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Inverse Trigonometric Functions practice questions — A-Level Maths

11 free multiple-choice problems on inverse trigonometric functions, ordered to match A-Level Maths difficulty, each with a full worked solution. No account needed — and there's a fresh problem set every day.

Problems & worked solutions

Problem #0320 International

Problem 1Inverse Trigonometric Functions

For every x[1,1]x \in [-1, 1], the value of arcsinx+arccosx\arcsin x + \arccos x is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 00
  2. B. π4\dfrac{\pi}{4}
  3. C. π2\dfrac{\pi}{2}✓ correct
  4. D. π\pi

For any x[1,1]x \in [-1, 1], arcsinx+arccosx=π2\arcsin x + \arccos x = \dfrac{\pi}{2} (a standard identity, since arccosx=π2arcsinx\arccos x = \dfrac{\pi}{2} - \arcsin x).

Problem #0319 International

Problem 2Inverse Trigonometric Functions

The value of tan ⁣(arccos23)\tan\!\left(\arccos\dfrac{2}{3}\right) is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 53\dfrac{\sqrt{5}}{3}
  2. B. 25\dfrac{2}{\sqrt{5}}
  3. C. 52\dfrac{\sqrt{5}}{2}✓ correct
  4. D. 5\sqrt{5}

sin2θ=149=59\sin^2\theta = 1 - \dfrac{4}{9} = \dfrac{5}{9}, so sinθ=53\sin\theta = \dfrac{\sqrt{5}}{3}. Hence tanθ=sinθcosθ=5/32/3=52\tan\theta = \dfrac{\sin\theta}{\cos\theta} = \dfrac{\sqrt{5}/3}{2/3} = \dfrac{\sqrt{5}}{2}.

Problem #0315 International

Problem 3Inverse Trigonometric Functions

The value of cos ⁣(arcsin35)\cos\!\left(\arcsin\dfrac{3}{5}\right) is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 35\dfrac{3}{5}
  2. B. 45-\dfrac{4}{5}
  3. C. 45\dfrac{4}{5}✓ correct
  4. D. 53\dfrac{5}{3}

cos2θ=1sin2θ=1925=1625\cos^2\theta = 1 - \sin^2\theta = 1 - \dfrac{9}{25} = \dfrac{16}{25}, and cosθ0\cos\theta \ge 0, so cosθ=45\cos\theta = \dfrac{4}{5}.

Problem #0317 International

Problem 4Inverse Trigonometric Functions

The value of arccos ⁣(cos2π3)\arccos\!\left(\cos\dfrac{2\pi}{3}\right) is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 2π3-\dfrac{2\pi}{3}
  2. B. π3\dfrac{\pi}{3}
  3. C. 2π3\dfrac{2\pi}{3}✓ correct
  4. D. 4π3\dfrac{4\pi}{3}

2π3[0,π]\dfrac{2\pi}{3} \in [0, \pi], so arccos ⁣(cos2π3)=2π3\arccos\!\left(\cos\dfrac{2\pi}{3}\right) = \dfrac{2\pi}{3}.

Problem #0316 International

Problem 5Inverse Trigonometric Functions

The value of arctan3\arctan\sqrt{3} is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. π6\dfrac{\pi}{6}
  2. B. π4\dfrac{\pi}{4}
  3. C. π3\dfrac{\pi}{3}✓ correct
  4. D. π2\dfrac{\pi}{2}

tanπ3=3\tan\dfrac{\pi}{3} = \sqrt{3}, and π3 ⁣(π2,π2)\dfrac{\pi}{3} \in \!\left(-\dfrac{\pi}{2}, \dfrac{\pi}{2}\right), so arctan3=π3\arctan\sqrt{3} = \dfrac{\pi}{3}.

Problem #0318 International

Problem 6Inverse Trigonometric Functions

The value of arcsin ⁣(sin7π6)\arcsin\!\left(\sin\dfrac{7\pi}{6}\right) is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. π6-\dfrac{\pi}{6}✓ correct
  2. B. π6\dfrac{\pi}{6}
  3. C. 5π6\dfrac{5\pi}{6}
  4. D. 7π6\dfrac{7\pi}{6}

sin7π6=12\sin\dfrac{7\pi}{6} = -\dfrac{1}{2}. Then arcsin ⁣(12)=π6\arcsin\!\left(-\dfrac{1}{2}\right) = -\dfrac{\pi}{6} (in the principal range).

Problem #0312 International

Problem 7Inverse Trigonometric Functions

The value of arccos0\arccos 0 is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. 00
  2. B. π4\dfrac{\pi}{4}
  3. C. π2\dfrac{\pi}{2}✓ correct
  4. D. π\pi

cosπ2=0\cos\dfrac{\pi}{2} = 0, so arccos0=π2\arccos 0 = \dfrac{\pi}{2}.

Problem #0313 International

Problem 8Inverse Trigonometric Functions

The value of arctan1\arctan 1 is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. π6\dfrac{\pi}{6}
  2. B. π4\dfrac{\pi}{4}✓ correct
  3. C. π3\dfrac{\pi}{3}
  4. D. π2\dfrac{\pi}{2}

tanπ4=1\tan\dfrac{\pi}{4} = 1, so arctan1=π4\arctan 1 = \dfrac{\pi}{4}.

Problem #0311 International

Problem 9Inverse Trigonometric Functions

The value of arcsin12\arcsin\dfrac{1}{2} is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. π4\dfrac{\pi}{4}
  2. B. π6\dfrac{\pi}{6}✓ correct
  3. C. π3\dfrac{\pi}{3}
  4. D. π2\dfrac{\pi}{2}

sinπ6=12\sin\dfrac{\pi}{6} = \dfrac{1}{2}, and π6\dfrac{\pi}{6} is in the principal range, so arcsin12=π6\arcsin\dfrac{1}{2} = \dfrac{\pi}{6}.

Problem #0773 IB AA

Problem 10Inverse Trigonometric Functions

The exact value of arccos ⁣(12)\arccos\!\left(\dfrac{1}{2}\right) (in radians) is:

Show answer & worked solution
  1. A. π6\dfrac{\pi}{6}
  2. B. π3\dfrac{\pi}{3}✓ correct
  3. C. π4\dfrac{\pi}{4}
  4. D. 2π3\dfrac{2\pi}{3}

We need θ[0,π]\theta \in [0, \pi] with cosθ=12\cos\theta = \tfrac{1}{2}.

From the unit circle, cos ⁣(π3)=12\cos\!\left(\tfrac{\pi}{3}\right) = \tfrac{1}{2}.

π3\tfrac{\pi}{3} lies in [0,π][0,\pi], so arccos ⁣(12)=π3\arccos\!\left(\tfrac{1}{2}\right) = \dfrac{\pi}{3}.

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