Mathematics Talent Reward Programme

Question Paper for Class XI

15th January, 2017

Total Marks: 102 Allotted Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Multiple Choice Questions

[You should answer these questions in the first page according to the order given in the question
paper. Each question has only one correct option. You will be awarded 3 marks for the correct answer, 0
marks if the question is not attempted and -1 mark for wrong answer.]

1. The number of real solutions of the equation (9/10)x = −3 + x − x2 is

(A) 2, (B) 0, (C) 1, (D) None of these.
  1
sin x x2
2. lim =
x→0 x
√
(A) e, (B) ∞, (C) Does not exist, (D) None of these.
3. Let p(x) = x4 − 4x3 + 2x2 + ax + b. Suppose that for every root λ of p, 1/λ is also a root of p. Then a + b =
(A) −3, (B) −6, (C) −4, (D) −8.
4. Let F1 = F2 = 1. We define inductively Fn+1 = Fn + Fn−1 for all n ≥ 2. Then the sum

F1 + F2 + F3 + · · · + F2017

is
(A) even but not divisible by 3, (B) odd but divisible by 3
(C) odd and leaves remainder 1 when divisible by 3, (D) None of these.

5. Compute the number of ordered quadruples of positive integers (a, b, c, d) such that

a! · b! · c! · d! = 24!

(A) 4, (B) 4!, (C) 44 , (D) None of these .

6. Let p(x) is a polynomial of degree 4 with leading coefficients 1. Suppose p(1) = 1, p(2) = 2, p(3) = 3 and
p(4) = 4. Then p(5) =
25
(A) 5, (B) 6 , (C) 29, (D) 35.
7. Let ABCD be a quadrilateral with sides AB = 2, BC = CD = 4 and DA = 5. The opposite angles A and
C are equal. The length of diagonal BD equals
√ √ √ √
(A) 2 6, (B) 3 3, (C) 3 6, (D) 2 3.
m
X
8. How many finite sequences x1 , x2 , . . . , xm are there such that xi = 1 or 2 and xi = 10?
i=1
(A) 89, (B) 73, (C) 107, (D) 119.
1 1
9. From a point P outside of a circle with centre O, tangent segments P A and P B are drawn. If + =
OA2 P A2
1
. Then AB =
16
(A) 4, (B) 6, (C) 8, (D) 10.
10. Let f : R → R be a differentiable function such that lim f 0 (x) = 1, then
x→∞
(A) f is increasing, (B) f is unbounded, (C) f 0 is bounded, (D) All of these.

Short Answer Type Questions

[Each question carries a total of 12 marks. Credits will be given to partially correct answers]

1. A monic polynomial is a polynomial whose highest degree coefficient is 1. Let P (x) and Q(x) be monic
polynomials with real coefficients, and deg P (x) = deg Q(x) = 10. Prove that if the equation P (x) = Q(x)
has no real solutions, then P (x + 1) = Q(x − 1) has a real solution.
2. Let a, b, c be positive reals such that a + b + c = 3. Show that
r r r
a b c 6
+ + ≤p
b+c c+a a+b (a + b)(b + c)(c + a)

3. Let f : [0, 1] → [0, 1] be a continuous function. We say f ≡ 0 if f (x) = 0 for all x ∈ [0, 1] and similarly f 6≡ 0
if there exist at least one x ∈ [0, 1] such that f (x) 6= 0. Suppose f 6≡ 0, f ◦ f 6≡ 0, but f ◦ f ◦ f ≡ 0. Do
there exist such an f ? If yes construct such an function, if no prove it. [Note that f ◦ f (x) = f (f (x)) and
f ◦ f ◦ f (x) = f (f (f (x))).]

4. An irreducible polynomial is a non-constant polynomial that cannot be factored into the product of two
non-constant polynomials. Consider the following statements:
Statement 1: p(x) be any monic irreducible polynomial with integer coefficients and degree ≥ 4. Then
p(n) is prime for at least one natural number n.
Statement 2: n2 + 1 is prime for infinitely many values of natural number n.
Show that if Statement 1 is true then Statement 2 is also true.
5. Let N be the set of all natural numbers. Let f : N → N be a bijective function. Show that there exist three
numbers a, b, c in arithmetic progression such that f (a) < f (b) < f (c).

6. Let us consider an infinite grid plane as shown below. We start with 4 points A, B, C, D, that form a square,
as shown below.
We perform the following operation: We pick two points say X and Y from the current points. X is reflected
about Y to get X 0 . We remove X and add X 0 to get a new set of 4 points and treat it as our current points.
For example in the figure suppose we choose A and B (we can choose any other pair too). Then reflect A
about B to get A0 . We remove A and add A0 Thus A0 , B, C, D is our new 4 points. We may again choose D
and A0 from the current points. Reflect D about A to obtain D0 and hence A0 , B, C, D0 are now new set of
points. Then similar operation is performed on this new 4 points and so on.
Starting with A, B, C, D, can you get a bigger square by some sequence of such operations?

Use of calculators is not allowed. You may use a ruler and a compass for construction.
∼ Best of Luck ∼