Q.Evaluate: ∫sin2xcos2xsin6x+cos6xdx
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Trigonometric Simplification
You know sin2x+cos2x=1 — but the skill of turning a messy trig expression into that kind of clean form is trigonometric simplification. Because sines, cosines and their relatives are all tied together by identities from the unit circle, a tangled combination can almost always be rewritten as something shorter: a single term, a constant, or an easier combination.
Your core toolkit
Pythagorean: sin2θ+cos2θ=1,1+tan2θ=sec2θ,1+cot2θ=csc2θ
Reciprocal: cscθ=sinθ1, secθ=cosθ1, cotθ=tanθ1
Quotient: tanθ=cosθsinθ,cotθ=sinθcosθ
How the process feels
Simplify 1+cosxsinx+sinx1+cosx. Over a common denominator the numerator is sin2x+(1+cosx)2=sin2x+1+2cosx+cos2x. The Pythagorean identity turns sin2x+cos2x into 1, giving 2+2cosx=2(1+cosx), so
sinx(1+cosx)2(1+cosx)=sinx2=2cscx.
A two-term sum collapses to one term.
Strategies that usually work
- Convert everything to sines and cosines — cancellations then appear.
- Spot Pythagorean pairs and replace them with 1 (or sec2, csc2).
- Factor and cancel as you would with ordinary algebra.
- Multiply by a conjugate — e.g. multiply 1+sinx1 by 1−sinx1−sinx to unlock a Pythagorean identity. …
Concept: Sine Double Angle Integration — rewrite the numerator using the identity a3+b3=(a+b)(a2−ab+b2).
First, note sin6x+cos6x=(sin2x)3+(cos2x)3.
Factor: (sin2x+cos2x)(sin4x−sin2xcos2x+cos4x)=1⋅[(sin2x+cos2x)2−3sin2xcos2x]=1−3sin2xcos2x.
Thus the integrand becomes:
sin2xcos2x1−3sin2xcos2x=sin2xcos2x1−3. …
The key is to simplify the numerator using the identity sin6x+cos6x=1−3sin2xcos2x, which reduces the integrand to sec2x+csc2x−3. The integral then becomes tanx−cotx−3x+C.
This problem looks messy at first — sixth powers of sine and cosine in the numerator, and only sin2xcos2x in the denominator. But there's a beautiful simplification hiding in plain sight.
The core idea: sin6x+cos6x is a sum of cubes. Recall that a3+b3=(a+b)(a2−ab+b2). Here a=sin2x and b=cos2x, so:
sin6x+cos6x=(sin2x)3+(cos2x)3=(sin2x+cos2x)(sin4x−sin2xcos2x+cos4x)
Since sin2x+cos2x=1, we get:
sin6x+cos6x=sin4x−sin2xcos2x+cos4x
Now sin4x+cos4x itself can be simplified. Write it as (sin2x)2+(cos2x)2 and use a2+b2=(a+b)2−2ab:
sin4x+cos4x=(sin2x+cos2x)2−2sin2xcos2x=1−2sin2xcos2x
Substitute this back:
sin6x+cos6x=(1−2sin2xcos2x)−sin2xcos2x=1−3sin2xcos2x
sin6x+cos6x=1−3sin2xcos2x
This is the master key. Now the integrand becomes:
sin2xcos2xsin6x+cos6x=sin2xcos2x1−3sin2xcos2x
Split it into two fractions:
=sin2xcos2x1−3
Now we need to handle sin2xcos2x1. Write it as:
sin2xcos2x1=sin2xcos2xsin2x+cos2x=sin2xcos2xsin2x+sin2xcos2xcos2x=cos2x1+sin2x1
That is:
sin2xcos2x1=sec2x+csc2x
So the entire integrand simplifies beautifully to: …
Method: Collapsing high trig powers with algebraic identities
Use this for integrands like sin2xcos2xsin6x+cos6x, where an algebraic identity reduces the numerator and the fraction splits into standard sec2/csc2 pieces.
Steps
Step 1: Reduce the numerator with a sum-of-powers identity.
sin6x+cos6x=1−3sin2xcos2x,
using a3+b3=(a+b)(a2−ab+b2) with a=sin2x,b=cos2x.
Step 2: Divide by sin2xcos2x.
sin2xcos2x1−3sin2xcos2x=sin2xcos2x1−3. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Not reducing sin6+cos6.
Why it's wrong: expanding sixth powers directly is error-prone; the identity sin6+cos6=1−3sin2cos2 is the clean route. Correct approach: use the sum-of-cubes factorisation.
Mistake 2: Mishandling sin2xcos2x1.
Why it's wrong: it equals sec2x+csc2x (via sin2+cos2=1 on top), not csc2xsec2x left as-is. Correct approach: split using the Pythagorean identity in the numerator. …
Showing the 12 most recent of 74 on this concept.
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04174 marksMCQQ.The value of the product cot10∘cot20∘cot30∘cot45∘cot60∘cot70∘cot80∘ is equal to (A) 3 (B) 33 (C) 3 (D) 33 (E) 1
›Reveal solutionSolution
Each complementary pair multiplies to 1 (since cot(90∘−θ)=tanθ), and cot45∘=1, giving product 1.
Use cot(90∘−θ)=tanθ, so cotθcot(90∘−θ)=cotθtanθ=1. Pairing: …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04174 marksMCQQ.If tanα=21, then the value of tan2(2α)sec2(2α) is equal to (A) 9200 (B) 9400 (C) 81200 (D) 81400 (E) 27200
›Reveal solutionSolution
Find tan2α=34; then tan22αsec22α=916⋅925=81400.
With tanα=21, the double-angle formula gives
tan2α=1−tan2α2tanα=1−412⋅21=3/41=34. …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04174 marksMCQQ.If (3cosx−2secx)2=9cos2x+4tan2x+k , where k is a constant, then the value of k is equal to (A) 12 (B) -12 (C) -4 (D) 8 (E) -8
›Reveal solutionSolution
Expanding and using sec2x=1+tan2x turns the middle term into −12 plus 4+4tan2x, leaving k=−8.
Expand:
(3cosx−2secx)2=9cos2x−2(3cosx)(2secx)+4sec2x=9cos2x−12cosxsecx+4sec2x.
Since cosxsecx=1, the middle term is −12. Using sec2x=1+tan2x, 4sec2x=4+4tan2x. Thus …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04174 marksMCQQ.If α and β are real constants such that α−β=4π , then the value of (sinα+sinβ)2+(cosα+cosβ)2 is equal to (A) 2 (B) 2 (C) 22 (D) 2+2 (E) 2−2
›Reveal solutionSolution
The expression equals 2+2cos(α−β)=2+2cos4π=2+2.
Expand both squares:
(sinα+sinβ)2+(cosα+cosβ)2=(sin2α+cos2α)+(sin2β+cos2β)+2(sinαsinβ+cosαcosβ).
This is
1+1+2cos(α−β)=2+2cos(α−β). …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04184 marksMCQQ.If csct+cott=25, then the value of tant is equal to (A) 2110 (B) 2021 (C) 2120 (D) 1021 (E) 4210
›Reveal solutionSolution
The identity gives csct−cott=52; solving, cott=2021 and tant=2120.
Since (csct+cott)(csct−cott)=csc2t−cot2t=1 and csct+cott=25,
csct−cott=5/21=52.
Subtracting the two equations: …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04184 marksMCQQ.sin15∘sin45∘sin75∘= (A) 42 (B) 22 (C) 82 (D) −82 (E) −42
›Reveal solutionSolution
Pair 15∘ and 75∘: their product is 41; multiply by sin45∘ to get 82.
Since sin75∘=cos15∘,
sin15∘sin75∘=sin15∘cos15∘=21sin30∘=21⋅21=41.
Then …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04184 marksMCQQ.The value of sin(x+47π)+sin(x−47π) is equal to (A) 2sinx (B) −2cosx (C) −2sinx (D) 2cosx (E) −2cosx
›Reveal solutionSolution
Sum-to-product gives 2sinxcos47π=2sinx.
Using sin(A+B)+sin(A−B)=2sinAcosB with A=x, B=47π:
2sinxcos47π. …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04184 marksMCQQ.Let f(x)=22sinx+22cosx, x∈R. Then the value of f(12π) is equal to (A) 3 (B) 23 (C) 23 (D) 2 (E) 22
›Reveal solutionSolution
Write f(x)=4sin(x+4π); at x=12π this is 4sin3π=23.
f(x)=22sinx+22cosx=22⋅2sin(x+4π)=4sin(x+4π).
At x=12π: …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04194 marksMCQQ.The value of sin6ocos36osin66o+cos12osin42osin18o is equal to (A) 121(sin18o+cos36o) (B) 31(sin18o+cos36o) (C) 161(sin18o+cos36o) (D) 41(sin18o+cos36o) (E) 21(sin18o+cos36o)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Evaluate the products; the sum is exactly 41(sin18∘+cos36∘).
Compute each term:
sin6∘cos36∘sin66∘=0.10453×0.80902×0.91355=0.07726.
cos12∘sin42∘sin18∘=0.97815×0.66913×0.30902=0.20226.
Sum =0.27951. …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04194 marksMCQQ.The value of sin(2sin−153) is equal to (A) 2523 (B) 2521 (C) 2522 (D) 2524 (E) 2518
›Reveal solutionSolution
Set θ=sin−153; then sin(2θ)=2sinθcosθ=2524.
Let θ=sin−153, so sinθ=53 and cosθ=1−259=54. …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04204 marksMCQQ.sin(43π+x)+cos(43π+x)−sin(43π−x)−cos(43π−x)= (A) −22sinx (B) 2sinx (C) 22sinx (D) 32sinx (E) −2sinx
›Reveal solutionSolution
Group the sine terms and cosine terms and apply the difference-to-product identities. Each pair evaluates to −2sinx (since cos43π=−21 and sin43π=21), summing to −22sinx.
Group as [sin(43π+x)−sin(43π−x)]+[cos(43π+x)−cos(43π−x)].
Using sinC−sinD=2cos2C+Dsin2C−D:
sin(43π+x)−sin(43π−x)=2cos43πsinx=2(−21)sinx=−2sinx. …
- KEAM 2026Set eng-2026-04204 marksMCQQ.211sin(210x)cos(2x)cos(22x)cos(23x)…cos(210x) is equal to (A) sinx (B) 2sinx (C) −2sinx (D) 4sinx (E) 8sinx
›Reveal solutionSolution
Repeated use of sinθ=2sin(θ/2)cos(θ/2) collapses the cosine product to 210sin(x/210)sinx. The prefactor 211sin(x/210) then leaves 2sinx.
The telescoping identity for a product of cosines is
∏k=1ncos2kx=2nsin(x/2n)sinx.
Here the product runs k=1 to 10:
cos2xcos22x⋯cos210x=210sin(x/210)sinx. …
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