MHB Rebekah's question at Yahoo Answers involving inverse trigonometric functions

AI Thread Summary
The problem involves evaluating the expression sin^(-1)(x) + tan^(-1)(√(1-x^2)/x) for 0 < x ≤ 1. A right triangle is used to illustrate the relationship between the angles, where α = sin^(-1)(x) and β = tan^(-1)(√(1-x^2)/x). It is established that these angles are complementary, leading to the conclusion that α + β equals π/2. Thus, the final result of the expression is π/2. This solution effectively demonstrates the connection between inverse trigonometric functions and their geometric interpretations.
Mathematics news on Phys.org
Hello Rebekah,

We are given to evaulate:

$\displaystyle \sin^{-1}(x)+\tan^{-1}\left(\frac{\sqrt{1-x^2}}{x} \right)$

where $0<x\le1$

Let's draw a diagram of a right triangle where:

$\displaystyle \alpha=\sin^{-1}(x)\text{ and }\beta=\tan^{-1}\left(\frac{\sqrt{1-x^2}}{x} \right)$:

View attachment 616

Now, it is easy to see that $\alpha$ and $\beta$ are complementary, hence:

$\displaystyle \alpha+\beta=\sin^{-1}(x)+\tan^{-1}\left(\frac{\sqrt{1-x^2}}{x} \right)=\frac{\pi}{2}$
 

Attachments

  • rebekah.jpg
    rebekah.jpg
    3.9 KB · Views: 90
Seemingly by some mathematical coincidence, a hexagon of sides 2,2,7,7, 11, and 11 can be inscribed in a circle of radius 7. The other day I saw a math problem on line, which they said came from a Polish Olympiad, where you compute the length x of the 3rd side which is the same as the radius, so that the sides of length 2,x, and 11 are inscribed on the arc of a semi-circle. The law of cosines applied twice gives the answer for x of exactly 7, but the arithmetic is so complex that the...
Thread 'Video on imaginary numbers and some queries'
Hi, I was watching the following video. I found some points confusing. Could you please help me to understand the gaps? Thanks, in advance! Question 1: Around 4:22, the video says the following. So for those mathematicians, negative numbers didn't exist. You could subtract, that is find the difference between two positive quantities, but you couldn't have a negative answer or negative coefficients. Mathematicians were so averse to negative numbers that there was no single quadratic...
Thread 'Unit Circle Double Angle Derivations'
Here I made a terrible mistake of assuming this to be an equilateral triangle and set 2sinx=1 => x=pi/6. Although this did derive the double angle formulas it also led into a terrible mess trying to find all the combinations of sides. I must have been tired and just assumed 6x=180 and 2sinx=1. By that time, I was so mindset that I nearly scolded a person for even saying 90-x. I wonder if this is a case of biased observation that seeks to dis credit me like Jesus of Nazareth since in reality...
Back
Top