Concept understanding — Composite and Sum/Difference Identities of Inverse Trigonometric Functions
These are the working-formula properties (Properties VI–X) for combining or composing inverse trig functions, together with the reference-triangle technique for a raw composite like tan(sin−1x).
Composing a trig function with an unrelated inverse trig function (reference triangle). To evaluate f(g−1(x)) where f=g (e.g. cot(sin−1x)), let θ=g−1(x), build a right triangle encoding θ from the definition of g−1 (e.g. sinθ=x gives opposite =x, hypotenuse =1, so adjacent =1−x2 by Pythagoras — taking the adjacent side non-negative since θ∈[−2π,2π] keeps cosine ≥0 there), then read f(θ) straight off the triangle. This proves, e.g., tan(sin−1x)=1−x2x, −1<x<1.
Property VI (addition/subtraction formulas).
sin−1x+sin−1y=sin−1(x1−y2+y1−x2),if x2+y2≤1 or xy<0
with analogous subtraction forms for sine and cosine. Extending the tangent addition formula to three terms gives tan−1x+tan−1y+tan−1z=tan−1[1−xy−yz−zxx+y+z−xyz]; setting the left side equal to π and taking the tangent of both sides (which is 0) proves the classical identity x+y+z=xyz whenever tan−1x+tan−1y+tan−1z=π.
Property VII (double-angle-style formulas, from setting y=x in Property VI).
Property VIII.sin−1(2x1−x2)=2sin−1x for ∣x∣≤21, and sin−1(2x1−x2)=2cos−1x for 21≤x≤1 (the SAME left side splits into two different right sides depending on which half of [−1,1], i.e. which principal-range piece, x falls in).
Property IX (mixed cofunction-and-Pythagorean substitutions). For 0≤x≤1: sin−1x=cos−11−x2 and cos−1x=sin−11−x2; for −1≤x<0 both pick up a sign/−π correction; and for x>0, tan−1x=sin−11+x2x=cos−11+x21.
both proved the same way: set x=sinθ (resp. cosθ) and substitute into the ordinary triple-angle trig identity.
Tip
The domain conditions attached to Properties VI–X are not decoration — they are exactly what keeps the sum of two principal-range angles from spilling OUTSIDE the target function's own principal range (which would otherwise force an extra ±π correction). Always check the condition before trusting the formula's plain output; e.g. proving tan−1x+tan−1y+tan−1z=π⇒x+y+z=xyz works by equating tangents (valid unconditionally, since tanπ=0 regardless of branch), which is why that particular proof needs no domain restriction even though the addition formula it is built from does.
Work from the innermost inverse-trig term outward, converting to reference-triangle ratios or using the complementary-angle identity where a pair of terms sums to 2π.
✓Final answer
6π.
0.
617.
Part (i) evaluates from the inside out; part (ii) spots that sin−153+sin−154=2π via the 3–4–5 triangle; part (iii) uses the tangent addition formula on two reference-triangle angles.
Step 1. (i) Evaluate the innermost term.sin−123=3π.
Step 2. (i) Evaluate the cosine.cos3π=21.
Step 3. (i) Apply the outer sin−1.sin−1(21)=6π.
Step 4. (ii) Let A=sin−153 and B=sin−154. Reference triangles: sinA=53,cosA=54; sinB=54,cosB=53 (both positive since A,B∈[0,2π]).
Step 5. (ii) Compute sin(A+B).sinAcosB+cosAsinB=53⋅53+54⋅54=259+2516=1.
Step 6. (ii) Conclude A+B. Since A,B∈[0,2π], A+B∈[0,π], and sin(A+B)=1⇒A+B=2π.
Step 7. (ii) Evaluate.cot(A+B)=cot2π=0.
Step 8. (iii) Let C=sin−153 and D=cot−123. Reference triangles: sinC=53,cosC=54⇒tanC=43; cotD=23⇒tanD=32.