meaning that its values repeat every π radians. Therefore, the inverse function has a range of one period, which is from 0 to π.

3. Can the range of cot-1(x) be negative?

No, the range of cot-1(x) cannot be negative. Since cot-1(x) represents an angle, it can only take on values between 0 to π, which are positive angles in radians. Negative values do not make sense in this context.

4. How is the range of cot-1(x) related to the range of cot(x)?

The range of cot-1(x) is the inverse of the range of cot(x). This means that the values of cot-1(x) are the angles whose cotangent is x, while the values of cot(x) are the cotangents of those angles. In other words, the range of cot(x) is the domain of cot-1(x) and vice versa.

5. What is the difference between cot-1(x) and arctan(x)?

Both cot-1(x) and arctan(x) represent inverse trigonometric functions, but they are the inverse functions of different trigonometric ratios. While cot-1(x) is the inverse of cot(x), arctan(x) is the inverse of tan(x). This means that they have different ranges and their graphs look different, even though they both represent angles.

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