What is the maximum value of the function sin x + cos x?

Let f(x) = sin x + cos x,

f’(x) = cosx - sinx


Now, f’(x) = 0


cosx - sinx = 0


cosx = sinx


tanx = 1



Now,


If f’’(x) will be negative when (sinx + cosx) > 0, means both sinx and cosx are positive.


And, we know that sinx and cosx both are positive in the first quadrant.


Then, f’’(x) will be negative when


f’’(x) = -sinx – cosx = -(sinx + cosx)


Now, let us take x =



Then, by second derivative test,


f will be maximum at x =


And, the maximum value of f is



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