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Exercise 4.2 · Q2

Q.State the reason for cos⁡−1[cos⁡(−π6)]≠−π6\cos^{-1}\left[\cos\left(-\dfrac{\pi}6\right)\right] \ne -\dfrac{\pi}6.

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✓ Free question

The identity cos⁡−1(cos⁡θ)=θ\cos^{-1}(\cos\theta)=\theta is only guaranteed for θ\theta in the principal domain [0,π][0,\pi] of cosine; −π6-\dfrac{\pi}6 lies outside it, so the shortcut cannot be used, and evenness of cosine forces the answer to come out positive.

Step 1. State the exact condition for the identity. cos⁡−1(cos⁡θ)=θ\cos^{-1}(\cos\theta)=\theta holds precisely when θ∈[0,π]\theta\in[0,\pi] (Property II(ii)).

Step 2. Check whether θ=−π6\theta=-\dfrac{\pi}6 satisfies this. −π6∉[0,π]-\dfrac{\pi}6\notin[0,\pi] (it is negative), so the identity does not apply as stated.

Step 3. Compute the correct value instead. Since cosine is even, cos⁡(−π6)=cos⁡π6\cos\left(-\dfrac{\pi}6\right)=\cos\dfrac{\pi}6. Now π6∈[0,π]\dfrac{\pi}6\in[0,\pi], so cos⁡−1(cos⁡π6)=π6\cos^{-1}\left(\cos\dfrac{\pi}6\right)=\dfrac{\pi}6 by the identity.

Step 4. Conclude. cos⁡−1[cos⁡(−π6)]=π6≠−π6\cos^{-1}\left[\cos\left(-\dfrac{\pi}6\right)\right]=\dfrac{\pi}6\ne-\dfrac{\pi}6 — the reason is exactly that −π6-\dfrac{\pi}6 falls outside the principal domain [0,π][0,\pi] where the cancellation identity is valid.

✓Final answer

Since −π6∉[0,π]-\dfrac{\pi}6\notin[0,\pi], the identity cos⁡−1(cos⁡θ)=θ\cos^{-1}(\cos\theta)=\theta does not apply directly; instead cos⁡−1[cos⁡(−π6)]=cos⁡−1(cos⁡π6)=π6≠−π6\cos^{-1}\left[\cos\left(-\dfrac{\pi}6\right)\right]=\cos^{-1}\left(\cos\dfrac{\pi}6\right)=\dfrac{\pi}6\ne-\dfrac{\pi}6.

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