### 3.485 Find the maximum value of the expression

$$
A=\frac{1}{\sin ^{6} \alpha+\cos ^{6} \alpha} \text { for } 0 \leq \alpha \leq \frac{\pi}{2}
$$
## Solution.

$\sin ^{6} \alpha+\cos ^{6} \alpha=\sin ^{4} \alpha-\sin ^{2} \alpha \cdot \cos ^{2} \alpha+\cos ^{4} \alpha=1-3 \sin ^{2} \alpha \cdot \cos ^{2} \alpha=$ $=1-\frac{3}{4} \sin ^{2} 2 \alpha=\frac{1+3 \cos ^{2} 2 \alpha}{4} \Rightarrow A=\frac{4}{1+3 \cos ^{2} 2 \alpha}$.

From this, it is clear that $A$ takes its maximum value when $\cos 2 \alpha=0$, i.e., when $\alpha=\frac{\pi}{4}$.

Answer: 4 when $\alpha=\frac{\pi}{4}$.