Concept understanding — Inverse of Other Trigonometric Functions (Cosecant, Secant, Cotangent)
The three reciprocal trigonometric functions are inverted the same way — restrict to an interval where they are one-to-one, then define the inverse on that restricted range.
Inverse cosecant.cosecx=sinx1 has domain R∖{nπ} and range (−∞,−1]∪[1,∞) (it never takes a value strictly between −1 and 1). Restricting to [−2π,0)∪(0,2π] makes it a bijection onto that range, so cosec−1:(−∞,−1]∪[1,∞)→[−2π,0)∪(0,2π] is defined by cosec−1x=y⟺cosecy=x, y in that restricted set. Its domain is compactly written R∖(−1,1) and its range [−2π,2π]∖{0}.
Inverse secant.secx=cosx1 has domain R∖{(2n+1)2π} and the same range R∖(−1,1). Restricting to [0,π]∖{2π} makes it a bijection onto that range, so sec−1:R∖(−1,1)→[0,π]∖{2π} is defined by sec−1x=y⟺secy=x, y∈[0,π]∖{2π}.
Inverse cotangent.cotx=tanx1 has domain R∖{nπ} and range R. Restricting to (0,π) makes it a bijection onto R, so cot−1:R→(0,π) is defined by cot−1x=y⟺coty=x, y∈(0,π). Unlike the other five, cot−1x is defined for every real number with no gap.
Tip
A quick way to graph secx or cosecx: first sketch cosx (or sinx), draw dashed vertical asymptotes through its x-intercepts, then take the reciprocal of the height at each point — a value near 0 becomes a huge value, a value near ±1 stays near ±1.
Evaluating a principal value that isn't a "nice" angle (Examples 4.12–4.15’s technique): to find cosec−1, sec−1, or cot−1 of a fraction, first convert to the equivalent sine/cosine/tangent equation — e.g. sec−1(−2)=y⇒secy=−2⇒cosy=−21 — then solve for y inside the correct restricted range. When only a ratio like cotθ=71 is given (not a standard angle), draw a right triangle with the given ratio as two of its sides, find the third side by Pythagoras, and read off whichever trig ratio the question asks for — e.g. cot−1(71)=θ gives a triangle with opposite 1, adjacent 7, hypotenuse 52, so cosθ=521.
Convert each to the matching cosine/sine/tangent value and find the unique principal-range angle.
✓Final answer
6π.
6π.
−4π.
Each part asks for the unique angle in the correct principal range ([0,π]∖{π/2} for sec−1, (0,π) for cot−1, [−2π,2π]∖{0} for cosec−1) whose secant/cotangent/cosecant equals the given value.
Step 1. (i) Set up sec−1(32). Let y=sec−1(32), so secy=32⇒cosy=23, with y∈[0,π]∖{2π}.
Step 2. (i) Solve.cos6π=23 and 6π∈[0,π]∖{2π}, so y=6π.
Step 3. (ii) Set up cot−1(3). Let y=cot−1(3), so coty=3⇒tany=31, with y∈(0,π).
Step 4. (ii) Solve.tan6π=31 and 6π∈(0,π), so y=6π.
Step 5. (iii) Set up cosec−1(−2). Let y=cosec−1(−2), so cosecy=−2⇒siny=−21, with y∈[−2π,2π]∖{0}.
Step 6. (iii) Solve.sin(−4π)=−21 and −4π lies in the required range, so y=−4π.
✓Final answer
(i) 6π. (ii) 6π. (iii) −4π.
Principal value via the reciprocal trig ratio, checked against each function's own range
Using the sine/cosine range [0,π] or [−π/2,π/2] carelessly instead of the specific range for sec−1/cot−1/cosec−1
Forgetting that sec−1 excludes π/2 and cosec−1 excludes 0 from their ranges