# Find the minimum value of $\sin^{2} \theta +\cos^{2} \theta+\sec^{2} \theta+\csc^{2} \theta+\tan^{2} \theta+\cot^{2} \theta$

Find the minimum value of

$\sin^{2} \theta +\cos^{2} \theta+\sec^{2} \theta+\csc^{2} \theta+\tan^{2} \theta+\cot^{2} \theta$

$a.)\ 1 \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ b.)\ 3 \\ c.)\ 5 \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ d.)\ 7$

$\sin^{2} \theta +\cos^{2} \theta+\sec^{2} \theta+\csc^{2} \theta+\tan^{2} \theta+\cot^{2} \theta \\ =\sin^{2} \theta +\dfrac{1}{\sin^{2} \theta }+\cos^{2} \theta+\dfrac{1}{\cos^{2} \theta }+\tan^{2} \theta+\dfrac{1}{\tan^{2} \theta } \\ \color{blue}{\text{By using the AM-GM inequlity}} \\ \color{blue}{x+\dfrac{1}{x} \geq 2} \\ =2+2+2=6$

Which is not in options.

But I am not sure if I can use that $AM-GM$ inequality in this case.

I look for a short and simple way .

I have studied maths upnto $12$th grade .

• The AM-GM inequality is useful, but you cannot assume that $\sin^{2} \theta +\dfrac{1}{\sin^{2} \theta }$,$\cos^{2} \theta+\dfrac{1}{\cos^{2} \theta }$, and $\tan^{2} \theta+\dfrac{1}{\tan^{2} \theta }$ all are minimized at the same value of $\theta$. In fact they are not. – David K Jan 20 '16 at 22:54

Hint:

You can use the Pythagorean identities $\color{blue}{\sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta=1}$, $\color{blue}{\sec^2 \theta=\tan^2 \theta+1}$ and $\color{blue}{\csc^2\theta=\cot^2 \theta+1}$, giving us \begin{align}\sin^{2} \theta +\cos^{2} \theta+\sec^{2} \theta+\csc^{2} \theta+\tan^{2} \theta+\cot^{2} \theta&=3+2\tan^2\theta+2\cot^2\theta\\ &=3+2\left(\tan^2\theta+\frac{1}{\tan^2\theta}\right) \end{align}

• is the answer $7$. – R K Jan 20 '16 at 22:49
• @RK: Yes, it is. – Ángel Mario Gallegos Jan 20 '16 at 23:42
• @RK . $x^2+\frac {1}{x^2}= (x-\frac {1}{x})^2+2\geq 2.$ In particular when $x=\tan \theta.$ – DanielWainfleet Aug 3 '17 at 17:01

Using standard trigonometric identities, we see this is $1+2\tan^2\theta+1+2\cot^2\theta+1$.

Now we can use AM/GM to show that $2\tan^2\theta+2\cot^2\theta\ge 4$, and the value $4$ is attained at $\pi/4$.

Remark: Your AM/GM argument is enough to identify the right answer of this multiple choice question. For as you saw the minimum is $\ge 6$, and there is only one choice which is $\ge 6$.

Hint: $$\sin^{2} \theta +\cos^{2} \theta+\sec^{2} \theta+\csc^{2} \theta+\tan^{2} \theta+\cot^{2} \theta$$$$= \sec^2 \theta + \csc^2 \theta + \sec^2 \theta + \csc^2 \theta -1 = 2sec^2 \theta + 2\csc^2 \theta -1$$

Let $\sin^2 \theta =u$ and $\cos^2 \theta =v.$ Then $u+v=1.$ The expression exists only when $0<u<1$ and $0<v<1,$ when it is $$(u+v)+\left(\frac {1}{u}+\frac {1}{v}\right)+\left(\frac {u}{v}+\frac {v}{u}\right)=$$ $$=1+\frac {u+v}{uv}+\frac {u^2+v^2}{uv}=$$ $$=1+\frac {1}{uv}+\frac {u^2+v^2}{uv}=$$ $$=1+\frac {1}{uv}+\frac {(u+v)^2-2uv}{uv}=$$ $$=1+\frac {1}{uv}+\frac {1-2uv}{uv}=$$ $$=-1+\frac {2}{uv}=$$ $$=-1+\frac {2}{u(1-u)}.$$ The maximum value of $u(1-u)$ for $0<u<1$ is $\frac {1}{4}.$

Just using algebra$$y=\sin^{2} (\theta) +\cos^{2} (\theta)+\sec^{2} (\theta)+\csc^{2} (\theta)+\tan^{2} (\theta)+\cot^{2} (\theta)=2 \csc ^2(\theta )+2 \sec ^2(\theta )-1$$ Taking derivatives and simplifying $$y'=4 \tan (\theta) \sec ^2(\theta)-4 \cot (\theta) \csc ^2(\theta)=-32 \cot (2 \theta) \csc ^2(2 \theta)$$ $$y''=64 \csc ^4(2 \theta)+128 \cot ^2(2 \theta) \csc ^2(2 \theta)=64 (\cos (4 \theta)+2) \csc ^4(2 \theta)$$ The second derivative is always positive, so we can only find minimum values if $y'=0$ and this happens for $\theta=\pm\frac \pi 4$ and $\theta=\pm\frac {3\pi} 4$. For these values, $y=7$.

A nice way to simplify this problem, using nothing more than elementary trigonometry and algebra, is this:

As noted in another answer, the given expression simplifies to:

$$2\sec^2\theta +2\csc^2\theta - 1$$

Finding $\theta$ to minimize that expression is the same as finding $\theta$ to minimize

\begin{align} \sec^2\theta+\csc^2\theta &= \frac{1}{\cos^2\theta}+\frac{1}{\sin^2\theta}\\ &=\frac{\sin^2\theta+\cos^2\theta}{\sin^2\theta\cos^2\theta}\\ &=\frac{1}{\sin^2\theta\cos^2\theta}, \end{align}

which is the same as finding $\theta$ to maximize

$$\sin^2\theta\cos^2\theta = (\sin\theta\cos\theta)^2,$$

which is the same as finding $\theta$ to maximize

$$|\sin\theta\cos\theta| = \frac12|\sin(2\theta)|.$$

This is clearly maximized when $\sin(2\theta)=\pm 1$, which happens when $\theta$ is $45^\circ$ away from a multiple of $90^\circ$. If you plug in $\theta=\frac{\pi}{4}$, you'll find that minimum value.