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📐 Mathematics  ·  Inverse Trigonometric Functions  ·  JEE

If cos-1 x + cos-1 y + cos-1 z = 3pi (the maximum possible sum), what must be true of x, y, z?

Answer: x = y = z = -1.

  • A x = y = z = 0
  • B x = y = z = 1
  • C x = y = z = -1
  • D x + y + z = 0

Correct answer: C. x = y = z = -1

Explanation: Since each cos-1 term has a maximum value of pi (attained only when the argument is -1), the sum equals 3pi only when x=y=z=-1.

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.

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