The question
Identify the function shown in the graph
The given graph, redrawn.
(A) sin−1x
(B) sin−1(2x)
(C) sin−1(2x)
(D) 2sin−1x
For Visually Impaired:
Inverse Trigonometric Function, whose domain is [−31,31], is …
(A) cos−1x
(B) cos−1(3x)
(C) cos−1(3x)
(D) 3cos−1x
Exam answer
From the graph, the domain is [−21,21] and the range is [−2π,2π].
Why?
The domain is the set of x-values the curve covers. It starts on the dashed line x=−21 and stops on the dashed line x=21.
The range is the set of y-values. The curve rises from −2π at its left end to 2π at its right end.
For y=sin−1(2x):
⇒ −1≤2x≤1−21≤x≤21
Why?
sin−1u is defined only when −1≤u≤1. Here the input is u=2x.
Dividing all three parts by 2, a positive number, keeps the signs ≤ the same way.
As 2x runs over all of [−1,1], sin−1(2x) runs over all of [−2π,2π]. So the range matches too.
The others: sin−1x and 2sin−1x have domain [−1,1], and sin−1(2x) has domain [−2,2].
Why?
For sin−1(2x) the input is 2x:
⇒ −1≤2x≤1−2≤x≤2
Watch out: 2sin−1x multiplies the output by 2. Its domain stays [−1,1] and its range becomes [−π,π].
Answer: (B) sin−1(2x)
For Visually Impaired
For y=cos−1(3x):
⇒ −1≤3x≤1−31≤x≤31
Why?
cos−1u is defined only when −1≤u≤1. Put u=3x and divide all three parts by 3.
The others: cos−1x and 3cos−1x have domain [−1,1], and cos−1(3x) has domain [−3,3].
Why?
Changing the input from x to 3x shrinks the domain by the factor 3. Changing it to 3x stretches it by 3:
⇒ −1≤3x≤1−3≤x≤3
Watch out: 3cos−1x multiplies the output by 3, which changes the range, not the domain.
Answer: (C) cos−1(3x)