Try this beautiful problem from ISI QMS 2019 exam. This problem requires knowledge of expansion of determinant and definite integral.
Let $f(x)= \begin{vmatrix}\sec x & \cos x & \sec^2 x+\cot x\textrm{cosec}^2 x\\ \cos^2x & \cos^2 x & \textrm{cosec}^2x \\ 1 & \cos^2 x & \textrm{cosec}^2 x \end{vmatrix}$. Then find $\displaystyle\int\limits_{\frac{\pi}{4}}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} f(x) \mathrm d x$
Expansion of Determinant
Evaluation of Definite Integral
Answer: $1-\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}-\frac{\pi}{8}-\frac12\log 2$
ISI QMS 2019 (QMB Problem 7a)
Secrets in Inequalities.
Way to proceed with this problem is obtaining a simpler form of $f(x)$ by expanding the given determinant and then integrate it within the given limit.
You can do this ... Give it a try !!!!
Expanding the given determinant :
$f(x)= \begin{vmatrix}\sec x & \cos x & \sec^2 x+\cot x\textrm{cosec}^2 x\\ \cos^2x & \cos^2 x & \textrm{cosec}^2x \\ 1 & \cos^2 x & \textrm{cosec}^2 x \end{vmatrix}$
$=\textrm{sec} x[\cos^2 x \textrm{coesc}^2 x - \cos^x \textrm{coesc}^2 x ]-\\ \quad \cos x [\cos^2 x-\textrm{cosec}^2 x- \textrm{coesc}^2 x]+ \\ \quad (\textrm{sec}^2 x+\textrm{cot} x \textrm{coesc}^2 x)[\cos^4 x-cos^2 x]$
$=0+\cos x[ \textrm{coesc}^2 x (1-cos^2 x)]- \\ \quad (\textrm{sec}^2 x+\textrm{cot} x \textrm{coesc}^2 x)[\cos^2 x(1-\cos^2 x)] $
$=\cos x[\textrm{cosec}^2 x . \sin^2 x]- \\ \quad (\textrm{sec}^2 x+\textrm{cot} x \textrm{coesc}^2 x)[\cos^2x . \sin^2 x] $
$=\cos x-[\sin^2 x+\textrm{cot}x\cos^2 x]$
Therefore $f(x)= \cos x-\sin^2 x-\textrm{cot}x\cos^2 x $
Now integrating $f(x)$ within the given limits we will get our answer.
Integrating $f(x)$ within the given limits :
$I=\displaystyle\int\limits_{\frac{\pi}{4}}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} f(x)\quad \mathrm d x\\= \displaystyle\int\limits_{\frac{\pi}{4}}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} \cos x \quad\mathrm d x - \displaystyle\int\limits_{\frac{\pi}{4}}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} \sin^2 x \quad\mathrm d x - \displaystyle\int\limits_{\frac{\pi}{4}}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} \textrm{cot}x\cos^2 x \quad\mathrm d x \\= I_1-I_2-I_3 \text{[say]}$
Evaluating $I_1$ :
Now $I_1 = \displaystyle\int \limits_{\frac{\pi}{4}}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} \cos x \quad \mathrm d x = \sin x \bigg|_{{\pi}/{4}}^{{\pi}/{2}}= [\sin (\frac{\pi}{2})-\sin (\frac{\pi}{4})]=[1-\frac{1}{\sqrt 2}] $
Now can you find the values of $I_2 \text{and} I_3$ ?
Evaluating $I_2$ :
$I_2= \displaystyle\int\limits_{\frac{\pi}{4}}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} \sin^2 x \quad \mathrm d x$
$\quad = \frac12\displaystyle\int\limits_{\frac{\pi}{4}}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} 2\sin^2 x \quad \mathrm d x $
$\quad = \frac12\displaystyle\int\limits_{\frac{\pi}{4}}^{\frac{\pi}{2}}[1-\cos 2x]\quad\mathrm d x $
$\quad= \frac12\bigg[x-\frac {\sin2x}{2}\bigg]_{ \frac{\pi}{4}}^{\frac{\pi}{2}}$
$\quad =\frac12[\frac{\pi}{2}-\frac{\sin \pi}{2}-\frac{\pi}{4}+\frac{\sin \frac{\pi}{2}}{2}] $
$\quad= \frac{\pi}{8}+\frac14$
Evaluating $I_3$ :
$I_3= \displaystyle\int\limits_{\frac{\pi}{4}}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} \textrm{cot} x\cos^2 x \mathrm d x$
$\quad= \displaystyle\int\limits_{\frac{\pi}{4}}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} \frac{\cos x(1-\sin^2 x)}{\sin x} \mathrm d x$
$\quad = \displaystyle\int\limits_{\frac{\pi}{4}}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} \frac{\cos x}{\sin x} \mathrm d x \quad- \displaystyle\int\limits_{\frac{\pi}{4}}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} \sin x . \cos x \quad \mathrm d x $
$\quad = \displaystyle\int\limits_{\frac{\pi}{4}}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} \frac{\mathrm d (\sin x)}{\sin x}\quad- \displaystyle\int\limits_{\frac{\pi}{4}}^{\frac{\pi}{2}} \sin x\quad \mathrm d (\sin x) $
$\quad = \bigg[\log (\sin x)\quad-\quad \frac{\sin^2 x}{2}\bigg]_{\frac{\pi}{2}}^{\frac{\pi}{2}}$
$\quad= \bigg[\log (\sin \frac{\pi}{2})-\frac{\sin^2 \frac{\pi}{2}}{2}-\log (\sin \frac{\pi}{4}) + \frac{\sin^2 \frac{\pi}{4}}{2}\bigg]$
$\quad =\bigg[0-\frac12-\log \frac{1}{\sqrt 2}+\frac14\bigg]$
$\quad = \bigg[-\frac12 -\log (1) + \log (\sqrt 2) +\frac14 \bigg]$
$\quad = \bigg[\frac12\log 2- \frac14 \bigg]$
Therefore,
$\quad I= I_1-I_2-I_3$
$\Rightarrow I = 1-\frac{1}{\sqrt 2}-\frac{\pi}{8}-\frac14-\frac12\log(2) +\frac14$
$\Rightarrow I = 1 -\frac{\pi}{8}-\frac{1}{\sqrt 2}-\frac12\log(2)$ [ANS]

In 2026, the following Cheenta students have been successful for Indian Statistical Institute's M.Stat Entrance. They ranked within the first 50 in the entire country in these entrances. I.S.I. M.Stat Entrance

In 2026, the following Cheenta students have been successful for Indian Statistical Institute's B.Stat Entrance and Chennai Mathematical Institute's B.Sc. Math Entrance. They ranked within the first 200 in the entire country in these entrances. Most of these students attended the problem solving workshops regularly, which happen 5 days every week. CMI B.Sc. Math Entrance […]

In 2025, 8 students from Cheenta Academy cracked the prestigious Regional Math Olympiad. In this post, we will share some of their success stories and learning strategies. The Regional Mathematics Olympiad (RMO) and the Indian National Mathematics Olympiad (INMO) are two most important mathematics contests in India.These two contests are for the students who are […]

Cheenta Academy proudly celebrates the success of 27 current and former students who qualified for the Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Mathematics (IOQM) 2025, advancing to the next stage — RMO. This accomplishment highlights their perseverance and Cheenta’s ongoing mission to nurture mathematical excellence and research-oriented learning.