If the equation $\cos ^4 \theta+\sin ^4 \theta+\lambda=0$. has real solutions for $\theta$, then $\lambda$…

If the equation $\cos ^4 \theta+\sin ^4 \theta+\lambda=0$. has real solutions for $\theta$, then $\lambda$ lies in the interval
  1. $\left(-\frac{5}{4},-1\right)$
  2. $\left[-\frac{3}{2},-\frac{5}{4}\right]$
  3. $\left(-\frac{1}{2},-\frac{1}{4}\right]$.
  4. $\left[-1,-\frac{1}{2}\right]$

Solution

$\begin{aligned} & \cos ^4 \theta+\sin ^4 \theta+\lambda=0 \\ & \Rightarrow\left(\sin ^2 \theta+\cos ^2 \theta\right)^2-2 \sin ^2 \theta \cos ^2 \theta+\lambda=0 \\ & \Rightarrow 1-2 \sin ^2 \theta \cos ^2 \theta+\lambda=0 \\ & \Rightarrow \lambda=2 \sin ^2 \theta \cos ^2 \theta-1 \\ & \Rightarrow \lambda=\frac{\sin ^2 2 \theta}{2}-1 \end{aligned}$
Since $-1 \leq \sin 2 \theta \leq 1$, $\begin{aligned} & 0 \leq \sin ^2 2 \theta \leq 1 \\ & \Rightarrow 0 \leq \frac{\sin ^2 2 \theta}{2} \leq \frac{1}{2} \\ & \Rightarrow-1 \leq \frac{\sin ^2 2 \theta}{2}-1 \leq-\frac{1}{2} \\ & \Rightarrow \lambda \in\left[-1,-\frac{1}{2}\right] \end{aligned}$

Asked in: MHT CET 2024 (15 May Shift 1)

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