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Differentiating gives
 
$$f'(x) = \sin(\sin(\cos x)) \cdot \cos(\cos(x)) \cdot \sin(x)$$
 
This is zero if and only if
 
$$\sin(\sin(\cos x))=0 \mbox{ or } \cos(\cos(x)) = 0 \mbox{ or } \sin(x)=0$$
 
Consider the first of these three conditions:
 
$$\sin(\sin(\cos x))=0 \Rightarrow \sin(\cos x) = n\pi, n\in \mathbb{Z}$$
 
Since $|\sin(X)|\leq 1$ for any real $X$ and $\pi > 1$ we must choose $n=0$ in the previous equation.
 
Thus,
$$\sin(\sin(\cos x))=0 \Rightarrow \sin(\cos x) = 0 \Rightarrow \cos x = m\pi,  m\in \mathbb{Z}$$
Similarly, we must choose $m=0$ in this expression. We can thus conclude that
$$\sin(\sin(\cos x))=0 \Leftrightarrow x = \left(r+\frac{1}{2}\right)\pi, r \in \mathbb{Z}$$

 
Consider the second of the three conditions:
 
$$\cos(\cos(x)) = 0 \Leftrightarrow \cos(x) = \left(r+\frac{1}{2}\right)\pi, r \in \mathbb{Z}$$
Since $\frac{1}{2}\pi> 1$ there are no real solutions to this condition.
 
Consider the third of the three conditions:
 
$$\sin(x) =0 \Leftrightarrow x = n\pi, n \in \mathbb{Z}$$
 
 
Combining all three conditions gives us the locations of the turning points:
 $$
f'(x)=0 \Leftrightarrow x = \frac{N\pi}{2}, N\in \mathbb{Z}
$$

We now need to consider whether they are maxima, minima or something else. We could look at the second derivative, but this will be complicated and the boundedness of $\sin(x)$ and $\cos(x)$ allows us to make shortcuts as follows:
 
Notice that $f(x) = 1$ when $x = \pm \frac{\pi}{2}, \pm \frac{3\pi}{2}, \pm \frac{5\pi}{2}, \dots$. Since $f(x)$ is continuous and differentiable and $|f(x)|\leq 1$ these points must be maxima. The even multiples of $\frac{\pi}{2}$ must therefore be minima, at which the function takes the values $f(x) = \cos(\sin 1) \approx 0.666$.

A plot of the graph confirms this calculation:

   
 
 

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The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

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