Q.Differentiate w.r.t. x: tan−1(1+cosx1−cosx), −4π<x<4π.
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Domain of a Composite Function
Picture a building with two doors: the first opens with a blue pass, the second with a red pass. Walking through f(g(x)) means passing the inner door g first, then the outer door f. The domain of the composite is simply: which inputs make it through both doors?
The intuition
Take f(x)=x and g(x)=x−5, so f(g(x))=x−5.
- The inner g(x)=x−5 accepts every real number.
- The outer f accepts only non-negative inputs.
So the real question is: which x make g(x) land inside the domain of f? The domain of the composite is not just the domain of g, nor just the domain of f — it is the overlap seen through g.
The precise statement
Domain(f∘g)={x∈Domain(g)∣g(x)∈Domain(f)}.
Two steps, in order:
- Keep only the x that g can handle.
- Among those, keep only the x for which g(x) is something f can handle.
A frequent mistake is to restrict x using the domain of f directly. The restriction comes from g(x) lying in Domain(f), not from x itself.
A worked check
For f(x)=x, g(x)=x−11:
- Domain of g: x=1.
- Outer condition: g(x)≥0⇒x−11≥0⇒x−1>0⇒x>1.
So Domain(f∘g)=(1,∞) — the condition from f already excludes x=1.
Order matters …
Concept: Chain rule after simplifying the argument.
With the half-angle identities 1−cosx=2sin22x and 1+cosx=2cos22x,
1+cosx1−cosx=tan22x=tan2x.
The absolute value matters: the square root is never negative, but tan2x is negative when x<0. On −4π<x<4π, 2x∈(−8π,8π), where tan2x has the same sign as x. Hence
y=tan−1tan2x=2∣x∣. …
Half-angle identities turn the argument into tan2x, so y=2∣x∣ on the interval; hence dxdy=21 for x>0, −21 for x<0, and it fails to exist at x=0.
Set up
Let
y=tan−1(1+cosx1−cosx),−4π<x<4π.
Direct differentiation would be ugly; simplifying the inside first makes it easy.
Simplify the argument
Using 1−cosx=2sin22x and 1+cosx=2cos22x,
1+cosx1−cosx=tan22x ⇒ 1+cosx1−cosx=tan2x.
The absolute value is essential: a principal square root cannot be negative, but tan2x is negative for x<0.
Resolve the sign
On −4π<x<4π we have 2x∈(−8π,8π), where tan2x has the same sign as x: …
Method: Half-Angle Substitution With Explicit Sign (Absolute Value) Handling
Use this method whenever a square root of a ratio of (1±cosx) appears inside an inverse trig function — the half-angle identities collapse it to a single tangent, but you must track the sign carefully because a square root is never negative while tan(x/2) can be.
Steps
Step 1: Apply the half-angle identities
1−cosx=2sin22x,1+cosx=2cos22x
so the ratio under the root becomes tan22x.
Step 2: Take the square root carefully — introduce the absolute value
tan22x=tan2x
A principal square root is never negative, but tan(x/2) is negative whenever x<0, so this absolute value is not optional.
Step 3: Resolve the sign on the given interval
Determine the sign of tan(x/2) throughout the given domain. Here x/2 stays in a small interval around 0 where tan(x/2) has the same sign as x, so the problem splits into two cases: x>0 and x<0. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Writing tan2(x/2)=tan(x/2) without the absolute value
Why it's wrong: a square root is defined to be non-negative, but tan(x/2) is negative for x<0 — skipping the absolute value silently produces the wrong sign (and hence the wrong derivative) on half the domain. Correct approach: always write u2=∣u∣, then resolve the sign using the specific interval given.
Mistake 2: Treating the function as differentiable everywhere on the given interval
Why it's wrong: y=∣x∣/2 has a corner at x=0 — the left- and right-hand derivatives disagree (−21 vs 21), so the derivative genuinely does not exist there, even though x=0 lies inside the stated domain. Correct approach: report the derivative piecewise and explicitly note the point where it fails to exist, rather than quoting a single formula for the whole interval. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 17 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-12-FN1 markMCQQ.A and B are respectively the domain and range of a real valued function f(x)=[sin−1(310x+6)], then the number of integers in A∪B is ([y] represents the greatest integer less than or equal to y) (A) 2 (B) 1 (C) 4 (D) 3
›Reveal solutionSolution
Find the domain (interval, from the arcsin restriction) and the range (a set of integers, from the floor of arcsin) separately, then count how many integers sit in their union. Answer: 4.
Concept and Intuition
f(x)=[sin−1(310x+6)] is the greatest-integer (floor) of an arcsine. Two very different things are being asked: A, the domain, is a real interval (values of x for which the arcsine is defined); B, the range, is the set of integer outputs the floor function can actually produce. You must treat these separately before taking their union.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Domain A: sin−1 needs its argument in [−1,1]:
−1≤310x+6≤1⟹−3≤10x+6≤3⟹−9≤10x≤−3⟹−0.9≤x≤−0.3.
So A=[−0.9,−0.3]. This interval contains no integer (it lies strictly between −1 and 0).
2. Range B: As 310x+6 ranges continuously over all of [−1,1], θ=sin−1(⋅) ranges continuously and monotonically over the full interval [−2π,2π]≈[−1.5708,1.5708].
3. Take the floor of every θ in that interval:
- θ∈[−1.5708,−1): floor =−2
- θ∈[−1,0): floor =−1
- θ∈[0,1): floor =0
- θ∈[1,1.5708]: floor =1 So B={−2,−1,0,1} — exactly 4 distinct integers, all attained since θ passes through every sub-interval. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-13-FN1 markMCQQ.A⊆R and f:A→R is a function defined by f(x)=x+1x−1. If the domain of the function f(2x) is B, then A∩B= (A) R−{−1,−2} (B) R−{−1,−21} (C) R−{−1,31} (D) R−{−1,1}
›Reveal solutionSolution
The domain of f excludes x=−1; the domain of f(2x) excludes x=−21; their intersection excludes both, so A∩B=R−{−1,−21}, which is option (B).
We need to find A, the natural domain of f(x)=x+1x−1, then B, the natural domain of f(2x), and finally their intersection.
Why this approach works:
The domain of a composite function like f(2x) is found by first requiring that the “inside” expression 2x belongs to the domain of f, and then also requiring that the “inside” expression itself is defined (it always is, since 2x is defined for all real x). So we simply take the domain of f and replace x by 2x, solving for the restriction.
- Find A — the domain of f(x). f(x)=x+1x−1 is a rational function. The only restriction is that the denominator cannot be zero:
x+1=0⇒x=−1.
Hence
A=R−{−1}.
- Find B — the domain of f(2x). The function f(2x) means we substitute 2x into f:
f(2x)=2x+12x−1.
Again, the denominator cannot be zero:
2x+1=0⇒x=−21.
So
B=R−{−21}.
- Find A∩B. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-13-FN1 markMCQQ.Let f be a function with domain [0,7] and g be a function defined by g(x)=∣2x+1∣. Then the domain of (f∘g)(x) is (A) [0,7] (B) [−7,0] (C) [−4,3] (D) [−3,4]
›Reveal solutionSolution
The domain of the composite function f∘g consists of all x such that g(x) lies inside the domain of f.
Since f has domain [0,7] and g(x)=∣2x+1∣, we require 0≤∣2x+1∣≤7.
Solving gives x∈[−4,3], so the correct option is (C).
Concept and intuition
When we form (f∘g)(x)=f(g(x)), the “inner” function g must produce outputs that the “outer” function f can accept.
The domain of f is the set of allowed inputs for f. So for f(g(x)) to be defined, g(x) must land in that set.
Here f only accepts numbers from 0 to 7 inclusive. Therefore we need
0≤g(x)≤7.
Since g(x)=∣2x+1∣ is always non‑negative, the lower bound 0 is automatically satisfied for all x (absolute value is never negative). The real restriction comes from the upper bound:
∣2x+1∣≤7.
Step‑by‑step solution
- Set up the inequality We require
∣2x+1∣≤7.
This is a standard absolute‑value inequality: it means the distance from 2x+1 to 0 is at most 7.
- Rewrite without absolute value For any real number a, ∣a∣≤k (with k≥0) is equivalent to −k≤a≤k. Hence
−7≤2x+1≤7.
- Solve the compound inequality Subtract 1 from all three parts:
−8≤2x≤6.
Then divide by 2 (positive, so inequality signs stay the same):
−4≤x≤3.
- Check the lower bound …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-15-AN1 markMCQQ.The domain of the real valued function f(x)=cos−1(42−∣x∣)+[log(3−x)]−1 is (A) (−6,2)∪(2,3) (B) [−6,2)∪(2,3) (C) (−∞,2)∪(2,3) (D) [−6,2)∪(2,3]
›Reveal solutionSolution
The domain is the intersection of the domains of the inverse cosine term and the logarithmic term, excluding points where the log denominator is zero. The final domain is [−6,2)∪(2,3), which corresponds to option (B).
We need the set of all real x for which f(x) is defined. The function has two parts:
- cos−1(42−∣x∣)
- [log(3−x)]−1, i.e., log(3−x)1
Each imposes conditions. Let’s find them step by step.
- Domain of cos−1(u) The inverse cosine is defined only when its argument u satisfies −1≤u≤1. Here u=42−∣x∣, so we require:
−1≤42−∣x∣≤1
Multiply by 4 (positive, so inequality direction unchanged):
−4≤2−∣x∣≤4
Subtract 2 from all parts:
−6≤−∣x∣≤2
Multiply by −1 (reverses inequalities):
6≥∣x∣≥−2
The right inequality ∣x∣≥−2 is always true (absolute value is nonnegative).
The left inequality ∣x∣≤6 gives:
−6≤x≤6
So the inverse cosine part is defined for x∈[−6,6].
- Domain of log(3−x) The logarithm (presumably base 10 or natural — domain is the same) requires its argument positive:
3−x>0⇒x<3
So log(3−x) is defined for x∈(−∞,3).
- Denominator condition: [log(3−x)]−1 The reciprocal log(3−x)1 is undefined when the denominator is zero:
log(3−x)=0⇒3−x=1⇒x=2
So we must exclude x=2 from the domain. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-15-FN1 markMCQQ.The domain of f(x)=Cos−1[log2(x2+5x+8)] is (A) [−4,−3] (B) [−3,−2] (C) [−2,−1] (D) [−1,2]
›Reveal solutionSolution
The domain requires the log expression to lie in [−1,1]; one side is automatically satisfied and the other reduces to a simple quadratic inequality, giving [−3,−2].
Concept and Intuition
cos−1(t) is only defined for t∈[−1,1]. So finding the domain of cos−1[log2(⋯)] is really a two-sided inequality problem on the inner expression, which then converts (via the monotonic exponential 2t) into a bound on the underlying quadratic.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Require −1≤log2(x2+5x+8)≤1.
- Convert using 2(⋅) (monotonic increasing, preserves inequality direction): 2−1≤x2+5x+8≤21, i.e. 0.5≤x2+5x+8≤2.
- Lower bound: x2+5x+8≥0.5⇔x2+5x+7.5≥0. Discriminant =25−30=−5<0 and leading coefficient positive, so this quadratic is always positive — the lower bound holds for all real x, imposing no restriction.
- Upper bound: x2+5x+8≤2⇔x2+5x+6≤0⇔(x+2)(x+3)≤0. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-18-AN1 markMCQQ.The domain of the real valued function f(x)=logx−1(3x+1) is (A) (1,∞) (B) R (C) (1,2)∪(2,∞) (D) R−{2}
›Reveal solutionSolution
The domain of a logarithmic function requires the base to be positive and not equal to 1, and the argument to be positive. For f(x)=logx−1(3x+1), this gives x>1, x=2, and x>−31, so the domain is (1,2)∪(2,∞), which is option (C).
Concept and Intuition
When we see a logarithm like logbase(argument), we must remember two fundamental restrictions:
-
The base must be positive and not equal to 1.
Why? A logarithm is the inverse of an exponential function. If the base were 0 or negative, the exponential would behave badly (e.g., not be defined for all real exponents). If the base were 1, the exponential is constant, so its inverse wouldn't be a function.
-
The argument (the number inside the log) must be positive.
Why? Because you can only take the log of a positive number in real-valued functions — logs of zero or negative numbers are not real.
So for f(x)=logx−1(3x+1), we need to enforce both conditions simultaneously.
Step-by-step reasoning
- Base condition: x−1>0 The base of the logarithm is x−1. It must be positive:
x−1>0⇒x>1.
- Base cannot be 1: x−1=1 The base also cannot equal 1, because log1(⋅) is undefined.
x−1=1⇒x=2.
- Argument condition: 3x+1>0 The expression inside the log must be positive:
3x+1>0⇒x>−31.
- Combine all conditions
- From step 1: x>1
- From step 2: x=2 …
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- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-21-AN1 markMCQQ.Domain of the real valued function f(x)=log(x2−1)+xCoth−1x is (A) R (B) (−1,1) (C) R−[−1,1] (D) R−[0,1]
›Reveal solutionSolution
Both pieces of f demand ∣x∣>1, so the domain is all reals except the closed interval [−1,1].
Concept and Intuition
A sum/product function's domain is the intersection of the domains of its pieces. Here we have a logarithm term and an inverse hyperbolic cotangent term multiplying x; both must individually be defined.
Step-by-Step Solution
- log(x2−1) requires its argument to be strictly positive: x2−1>0⇒x2>1⇒x>1 or x<−1.
- Coth−1(x), the inverse of coth, has range restricted since coth(y) for real y=0 takes all values with ∣coth(y)∣>1. So Coth−1(x) is only real-valued for ∣x∣>1, i.e. x>1 or x<−1.
- Multiplying by x (which is defined for all real x) doesn't add any further restriction.
- Intersecting both conditions: x>1 or x<−1 in both cases — the domains coincide exactly. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-24-FN1 markMCQQ.The domain of the function f(x)=loge(x2−4x+41)+Sin−1(x2−2) is (A) [1,3] (B) [1,3) (C) [1,3] (D) [1,3)
›Reveal solutionSolution
The domain is the intersection of the constraints from the log-square-root term (giving x∈[1,3]) and the arcsine term (giving x∈[−3,−1]∪[1,3]), which works out to the closed interval [1,3].
Concept and Intuition
Whenever a function is a sum of two pieces, its domain is the intersection of each piece's individual domain — both must be simultaneously defined. Here one piece needs a square root's argument to be non-negative (which itself requires a logarithm to be non-negative, i.e. its argument ≥1), and the other piece needs an arcsine's argument to lie in [−1,1].
Step-by-Step Solution
- First term: loge(x2−4x+41). Note x2−4x+4=(x−2)2≥0, equal to 0 only at x=2 (so x=2 is required just for the fraction to exist). For the square root to be real, we need loge((x−2)21)≥0, i.e. (x−2)21≥1 (since logeu≥0⇔u≥1 for u>0). This gives (x−2)2≤1, i.e. −1≤x−2≤1, i.e. x∈[1,3] (and this automatically excludes the problem point x=2 from being undefined, since (x−2)2≤1 still permits x=2 where the fraction blows up — but that single point is excluded separately since the fraction itself is undefined there; it doesn't affect the final interval once intersected with the next constraint since 2∈/[1,3] anyway).
- Second term: Sin−1(x2−2) requires −1≤x2−2≤1, i.e. 1≤x2≤3. Since x2≥1⇔x≤−1 or x≥1, and x2≤3⇔−3≤x≤3, combining gives x∈[−3,−1]∪[1,3]. …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-26-FN1 markMCQQ.The domain of the real valued function f(x)=4−x23+log10(x3−x) is (A) (1,2)∪(2,∞) (B) (−1,0)∪(1,2) (C) (−1,0)∪(1,2)∪(2,∞) (D) (−∞,−1)∪(1,2)∪(2,∞)
›Reveal solutionSolution
The domain needs x=±2 (denominator non-zero) and x3−x>0 (log argument positive); combining gives (−1,0)∪(1,2)∪(2,∞).
Concept and Intuition
For f(x)=4−x23+log10(x3−x) to be real-valued, every term must individually be defined: the rational term needs a non-zero denominator, and the logarithm needs a strictly positive argument. The domain of f is the intersection of the domains required by each term.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Denominator condition: 4−x2=0⇒x2=4⇒x=2 and x=−2.
- Logarithm condition: need x3−x>0, i.e. x(x−1)(x+1)>0. The roots are x=−1,0,1, dividing the real line into four intervals; testing a point in each:
- x<−1 (e.g. x=−2): (−2)(−3)(−1)=−6<0.
- −1<x<0 (e.g. x=−0.5): (−0.5)(−1.5)(0.5)=0.375>0.
- 0<x<1 (e.g. x=0.5): (0.5)(−0.5)(1.5)=−0.375<0.
- x>1 (e.g. x=2): (2)(1)(3)=6>0. So x3−x>0 exactly on (−1,0)∪(1,∞). …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-19-AN1 markMCQQ.The domain of the real valued function f(x)=log0.5(2x−3)1+4−9x2 is (A) [32,23) (B) Null Set (C) [32,2) (D) [−32,32]
›Reveal solutionSolution
The two terms of f(x) impose disjoint requirements on x (23<x<2 vs −32≤x≤32), so no x satisfies both — the domain is empty, option (B).
Concept and Intuition
For a sum of two functions to be defined, both pieces must individually be defined at x — the domain of the sum is the intersection of the individual domains. Here:
- log0.5(2x−3)1 requires the expression under the square root, log0.5(2x−3), to be strictly positive (it can't be zero, since it's in a denominator, and can't be negative, since it's under a real square root).
- 4−9x2 requires 4−9x2≥0.
For a log with base b<1 (here b=0.5), logb(t) is a decreasing function of t, and logb(1)=0. So logb(t)>0⟺t<1 (combined with the log's own domain requirement t>0), giving 0<t<1.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Log argument domain + positivity: need log0.5(2x−3)>0. Since base <1: this holds iff 0<2x−3<1. 0<2x−3⇒x>23; and 2x−3<1⇒x<2. So first term needs x∈(23,2).
- Square-root domain: need 4−9x2≥0⇒9x2≤4⇒x2≤94⇒x∈[−32,32]. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-21-FN1 markMCQQ.The domain of the real valued function f(x)=log2log3log5(x2−5x+11) is (A) (2,∞) (B) (−∞,3) (C) (2,3) (D) (−∞,2)∪(3,∞)
›Reveal solutionSolution
A triple-nested logarithm requires working from the innermost expression outward, each time ensuring the argument of the next-outer log is strictly positive; here this reduces to x2−5x+11>5, giving domain (−∞,2)∪(3,∞).
Concept and Intuition
For logb(u) to be a real number we need u>0 (and b>0,b=1, which is already satisfied for bases 2, 3, 5). When logs are nested, log2(log3(log5(g))), we must ensure positivity at every level, working from the inside out:
- log5(g) needs g>0.
- log3(log5(g)) needs log5(g)>0, i.e. g>50=1.
- log2(log3(log5(g))) needs log3(log5(g))>0, i.e. log5(g)>30=1, i.e. g>51=5.
So the binding constraint is always the outermost one once you propagate it inward — here it collapses to a single simple quadratic inequality.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Let g(x)=x2−5x+11. Its discriminant is (−5)2−4(1)(11)=25−44=−19<0, and the leading coefficient is positive, so g(x)>0 for all real x — this level imposes no restriction.
- For log3(log5(g)) to be defined we need log5(g)>0⇔g>1.
- For log2(log3(log5(g))) to be defined we need log3(log5(g))>0⇔log5(g)>1⇔g>5. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-22-FN1 markMCQQ.The domain of the real valued function f(x)=9−x2−144, is (A) [−15,−12]∪[12,15] (B) (−∞,−12]∪[12,∞) (C) [−15,15] (D) [−12,12]
›Reveal solutionSolution
The domain requires the inner square root to exist AND the outer square root's argument to be non-negative. Answer: [−15,−12]∪[12,15].
Concept and Intuition
For f(x)=9−x2−144 to be real we need two nested conditions: the inner radical x2−144 must be defined, and once it is, the quantity 9−x2−144 must be ≥0 for the outer radical to be defined.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Inner radical needs x2−144≥0⇒∣x∣≥12.
- Outer radical needs 9−x2−144≥0⇒x2−144≤9⇒x2−144≤81⇒x2≤225⇒∣x∣≤15. …
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