Given function: \( f(x) = \sin x + \cos x \)
Derivative: \( f'(x) = \cos x - \sin x \)
To find when the function is strictly increasing, we solve:
\( f'(x) = \cos x - \sin x > 0 \Rightarrow \cos x > \sin x \Rightarrow \tan x < 1 \)
Now analyze:
The inequality \( \tan x < 1 \) holds in the intervals:
At \( x = \frac{5\pi}{4} \), \( \tan x = 1 \), so the derivative is zero — not strictly increasing at that point. And for \( x \in \left(\frac{5\pi}{4}, 2\pi\right) \), \( \tan x > 1 \), meaning \( f'(x) < 0 \), so the function is decreasing there.
✅ Final Answer:
The function \( f(x) = \sin x + \cos x \) is strictly increasing on the interval:
\( \left(0, \frac{\pi}{4}\right) \cup \left(\pi, \frac{5\pi}{4}\right) \)