What is the inverse cosine of 1?

1 Answer
Aug 27, 2015

The inverse cosine of 1 is 0 (or any integer multiple of #2pi#)

Explanation:

Inverse cosine = arccos = cos^(-1)

If #arccos(1) = theta#
then #cos(theta)=1color(white)("XXXX")#by definition.

If #cos(theta)=1#
then based on the unit circle definitions of trigonometric functions:
#color(white)("XXX")"adjacent side"/"hypotenuse" = 1#

i.e.#color(white)("XX")"adjacent side" = "hypotenuse"#

The only location where this is true is when #theta=0# (or some multiple of full rotations that places the hypotenuse back on the positive X-axis).