08/02/2016 ALEKS: Kwadwo Amankwa

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Inverse Tangent Function

Noun phrase. The arc tangent or inverse tangent function, denoted by arctan or tan − 1 ,
is defined as follows:

y = arctan x       (or   y = tan − 1 x)

if and only if

π π
tan y = x,       where       − < y <        and       − ∞ < x < ∞ .
2 2

π π
In other words, y is the angle whose tangent is x, where − <y< and − ∞ < x < ∞.
2 2

The inverse tangent function is the inverse of f x = tan x when the domain of tangent
π π
is restricted to the interval − ,  .
2 2
For a function to have an inverse, it must be one-to-one. That is, its graph must pass
the horizontal line test. Obviously, the graph of tangent does not pass the test (see
Figure 1).

In particular,

π
tan =1
4

5π
tan =1
4

3π
tan − = 1, etc.
4
However, if we restrict the domain
of tangent to the interval
π π Figure 1. y = tan x
− ,  , then the graph passes
2 2
the horizontal line test (see Figure 2). Hence, on the restricted domain, the function
−1
tangent has a unique inverse, namely, f x = arctan x (or tan − 1 x).
Example:

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08/02/2016 ALEKS: Kwadwo Amankwa

π π π π
The arctan , becauseof 1 is is the only angle in the interval − ,  whose
4 4 2 2
tangent is equal to 1.

The graph of the inverse of a function is the reflection of the graph of the function about
the line y = x. In other words, for every point with coordinates a,  b on the restricted
graph of y = tan x, the point with coordinates b,  a lies on the graph of y = arctan x
(see Figure 3).

y y

π
π 2
, 1
4
π
1, 
4
x x
π π
−
2 2 π
− 1,  −
4
π
− ,  − 1
4

π
−
2

Figure 2. y = tan x Figure 3. y = arctan x

π π
Graph of tangent restricted to − ,  Graph of arctangent
2 2

−1
The following cancellation properties hold true for any pair of inverse functions f,f :

−1 −1
f f x = x       for all x in the domain of f
−1
f f y = y       for all y in the domain of f.
Accordingly, the tangent and arctangent functions satisfy the identities

tan arctan x = x       for all x such that − ∞ < x < ∞

π π
arctan tan y = y       for all y such that − <y< .
2 2

Note that, while the first of these identities is true for all real numbers x, the second is
π π
true only for − <y< .
2 2
Examples:

tan arctan 0.4 = 0.4,

since 0.4 is in the interval − ∞ ,  ∞ .

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08/02/2016 ALEKS: Kwadwo Amankwa

Also, tan arctan − 51 = − 51,

since − 51 is in the interval − ∞ ,  ∞ .

π π
Similarly, arctan tan = ,
3 3

π π π
since is in the interval − ,  .
3 2 2

2π 2π
However, arctan tan ≠ ,
3 3

2π π π
since is not in the interval − ,  . Rather,
3 2 2

2π π
arctan tan = arctan − 3 = − .
3 3

See also:

Trigonometric Ratios, Trigonometric Functions

Inverse Sine Function
Inverse Cosine Function

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