How do you evaluate sin^-1(-sqrt2/2) without a calculator?

1 Answer
Nov 30, 2016

sin^(-1)(-sqrt(2)/2) = -pi/4

Explanation:

This is a known value for sin(x), you should remember that:

sin(pi/4) = sqrt(2)/2

and that:

sin(-x) = -sin(x)

Although many other angles have the same value for sine, namely:

alpha = -pi/4+2kpi
and
alpha = -(3pi)/4 +2kpi

conventionally arcsin(x) is defined in the interval [-pi/2,pi/2]
so you pick the value:

x=-pi/4