How do you find Tan^-1(-1) without a calculator?

The answer is ##-pi/4##

Alright, archtan / ##tan^-1(x)## is the inverse of tangent. Tan is ##sin/cos##. Like the inverse of sin, the inverse of tan is also restricted to quadrants 1 and 4.

Knowing this we are solving for the inverse of tan -1. We are basically being asked the question what angle/radian does tan(-1) equal. Using the unit circle we can see that tan(1)= pi/4.

Since the "Odds and Evens Identity" states that tan(-x) = -tan(x). Tan(-1)= -pi/4.

Knowing that tan is negative in quadrants 2 and 4. the answer is in either of those two quadrants. BUT!!! since inverse of tan is restricted to quadrants 1 and 4 we are left with the only answer -pi/4.

I am a college student taking Trig. please add any thing that could be wrong or added to benefit the answer. Hope this helped! :)