Question 1: Let α and β be the roots of x2-6x-2 = 0, with α > β.

If an = αn - βn for n≥1, then the value of

(a10-2a8)/2a9 is

(a) 1

(b) 2

(c) 3

(d) 4

Solution:

Given x2-6x-2 = 0

α and β are the roots of above equation.

So α + β = 6

αβ = -2

Given an = αn - βn

(a10-2a8)/2a9 = [(α10 - β10) - 2(α8 - β8)]/2(α9 - β9)

= [α8(α2 - 2) - β8(β2 - 2)]/2(α9 - β9)

= [α8(6α) - β8(6β)]/2(α9 - β9) (since α2-6α-2 = 0 and β2-6β-2 = 0)

= 6(α9 - β9)/2(α9 - β9)

= 6/2

=3

Hence option c is the answer.

Question 2: If x2 + px - 444p = 0 has integral roots, where p is a prime number, then the value(s) of p is (are)

(a) 2

(b) 3

(c) 2, 3 and 37

(d) 37
Solution:

Given x2 + px - 444p = 0

Using quadratic formula, x = -p±√(p2 + 4×444p)/2

Since p = 2 does not give the integral roots, so D must be a perfect square of an odd integer.

D = p2 + 1776p

= p(p + 1776)

Since D is a perfect square, p + 1776 must be a multiple of p.

=> 1776 should be a multiple of p.

We know 1776 = 24 × 3× 37, where p = 2, 3, or 37

Substitute p = 2, 3, or 37

When p = 2, D is not a perfect square.

When p = 3, D is not a perfect square.

When p = 37, D is a perfect square.

Hence option d is the answer.

Question 3: Let -π/6 < θ < -π/12. Suppose α1 and β1 are the roots of the equation x2 - 2x secθ + 1 = 0 and α2
and β2 are the roots of the equation x2 + 2x tanθ - 1 = 0. If α1 > β1 and α2 > β2, then α1+ β2 equals

(a) 2(sec θ - tan θ)

(b) 2 sec θ

(c) -2 tan θ

(d) 0

Solution:

x2 - 2x sec θ + 1 = 0 …(i)

=> x = [2 sec θ±√(4 sec2θ - 4)]/2

= sec θ ± tan θ
x2 + 2x tan θ - 1 = 0 …(ii)

=> x = -2 tan θ±√(4 tan2θ + 4)/2

= -tan θ ± sec θ

Since -π/6 < θ < -π/12

=> sec π/6> sec θ > sec π/12

-tan π/6 < tan θ < -tan π/12

And tan π/12 < -tan θ < tan π/6

Given α1 > β1

So α1 = sec θ - tan θ

β1= sec θ + tan θ

Given α2 > β2

So α2 = - tan θ + sec θ

β2 = - tan θ - sec θ

So α1 + β2 = sec θ - tan θ + - tan θ - sec θ

= -2 tan θ

Hence option c is the answer.

Question 4: If α is a root of the equation 2x(2x+1) = 1, then the other root is

(a) 3α3 + 4α

(b) α2

(c) -2α (α+1)

(d) none of these

Solution:

Given 2x(2x+1) = 1

=> 4x2 + 2x - 1 = 0
Let α, β be the roots of 4x2 + 2x - 1 = 0

Since α is a root of 2x(2x+1) = 1, we can write

2α(2α+1) = 1

=> α(2α+1) = ½ …(i)

α+ β = -1/2 (sum of roots = -b/a)

=> β = -½ - α

=> = -α(2α+1) - α (from (i))

= -2α2 - α - α

= -2α2-2α

= -2α(α+1)

Hence option c is the answer.

Question 5: A value of b for which the equations x 2 + bx - 1 = 0 and x2 + x + b = 0 have one root in common
is

(a) -√2

(b) -i√3

(c) i√5

(d) 2

Solution:

Given that x2 + bx - 1 = 0 and x2 + x + b = 0 have one root in common.

The formula to find the common root is given below.

If α is a common root of a1x2+b1x+c1 = 0 and a2x2+b2x+c2 = 0

Then

α2/(b1c2-b2c1) = α/(a2c1-a1c2) = 1/(a1b2-a2b1) …(i)

Comparing with given equations, we get

a1 = 1, b1 = b, c1 = -1

a2 = 1, b2 = 1, c2 = b

α2/(b1c2-b2c1) = α/(a2c1-a1c2) = 1/(a1b2-a2b1)

Substituting the values in (i) we get

α2/(b2 +1) = α/(-1-b) = 1/(1-b)

=> α2 = (b2+1)/(1-b) ….(ii)

α = (1+b)/(b-1) …(iii)

Put α in (ii)

(1+b)2/(b-1)2 = (b2+1)/(1-b)

=> (1+b)2(1-b) = (b-1)2(b2+1)

=> -(b-1)(1+b)2 = (b-1)2(b2+1)

=> -(1+b)2 = (b-1)(b2+1)

=> (-1-2b-b2) = (b3 - b2 + b - 1)

=> -3b = b3

=> b2 = -3

Taking square root

=> b = ±i√3

Hence option b is the answer.

Question 6: If x satisfies |x2-3x+2| + |x-1| = x-3, then

(a) x ∈ Ø

(b) x ∈ [1, 2]

(c) x ∈ [3, ∞)

(d) x ∈ (- ∞, ∞)

Solution:
|x2-3x+2| + |x-1| = x-3

=> x - 3 ≥ 0

=> x ≥ 3

x2 - 3x + 2 + x - 1 = x - 3

x2 - 3x + 4 = 0

[x - (3/2)]2 + 4 - 9/4 = 0

=> no real solution

Hence option a is the answer.

Question 7: Let D = a2 + b2 + c2, a, b being consecutive integers and c = ab then √D is

(a) always an even integer

(b) always an odd integer

(c) sometimes an odd integer, sometimes not

(d) sometimes a rational number, sometimes not

Solution:

Given that a and b are consecutive integers.

So b = a+1

Also c = ab

D = a2 + b2 + c2

= a2 + (a+1)2 + a2b2

= a2 + a2 + 2a + 1 + a2b2

= 2a2 + 2a + 1 + a2b2

= 2a(a+1) + 1 + a2b2

= 2ab + 1 + (ab)2

= (ab+1)2
√D = ab+1

=> √D is always an odd integer

(ab is even number since either a or b will be even. When we add 1 to it, we get an odd number.)

Hence option b is the answer.

Question 8: If 2+i√3 is a root of the equation x2 + px + q = 0, where p and q are real, then (p, q) equals

(a) (-4, 7)

(b) (4, -7)

(c) (-7, 4)

(d) (4, 7)

Solution:

If 2+i√3 is a root of the equation x2 + px + q = 0, the other root will be 2-i√3.

Sum of roots = -p

= 2+i√3+ 2-i√3

=4

=>p= -4

Product of roots = q

= (2+i√3)(2-i√3)

= 4 +2√3i - 2√3i + 3

=7

So (p,q) = (-4, 7)

Hence option a is the answer.

Question 9: If the product of the roots of the equation x2 - 3kx + 2e2log k - 1 = 0 is 7, then the roots are real for
k equal to

(a) 1
(b) 2

(c) 3

(d) 7

Solution:

Given x2 - 3kx + 2e2log k - 1 = 0

=> x2 - 3kx + 2k2 - 1 = 0 (since n log x = log xn, elog x = x)

Product of roots = 7

=> 2k2 - 1 = 7

=>2k2 = 8

=>k2 = 4

=> k = 2 or -2.

For real roots, k>0.

So k = 2

Hence option b is the answer.

Question 10: If the quadratic equations x2 + ax + b = 0 and x2 + bx + a = 0 (a ≠ b) have a common root, then
the value of (a+b) is

(a) 1

(b) -1

(c) 2

(d) 0

Solution:

x2 + ax + b = 0 ..(i)

x2 + bx + a = 0..(ii)

If α is a common root of a1x2+b1x+c1 = 0 and a2x2+b2x+c2 = 0

α2/(b1c2-b2c1) = α/(a2c1-a1c2) = 1/(a1b2-a2b1) …(iii)

Comparing (i) and (ii) with above equations, we get

a1 = 1, b1 = a, c1 = b

a2 = 1, b2 = b, c2 = a

=> α2/(a2-b2) = α/(b-a) = 1/(b-a)

=> α = 1

So 1/(a2-b2) = 1/(b-a)

=> (a-b)(a+b) = (b-a)

=> a+b = -1

Hence option b is the answer.

Question 11: If the least and the largest real values of α, for which the equation z + α|z⁡-1| + 2 i⁡= 0 (z∈C
and i =√(-1)) has a solution, are p and q respectively; then 4(p2 + q2) is equal to

Solution:

Let z = x+iy

Given z + α|z⁡-1| + 2 i⁡= 0

=>x + iy + α√((x-1)2 +y2) + 2i=0

Comparing imaginary coefficients

y+2=0

y = -2

Comparing real coefficients

x + α√((x-1)2+y2) = 0

x2 = α2(x2 - 2x + 1 + 4)

α2 = x2/(x2- 2x + 5)

α2(x2- 2x + 5) = x2
=> x2 (α2 - 1) - 2xα2 + 5α2 = 0

Since x∈R , D≥0

=> 4α4 - 4(α2 - 1)5α2 ≥ 0

=> α2 [4α2 - 20α2 + 20] ≥ 0

=> α2 [-16α2 + 20] ≥ 0

=> α2 [α2 - 5/4] ≤ 0

=> α2 ∈ [0, 5/4]

=> α ∈ [-√5/2, √5/2]

then 4[p2 + q2] = 4[5/4 + 5/4]

= 10

Question 12: Let α and β be the roots of equation px2 + qx + r = 0, p ≠ 0. If p, q, r are in A.P and 1/α + 1/β =
4, then the value of |α - β| is

(a) √34/9

(b) 2√13/9

(c) √61/9

(d) 2√17/9

Solution:

Given that α and β be the roots of equation px2 + qx + r = 0

So sum of roots = α + β = -q/p

Product of roots = αβ = r/p

Given 1/α + 1/β = 4

=> (α + β)/αβ = 4

=> (α + β) = 4αβ

=> -q/p = 4r/p

=> 4r = -q …(i)

p, q, r are in A.P.

So 2q = (p+r) …(ii

Substitute (i) in (ii)

-8r = p+r

-9r = p

=> r/p = -1/9

=> αβ = -1/9

(α - β)2 = (α + β)2 - 4αβ

= (-4/9)2 + 4/9

= 16/81 + 36/81

= 52/81

|α - β| = √52/9

= 2√13/9

Hence option b is the answer.

Question 13: The equation x - 2/(x-1) = 1 - 2/(x-1) has

(a) no root

(b) one root

(c) two equal roots

(d) infinitely many roots

Solution:

Given x - 2/(x-1) = 1 - 2/(x-1)

Clearly x ≠ 1 for the given equation to be defined. If x-1 ≠ 0, we can cancel the common term -2/(x-1) on both
sides to get x = 1, but it is not possible. Thus the given equation has no roots.
Hence option a is the answer.

Question 14: If a2 + b2 + c2 = 1, then ab + bc + ac lies in the interval

(a) [½, 2]

(b) [-1, 2]

(c) [-1/2, 1]

(d) [-1, ½]

Solution:

Given that a2 + b2 + c2 = 1 …(i)

We know (a+b+c)2 ≥ 0

a2+b2+c2+2ab+2bc+2ac ≥ 0

=> 1 + 2(ab+bc+ac)≥ 0 (from (i))

=> 2(ab+bc+ac)≥ -1

=> (ab+bc+ac)≥ -½ …(ii)

We know that ½ [(a-b)2 + (b-c)2 + (c-a)2]≥ 0

=> a2 + b2 + c2 - ab - bc - ac ≥ 0

=> ab + bc + ac ≤ 1 …(iii)

Combining (ii) and (iii)

-½ ≤ (ab+bc+ac) ≤ 1

Therefore (ab+bc+ac) ∈ [-½, 1]

Hence option c is the answer.

Question 15: If the roots of the quadratic equation x2 + px + q = 0 are tan 300 and tan 150, respectively then
the value of 2+q-p is

(a) 2

(b) 3
(c) 0

(d) 1

Solution:

Given that x2 + px + q = 0

Sum of roots = tan 300 + tan 150 = -p

Product of roots = tan 300 tan 150 = q

We know tan (a+b) = (tan a + tan b)/(1- tan a tan b)

tan 450 = tan (30 + 15)0

1 = (tan 300 + tan 150)/(1 - tan 300tan 150)

1 = -p/(1-q)

=> 1-q = -p

q-p = 1

2+q-p = 2+1

=3

Hence option b is the answer.