JEE Main 2022 · 25 June · evening · Single correct · +4 / −1

If bₙ = ∫₀^(π/2) (cos ²nx)/(sin x)dx, n ∈ N, then

  1. (a) b₃ - b₂, b₄ - b₃, b₅ - b₄ are in A.P. with common difference -2
  2. (b) 1/(b₃ - b₂),1/(b₄ - b₃),1/(b₅ - b₄) are in an A.P. with common difference 2
  3. (c) b₃ - b₂, b₄ - b₃, b₅ - b₄ are in a G.P.
  4. (d) 1/(b₃ - b₂),1/(b₄ - b₃),1/(b₅ - b₄) are in an A.P. with common difference -2
Answer and solution

Answer (d) 1/(b₃ - b₂),1/(b₄ - b₃),1/(b₅ - b₄) are in an A.P. with common difference -2

Solution

Maths sir · 4 steps

Do not find each bₙ. Subtract two neighbours, and the sin x in the denominator cancels out.

  1. Difference of squares. Use cos² A - cos² B = -sin(A+B)sin(A-B) with A = (n+1)x and B = nx. The numerator of bₙ₊₁ - bₙ becomes -sin((2n+1)x)sin x, and the sin x cancels with the denominator.

    bₙ₊₁ - bₙ = -∫₀^(π/2) sin((2n+1)x)dx = -(1 - cos(2n+1)π/2)/(2n+1) = -1/(2n+1)

  2. Put in n. cos(2n+1)π/2 = 0 for every natural n. So b₃ - b₂ = -1/5, b₄ - b₃ = -1/7 and b₅ - b₄ = -1/9.
  3. Take reciprocals. The reciprocals are -5, -7, -9. Each term is 2 less than the one before it.
  4. So. The reciprocals form an A.P. with common difference -2, which is option (d).

The idea to keep. When an integral is defined for every n, look at Iₙ₊₁ - Iₙ first. The awkward denominator often cancels, and the difference is easy to integrate.

Answer from the NTA final answer key. Solution by PrepWiser.

Study Definite Integration

Asked about 230 times in JEE Main since 2020. This question is from 2022.