What is (\sin^4 x+\cos^4 x) equal to?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: \(1-2\sin^2 x\cos^2 x\)
Using \(a^2+b^2=(a+b)^2-2ab\), take \(a=\sin^2 x\) and \(b=\cos^2 x\). Then \(\sin^4 x+\cos^4 x=(\sin^2 x+\cos^2 x)^2-2\sin^2 x\cos^2 x\). Since \(\sin^2 x+\cos^2 x=1\), the expression equals \(1-2\sin^2 x\cos^2 x\). Option A incorrectly has a plus sign instead of a minus sign. Exam tip: for fourth powers, treat \(\sin^2 x\) and \(\cos^2 x\) as the two terms before applying an algebraic identity.
Frequently asked questions
What is the correct answer to this question?
\(1-2\sin^2 x\cos^2 x\)
Why is this the correct answer?
Using \(a^2+b^2=(a+b)^2-2ab\), take \(a=\sin^2 x\) and \(b=\cos^2 x\). Then \(\sin^4 x+\cos^4 x=(\sin^2 x+\cos^2 x)^2-2\sin^2 x\cos^2 x\). Since \(\sin^2 x+\cos^2 x=1\), the expression equals \(1-2\sin^2 x\cos^2 x\). Option A incorrectly has a plus sign instead of a minus sign. Exam tip: for fourth powers, treat \(\sin^2 x\) and \(\cos^2 x\) as the two terms before applying an algebraic identity.
Which subject and chapter does this question cover?
This is a Class 12 Mathematics question. Chapter: Trigonometric Functions. Topic: Trigonometric functions and their properties.
