Algebra - 4

Contents
 Modulus
 Greatest Integer Functions
QA - 20
CEX-Q-0221/22

Number of questions : 27

1. If 7 + 3 |x| = 13, find the value of x. (1) One (2) Two

(1) –2.5 (2)  6 (3) Three (4) Four

7 6. If |a| < |b|, and |b| < |c| and b < a < c, then
(3)  2 (4) 
2 which of the following are necessarily true?
I. a is positive.
2. Find the solution set (x, y, z), where x, y and II. b is negative.
z are real numbers, for the system of III. c is positive.
equations x + y + z = 5, 2|y| + z = 7
and |x| + 2x = –4. (1) Only I (2) I and II
(3) II and III (4) I, II and III
 4 
(1) (–4, 3, 6) (2)  ,2,3 
 3  7. If a and b are positive integers such that
(3) (–4, 3, 1) (4) No solution |a – 2|  3 and |b + 3|  4. What is the
a2
3. If | x 2  1 |  1 , then find the value of (x + 2) minimum value of ?
b2
(x + 1) (x) (x – 1) (x – 2) .... 1000 terms
(1) –2 (2) 0 (1) 1 (2) 25
(3) –1 (4) > 0 49 49

4
4. If |3x| + 7|x|  60. Find the value of x. (3) 1 (4)
(1) –7 < x < 7 (2) x < 6 49
(3) –6 < x < 6 (4) –6  x  6
8. Find the range of values of real x that satisfy
5. How many of the following statement(s) is(are) the equation | 2x  7 |  | 3x  9 |
always true?
A. | x + y |  | x – y |  7 
(1)   , 2  (2) ( , 2]
B. | x | ± | y |  | x ± y |  2 
C. | a × x | = a | x | (where, a is a constant)  16 
2 (3)  ,   (4) (– ,–1]
D. 2  3x  3 x   5 
3

QA - 20 Page 1
9. How many integral values of x satisfy the 16. Let f(x) = ax2 – b |x|, where a and b are
inequality |[x + 3]| < 5? constants. Then at x = 0, f(x) is (CAT)
{Here, [x] denotes the greatest integer less (1) maximized whenever a > 0, b > 0
than or equal to x} (2) maximized whenever a > 0, b < 0
(1) 6 (2) 7 (3) minimized whenever a > 0, b > 0
(3) 8 (4) 9 (4) minimized whenever a > 0, b < 0

Directions for questions 10 and 11: Answer the 17. Find the number of real values of x, where, x
question based on the following information. is a real number, that satisfy the equation
| 2x  7 |  | x  5 |  14.
|x| + |y| = 7, |x|2 + |y|2 = 25 (x, y  R) (1) 0 (2) 1
(3) 2 (4) 3
10. How many values of x3 + y3 are possible?
(1) 1 (2) 2 18. The set of all real numbers in (–2, 2) satisfying
(3) 3 (4) 4
2|x|  2x 1  1  2x 1  1 is

11. What is the value of |x – y|2? (1) {–1, 1} (2) {–1}  [1, 2)
(1) 1 (3) (–2, –1)  [1, 2) (4) [–2, –1]  {1}
(2) 49
(3) 4 19. If [x] is the greatest integer less than or equal
(4) Cannot be determined to x then find the value of the following series.
[ 1]  [ 2]  [ 3]  [ 4]  ...  [ 361]
12. For a real number x, let [x] denote the (1) 4408 (2) 4839
greatest integer less than or equal to x. (3) 3498 (4) 3489
Then the number of real solutions of
|2x – [x]| = 4 is 20. If the symbol [x] denotes the largest integer
(1) 1 (2) 2 less than or equal to x, then the value of
(3) 3 (4) 4 1 1 1  1 2   1 40 
 4    4  50    4  50   ...  4  50  is
       
13. What is the minimum value of the function? (1) 40 (2) 28
(1) F(x) = |x – 1| + |x – 2| + |x – 4| (3) 3 (4) 0
(2) F(x) = |x – 1| + |x – 2| + |x – 4| + |x – 8|
21. The number of solutions of [x] = x + 1 is
14. What is the area bounded by the graphs (1) 0 (2) 1
(1) |x| + |y| = 10 (3) 2 (4) infinite
(2) |x + 2| + |y – 3| = 10
(3) |x – y| + |x + y| = 10 22. Let {x} and [x] denote the fractional and
integral parts respectively of a real number x.
15. Find the number of integral values of x that If [x]2 + 4{x} = 2x, then how many values of x
satisfy the inequality || 2x  19 | 7 |  5. are possible?
(1) 1 (2) 2
(1) 13 (2) 12
(3) 3 (4) 4
(3) 11 (4) 10

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23. Find how many positive real values of x satisfy 26. If [ . ] denotes the greatest integer function,
then for how many values of x in the interval
the equation 2  x 2  5x  2, where [x] [1, 5] will the following equation satisfy?
x2 – [x2] = (x – [x])2
denotes greatest integer less than or equal
(1) None (2) 5
to x. (3) 21 (4) Infinitely many
(1) 0 (2) 1
(3) 2 (4) 3 27. Let x n denote the n-th element of the
sequence {1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5,  },
24. Find the solution set for [x] + [2x] + [3x] + where n is a positive integer. How many of
[4x] = 14, where x is a real number and [x] the following statements are then true?
represents the greatest integer less than or Statement I: xn is the largest integer less
equal to x. 1 1
than 2n  
4 2
5 3 5 Statement II: xn is the largest integer not
(1) x  (2) x
3 2 3
1 1
4 greater than 2  n  1 
(3) 1  x  (4) None of these 4 2
3 Statement III: xn is the smallest integer
1 1
25. For a real number y, let [y] denote the largest greater than 2n  
4 2
integer less than or equal to y and {y} denotes (Consider only the positive values for the
y – [y]. How many solutions does the square roots in the above statements.
equation 11[y] + 23{y} = 250 have? For example, 25 will given only +5, and
(1) 0 (2) 1 not –5)
(3) 2 (4) 3 (1) 3 (2) 2
(3) 1 (4) 0

QA - 20 Page 3
 QA - 20 : Algebra - 4 CEX-Q-0221/22
Answers and Explanations

1 3 2 4 3 2 4 4 5 1 6 3 7 3 8 1 9 4 10 4

11 4 12 2 13 – 14 – 15 4 16 4 17 3 18 1 19 1 20 3

21 1 22 3 23 2 24 2 25 3 26 3 27 2

1. 3 7 + 3|x| = 13  3|x| = 6 Alternative method:

 |x| = 2 The inequation given in the question contains  but
So, x = ±2 only option (4) contains equals to sign. So, option (4)
is correct.
Alternative method:
Use the options and try. 5. 1 A. |x + y|  |x – y| is not always true.
Let x = 4 and y = 2, it follows the given condition
2. 4 | x | 2x  4 but for x = 4 and y = –2, it doesn’t follow the
condition .
If x  0, then 3x  4 (not possible) B. This condition is not followed
If x < 0, then x = – 4 C. |a × x| = a|x| this holds true only for non-negative
Now, x + y + z = 5 values of a, so it is not always true.
Therefore, y + z = 9 and 2 | y |  z  7 D. This is always true.
If y > 0, then y + z = 9 and 2y + z = 7, but this gives Hence, only one statement is true.
a negative value of y, so not possible.
If y < 0, then y + z = 9 and z – 2y = 7, but this gives a 6. 3 Let us solve the question taking the opposite of
positive value of y, which is not possible whatever is stated
Hence, there is no solution set for the given system
of equations. I. If a is negative, then b has to be negative, since
b < a. but |b| can be greater than |a|.
Alternative method: Hence, (I) is not necessarily true.
x + y + z = (given)
But options (2) and (3) do not satisfy this condition. II. If b is positive, then a also has to be positive since
Now, the check option (1), which does not satisfy a > b. Now, when a > b, and both are positive |a|
2|y| + z = 7 has to be greater than |b|, which contradicts the
Hence, option (4) is correct given condition. Hence, b cannot be positive.
So (II) is necessarily true.
3. 2 Since x2 cannot be less than 0 for any value of x, so
III. If c is negative, then b has to be negative since
| x2  1| 1 will hold only when x = 0.
b < c, but |b| will be greater than |c|.
Hence, (x  2)(x  1)(x)(x  1)(x  2)  0 Thus, c cannot be negative and hence (III) is also
true.
4. 4 |3x| + 7|x|  60
For x  0
a2
3x + 7x  60 7. 3 To make minimum, a must be minimum and b must
b2
60
x  x6 be maximum. Also, a and b are +ve integers, so from
10 the given inequations
For x < 0 a = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and b = 1
3x  7( x)  60
a2
 –10x  60  x  –6 So, minimum value of = 1.
b2
 value of x is –6  x  6

QA - 20 Page 1
8. 1 The intervals given in option (2), (3) and (4) contains
1
large negative numbers for which the given inequation So, area = 4   10  10  200 sq. unit
does not hold true. 2
So, there must be a lower limit, which is –7/2. (2) The given region is same as previous one, but the
Hence, option (1) is correct. origin is shifted. So, area remains unchanged,
which is 200 sq. unit
(3) The graph of |x – y| + |x + y| = 10 is given as
9. 4  x  3  5
5   x  3  5
y=5
If we take x = 2, [x + 3] = 5 and if we take x = –8
[x + 3] = –5.
Therefore all integer value of x which are greater than x = –5 x=5
–8 and less than 2 satisfy the given inequality. y = –5
Therefore, 9 integer values of x satisfy the inequality.

For questions 10 and 11:

So, required area = 10 × 10 = 100 sq. unit.
Let |x| = m and |y| = n
m + n = 7 and m2 + n2 = 25
or m2 + (7 – m)2 = 25 15. 4 || 2x  19 | 7 |  5
Solving above equation we get m = 3 or 4 and hence n = 4 or 5  | 2x  19 | 7  5
3 or x =  3 or  4 and y  4 or  3
 2  | 2x  19 |  12

10. 4 It doesn’t matter what value is assigned to x and y   12  2x  19  2 or 2  2x  19  12

among 3 and 4 because the expression is x3 + y3  7  2x  17 or 21  2x  31
Cleary a total of four values are possible for x3 + y3.
7 17 21 31
This will happen as (x, y) is retrieved from the following  x or x
sets. 2 2 2 2
(– 3, – 4) or (+ 3, + 4) or (– 3, + 4) or (3, – 4) Therefore, there are 10 integer values of x that
satisfy the inequality i.e. x = 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13,
11. 4 Here, x and y can be +ve and –ve both. 14 and 15.
So, value of |x – y|2 cannot be determined uniquely.
16. 4 When a > 0, b < 0,
12. 2 |2x – [x]| = |x + (x – [x])| = 4 ax2 and –b |x| are non negative for all x,
Here, x – [x] = fractional part of x = {x} i.e. ax2 – b|x|  0
i.e. |x + {x}| = 4  ax2 – b |x| is minimum at x = 0 when a > 0, b < 0.
This will only be satisfied for x = 3.5 and x = 4
Hence, only two solutions are possible. 17. 3 | 2x  7 |  | x  5 |  14

13. (1) The minimum value will occur at x = 2, which is 3. If x  5,  2x  7  x  5  14

(2) The minimum value will occur at 2  x  4, which  3x  26
is 9.
26
x 
14. (1) The graph of the function |x| + |y| = 10 is given 3
below 7
If  x  5, 2x  7  5  x  14
2
 x  16
But x lies between 3.5 and 5, hence x cannot be
(0, 10)
equal to 16
7
If x  ,  7  2x  5  x  14
2
(–10, 0) (10, 0)
2
x
3
(0, –10)
Therefore, there are two real values of x that satisfy
the equation.

Page 2 QA - 20
18. 1 We will go by options. 23. 2 Let x = [x] + {x} = I + f, where [x] = I denotes the integral
W e put x = 1.5, which doesn’t satisfy the given part of x and {x} = f denotes the fractional part of x.
equation. So option (2) and (3) are rejected. 2
Again, we take x = –2, which again do not satisfy the 2  x   5x  2
given equation.
Hence, the only solution set is {–1, 1}, which is  2I2  5I  5f  2
option (1).
2I2  5I  2
f
5
19. 1  1   2    3   1  3.
     
2I2  5I  2
0 1
 4   5   6   7   8  2 5 5
         
Solving the above inequality the only positive integral
 9    10     15   3  7 value of I that satisfies the equation is I = 3, and the
     
corresponding value of f for this value of I is 0.2.
nth term is n × (2n + 1) = 2n2 + n
So, x = 3 + 0.2 = 3.2.
n(n  1) (4n  5) Hence, there is only one integral value of x that satisfies
and Sn  2  n2   n 
6 the given equation.
Put n = 18
24. 2 Here, x > 1 and x < 2 is obvious.
S18 = 4389
3
 361  19 Now, for x  , expression = 1 + 3 + 4 + 6 = 14
  2
Total sum = 4389 + 19 = 4408.  x = 1.5 satisfies for x = 1.5, [3x] = [4.5] = 4

20. 3 Only the last 3 terms have numbers greater than or 5

But as soon as x  , [3x] = 5 it would not satisfy
equal to 1 inside the [ ] sign. The last three terms are: 3

 1 38   1 39   1 40  5
 4  50    4  50    4  50  So, x should be less than .
      3
Each of these terms are equal to 1.
All previous terms have numbers that lie between 0 25. 3 Given that 11[y] + 23{y} = 250 ...(i)
and 1 and therefore, are equal to zero. Now 0  {y} < 1
Hence, the sum of the given terms is 3. So, 0  23{y} < 23.
Comparing the above with (i) -
21. 1 Here, if x is an integer, then 227 <11[y]< 250 ...(ii)
[x] = x As [y] is always an integer the only possible values of
So, x = x + 1, which is not possible. [y] in (ii) are 21 and 22. (this is because only multiples
If x is in the form of Integer (I) + Fraction (F) of 11 between ‘227 and 250’ are 231 and 242)
then [x] = I
250-231 19
So, I = I + F + 1 = (I + 1) + F, which is again not possible. when [y] = 21, {y} = =
Hence, no solution. 23 23

19 19
Subsequently y = [y] + {y} = 21 + or y = 21 .
22. 3 [x]2  4{x}  2x 23 23

Let [x]  I, {x}  f,therefore x = I + f Also, when [y] = 22,

2 250 – 242 8
I2  4f  2I  2f  2f  2I  I {y} = = .
23 23
2I  I2
0  1 8 8
2 Subsequently y = [y] + {y} = 22 + or y = 22 .
23 23
Possible values of I = 0, 1 and 2
So, there are exactly two possible solutions for the
If I = 0, then f = 0: x = 0
If I = 1, then f = 0.5: x =1.5 and if I = 2, then f = 0: x =2 19 8
equation, y = 21 and y = 22 .
Therefore, x has three real values. 23 23

QA - 20 Page 3
26. 3 Case I: 27. 2 W e’ll verify the given statements by putting values
x is an integer of n.
Then x2 = [x2] and x = [x], So x = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 are five So,
solutions Statement I: Put n = 1 So, x1 = 1
Case II:
x = 1 + k or 2 + k or 3 + k or 4 + k, where k is a fraction 1 1 3 1
So, 2n      2 (true)
0<k<1 4 2 2 2
for x = 1 + k Again, n = 3 So, x3 = 2
12 + k2 + 2k – [1 + k2 + 2k] = k2 (or) 2k = [k2 + 2k], k = 0.5
for x = 1.5, this equation is satisfied 1 1 5 1
2n      3 (true)
for x = 2 + k 4 2 2 2
4 + k2 + 4k – [4 + k2 + 4k] = k2 (or) 4k = [k2 + 4k] It is always true.
k = 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 Similarly, statement II is also true.
There are 3 solutions x = 2.25, 2.5, 2.75 But in case of statement III, if we put n = 1
Similarly, we get for x = 3 + k (5 solutions) So, x1 = 1
For x = 4 + k (7 solutions) and xn is the smallest integer greater than
In all, 5 + (1 + 3 + 5 + 7) = 21 solutions.
1 1 3 1
2  1     1, which is not true.
4 2 2 2
Thus, only two statements are true.

Page 4 QA - 20