[Math] Average and minimum Values of $|\sin x+ \cos x + \tan x + \cot x +\sec x +\csc x|$, $\forall x \in \mathbb{R}$

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A problem was asked at Putnam Competition in 2003 (Problem 3), about finding the minimum Value of $|\sin x+ \cos x + \tan x + \cot x +\sec x +\csc x|$ where $x$ is Real.

the question paper and solutions.

I was thinking if there was any other simpler way to solve this problem.
What strategy one should follow to determine the average value of above function?