Question:
Find the principal value of $\operatorname{cosec}^{-1}(-\sqrt{2})$
Solution:
Let $\operatorname{cosec}^{-1}(-\sqrt{2})=y$. Then, $\operatorname{cosec} y=-\sqrt{2}=-\operatorname{cosec}\left(\frac{\pi}{4}\right)=\operatorname{cosec}\left(-\frac{\pi}{4}\right)$.
We know that the range of the principal value branch of $\operatorname{cosec}^{-1}$ is $\left[-\frac{\pi}{2}, \frac{\pi}{2}\right]-\{0\}$ and $\operatorname{cosec}\left(-\frac{\pi}{4}\right)=-\sqrt{2}$.
Therefore, the principal value of $\operatorname{cosec}^{-1}(-\sqrt{2})$ is $-\frac{\pi}{4}$.