TITLE: If $\cos^4 \theta −\sin^4 \theta = x$. Find $\cos^6 \theta − \sin^6 \theta $ in terms of $x$.
QUESTION [9 upvotes]: Given $\cos^4 \theta −\sin^4  \theta = x$ , I've to find the value of $\cos^6 \theta − \sin^6 \theta $ .
Here is what I did:
$\cos^4 \theta −\sin^4  \theta = x$.
($\cos^2 \theta −\sin^2  \theta)(\cos^2 \theta +\sin^2  \theta) = x$
Thus 
($\cos^2 \theta −\sin^2  \theta)=x$ ,
so $\cos 2\theta=x$ .
Now $x^3=(\cos^2 \theta −\sin^2  \theta)^3=\cos^6 \theta-\sin^6 \theta +3 \sin^4 \theta \cos^2 \theta -3 \sin^2 \theta \cos^4 \theta $
So if I can find the value of $3 \sin^4 \theta \cos^2 \theta -3 \sin^2 \theta \cos^4 \theta $ in terms of $x$ , the question is solved. But how to do that ?

REPLY [2 votes]: As already found $\cos^2\theta-\sin^2\theta=x,\implies \cos2\theta=x$
Using $a^3-b^3=(a-b)^3+3ab(a-b),$
$$\cos^6\theta-\sin^6\theta=(\cos^2\theta)^3-(\sin^2\theta)^3$$
$$=(\cos^2\theta-\sin^2\theta)^3+3\cos^2\theta\sin^2\theta(\cos^2\theta-\sin^2\theta) $$
$$=x^3+3x\cos^2\theta\sin^2\theta$$
$$=x^3+\frac{3x}4\sin^22\theta\text{ as }\sin2A=2\sin A\cos A$$
$$=x^3+\frac{3x}4(1-\cos^22\theta)$$
$$=x^3+\frac{3x}4(1-x^2)=\frac{4x^3+3x-3x^3}4=\frac{x(x^2+3)}4$$