Does this make sense: When simplifying the expression $\sin(\arctan(x))$, you aren't considering the values of $x$ directly but rather you're considering the values of the angle whose tangent is $x$, given by $\arctan(x)$. The function $\arctan(x)$ ranges from $-\pi/2$ to $\pi/2$, which are all in the first and fourth quadrants where $\sin$ is nonnegative. Thus, the negative values of $x$ are effectively considered, but they result in nonnegative $\sin$ values because of the range of $
\arctan(x)$.