Re: Perhaps this is a dumb question...
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Kenneth Fink wrote:
>
> On 7 Oct 1996 22:31:19 GMT, "Mark A. Roaquin"
> <trickshot@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> >but how come the graph of sin^-1(x) is different from the graph of
> >1/sin(x)? If x=1 and I try to calculate these two functions, they yield
> >different values.
> >
> >Aren't they the same function? They seem equivalent.
> >
> >Mark R.
> >Hunter HS, 11th Grade, NYC
> >TI-83
>
> you're in 11th grade and still don't know trig...ill try to explain
>
> sin^-1(x) is the inverse sin of x, not the reciprocal of sin(x) which
> is csc(x). The sin^-1(x) is saying that sin(x) = y , and taking the
> inverse sin of both sides will give you x.
>
> hope that helps.. if not, keep on learning your math.
This is not really his fault. Sin^-1 isn't , afterall, intuitive.
Sin^-1 is actually a misnomer, as it is really shorthand for arcsin.
1/sin is in fact the cosecant function.
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