Zaymiey

📐 Mathematics  ·  Inverse Trigonometric Functions  ·  JEE

Find the principal value of cosec-1(-1).

Answer: -pi/2.

  • A pi/2
  • B -pi/2
  • C pi
  • D 0

Correct answer: B. -pi/2

Explanation: cosec(-pi/2) = -1, and -pi/2 lies in the principal range [-pi/2,pi/2] excluding 0, so cosec-1(-1) = -pi/2.

y = sin⁻¹x: Principal Value Branchxyx=-1x=1y=-π/2y=π/2Domain restricted to [-1,1]; range restricted to [-π/2,π/2] - this restriction is what makes the inverse exist

The graph of sin⁻¹x is confined to a narrow domain [-1,1] (since sine itself only takes values in that range) and range [-π/2,π/2] (the principal value branch chosen to make sine one-one and invertible there).

Concept context

Restricting trig functions to make them invertible, the principal value branches of sin-inverse, cos-inverse, tan-inverse, and friends, and the key identities relating them.

Read the full Inverse Trigonometric Functions notes →