We have, sec^2 x – tan^2 x = 1 Cubing on both sides, we get (sec^2 x – tan^2 x)^3 = 1^3 => (sec^2 x)^3 – (tan^2 x)^3 – 3 * sec^2 x * tan^2 x * (sec^2 x – tan^2 x) = 1 [ (a – b)^3 = a^3 – b^3 – 3ab(a – b) ] => sec^6 x – tan^6 x – 3 sec^2 x tan^2 x = 1 => sec^6 x – tan^6 x = 1 + 3 sec^2 x tan^2 x