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📐 Mathematics  ·  Inverse Trigonometric Functions  ·  JEE

Why must the domain of sin x be restricted before defining sin-1 x?

Answer: sin x is periodic and not one-one over all reals, so it has no inverse without restriction.

  • A sin x fails to be continuous at certain rational multiples of pi, breaking the inverse construction
  • B sin x is periodic and not one-one over all reals, so it has no inverse without restriction
  • C sin x has no defined range over the real numbers, so an inverse formula cannot be written
  • D sin x is always positive for every real input value, leaving no negative outputs to invert

Correct answer: B. sin x is periodic and not one-one over all reals, so it has no inverse without restriction

Explanation: Since trig functions repeat periodically, they are not one-one on their full domain; restricting to a principal branch makes them invertible.

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 →