Sigma Percentile
JEE Main 2002
LEVELBoard

Animated Solution for Mathematics - Trigonometry: The period of is

Select Answer:

Visualized Solution

Introduction to the Function

  • We need to find the period of the function .
  • The period is the smallest positive value such that .

The Base Function

  • Let's first look at the base function .
  • The standard sine wave completes one full cycle in radians.
  • Therefore, the period of is .

Visualizing

  • Now, consider what happens when we square the function: .
  • Squaring makes all negative values positive.
  • The portions of the graph below the x-axis flip upwards.

Observing the New Period

  • Look closely at the new red graph of .
  • The pattern now repeats itself much faster.
  • It completes a full repeating cycle in just radians.

The Power-Reduction Identity

  • To find the period analytically, we must convert the squared term into a linear trigonometric term.
  • We use the double-angle identity for cosine: .
  • Rearranging this gives the power-reduction formula.

Applying the Identity

  • Rearranging yields: .
  • We can split this into two terms: .

Analyzing the Components

  • The function is now .
  • The constant term only shifts the graph vertically; it does not affect the period.
  • The coefficient scales the amplitude, which also doesn't change the period.
  • The period depends entirely on the term .

Period of

  • Recall the standard formula: The period of is given by .
  • Here, is the coefficient of , which represents the angular frequency.

Calculating the Final Period

  • In our term , the coefficient is .
  • Substitute into the formula: .
  • Simplifying this gives .

Conclusion

  • Key Takeaway: Squaring a basic trigonometric function like or halves its fundamental period.
  • The period of is .
  • Therefore, the correct option is .

The Sigma Insight: Trigonometric Ratios and Identities

Solution Diagram

Analyzing the Setup

Welcome, future engineers! Today, we are going to dive into the elegant world of trigonometric functions. We often treat functions like as simple, static waves, but when we start manipulating them—squaring them, scaling them, shifting them—they reveal a deeper, rhythmic beauty.
Our mission today is to find the fundamental period of . Let's embark on this journey together.

The Visual Dance of the Sine Wave

Imagine standing on the shore, watching the waves roll in. The function is the perfect mathematical representation of that motion. It starts at zero, climbs to one, dips to negative one, and returns to zero, completing one full cycle in radians.
Now, what happens when we square this function? When you square a positive number, it stays positive; when you square a negative number, it also becomes positive.
This is the key. All those negative valleys of the sine wave, which previously dipped below the -axis, are now forced to flip upwards. Visually, we can already guess that the period has been halved.

The Analytical Bridge

Power Reduction
To prove our visual intuition, we need to transform our squared function into a linear one. We turn to our trusty toolkit of trigonometric identities, specifically the double-angle identity for cosine:
This identity is a bridge between the squared world and the linear world. Let's rearrange it to isolate our target, :
By splitting this into two terms, we get the following expression:
Now, look at this expression. It is no longer a squared function; it is a simple, linear cosine function with a vertical shift and a scaled amplitude.

The Final Revelation

The Frequency Factor
The constant term simply shifts the entire graph vertically and has no impact on the period. The coefficient scales the amplitude, which also leaves the period untouched.
The entire "rhythm" of the function is dictated by the term . We know that for any function of the form , the period is given by the formula:
In our case, . Substituting this into our formula, we get:
The math confirms our visual intuition perfectly! The fundamental period of is .
Remember, whenever you encounter higher powers of sine or cosine, use your power-reduction identities to linearize the function. The period will reveal itself through the frequency factor.

Similar Questions

JEE Main 2022 (25 July Shift 2)
LEVELJEE Main

is equal to

(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
JEE Advanced 1980
LEVELJEE Main

The equation ; has

(A)
no real solution
(B)
one real solution
(C)
more than one solution
(D)
none of these
JEE Advanced 2006
LEVELJEE Main

Let and and , then

(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
JEE Main 2026 (28 January Shift 2)
LEVELJEE Main

The sum of all the elements in the range of , , where is :

(A)
2
(B)
0
(C)
4
(D)
-2
JEE Advanced 2010
LEVELJEE Main

The maximum value of the expression is ____.

JEE Advanced 1980
LEVELJEE Main

Given then for all real values of

(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
JEE Advanced 1994
LEVELJEE Main

Let be a positive integer such that . Then

(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
JEE Advanced 2011
LEVELJEE Main

The positive integer value of satisfying the equation is ____.

JEE Advanced 1980
LEVELJEE Main

Given , prove that .

JEE Advanced 1991
LEVELJEE Main

The value of is equal to ..........