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). …
applies tan−1a+tan−1b=tan−11−aba+b directly since ab<1;
rewrites both terms as reference-triangle angles and applies the sine-difference formula, checking that the result stays in [−2π,2π].
Step 1. (i) Compute a+b and ab for a=112,b=247.a+b=11⋅242⋅24+7⋅11=26448+77=264125. ab=26414=1327.
Step 2. (i) Check the validity condition.ab=1327<1, so the direct sum formula applies (no π adjustment needed), and both a,b>0 so the sum is a positive acute angle.
Step 3. (i) Apply the formula.1−aba+b=1−7/132125/264=125/132125/264=264125⋅125132=264132=21.
Step 4. (i) Conclude.tan−1112+tan−1247=tan−121, exactly as required.
Step 5. (ii) Name the angles. Let A=sin−153: sinA=53,cosA=54 (positive). Let B=cos−11312: cosB=1312,sinB=135 (positive, since cosB>0⇒B∈[0,2π]). …