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Exercise 4.4 · Q1

Q.Find the principal value of

(i) sec⁡−1(23)\sec^{-1}\left(\dfrac2{\sqrt3}\right)
(ii) cot⁡−1(3)\cot^{-1}\left(\sqrt3\right)
(iii) cosec−1(−2)\text{cosec}^{-1}\left(-\sqrt2\right).
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Each part asks for the unique angle in the correct principal range ([0,π]∖{π/2}[0,\pi]\setminus\{\pi/2\} for sec⁡−1\sec^{-1}, (0,π)(0,\pi) for cot⁡−1\cot^{-1}, [−π2,π2]∖{0}\left[-\tfrac{\pi}2,\tfrac{\pi}2\right]\setminus\{0\} for cosec−1\text{cosec}^{-1}) whose secant/cotangent/cosecant equals the given value.

Step 1. (i) Set up sec⁡−1(23)\sec^{-1}\left(\dfrac2{\sqrt3}\right). Let y=sec⁡−1(23)y=\sec^{-1}\left(\dfrac2{\sqrt3}\right), so sec⁡y=23⇒cos⁡y=32\sec y=\dfrac2{\sqrt3}\Rightarrow\cos y=\dfrac{\sqrt3}2, with y∈[0,π]∖{π2}y\in[0,\pi]\setminus\left\{\dfrac{\pi}2\right\}.

Step 2. (i) Solve. cos⁡π6=32\cos\dfrac{\pi}6=\dfrac{\sqrt3}2 and π6∈[0,π]∖{π2}\dfrac{\pi}6\in[0,\pi]\setminus\left\{\dfrac{\pi}2\right\}, so y=π6y=\dfrac{\pi}6.

Step 3. (ii) Set up cot⁡−1(3)\cot^{-1}\left(\sqrt3\right). Let y=cot⁡−1(3)y=\cot^{-1}\left(\sqrt3\right), so cot⁡y=3⇒tan⁡y=13\cot y=\sqrt3\Rightarrow\tan y=\dfrac1{\sqrt3}, with y∈(0,π)y\in(0,\pi).

Step 4. (ii) Solve. tan⁡π6=13\tan\dfrac{\pi}6=\dfrac1{\sqrt3} and π6∈(0,π)\dfrac{\pi}6\in(0,\pi), so y=π6y=\dfrac{\pi}6.

Step 5. (iii) Set up cosec−1(−2)\text{cosec}^{-1}\left(-\sqrt2\right). Let y=cosec−1(−2)y=\text{cosec}^{-1}\left(-\sqrt2\right), so cosec y=−2⇒sin⁡y=−12\text{cosec}\,y=-\sqrt2\Rightarrow\sin y=-\dfrac1{\sqrt2}, with y∈[−π2,π2]∖{0}y\in\left[-\dfrac{\pi}2,\dfrac{\pi}2\right]\setminus\{0\}.

Step 6. (iii) Solve. sin⁡(−π4)=−12\sin\left(-\dfrac{\pi}4\right)=-\dfrac1{\sqrt2} and −π4-\dfrac{\pi}4 lies in the required range, so y=−π4y=-\dfrac{\pi}4.

✓Final answer

(i) π6\dfrac{\pi}6. (ii) π6\dfrac{\pi}6. (iii) −π4-\dfrac{\pi}4.

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