Question
Question: Separate the interval \(\left[ 0,\dfrac{\pi }{2} \right]\) into subintervals in which the function \...
Separate the interval [0,2π] into subintervals in which the function f(x)=sin4x+cos4x is strictly increasing or strictly decreasing.
Solution
We will find the first derivative of the given function with respect to x. Then we will find the subintervals of the given interval. Then we use the first derivative test for increasing and decreasing functions to find the intervals in which the given function is strictly increasing or strictly decreasing.
Complete step-by-step solution:
Consider the given function f(x)=sin4x+cos4x.
We know that the derivative of sin4x with respect to x is 4sin3xcosx and the derivative of cos4x with respect to x is −4cos3xsinx.
Now we are going to find the first derivative of the whole function given here to get,
⇒f′(x)=4sin3xcosx−4cos3xsinx
Now let us take −4sinxcosx out so that we get the function as,
⇒f′(x)=−4sinxcosx(−sin2x+cos2x)
We know that sin2x=21−cos2x and cos2x=21+cos2x.
Using these identities, we can compute (−sin2x+cos2x) as
⇒(−sin2x+cos2x)=−21−cos2x+21+cos2x
That can be written as
⇒(−sin2x+cos2x)=2−1+cos2x+21+cos2x
Since the denominator of both the fractions are same, we will get
⇒(−sin2x+cos2x)=2−1+cos2x+1+cos2x=22cos2x
The above equation is obtained because −1+1=0.
Now we will eliminate 2 from the numerator and the denominator to get
⇒(−sin2x+cos2x)=cos2x.
Thus, the given function becomes
⇒f′(x)=−4sinxcosxcos2x.
Also, we know the identity given by 2sinxcosx=sin2x.
We are given with −4sinxcosx.
This can be rewritten as −4sinxcosx=−2(2sinxcosx)=−2sin2x.
Therefore, the given function becomes
⇒f′(x)=−2sin2xcos2x.
We again use the identity 2sinxcosx=sin2x.
In this case, x is replaced with 2x.
So, we will get −2sin2xcos2x=−sin(2⋅2x)=−sin4x.
Now, we found the first derivative of the given function as f′(x)=−sin4x.
To find the subintervals of the given interval in which the given function exists, we will equate the first derivative of the function to zero.
⇒f′(x)=0.
That is, −sin4x=0.
⇒sin4x=0.
This implies 4x=0,π,2π,...
So, the values of x=0,4π,2π.
So, the subintervals are [0,4π] and [4π,2π].
Now we get, f′(x)=−sin4x<0 on the interval [0,4π] and f′(x)=−sin4x>0 on the interval [4π,2π].
Hence, by the first derivative test for increasing and decreasing functions, the function f(x) is strictly decreasing on the interval [0,4π] and strictly increasing on the interval [4π,2π].
Note: The first derivative test for increasing and decreasing functions is given below:
A function f(x) is decreasing on an interval [a,b], if the first derivative f′(x)<0 on the interval [a,b].
A function f(x) is increasing on an interval [a,b], if the first derivative f′(x)>0 on the interval [a,b].