Calculus of the Hyperbolic Functions

We were introduced to hyperbolic functions in Introduction to Functions and Graphs, along with some of their basic properties. In this section, we look at differentiation and integration formulas for the hyperbolic functions and their inverses.

Derivatives and Integrals of the Hyperbolic Functions

It is easy to develop differentiation formulas for the hyperbolic functions. For example, looking at

sinh x

We summarize the differentiation formulas for the hyperbolic functions in the following table.

Derivatives of the Hyperbolic Functions
$f (x)$	$\frac{d}{d x} f (x)$
$sinh x$	$cosh x$
$cosh x$	$sinh x$
$tanh x$	${sech}^{2} x$
$coth x$	$− {csch}^{2} x$
$sech x$	$− sech x tanh x$
$csch x$	$− csch x coth x$

Let’s take a moment to compare the derivatives of the hyperbolic functions with the derivatives of the standard trigonometric functions. There are a lot of similarities, but differences as well. For example, the derivatives of the sine functions match:

(d / d x) sin x = cos x

The derivatives of the cosine functions, however, differ in sign:

(d / d x) cos x = − sin x,

As we continue our examination of the hyperbolic functions, we must be mindful of their similarities and differences to the standard trigonometric functions.

These differentiation formulas for the hyperbolic functions lead directly to the following integral formulas.

Calculus of Inverse Hyperbolic Functions

Looking at the graphs of the hyperbolic functions, we see that with appropriate range restrictions, they all have inverses. Most of the necessary range restrictions can be discerned by close examination of the graphs. The domains and ranges of the inverse hyperbolic functions are summarized in the following table.

The graphs of the inverse hyperbolic functions are shown in the following figure.

To find the derivatives of the inverse functions, we use implicit differentiation. We have

We can derive differentiation formulas for the other inverse hyperbolic functions in a similar fashion. These differentiation formulas are summarized in the following table.

Domains and Ranges of the Inverse Hyperbolic Functions
Function	Domain	Range
${sinh}^{−1} x$	$(− \infty, \infty)$	$(− \infty, \infty)$
${cosh}^{−1} x$	$(1, \infty)$	$[0, \infty)$
${tanh}^{−1} x$	$(−1, 1)$	$(− \infty, \infty)$
${coth}^{−1} x$	$(− \infty, −1) \cup (1, \infty)$	$(− \infty, 0) \cup (0, \infty)$
${sech}^{−1} x$	$(0, 1)$	$[0, \infty)$
${csch}^{−1} x$	$(− \infty, 0) \cup (0, \infty)$	$(− \infty, 0) \cup (0, \infty)$

Derivatives of the Inverse Hyperbolic Functions
$f (x)$	$\frac{d}{d x} f (x)$
${sinh}^{−1} x$	$\frac{1}{\sqrt{1 + x^{2}}}$
${cosh}^{−1} x$	$\frac{1}{\sqrt{x^{2} - 1}}$
${tanh}^{−1} x$	$\frac{1}{1 - x^{2}}$
${coth}^{−1} x$	$\frac{1}{1 - x^{2}}$
${sech}^{−1} x$	$\frac{−1}{x \sqrt{1 - x^{2}}}$
${csch}^{−1} x$	$\frac{−1}{\\| x \\| \sqrt{1 + x^{2}}}$

we need to select the proper antiderivative based on the domain of the functions and the values of

x .

Integration formulas involving the inverse hyperbolic functions are summarized as follows.

Applications

One physical application of hyperbolic functions involves hanging cables. If a cable of uniform density is suspended between two supports without any load other than its own weight, the cable forms a curve called a catenary. High-voltage power lines, chains hanging between two posts, and strands of a spider’s web all form catenaries. The following figure shows chains hanging from a row of posts.

Hyperbolic functions can be used to model catenaries. Specifically, functions of the form

y = a cosh (x / a)

Key Concepts

[T] Find expressions for $cosh x + sinh x$

and $cosh x - sinh x .$

Use a calculator to graph these functions and ensure your expression is correct.

e^{x} and e^{− x}

From the definitions of $cosh (x)$

and $sinh (x),$

find their antiderivatives.

Show that $cosh (x)$

and $sinh (x)$

satisfy $y ″ = y .$

Answers may vary

Use the quotient rule to verify that $tanh (x)' = {sech}^{2} (x) .$

Derive ${cosh}^{2} (x) + {sinh}^{2} (x) = cosh (2 x)$

from the definition.

Answers may vary

Take the derivative of the previous expression to find an expression for $sinh (2 x) .$

Prove $sinh (x + y) = sinh (x) cosh (y) + cosh (x) sinh (y)$

by changing the expression to exponentials.

Answers may vary

Take the derivative of the previous expression to find an expression for $cosh (x + y) .$

For the following exercises, find the derivatives of the given functions and graph along with the function to ensure your answer is correct.

[T] $cosh (3 x + 1)$

3 sinh (3 x + 1)

[T] $sinh (x^{2})$

[T] $\frac{1}{cosh (x)}$

− tanh (x) sech (x)

[T] $sinh (ln (x))$

[T] ${cosh}^{2} (x) + {sinh}^{2} (x)$

4 cosh (x) sinh (x)

[T] ${cosh}^{2} (x) - {sinh}^{2} (x)$

[T] $tanh (\sqrt{x^{2} + 1})$

\frac{x {sech}^{2} (\sqrt{x^{2} + 1})}{\sqrt{x^{2} + 1}}

[T] $\frac{1 + tanh (x)}{1 - tanh (x)}$

[T] ${sinh}^{6} (x)$

6 {sinh}^{5} (x) cosh (x)

[T] $ln (sech (x) + tanh (x))$

For the following exercises, find the antiderivatives for the given functions.

cosh (2 x + 1)

\frac{1}{2} sinh (2 x + 1) + C

tanh (3 x + 2)

x cosh (x^{2})

\frac{1}{2} {sinh}^{2} (x^{2}) + C

3 x^{3} tanh (x^{4})

{cosh}^{2} (x) sinh (x)

\frac{1}{3} {cosh}^{3} (x) + C

{tanh}^{2} (x) {sech}^{2} (x)

\frac{sinh (x)}{1 + cosh (x)}

ln (1 + cosh (x)) + C

coth (x)

cosh (x) + sinh (x)

cosh (x) + sinh (x) + C

{(cosh (x) + sinh (x))}^{n}

For the following exercises, find the derivatives for the functions.

{tanh}^{−1} (4 x)

\frac{4}{1 - 16 x^{2}}

{sinh}^{−1} (x^{2})

{sinh}^{−1} (cosh (x))

\frac{sinh (x)}{\sqrt{{cosh}^{2} (x) + 1}}

{cosh}^{−1} (x^{3})

{tanh}^{−1} (cos (x))

− csc (x)

e^{{sinh}^{−1} (x)}

ln ({tanh}^{−1} (x))

- \frac{1}{(x^{2} - 1) {tanh}^{−1} (x)}

For the following exercises, find the antiderivatives for the functions.

\int \frac{d x}{4 - x^{2}}

\int \frac{d x}{a^{2} - x^{2}}

\frac{1}{a} {tanh}^{−1} (\frac{x}{a}) + C

\int \frac{d x}{\sqrt{x^{2} + 1}}

\int \frac{x d x}{\sqrt{x^{2} + 1}}

\sqrt{x^{2} + 1} + C

\int - \frac{d x}{x \sqrt{1 - x^{2}}}

\int \frac{e^{x}}{\sqrt{e^{2 x} - 1}}

{cosh}^{−1} (e^{x}) + C

\int - \frac{2 x}{x^{4} - 1}

For the following exercises, use the fact that a falling body with friction equal to velocity squared obeys the equation $d v / d t = g - v^{2} .$

Show that $v (t) = \sqrt{g} tanh (\sqrt{g t})$

satisfies this equation.

Answers may vary

Derive the previous expression for $v (t)$

by integrating $\frac{d v}{g - v^{2}} = d t .$

[T] Estimate how far a body has fallen in $12$

seconds by finding the area underneath the curve of $v (t) .$

37.30

For the following exercises, use this scenario: A cable hanging under its own weight has a slope $S = d y / d x$

that satisfies $d S / d x = c \sqrt{1 + S^{2}} .$

The constant $c$

is the ratio of cable density to tension.

Show that $S = sinh (c x)$

satisfies this equation.

Integrate $d y / d x = sinh (c x)$

to find the cable height $y (x)$

if $y (0) = 1 / c .$

y = \frac{1}{c} cosh (c x)

Sketch the cable and determine how far down it sags at $x = 0 .$

For the following exercises, solve each problem.

[T] A chain hangs from two posts $2$

m apart to form a catenary described by the equation $y = 2 cosh (x / 2) - 1 .$

Find the slope of the catenary at the left fence post.

−0.521095

[T] A chain hangs from two posts four meters apart to form a catenary described by the equation $y = 4 cosh (x / 4) - 3 .$

Find the total length of the catenary (arc length).

[T] A high-voltage power line is a catenary described by $y = 10 cosh (x / 10) .$

Find the ratio of the area under the catenary to its arc length. What do you notice?

10

A telephone line is a catenary described by $y = a cosh (x / a) .$

Find the ratio of the area under the catenary to its arc length. Does this confirm your answer for the previous question?

Prove the formula for the derivative of $y = {sinh}^{−1} (x)$

by differentiating $x = sinh (y) .$

(Hint: Use hyperbolic trigonometric identities.)

Prove the formula for the derivative of $y = {cosh}^{−1} (x)$

by differentiating $x = cosh (y) .$

(Hint: Use hyperbolic trigonometric identities.)

Prove the formula for the derivative of $y = {sech}^{−1} (x)$

by differentiating $x = sech (y) .$

(Hint: Use hyperbolic trigonometric identities.)

Prove that ${(cosh (x) + sinh (x))}^{n} = cosh (n x) + sinh (n x) .$

Prove the expression for ${sinh}^{−1} (x) .$

Multiply $x = sinh (y) = (1 / 2) (e^{y} - e^{− y})$

by $2 e^{y}$

and solve for $y .$

Does your expression match the textbook?

Prove the expression for ${cosh}^{−1} (x) .$

Multiply $x = cosh (y) = (1 / 2) (e^{y} - e^{− y})$

by $2 e^{y}$

and solve for $y .$

Does your expression match the textbook?

Chapter Review Exercises

For the following exercises, use the requested method to determine the volume of the solid.

For the following exercises, find the surface area and volume when the given curves are revolved around the specified axis.

For the following exercises, consider the Karun-3 dam in Iran. Its shape can be approximated as an isosceles triangle with height

205

in the United States. The table lists the Dow Jones industrial average per year leading up to the crash.

For the following exercises, consider the catenoid, the only solid of revolution that has a minimal surface, or zero mean curvature. A catenoid in nature can be found when stretching soap between two rings.

Years after 1920	Value ($)
$1$	$63.90$
$3$	$100$
$5$	$110$
$7$	$160$
$9$	$381.17$

Calculus of the Hyperbolic Functions

Derivatives and Integrals of the Hyperbolic Functions

Calculus of Inverse Hyperbolic Functions

Applications

Key Concepts

Chapter Review Exercises

Glossary