Algebra - 1

Contents
 Polynomials
 Linear Equations
QA - 17
CEX-Q-0218/22

Number of questions : 31

1. Every 10 years the Indian Government counts A. x = 2y

all the people living in the country. Suppose B. x = 2z
that the director of the census has reported C. 2x = z
the following data on two neighbouring villages
Chota Hazri and Mota Hazri. (1) Only A (2) B and C
Chota Hazri has 4,522 fewer males than Mota (3) A and B (4) None of these
Hazri.
Mota Hazri has 4,020 more females than 5. If a + b + c = 0, where a  b  c,
males.
Chota Hazri has twice as many females as a2 b2 c2
males. then   =
Chota Hazri has 2,910 fewer females than 2a2  bc 2b2  ac 2c 2  ab
Mota Hazri. (1) 0 (2) 1
What is the total number of males in Chota (3) –1 (4) abc
Hazri?
(1) 11,264 (2) 14,174 6. Simplify:
(3) 5,632 (4) 10,154
2433  2573  5003  3  243  257  500
2. If a,b,c are real numbers such that a2 + b2 + 2432  2572  5002  (243  257  257
2c2 – 4a + 2c – 2bc + 5 = 0, then what is the  500  243  500)
value of a + b – c?
(1) 5000 (2) 1000
(1) 0 (2) 2
(3) 900 (4) 960
(3) –2 (4) 4

1 1
3. If x4 + = 47 (x > 0), then find the value of 7. If x  1 x = (x is a real number), then
5
x4
1 find the value of x  1 x .
x3 + 3 .
x
(1) 18 (2) 27 2 3
(3) 9 (4) 12 (1) (2)
5 5

4. If x 2  5y 2  z2  2y(2x  z) , then which of 6 7

the following statements is(are) necessarily (3) (4)
5 5
true?

QA - 17 Page 1
8. If pqr = 1, the value of the expression 13. Three friends, returning from a movie, stopped
to eat at a restaurant. After dinner, they paid
1 1 1 their bill and noticed a bowl of mints at the
  is equal
–1 –1
1 p  q 1 q  r 1  r  p –1 front counter. Sita took one-third of the mints,
but returned four because she had a
to momentary pang of guilt. Fatima then took
1 one-fourth of what was left but returned three
(1) p + q + r (2) for similar reason. Eswari then took half of
pqr
the remainder but threw two back into the
–1 –1 –1 bowl. The bowl had only 17 mints left when
(3) 1 (4) p  q  r the raid was over. How many mints were
originally in the bowl?
9. The sum of the digits of a two-digit number is (1) 38 (2) 31
7. If its unit's digit is 3 less than its ten's digit, (3) 41 (4) None of these
then what is the number?
(1) 25 (2) 52 14. The cost of 1 dozen apple and 1 kg orange is
(3) 61 (4) 74 Rs.20, while the cost of 1 dozen orange and
1 kg apple is Rs.16. Also, the cost of an apple
10. In a vehicle showroom, there are only two and an orange is Rs.3. If 1 kg of apple and
types of vehicles, three wheeler auto- 1 kg of orange have m and n (m and n are
rickshaws and four wheeler cars. If we count integers) of the same kind of f ruits
the total number of wheels, there are 550 respectively, then the minimum value of m
wheels but 160 vehicles to show. Find the will be
number of auto-rickshaws in the showroom. (1) 5 (2) 6
(1) 70 (2) 100 (3) 7 (4) Data inconsistent
(3) 90 (4) 80
15. The number of solutions for the equation
11. Shrishti is 2 years older than Alia and Aasma 2x + 3y = 40, such that both x and y are
is 6 years younger than Pariksha. If the natural numbers, is
absolute difference between the ages of (1) 20 (2) 13
Pariksha and Alia is 5 years, then who among (3) 6 (4) 8
the following is the youngest?
(1) Aasma (2) Alia 16. A Shopkeeper can buy X number of pencils
(3) Pariksha (4) Either (1) or (2) and Y number of pens in Rs. 1000. Cost price
of a pencil is Rs. 30 and that of a pen is
12. The owner of a local jewellery store hired three Rs. 20. He gifts away a few pens and sells
watchmen to guard his diamonds, but a thief the remaining pens at Rs. 25 each and pencils
still got in and stole some diamonds. On the at Rs. 35 each. If he does not make any profit
way out, the thief met each watchman, one or loss in this transaction, then which of the
1 following relations can be correct?
at a time. To each he gave of the diamonds
2 A. X + Y = 25
he had then, and 2 more besides. He escaped B. X + Y = 34
with one diamond. How many did he steal C. X + Y = 45
originally?
(1) 40 (2) 36 (1) Only A (2) A and B
(3) 25 (4) None of these (3) Only C (4) A and C

Page 2 QA - 17
17. A test has 50 questions. A student scores 1 (3) the total number of chocolates initially in
1 the box must have been 6300.
mark for a correct answer,  for a wrong (4) both (1) & (2) true
3
1
answer, and  for not attempting a 20. How many pairs of positive integers m and n
6
question. If the net score of a student is 32, 1 4 1
the number of questions answered wrongly satisfy   , where n is an odd
m n 12
by that student cannot be less than (CAT) integer less than 60? (CAT)
(1) 6 (2) 12
(1) 6 (2) 4
(3) 3 (4) 9
(3) 7 (4) 5
18. A telecom service provider engages male and (5) 3
female operators for answering 1000 calls per
day. A male operator can handle 40 calls per 21. Given the system of equations 3x + ky = 1
day whereas a female operator can handle and 6x + 3y = 2. For which values of k does
50 calls per day. The male and the female this system have infinite solutions?
operators get a fixed wage of Rs. 250 and
Rs. 300 per day respectively. In addition, a 3 3
(1) (2) –
male operator gets Rs. 15 per call he answers 2 2
and female operator gets Rs. 10 per call she 2 2
answers. To minimize the total cost, how (3) (4) 
3 3
many male operators should the service
provider employ assuming he has to employ
more than 7 of the 12 female operators 22. The total number of integers pairs (x, y)
available for the job? satisfying the equation x + y = xy is
(1) 15 (2) 14 (1) 0 (2) 1
(3) 12 (4) 10 (3) 2 (4) None of these

19. Some children stand in a queue and share a 23. Which one of the following conditions must
box of chocolates in such a manner that Child p, q and r satisfy so that the following system
of linear simultaneous equations has at least
1 one solution, such that p + q + r  0?
1 takes 100 chocolates plus th of
10 x+ 2y – 3z = p
whatever remains in the box. Then Child 2x + 6y – 11z = q
x – 2y + 7z = r
1
2 takes 200 chocolates plus th of (1) 5p –2q – r = 0 (2) 5p + 2q + r = 0
10
(3) 5p + 2q – r = 0 (4) 5p – 2q + r = 0
whatever remains, then Child 3 takes 300
1 24. The number of distinct solutions of the system
chocolates plus th of whatever remains,
10 of equations given below is
and so on for each child in the queue. It turns x2 + 2y2 + 4z2 + 3(xy + yz + zx) = 16
out that each child gets the same number of
y2 + 2z2 + 4x2 + 3(xy + yz + zx) = 16
chocolates. Then
(1) there must be exactly 7 children in the z2 + 2x2 + 4y2 + 3(xy + yz + zx) = 16
queue.
(2) each child must have received 900 (1) 1 (2) 2
chocolates. (3) 4 (4) 8

QA - 17 Page 3
25. Find the value of b, if (x + 3) (2x + 5) 30. F(x) is a fourth order polynomial with integer
= 2x2 + bx + 15. coefficients and with no common factor. The
roots of F(x) are –2, –1, 1, 2. If p is a prime
26. (x – 3) is a factor of f(x) = x3 – 5x2 + px + 9. If number greater than 97, then the largest
all the roots are integers, then integer that divides F(p) for all values of p is
A. What is the value of p? (XAT)
B. The roots of f(x) are ___, ___ and ____. (1) 72 (2) 120
(3) 240 (4) 360
27. (x + 4) is a factor of f(x) = 3x3 + px2 – 30x + 24. (5) None of these
A. Find P.
B. Solve for f(x) = 0, if all the roots are 31. If x = 1, 2, –3 are three of the roots of the
integers. polynomial P(x) = Ax4 + Bx3 + cx2 + Dx + E,
then how many of the following statement(s)
28. If (x + a) is a factor of x3 + ax2 + ax + 4. Then is(are) always true?
A. P(2) = 0
the values “a” can take are
B. P(x) = (x – 1) (x – 2) (x + 3) is the
(1) 2 (2) –2
polynomial.
(3) Either of them (4) Neither of them
C. There is a fourth root, which could be either
real or imaginary.
29. f(x) is a polynomial of degree 49 such that D. If E = 12 and A = 2, then the fourth root
f(1) = 4, f(2) =5, f(3) = 6, ..... f(49) = 52. Find is –1.
f(50). (k is positive constant)
(1) 53 + k49! (2) 53! (1) One (2) Two
(3) 54! (4) 49! (3) three (4) Four

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Page 4 QA - 17
 QA - 17 : Algebra – 1 CEX-Q-0218/22
Answers and Explanations

1 3 2 2 3 1 4 3 5 2 6 2 7 4 8 3 9 2 10 3
11 1 12 2 13 4 14 4 15 3 16 3 17 3 18 4 19 2 20 5
21 1 22 3 23 1 24 4 25 – 26 – 27 – 28 3 29 1 30 4
31 2

1. 3 Let x be the number of males in Mota Hazri.

(x – 2y)2  (z – y)2  0
Chota Hazri Mota Hazri
Males x – 4522 x It can be true only if x = 2y and z = y
Females 2(x – 4522) x + 4020
x + 4020 – 2(x – 4522) = 2910  x = 10154 Alternative method:
Option (1) cannot be the answer as L.H.S. has z2 and
 Number of males in Chota Hazri = 10154 – 4522
= 5632 R.H.S has z
Option (2) cannot be the answer as they are
2. 2 We can factor the left hand side into (a – 2)2 + (c – b)2 contradictory conditions.
+ (c + 1)2 = 0 So, option (3) is the only possibility.
Because the left hand side consists of a sum of
squares and the right hand side is 0, it must be that 5. 2 The given expression is symmetrical i.e. if we replace
each square is 0. a, b and c with each other, the expression remains
This implies that a = 2; c = –1; b = –1. unchanged.
So, a + b – c = 2 + (–1) – (–1) = 2. So, a = b = c
Hence, the given expression can be re-written as

1 1 a2 a2 a2 1 1 1
3. 1
4
Given x   47 or x 4  4  2  49 2 2
 2 2
 2    1
x4 x 2a  a 2a  a 2a  a2 3 3 3

2 Alternative method:
 1  1
or  x 2    7 2 or x 2  2  7 We assume some values of a, b and c such that
 
 x2  x
a + b + c = 0 and a  b  c, and find the value of the
1 expression that is given. So let a = 1, b = –1 and
or x 2  29
x2 c = 0.
a2 b2 c2
2 So we find that  2  2
1 1 2
2a  bc 2b  ac 2c  ab
or  x   = 32 or x   3
 x  x 1 1
=   0 = 1.
2 2
3
1  1 1 1
x3    x    3.x.  x   6. 2 a3 + b3 + c3 – 3abc
x3  x x x
= (a + b + c)(a2 + b2 + c2 – ab – bc – ca)
= 33 – 3 × 3 = 18.
(a3  b3  c 3  3abc)
 abc
(a  b2  c 2  ab  bc  ca)
2
4. 3 x 2  5y 2  z 2  4yx  2yz
Here, a = 243, b = 257, c = 500
(x 2  4y 2 – 4yx)  z 2  y 2 – 2yz  0  a  b  c  243  257  500  1000

QA - 17 Page 1
 11. 1 Let the age of Alia be x years.
1
7. 4 x  1 x   The age of Shrishti = (x + 2) years
5
Now, the age of Pariksha can be either (x + 5) or
x  1  x  a, say (x – 5) years.
Case I: The age of Pariksha is (x + 5) years.
On squaring and adding, we get The age of Aasma = (x + 5 – 6) = (x – 1) years.
1 Case II: The age of Pariksha is (x – 5) years.
2(x + 1 – x) = + a2 The age of Aasma = (x – 5 – 6) = (x – 11) years.
25
Hence, in both the cases Aasma is the youngest
1 49 person.
 a2  2  
25 25
12. 2 Since thief escaped with 1 diamond,
7 Before 3rd watchman he had (1 + 2) × 2 = 6
a (as a > 0)
5 Before 2nd watchman he had (6 + 2) × 2 = 16
Before 1st watchman he had (16 + 2) × 2 = 36.
8. 3 Given pqr = 1
Alternative method:
1 1 Use the options and try.
 pq  and  qr
r p
13. 4 Let there be x mints originally in the bowl.
1 1 1
  1
1  p  q1 1  q  r 1 1  r  p 1 Sita took , but returned 4. So now the bowl has
3

q r 1 2
   x  4 mints.
1  q  pq 1  qr  r 1  r  qr 3

qr r 1 1  r  qr 1
     1. Fatima took of the remainder, but returned 3.
1  qr  r 1  qr  r 1  r  qr 1  r  qr 4

32 
Alternative method: So the bowl now has  x  4   3 mints.
4  3 
Putting x = y = z = 1, we get
Eshwari took half of remainder that is
1 1 1
1
 1
 1
1 p  q 1 q  r 1 r  p 1 3  2  
  x  4   3 
2  4  3  
1 1 1 1 1 1
       1. She returns 2, so the bowl now has
1 1 1 1 1 1 1  1 1 3 3 3
1 3  2  
  x  4   3  2  17  x = 48
9. 2 Let the two-digit number be 10y + x. 2  4  3  
So, x + y = 7 and y = x + 3
On solving these equations we get,
Short cut:
x = 2 and y = 5
Since Sita was the first person to pick and she picks
 Required number = 52.
1
up of the mint, but if you see the options, none of
Alternative method: 3
Use the options and apply the given conditions. the option is a multiple of 3.

10. 3 Let, the number of cars = x and number of auto- 14. 4 According to the information given in the question,
rickshaws = y Cost of 1 dozen apple + cost of 1 kg orange = Rs.20
So, x + y = 160 … (i) Cost of 1 dozen orange + cost of 1 kg apple = Rs.16
and 4x + 3y = 550 … (ii) Cost of 1 dozen orange + cost of 1 dozen apple
On multiplying equation (i) with 4 and subtracting = 3 × 12 = Rs.36
equation (ii), we get y = 90  Cost of 1 kg orange + cost of 1 kg apple = 0
Thus, there are 90 auto-rickshaws. Which is not possible. Hence, the data is inconsistent.

Page 2 QA - 17
15. 3 2x and 40 are even numbers. Therefore, 3y must be 19. 2 Let the total number of chocolates in the box be x.
an even number. There are 6 even multiples of 3 from Number of chocolates taken by Child 1
0 to 40. Hence, there are 6 values of (x, y) that satisfy = 100 + 0.1(x – 100) = 90 + 0.1x
the equations. Number of chocolates taken by Child 2
They are (17, 2), (14, 4), (11, 6), (8, 8), (5, 10), (2, 12). = 200 + 0.1(x – (290 + 0.1x) = 171 + 0.09x.
As each child receives the same number of chocolates,
16. 3 Given that 30X + 20Y = 1000 therefore 90 + 0.1x = 171 + 0.09x
 3X + 2Y = 100 ...(i) Therefore, the value of x = 8100.
Let K pens be gifted away. Number of chocolates received by each child
35X + 25(Y – K) = 1000 = 90 + 0.1x = 900.
7X + 5Y – 5K = 200 ...(ii)
2(3X + 2Y) + X + Y – 5K = 200 Alternative method:
200 + X + Y – 5K = 200 Use the options to solve the question.
 X + Y = 5K e.g. if we pick option (2) which says each child must
have received 900 chocolates.
A. X + Y = 25 and 3X + 2Y = 100 gives Y Using this in the condition given in the question for
= – 25 (not possible). child 1.
B. Not possible as (X + Y) has to be a multiple of 5.
C. X + Y = 45 and 3x + 2Y = 100, X = 10 and Y = 35. 1
900  100  (T  100) {where T is total number of
10
Therefore, only C can be correct. chocolate}
 T = 8100
17. 3 Let the number of questions answered correctly be x, Trying this in the conditions it satisfies.
that of ans wered wrongly be y and that of left So, option (2) is correct and option (1) & (3) cannot be
unattempted be z. correct simultaneously.
Thus, x + y + z = 50 …(i)

y z 1 4 1
And x – –  32 20. 5   , n  60
3 6 m n 12
The second equation can be written as,
6x – 2y – z = 192 …(ii) 1 1 4 n – 48
  – 
Adding the two equations, we get, m 12 n 12n

242  y 12n
7x – y = 242 or x = m 
7 n – 48
Since x and y are both integers, the minimum value of Positive integral values of m for odd integral values of
y must be 3. n are for n = 49, 51 and 57.
Therefore, there are 3 integral pairs of values of m
18. 4 There are two equations to be formed 40 m + 50 f and n that satisfy the given equation.
= 1000
250 m + 300 f + 40 × 15 m + 50 × 10 f = A 21. 1 3x + ky = 1 and 6x + 3y = 2 shall have infinite solutions
850 m + 800 f = A
m and f are the number of males and females A is 3 k 1 3
if   or k =
amount paid by the employer. 6 3 2 2
Then the possible values of f = 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
If f = 8
m = 15 22. 3 Given equation is x + y = xy
If f = 9, 10, 11 then m will not be an integer while f = 12  xy – x – y + 1 = 1
then m will be 10.  (x – 1)(y – 1) = 1
By putting f = 8 and m = 15, A = 18800. When f = 12 and x – 1 = 1 & y – 1 = 1 or x – 1 = –1 & y – 1 = –1
m = 10 then A = 18100 Clearly (0, 0) and (2, 2) are the only pairs that will
Therefore the number of males will be 10. satisfy the equation.

QA - 17 Page 3
23. 1 It is given that p  q  r  0 , if we consider the first 28. 3 Using the remainder theorem we can conclude that
(–a)3 + a(a2) + a(–a) + 4 = 0.
option, and multiply the first equation by 5, second by
 (a – 2)(a + 2) = 0
–2 and third by –1, we see that the coefficients of x,
So, a = –2 or 2.
y and z all add up-to zero.
Thus, 5p – 2q – r = 0
29. 1 From given data, we can say that
No other option satisfies this.
f(x) = k(x – 1) (x – 2) (x – 3) ......(x – 49) + x + 3
24. 4 All the three equations are symmetrical. So, the So, f(50) = k49! + 53.
solutions exist for the conditions x = y = z, x = y = –z,
x = –y = z and –x = y = z. 30. 4 Given that F(x)   x  2  x  1 x  1 x  2 
Case I:
When x = y = z Putting x = P, we have
then all the three equations give x = y = z = ±1
F  P    P  2P  1P  1P  2 
i.e. two solutions
Case II: Now P is in the form 6K  1 where K is a positive
When x = y = –z
integer.
then all the three equations give x = y = –z = ±2
i.e. x = y = –z = 2  (x, y, z) = (2, 2, –2) F  6K  1   6K  3 6K  2  6K  6K  1
or x = y = –z = –2  (x, y, z) = (–2, –2, 2)
i.e. two solutions   36 2K  1 3K  1 K  6K  1 …(i)
Case III:
When x = –y = z F  6K  1   6K  1 6K  2 6K  6K  3 
then all the three equations give x = –y = z = ±2
i.e. x = –y = z = 2  (x, y, z) = (2, –2, 2)  36  6K  1 3K  1 K 3K  1 …(ii)
or x = –y = z = –2  (x, y, z) = (–2, 2, –2)
i.e. two solutions Please note that the value of K  17 and expression F
Case IV: (6K + 1) and F (6K – 1) always bear the factor 10.
When –x = y = z Hence, 360 is the correct choice.
then all the three equations give –x = y = z = ±2
i.e. –x = y = z = 2  (x, y, z) = (–2, 2, 2)
31. 2 Statement (A), P(2) must be zero. As, 2 is a root of the
or –x = y = z = –2  (x, y, z) = (2, –2, –2)
given polynomial. So it is true.
i.e. two solutions
Hence, total 8 solutions are possible. Statement (B), if 1, 2 and –3 are roots of a polynomial,
then it must be in the form of
25. Multiplying (x + 3) ( 2x + 5) we get 2x2 + 5x + 6x + 15 P(x) = A(x – 1) (x – 2) (x – 3), where A can take any
= 2x2 +11x + 15. value. But in this option, A = 1, which is not necessarily
Comparing coefficients we get b = 11. true or there must be fourth power of x in the polynomial.
Statement (C), the fourth root cannot be imaginary, as
26. If (x – 3) is a factor then f(3) = 0. So 27 – 45 + 3p + 9
imaginary roots exist in pairs. So statement (C) is not
=0p=3
If all the roots are integers, then the possible correct.
combinations are 3, 3, –1 or 3, –3, 1. Statement (D), since product of the roots for this
Of the two, we find that only the first is possible since
E
sum of the roots = 5. polynomial =
A
27. Since (x + 4) is a factor, we put x = –4 in the given
expression. 12
So, 1 × 2 × (–3) × fourth root = =6
(A) So, 3(–4)3 + p(–4)2 – 30(–4) + 24 = 0 2
– 192 + 16p + 120 + 24 = 0  fourth root = –1
16p = 48  p = 3. Hence, it is true.
(B) 3x3 + 3x2 – 30x+ 24 = 3(x + 4) (x – 2) (x – 1) So, statement (A) and statement (D) are true.
Thus, roots are –4, 2 and 1.

Page 4 QA - 17