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]

Publishing original scientific research in a peer-reviewed journal is an achievement many scholars work toward for years. Achieving this feat early in one's academic journey requires exceptional intellectual rigor, creativity, and persistence. Aaditya Punatar and Muskan Sadana have reached this remarkable milestone, successfully publishing their collaborative research paper in the prestigious Journal of Emerging Investigators […]

Her project on quantum-accelerated Steiner trees for 15-minute cities earned a place among the finalists at the world's largest pre-college STEM competition. Prishaa Shrimali of Marymount School of New York, was selected as a Grand Finalist at the 2026 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix, Arizona. Her project was Optimizing Urban Accessibility: […]

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 […]