Solving for sin & cos of -1 ∞: Answers & Explanation

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the values of inverse trigonometric functions, specifically the sine and cosine functions, as their inputs approach infinity. Participants explore the behavior of these functions and their domains.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the values of tan-1(infinity) and the implications for sin-1(infinity) and cos-1(infinity). Questions arise regarding the domains of these functions and their behavior as inputs approach infinity.

Discussion Status

Some participants provide guidance on the limits of the inverse tangent function and clarify that the inverse sine and cosine do not have defined values at infinity. There is an acknowledgment of the need for rigorous definitions in the context of these functions.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the domains of the inverse sine and cosine functions are typically restricted to specific intervals to maintain their one-to-one nature, which is a point of discussion in relation to their behavior at infinity.

intenzxboi
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this isn't homework just wanted to know what the values are.

tan -1 (infinity) = pi/2
tan-1 (0) = 0

what is sin -1 infinty and cos -1 infinity?
 
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Looks like LaTeX isn't working again.

intenzxboi said:
this isn't homework just wanted to know what the values are.

tan -1 (infinity) = pi/2
tan-1 (0) = 0
The second one is correct, but not the first one. What you can say, though, is that
lim(x -->infinity) tan-1(x) = pi/2

The domain of the inverse tangent function is all real numbers, but neither -infinity nor infinity is included in that set.
intenzxboi said:
what is sin -1 infinty and cos -1 infinity?
The domain for sin-1(x) is usually taken as [-pi/2, pi/2], and the domain for cos-1(x) is usually taken as [0, pi]. These intervals are chosen to make these function one-to-one, which a function has to be in order for it to have an inverse.

Unline tan-1(x), neither the inverse sine nor inverse cosine have limits as x approaches infinity, so the answer to your last questions is that they aren't anything.
 
o ok thanks so only tan-1 (x) as x goes to infinty is pi/2
 
That is the simplest way to think of it. Using the symbol \infty is often useful shorthand for the same thing. It can also be put on a sound rigorous footing geometrically (projective space) or analytically (Riemann sphere), but that requires using spaces strictly larger than the real (or complex) numbers.
 

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