How to simplify $\sin^4 x+\cos^4 x$ using trigonometrical identities? $\sin^{4}x+\cos^{4}x$
I should rewrite this expression into a new form to plot the function.
\begin{align}
& = (\sin^2x)(\sin^2x) - (\cos^2x)(\cos^2x) \\
& = (\sin^2x)^2 - (\cos^2x)^2 \\
& = (\sin^2x - \cos^2x)(\sin^2x + \cos^2x) \\
& = (\sin^2x - \cos^2x)(1) \longrightarrow\,
= \sin^2x - \cos^2x
\end{align}
Is that true?

Let $$\displaystyle y=\sin^4 x+\cos^4 x = \left(\sin^2 x+\cos^2 x\right)^2-2\sin^2 x\cdot \cos^2 x = 1-\frac{1}{2}\left(2\sin x\cdot \cos x\right)^2$$
Now using $$ \sin 2A = 2\sin A\cos A$$
So, we get $$\displaystyle y=1-\frac{1}{2}\sin^2 2x$$
