# Find the least value for $\sin x - \cos^2 x -1$

Find all the values of $x$ for which the function $y = \sin x - \cos^2 x -1$ assumes the least value. What is that value?

At first I found the first derivative to be $y' = \cos x + 2 \sin x \cos x$.

Critical point $0$, $-π/6$ (principal)

$y'' = - \sin x + 2(\cos 2x)$

Then substitution of $x$ by critical points I found minima. But my answer is incorrect.

Correct minimum value is $-9/4$

• Use $\cos^2(x)=1- \sin^2(x)$ and complete the square ... – Donald Splutterwit Aug 2 '18 at 21:21

Yes your way is correct indeed for $x=-\pi/6$ we have

$$f(x)=-\frac12-\frac34-1=-\frac94$$

As an alternative, recall that $\cos^2 x=1-\sin^2 x$ and therefore we have

$$f(x)=\sin x -\cos^2 x-1=\sin^2 x+\sin x-2$$

then set $t=\sin x$ and consider the parabola (concave up)

$$g(t)=t^2+t-2 \implies g'(t)=2t+1=0 \implies t=-\frac 12$$

• Note to OP: Care should be taken in general when proceeding this way. Supposing the original function to have been $y = 3\sin x-\cos^2 x-1$, this approach would have selected $t = -\frac32$, which is not valid for real $x$. – Brian Tung Aug 2 '18 at 21:25
• @BrianTung Yes indeed in that case we need to find the max/min for the extrema values of $\sin x$. – user Aug 2 '18 at 21:28

$$f(x)=\sin^2x+\sin{x}-2=\left(\sin{x}+\frac{1}{2}\right)^2-2.25\geq-2.25.$$ The equality occurs for $\sin{x}=-\frac{1}{2},$ which says that $-2.25$ is a minimal value.

• Nice way Michael! – user Aug 2 '18 at 21:30

The critical points in $[-\pi,\pi]$ are those for which $$\cos x(1+2\sin x)=0$$ which means $x=\pi/2$, $x=-\pi/2$, $x=-\pi/6$ and $x=-5\pi/6$.

Note that $$y''=-\sin x+2\cos^2x-2\sin^2x$$ Since $$y''(\pi/2)=-1-2=-3, \quad y''(-\pi/2)=1-2=-1, \\ y''(-\pi/6)=\frac{1}{2}+2\frac{3}{4}-2\frac{1}{4}=\frac{3}{2}=y''(-5\pi/6)$$ the points of local minimum are $-\pi/6$ and $-5\pi/6$.

Just compute $$y(-\pi/6)=-\frac{1}{2}-\frac{3}{4}-1=-\frac{9}{4}$$ The value at $-5\pi/6$ is the same.

Simpler: write $$y=\sin x-1+\sin^2x-1=\sin^2x+\sin x-2= \left(\sin x+\frac{1}{2}\right)^{\!2}-\frac{9}{4}$$ Obviously, the minimum value is where $\sin x=-\frac{1}{2}$ and is $-9/4$.

The maximum is where $\sin x=1$.