Algebra - 4

Contents
• Functions
• Greatest Integer Function
QA - 20
CEX-Q-0221/20

Number of questions : 30

Functions 5. A function is defined as

1. Set A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}; Set B = { a, b, c, d} x + y, if x + y < 1

A. How many elements are there in A × B ? 
B. How many one – one functions can be f(x, y) = 0, if x + y = 1
xy, if x + y > 1
made from A to B ? 
C. How many onto functions can be made
from A to B ? where, x and y are real numbers.

2. Let X = {a, b, c} and Y = {1, m}. Consider the  1 3

If f  x,  = , then which of the following
following four subsets of X × Y.  2  4
F1 = {(a, 1), (a, m), (b, 1), (c, m)},F2 = {(a, 1),
(b, 1), (c, 1)}, F3 = {(a, 1), (b, m), (c, m)} & F4 can be the value of x?
= {(a, 1), (b, m)}
1 3
(1) (2)
Which one, amongst the choices is a 4 2
representation of functions from X to Y?
(1) F2 and F3 (2) F1, F2 and F3 3
(3) (4) Both (1) and (2)
(3) F2, F3 and F4 (4) F3 and F4 4

1
3. y= . Find the range of values of x, if 6. Let f(x) = 210 x + 1 and g(x) = 3010 x –1.
9−x 2
If (fog) (x) = x, then x is equal to
y is real.
(1) 0 < x < 3 (2) x ≤ −3 or x ≥ 3 310 − 1 210 − 1
(1) 10 (2) 10
(3) x < −3 or x > 3 (4) None of these 3 − 2−10 2 − 3−10

4. y = 15 − x 2 − 2x . Find the range of values 1 − 3−10 1 − 2−10

(3) 10 (4) 10
of x if y is real. 2 − 3−10 3 − 2−10
(1) x ≤ −5 or x ≥ 3 (2) − 15 ≤ x ≤ 15
(3) −5 ≤ x ≤ 3 (4) −4 ≤ x ≤ 4

QA - 20 Page 1
7. Let f(x) be a function satisfying 1
12. If f(x) = , where [ ] represents
f(x)f(y) = f(xy) for all real x, y. If f(2) = 4, | x 2 − [x]2 |

 1 the greatest integer less than or equal to x,

then what is the value of f   ?
2 then what is the domain of f(x)?
(1) All real numbers
1 (2) All integers
(1) 0 (2)
4 (3) All rational number
(4) All real numbers except integers
1
(3) (4) 1
2
Directions for questions 13 and 14: (CAT 2004)
f1(x) = x, when 0 ≤ x ≤ 1
 1 
8. If 3f ( x + 2 ) + 4f   = 4x,x ≠ –2 , then = 1, when x ≥ 1
 x +2
f(4) = = 0, otherwise
f2(x) = f1(– x) for all x
52
(1) 7 (2) f3(x) = – f2(x) for all x
7
f4(x) = f3(– x) for all x
(3) 8 (4) None of these
13. How many of the following products are
0, when x = 1 necessarily zero for every x

If f ( x ) =  – 1, when x = 2
f1(x)f2(x), f2(x)f3(x), f2(x)f4(x)?
9.
1, when x is an odd prime number (1) 0 (2) 1

(3) 2 (4) 3
and f(xy) = f(x) + f(y), then find the value of
f(1995) ?. 14. Which of the following is necessarily true?
(1) 3 (2) 4 (1) f4(x) = f1(x) for all x
(3) 5 (4) None of these (2) f1(x) = – f3(– x) for all x
(3) f2(– x) = f4(x) for all x
10. Given, g(x) is a function such that g(x + 1) + (4) f1(x) + f3(x) = 0 for all x
g(x – 1) = g(x), where x is a positive real
number. For what minimum value of p does
15. A function F is defined for all the positive
the relation g(x + p) = –g(x) necessarily hold
integers that satisfy the following condition:
true?
F (1) + F (2) + F (3) +…+ F (n) = n2F (n). If F
(1) 2 (2) 3
(1) = 2006, then find the value of F (2005).
(3) 5 (4) 6
1 2
11. f(x) = max (2x – 6, 4 – 3x). (1) (2)
2005 2005
(1) What is the value of f(x) at x = 10 ?
(2) What is the minimum value of f(x) 1 2
(3) What is the maximum value of f(x) (3) (4)
2005! 2005!
if – 5 ≤ x ≤ 10

Page 2 QA - 20
16. A ‘polynomial f(x) with real coefficients satisfies 22. For a real number y, let [y] denote the largest
 1 integer less than or equal to y and {y} denotes
the functional equation f ( x ) . f   y – [y]. How many solutions does the
x
equation 11[y] + 23{y} = 250 have?
 1
= f ( x ) + f   . If f(2) = 9, then f(4) is (1) 0 (2) 1
 x (3) 2 (4) 3
(1) 82 (2) 17
(3) 65 (4) None of these 23. If [ . ] denotes the greatest integer function,
then for how many values of x in the interval
Greatest Integer Function [1, 5] will the following equation satisfy?
x2 – [x2] = (x – [x])2
17. If [x] is the greatest integer less than or equal (1) None (2) 5
to x then find the value of the following series. (3) 21 (4) Infinitely many
[ 1] + [ 2] + [ 3] + [ 4] + ... + [ 361]
24. Find the solution set for [x] + [2x] + [3x] +
(1) 4408 (2) 4839 [4x] = 14, where x is a real number and [x]
(3) 3498 (4) 3489 represents the greatest integer less than or
equal to x.
18. If the symbol [x] denotes the largest integer
5 3 5
less than or equal to x, then the value of (1) x < (2) ≤x<
 1  1 1   1 2   1 40  3 2 3
 4  +  4 + 50  +  4 + 50  + ...  4 + 50  is 4
        (3) 1 ≤ x < (4) None of these
(1) 40 (2) 28 3
(3) 3 (4) 0
Challenging
19. Let {x} and [x] denote the fractional and
integral parts respectively of a real number x. 25. Let x n denote the n-th element of the
sequence {1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, L },
If [x]2 + 4{x} = 2x, then how many values of x
where n is a positive integer. How many of
are possible?
the following statements are then true?
(1) 1 (2) 2
Statement I: xn is the largest integer less
(3) 3 (4) 4
1 1
than 2n +
+
20. Find how many positive real values of x satisfy 4 2
the equation 2 [x ] = 5x + 2, where [x] Statement II: xn is the largest integer not
2

1 1
denotes greatest integer less than or equal greater than 2 (n − 1) +
+
to x. 4 2
(1) 0 (2) 1 Statement III: xn is the smallest integer
(3) 2 (4) 3
1 1
greater than 2n +
−
21. The number of solutions of [x] = x + 1 is 4 2
(1) 0 (2) 1 (Consider only the positive values for the
(3) 2 (4) infinite square roots in the above statements.
For example, 25 will given only +5, and
not –5)
(1) 3 (2) 2
(3) 1 (4) 0

QA - 20 Page 3
 28. r is an integer > 1. Then, what is the value of
4x
26. Let f(x) = x , then fr – 1(–r) + fr(–r) + fr + 1(–r)?
4 +2 (1) –1 (2) 0
 1   2   1996  (3) 1 (4) None of these
f  + f  1997  + L + f  1997  is equal
 1997     
to 29. Suppose, a function f is defined over the set
(1) 1 (2) 997 of natural numbers as follows: f(1) = 1,
(3) 998 (4) 996 f(2) = 1, f(3) = –1, and f(n) = f(n – 1) f(n – 3)
for n > 3. Then the value of f(694) + f(695) is
Directions for questions 27 and 28: For a real
(1) –2 (2) –1
 1 (3) 1 (4) 2
 , if x is non − negative
number x, let f(x) = 1 + x
1 + x, if x is negative 30. A periodic function f satisfies f(x + a) (1 – f(x))
and fn(x) = f(fn – 1(x)), for n = 2, 3, … = 1 + f(x) for some constant a. The period
of f is
27. What is the value of the product, (1) a (2) 2a
f(2) f2(2) f3(2) f4(2) f5(2)? (3) 3a (4) 4a
1
(1) (2) 3
3
1
(3) (4) None of these
18

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

1 – 2 1 3 4 4 3 5 4 6 4 7 2 8 4 9 2 10 2
11 – 12 4 13 3 14 2 15 2 16 3 17 1 18 3 19 3 20 2
21 1 22 3 23 3 24 2 25 2 26 3 27 4 28 2 29 4 30 4

1. A. Number of elements in A × B = 5 × 4 = 20 7. 2 f(x).f(y) = f(xy)

B. No one-one function is possible from A to B Given, f(2) = 4
because number of elements in set A is greater We can also write,
than the number of elements in set B. f(2) = f(2 × 1) = f(2) × f(1)
C. Since set A contains 5 elements and set B contains or f(1) × 4 = 4
4 elements, so we will first divide 5 elements of
⇒ f(1) = 1
set A into four groups i.e. 10 ways.
Now we can also write,
Now, these four groups can be paired with the 4
elements of set B in 4! ways.  1  1
f(1) = f  2 ×  = f(2) × f  
So, number of onto function from A to B = 10 × 4!  2 2
= 240.
 1  f(1) 1
⇒ f  = = .
2. 1 In case of F1, a is paired with 1 and m both, which  2  f(2) 4
violates the condition for being a function. So, F1 is not
a function. Whereas in case of F4, c (an element of x)  1 
8. 4 3f ( x + 2 ) + 4f   = 4x
does not belong to any value of set Y. So, it is not a  x + 2
function. F2 and F3 satisfy all the conditions, so option Putting x = z – 2, we get
(1) is correct.
 1
3f ( z ) + 4f   = 4z – 8 …(i)
z
3. 4 If y is real, 9 – x > 0 ⇒ (3 + x) (3 – x) > 0
2
1
Now replacing z with in the above equation, we get
⇒ –3 < x < 3 z
 1 4
3f   + 4f ( z ) = − 8 …(ii)
4. 3 If y is real, 15 − x − 2x ≥ 0 ⇒ x + 2x − 15 ≤ 0
2 2 z z
From (i) and (ii),
⇒ (x + 5)(x − 3) ≤ 0 ⇒ −5 ≤ x ≤ 3
1 16 
f ( z ) =  – 8 – 12z 
7 z 
1 3 1  16 
5. 4 Substituting x =
4
and from the options, we find f ( x + 2) =  – 8 – 12(x + 2)
2 7  (x + 2) 
that the given condition is satisfied. 1 16  52
f (4 ) =
 – 8 – 12 × 4  = − .
 1 3 7 4  7
Q f  x,  = Hence, option (4) is the right choice.
 2 4
So, x + y can be greater than 1 or less than 1 as well. 9. 2 f(1995) = f(15 × 133) = f(3) + f(5) + f(7) + f(19)
We need to check by options. = 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 4.

6. 4 f(g(x)) = x ⇒ f(310x – 1) = x 10. 2 Given that g(x + 1) + g(x – 1) = g(x) ... (i)
So, 210(310x – 1) + 1 = x
So, g(x + 2) + g(x) = g(x + 1) ...(ii)
⇒ 210 × 310x – 210 + 1 = x
Adding equations (i) and (ii), we get
1 − 210 1 − 2 −10 g (x + 2) + g (x – 1) = 0
⇒ = x ⇒ x = 10 .
10 10
1− 2 3 3 − 2 −10 ⇒ g(x + 3) + g(x) = 0
⇒ g(x + 3) = –g (x);
So, p = 3.

QA - 20 Page 1
11. The given function can be plotted as 14. 2 Checking with options:
Option (2):
Y = 4 – 3x
6 f3 (–x) = –f2 (–x) = –f1(x) ⇒ f1(x) = –f3 (–x), for all x.

–6
4 15. 2 F(1) + F(2) + … + F(n) = n2 . F(n)

2x
⇒ F(1) + F(2) + … + F(n – 1) = (n2 – 1) . F(n)

Y=
2 Also, F(1) + F(2) + … + F(n – 1) = (n – 1)2 . F(n – 1)
4 Hence we can say (n – 1)2 F(n – 1) = (n2 – 1) . F(n)
3 F(n) (n − 1)2 n − 1
⇒ = 2 =
–6 –4 –2 2 4 6 F(n − 1) n −1 n +1

–2 F (n ) F (n − 1) F (2 )
Now, × × ... ×
F (n − 1) F (n − 2 ) F (1)

–4 (n − 1) (n − 2 ) (n − 3 ) 1
= × × × ... ×
( )
n + 1 n n − 1 3
F(n) 1× 2
–6 ⇒ =
F(1) n(n + 1)
(1) For x = 10 1× 2 2
⇒ F(2005) = × 2006 =
f(x) = 2x – 6 2005 × 2006 2005
⇒ f(10) = 2 × 10 – 6 = 14.
(2) The minimum value of f(x) is at x = 2, which is –2. Alternative method:
(3) The maximum value of the given function can either Putting n = 2, we have F(1) + F(2) = 4 × F(2).
be at x = –5 for f(x) = 4 – 3x or at x = 10 for f(x) 2006
= 2x – 6 i.e. we will check both the possibilities. Thus F(2) =
3
So, at x = –5
Putting n = 3 we have F(1) + F(2) + F(3) = 9 × F(3).
f(–5) = 4 – 3(–5) = 19
and at x = 10 4 1 1
Thus F(3) = × = of 2006
f(10) = 2 × 10 – 6 = 14. 3 8 6
Thus maximum value of f(x) in the given range Putting n = 4 we have F(1) + F(2) + F(3) + F(4)
is 19. 9 1 1
= 16 × F(4). Thus F(4) = × = of 2006
6 15 10
12. 4 If x is an integer, [x] = x. Thus in general we can say that
1 1
∴ will not be a real number when x is an F(n) = × 2006
| x 2 − [x]2 | (sumof all natural numbers till n)
integer. 2 2
Thus F(2005) = × 2006 = .
2005 × 2006 2005
13. 3 f1f2 = f1(x)f1(–x)
16. 3 Assume f(x) = xn + 1
 –x 0 ≤ –x ≤ 1  1 1
 and f   = +1
f1(–x) =  1 –x ≥ 1
 x  xn
0 otherwise


 –x –1 ≤ x ≤ 0
 1
x
(  1
So, f ( x ).f   = xn + 1 
x n ) 
+ 1


=1 x ≤ –1
0
 otherwise (
= 1 + xn + 
x
)
 1
n

+ 1

f1f1(–x) = 0, for all x
 1
= f (x ) + f  
2 x
Similarly, f2f3 = –(f1(–x)) ≠ 0 for some x

f2f4 = f1(–x). f3 (–x) Now f ( x ) = xn + 1 = 9

= –f1(–x) f2 (–x) ⇒ xn = 8 ⇒ n = 3
∴ f ( x ) = x3 + 1
= –f1(–x) f1(x) = 0, for all x
Hence, f(x) = 43 + 1 = 65.

Page 2 QA - 20
 Solving the above inequality the only positive integral
17. 1  1 +  2  +  3  = 1× 3.
      value of I that satisfies the equation is I = 3, and the
corresponding value of f for this value of I is 0.2.
 4 +  5 +  6 +  7 +  8 = 2× 5 So, x = 3 + 0.2 = 3.2.
         
Hence, there is only one integral value of x that satisfies
the given equation.
 9  +  10  + L  15  = 3 × 7
     
nth term is n × (2n + 1) = 2n2 + n 21. 1 Here, if x is an integer, then
[x] = x
n(n + 1) (4n + 5)
and Sn = 2 ∑ n2 + ∑ n = So, x = x + 1, which is not possible.
6
Put n = 18 If x is in the form of Integer (I) + Fraction (F)
S18 = 4389 then [x] = I
So, I = I + F + 1 = (I + 1) + F, which is again not possible.
 361 = 19 Hence, no solution.
 
Total sum = 4389 + 19 = 4408. 22. 3 Given that 11[y] + 23{y} = 250 ...(i)
Now 0 ≤ {y} < 1
18. 3 Only the last 3 terms have numbers greater than or So, 0 ≤ 23{y} < 23.
equal to 1 inside the [ ] sign. The last three terms are: Comparing the above with (i) -
227 <11[y]< 250 ...(ii)
 1 38   1 39   1 40 
 4 + 50  +  4 + 50  +  4 + 50  As [y] is always an integer the only possible values of
      [y] in (ii) are 21 and 22. (this is because only multiples
Each of these terms are equal to 1. of 11 between ‘227 and 250’ are 231 and 242)
All previous terms have numbers that lie between 0 250-231 19
and 1 and therefore, are equal to zero. when [y] = 21, {y} = =
23 23
Hence, the sum of the given terms is 3.
19 19
Subsequently y = [y] + {y} = 21 + or y = 21 .
23 23
19. 3 [x]2 + 4{x} = 2x
Also, when [y] = 22,
Let [x] = I, {x} = f,therefore x = I + f 250 – 242 8
{y} = = .
23 23
2
I2 + 4f = 2I + 2f ⇒ 2f = 2I − I
8 8
Subsequently y = [y] + {y} = 22 + or y = 22 .
2
2I − I 23 23
∴0 ≤ <1
2 So, there are exactly two possible solutions for the

Possible values of I = 0, 1 and 2 19 8

equation, y = 21 and y = 22 .
If I = 0, then f = 0: x = 0 23 23
If I = 1, then f = 0.5: x =1.5 and if I = 2, then f = 0: x =2
Therefore, x has three real values. 23. 3 Case I:
x is an integer
20. 2 Let x = [x] + {x} = I + f, where [x] = I denotes the integral Then x2 = [x2] and x = [x], So x = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 are five
solutions
part of x and {x} = f denotes the fractional part of x.
Case II:
x = 1 + k or 2 + k or 3 + k or 4 + k, where k is a fraction
2 [x ] = 5x + 2
2
0<k<1
for x = 1 + k
⇒ 2I2 = 5I + 5f + 2 12 + k2 + 2k – [1 + k2 + 2k] = k2 (or) 2k = [k2 + 2k], k = 0.5
for x = 1.5, this equation is satisfied
2I2 − 5I − 2 for x = 2 + k
⇒f= 4 + k2 + 4k – [4 + k2 + 4k] = k2 (or) 4k = [k2 + 4k]
5
k = 0.25, 0.5, 0.75
There are 3 solutions x = 2.25, 2.5, 2.75
2I2 − 5I − 2 Similarly, we get for x = 3 + k (5 solutions)
⇒0≤ <1
5 For x = 4 + k (7 solutions)
In all, 5 + (1 + 3 + 5 + 7) = 21 solutions.

QA - 20 Page 3
24. 2 Here, x > 1 and x < 2 is obvious.
1 5 + 3x
3 f 5 (x) = f(f 4 (x)) = =
Now, for x = , expression = 1 + 3 + 4 + 6 = 14  3 + x  8 + 5x
1+ 
2  5 + 3x 
∴ x = 1.5 satisfies for x = 1.5, [3x] = [4.5] = 4
5 1+ 2 1
But as soon as x = , [3x] = 5 it would not satisfy So, f(2) × f2(2) f3(2) f4(2) f5(2) = =
3 (8 + 5 × 2) 6
5 (Note: here we don’t need to write all the term, as
So, x should be less than .
3 denominator of one term is getting cancelled by the
numerator of next term.)
25. 2 We’ll verify the given statements by putting values
of n. 28. 2 Here –r is negative.
So, So, the given expression becomes
Statement I: Put n = 1 So, x1 = 1 f1(–2) + f2(–2) + f3(–2)
= –1 + f(–1) + f3(–2) = –1 + 0 + f(0)
1 1 3 1
So, 2n ++ = + = 2 (true) 1
4 2 2 2 = –1 + =0.
Again, n = 3 So, x3 = 2 1+ 0
Thus option (2) is correct.
1 1 5 1
2n + + = + = 3 (true)
4 2 2 2 29. 4 f(x) = f(x – 1) f(x – 3)
It is always true. f(4) = –1.1 = –1
Similarly, statement II is also true. f(5) = –1.1 = –1
But in case of statement III, if we put n = 1 f(6) = –1.–1 = 1
So, x1 = 1 f(7) = 1.–1 = –1
and xn is the smallest integer greater than f(8) = –1.–1 = 1
f(9) = 1.1 = 1
1 1 3 1 f(10) = 1.–1 = –1
2 × 1+ − = − = 1, which is not true.
4 2 2 2 f(11) = –1.1 = –1
Thus, only two statements are true. f(12) = –1.1 = –1
f(13) = –1.–1 = 1
f(14) = 1.1 = –1
4x f(15) = –1.–1 = 1
26. 3 Since, f(x) = x Here, after every multiple of 7, we are getting two
4 +2
one’s.
4( ) 1− x
2 Since 694 = 7k + 1 and 695 = 7k + 2,
⇒ f(1 – x) = (1− x )
= x So, f(694) + f(695) = 1 + 1 = 2.
4 +2 4 +2
So, f(x) + f(1 – x) = 1
1 + f(x) f(x + a) − 1
30. 4 f(x + a) = ⇒ f(x)
 1   1996  1 − f(x) f(x + a) + 1
⇒ f +f =1
 1997   1997 
x ↔ (x + a)
 2   1995  f(x + 2a) − 1 1 + f(x + a)
f +f = 1 ..... and so on
 1997   1997  f(x + a) =
f(x + 2a) + 1
⇒ f(x + 2a) =
1 − f(x + a)
So, required sum = 998.
1 + f(x)
1+
1 − f(x) −1
1 ⇒ f(x + 2a) = =
1 + f(x) f(x)
27. 4 Since 2 is a non-negative number, so f(x) =
(1 + x) 1−
1 − f(x)
1 (1 + x) Again, x ↔ (x + a)
f 2 (x) = f(f(x)) = =
1 (2 + x) −1 f(x) − 1
1+ =
(1 + x) ⇒ f(x + 3a) =
f(x + a) f(x) + 1
1 (2 + x) Again, x ↔ (x + a)
f 3 (x) = f(f 2 (x)) = =
 1 + x  (3 + 2x) 1 + f(x)
1+ 
 2 + x  −1
f(x + a) − 1 1 − f(x)
f(x + 4a) = =
1 (3 + 2x) f(x + a) + 1 1 + f(x)
f 4 (x) = f(f 3 (x)) = = +1
 2 + x  (5 + 3x) 1 − f(x)
1+ 
 3 + 2x  f(x + 4a) = f(x)
⇒ Period of f(x) is 4a.

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