CATapult Courseware

Module 2
Quantitative Ability
Published by IMS Learning Resources Pvt. Ltd. in the Year 2020

Registered Office: 6th Floor, NCL Building, ‘E’ Block, Near Bandra Family Court,
Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Bandra (E), Mumbai - 400051
Tel.: +91 22 66170000
Toll Free: 1800-1234-467
CIN : U80220MH1999PTC121823
E-mail : [email protected] Website: www.imsindia.com

Copyright © IMS Learning Resources Pvt. Ltd.

All copyrights to this material vests with IMS Learning Resources Pvt. Ltd. No part of this material
either in part or as a whole shall be copied, reprinted, reproduced, sold, distributed or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or
stored in any retrieval system of any nature without the permission of IMS Learning Resources
Pvt. Ltd., and any such violation would entail initiation of suitable legal proceedings.

The views of and opinions expressed in this book are not necessarily those of the publishers. While
every effort has been made to ensure that all facts are stated correctly, the publishers regret their
inability to accept responsibility for any inadvertent errors or inaccuracies. Readers are advised in
their own interest to reconfirm facts before acting upon them.

The publishers shall endeavour, wherever possible to remedy all errors of commission and omission
which are brought to their attention in subsequent editions.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, but way of trader or otherwise, be
lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior written consent in any
form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition
including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser and without limiting the rights
under copyright reserved above.
CATapult
ALGEBRA

QA-2.1 ADVANCED LINEAR AND THEORY

QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

This chapter is a continuation of QA 1.4. In this chapter, we will discuss the advanced concepts
of Linear and Quadratic equations.

Linear equation in 2 variables

If a, b, c are real numbers where a ¹ 0, b ¹ 0; then ax + by = c is a linear equation in two
variables of degree 1. The values of ‘x’ and ‘y’, for which both sides of the equation assume the
same value are called the solution of the equation.

Example
2x + 4y = 24.
The value x = 6 and y = 3 satisfies the above equation.
Therefore, the pair (6, 3) is a solution of the equation.
(4, 4) and (8, 2) are also solutions of the above equation
Therefore, for a linear equation with two variables (with no other conditions to be fulfilled),
there exist an infinite number of solutions;

Note: In a solution set (x, y) the value of ‘x’ is written first, followed by the value of ‘y’.

Quadratic Equations
Relation between roots and coefficients
1. In the equation, ax2 + bx + c = 0, if we divide both sides of the equation by ‘a’, (a ¹ 0)
then we get the equation as:

Þ x2 + x + = 0 -------- (i)

Now in the same equation, if it is known that the two roots of the equation ax 2 + bx + c =
0 are a and b, then,

ax2 + bx + c = (x –a) (x – b) = 0

= x2 – (a + b)x + ab = 0 -------- (ii)

Comparing the co-efficients of the variables in (i) and (ii) we get:

= – (a + b) and = (ab)

sum of the roots = a + b = – = –

product of the roots = a.b = =

1
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Example
2x2 – 5x + 6 = 0
Sum of the roots = a + b = – = ; Product of the roots = a.b = = 3

Note: For polynomial equations of degree ‘n’ > 2 where

a0xn + a1xn-1 + a2xn-2 + ........... + a n = 0 and
a0, a1, a2 ......... a n ¹ 0

then sum of roots =

Product of roots = (–1)n

2. The signs of the roots of a quadratic equation depending upon the signs of a, b and c.
Signs of roots Signs of a, b and c Example Roots are
2
i Both roots are negative a, b, c all have the same sign x + 5x + 6 –3 and –2
2
ii One root positive and a and c have different signs x + 6x – 16 –8 and 2
other negative
iii Both roots are positive a and c have the same sign x2 – 7x + 12 3 and 4
and differ in sign from b

3. If c = a, the roots are reciprocals of each other.

4. If b = 0, the roots are equal in magnitude, but opposite in sign.
5. If one root of a quadratic equation with rational coefficients is irrational, the other root must
be its irrational conjugate.

Example
If a = m + n , then b = m – n

6. If one root of a quadratic equation with real coefficients is a complex number the other
root must be its conjugate complex number.

Example
if a = m + in, then, b = m – in

To form a quadratic equation with the given roots

If a, b are the two roots of a quadratic equation, then

x – a = 0 and x – b = 0
(x – a)(x – b) = 0
x2 – (a + b)x + ab = 0 is the required equation.

2
 Chapter QA
ADVANCED LINEAR AND QUADRATIC EQUATIONS 2.1

Hence, if the roots of a quadratic equation are given, the required equation is:
x2 – (Sum of roots)x + (Product of roots) = 0

Nature of the roots of a quadratic equation

We know that the roots of the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 are and

The nature of the roots depends on the expression b2 – 4ac.

Because, the value of b 2 – 4ac enables us to determine the nature of the roots of the quadratic
equation, it is called the discriminant of the quadratic. It is denoted by D.

Symmetric expression of roots

If a and b are the roots of ax2 + bx + c = 0, then an expression involving a and b is called
symmetric if interchanging a and b does not change the expression.

i.e., f(a, b) = f (b, a)

The expression f(a, b) = a2 – b is not symmetric because f(b, a) = b2 – a ¹ a2 – b = f(a, b)

Some of the symmetric functions of a and b are

a2 + b2 = (a+b)2 – 2ab

a3 + b3 = (a+b)3 – 3ab(a+b)

1 1 +
a + b =
1
+ =
a2 b

a2b + ab2 = ab(a+b)

3
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Example
If the sum of the roots of a quadratic equation is 3 and the sum of the squares of the
roots is 29, then find the equation.
Let a and b be the two roots.
a + b = 3 and a2 + b2 = 29
(a + b)2 = a2 + b2 + 2ab
32 = 29 + 2ab
\ 2ab = –20
\ ab = –10
The quadratic equation is x2 – (Sum of roots)x + Product of roots = 0
i.e., x2 – 3x – 10 = 0

Graphical Representation of a Quadratic Equation

If we draw the graph of y = ax2 + bx + c in the xy plane, it is in the form of a parabola.
In the graph below, y = x2 – 2x – 4
Given below are values of y for given values of x.

x –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4
y 4 –1 –4 –5 –4 –1 4
The graph of y = x2 – 2x – 4 is represented as below.

The shape of the parabola in a quadratic equation depends on the value of the numerical coefficients
of the variables in the equation.

4
 Chapter QA
ADVANCED LINEAR AND QUADRATIC EQUATIONS 2.1

1. If a > 0, then the parabola opens upwards and if a < 0, then the parabola opens downwards
2. If b2 – 4ac < 0, then the parabola does not intercept the x-axis
3. If b2 – 4ac > 0, then the parabola intercepts the x-axis at exactly two different points
4. If b2 – 4ac = 0, then the parabola intercepts the x-axis at exactly one point

High Power Equations reducible to Quadratic form

Some high power equations are not quadratic equations, but they can be reduced to a quadratic
form.

Example

(i) Consider the equation 2y4 – 5y2 + 2 = 0. The degree of the equation is 4 and the equation
will have 4 roots. This equation can be reduced to a quadratic equation by substituting y2 =
x.

\ 2x2 – 5x + 2 = 0

\ 2x2 – 4x – x + 2 = 0 \ 2x(x – 2) – 1(x – 2) = 0

\ (2x – 1)(x – 2) = 0 \ x = or x = 2

If x = , then y2 = and y =

If x = 2, then y 2 = 2 and y = ! 2

\ The roots of the equation are

(ii)

Let, = m … (i)

m2 = = x2 – 2 + … (squaring (i))

\ m2 + 2 = … (ii)

Substituting (i) and (ii) in the equation:

3(m2 + 2) + 4m – 6 = 0

\ 3m2 + 4m = 0

\ m(3m + 4) = 0

\ m = 0 or m =

5
CATapult
ALGEBRA

\ = 0 or =

\ x2 – 1 = 0 or 3x2 + 4x – 3 = 0

!
\ (x – 1)(x + 1) = 0 or x =

!
\ x = +1 or x =

\ x = +1, –1,

Concept Builder 1
1. Minesh and Happy together had 90 apples. Both of them ate 10 apples each and the
product of the number of apples they have now is 248. Formulate a quadratic equation
to find the number of apples they start with.
2. Find the roots of: x4 – 25x2 + 144 = 0
3. The product of the roots of the equation ax2 – 4x + (4a + 1) = 0 is 2. Find the value of
a.
4. Formulate a quadratic equation whose roots are 3 and –5.
5. If Mukesh is 5 years younger to Vishal and product of their ages is 1400. Find the age
of Mukesh.
Directions for questions 6 to 8: Find the nature of the roots of the following equations
6. 2x2 – 3x + 9 = 0
7. x2 + 9x – 14 = 0
8. x2 – 18x + 81 = 0.

Answer Key
Real and equal 8.
Real and unequal 7.
Complex conjugates 6.
35 years 5.
x2 + 2x – 15 = 0 4.

a = 3.

x = + 4 and + 3 2.
x2 – 90x + 1048 = 0 1.

6
 Chapter QA
ADVANCED LINEAR AND QUADRATIC EQUATIONS 2.1

SOLVED EXAMPLES

Q : Solve (2x – 1)2 = 4

A : (2x – 1) 2 = 16
2x – 1 = +4
i.e., 2x – 1 = 4 or 2x – 1 = –4
i.e., x = or x =

Q : Solve a(x2 + 1) = x(a 2 + 1)

A : ax2 + a = x(a2 + 1)
ax2 – (a2 + 1) x + a = 0
! !
\ x =

\ x = or x = \ x = a or x =

Q : If one root of the equation 4x2 – 13x + k = 0 is twelve times the other, find k.
A : a = 4, b = –13 and c = k
Let a, b be its roots.
\ b = 12a
Now, a + b =

13a = \ a =

a.b =

\ 12a2 =

\ =
\ k = 3

Q : If a and b are the roots of the equation 5x2 – 3x – 2 = 0, find the value of a3 + b3.
A : 5x2 – 3x – 2 = 0
a + b = , ab = –
Now, a3 + b3 = (a + b)3 – 3ab (a + b)
=

7
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Q : Find ‘a’ so that the sum of the roots of equation ax2 + 4x + 6a = 0 may be equal to
their product.
A : ax2 + 4x + 6a = 0
Sum of the roots =

Product of the roots = = 6

Sum of the roots = Product of the roots = 6

\ a =

Q : If a = b = c, find the nature of the roots of : (x – a)(x – b) + (x – b)(x – c) + (x – c)

(x – a) = 0

A : (x – a)(x – b) + (x – b)(x – c) + (x – c)(x – a) = 0

Substituting b = a and c = a
x2 – 2ax + a 2 + x2 – 2ax + a 2 + x2 – 2ax + a 2 = 0
3x2 – 6ax + 3a 2 = 0
D = (–6a)2 – 4 × 3 × 3a 2 = 36a2 – 36a2 = 0
\ The roots are real and equal.

Q : Solve

A : (x2 – x + 1)(a2 + a + 1) = (x 2 + x + 1)(a 2 – a + 1)

\ x2a2 + ax2 + x2 – a2x – ax – x + a2 + a + 1
= x2a2 – ax2 + x2 + a2x – ax + x + a 2 – a + 1
\ 2ax2 – 2a2x – 2x + 2a = 0
\ 2ax2 – 2x(a2 + 1) + 2a = 0
\ 2(x – a)(ax – 1) = 0 \ x = a or x =

Q : For which values of ‘m’ will the equation x 2 – 2(5 + 2m)x + 3(7 + 10m) = 0 have equal roots?
A : D = [–2(5 + 2m)] 2 – 4 × 1 × 3(7 + 10m)
= 4(25 + 20m + 4m 2) – 84 – 120m
= 100 + 80m + 16m 2 – 84 – 120m
= 16m2 – 40m + 16
= 8(2m 2 – 5m + 2) = 8(2m – 1) (m – 2)
The equation will have equal roots if D = 0 i.e., 8(2m – 1) (m – 2) = 0
\ m = or m = 2

8
 Chapter QA
ADVANCED LINEAR AND QUADRATIC EQUATIONS 2.1

Q : Find the roots of (x – 1)(x – 3)(x – 4)(x – 6) + 8 = 0

A : (x – 1)(x – 3)(x – 4)(x – 6) + 8 = 0
\ (x – 1)(x – 6)(x – 3)(x – 4) + 8 = 0
\ (x2 – 7x + 6)(x 2 – 7x + 12) + 8 = 0
Substitute x2 – 7x = y
\ (y + 6)(y + 12) + 8 = 0
\ y2 + 6y + 12y + 72 + 8 = 0
\ y2 + 18y + 80 = 0
\ (y + 10)(y + 8) = 0
\ y = –10 or y = –8
2
\ x – 7x = –10 or x 2 – 7x = –8
\ x2 – 7x + 10 = 0 or x 2 – 7x + 8 = 0
!
\ (x – 2)(x – 5) = 0 or x =

\ x = 2 or x = 5 or x =

Q : In a certain family, eleven times the number of children is greater by 12 than twice the square
of the number of children. How many children are there?

A : Let x be the number of children.

11x = 2x 2 + 12
2x2 – 11x + 12 = 0
(x – 4)(2x – 3) = 0 \ x = 4 or x =

Since the number of children cannot be , there are 4 children in the family.

Q : A two digit number is equal to three times the product of the digits, and the digit in the tens
place is less by 2 than the digit in the units place. Find the number.

A : Let x be the digit in the tens place and x + 2 be the digit in the units place.
\ 10x + (x + 2) = 3x(x + 2)
\ 10x + x + 2 = 3x 2 + 6x
\ 3x2 – 5x – 2 = 0
\ (x – 2)(3x + 1) = 0
\ x = 2 or x =

The digit of a number cannot be \ The digit in tens place is 2.

\ The number is 24.

9
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Q : The sum of a certain number and its positive square root is 90. What is the number?

A : Let x2 be the number.

\ x2 + x = 90
\ x2 + x – 90 = 0
\ (x + 10)(x – 9) = 0
\ x = –10 or x = 9
As the square root is positive, the number cannot be –10.
\ The number is 81.

10
 Chapter QA
ADVANCED LINEAR AND QUADRATIC EQUATIONS 2.1

CLASS EXERCISE

Teaser

A poor family is unable to afford proper lighting, and so they restrict themselves to using exactly
one candle every night. After 5 candles are burnt, the leftovers and stubs from those 5 can be
used to make one new candle. If the family has 50 candles on the morning of 1st January 2012,
and do not purchase any more, on which night will they use up their last candle?

11
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Linear Equations with Multiple Solutions

1. Find all non-negative integer solutions for (x, y) where:

a) x + y = 4 * b) 2x + 3y = 18
c) 11x + 2y = 30 * d) 4x + 6y = 36

2. How many non-negative integer solutions for x and y exist if:

a) x + y = 100 * b) 2x + 5y = 100
c) 4x – y = 100 * d) 3x + 6y = 100

3. Find solutions for the following (where x, y and z are all natural numbers)
a) x + 3y + 10z = 25 b) x + 7z – 20 = 10 – 2y + z

4. Kamlesh goes to a shop with Rs 100 to buy ice-creams and milkshakes. An icecream costs
Rs 12 while a milkshake costs Rs 9. If Kamlesh gets Rs 7 back as change, how many differ-
ent combinations of ice-creams and milkshakes could he have bought? What is the minimum
amount Kamlesh could get back as change?

Quadratic Equations

Relation between the coefficients and the sum and product of roots:
• A quadratic (in x) with roots a and b is of the form k(x – a)(x – b)
-
• For the quadratic polynomial ax2 + bx + c, Sum of roots = and Product of roots =
• A quadratic polynomial can have at the most 2 distinct roots.
Note: The coefficients of a quadratic polynomial/equation are assumed to be rational numbers
unless mentioned otherwise.
The quadratic equation can be written as x2 – Sx + P = 0, where S denotes the sum of the
roots and P denotes product of the roots.
The condition for the quadratic equation whose roots are equal in magnitude but opposite in
sign is Sum = 0 i.e b = 0.
The condition for the quadratic whose roots are reciprocal of each other is when Product = 1
i.e c = a.

5. a and b are the roots of the equation x2 – 5x + 8 = 0. Find the equations whose roots are:
1 1
a) (a+1) and (b+1) b) a2 and b2 c) and d) a3 and b3
a b

6. For the given polynomials, fill the table below:

Polynomial Discriminant Roots Nature of roots

2
(D = b – 4ac)
2
x – 5x – 6
6x2 – x – 2
x2 – 3
x2 + 4x – 6
x2 + 4x + 4
x2 + 4

12
 Chapter QA
ADVANCED LINEAR AND QUADRATIC EQUATIONS 2.1

Formula for finding the roots of any quadratic polynomial:

!
The roots of the quadratic polynomial ax2 + bx + c are given by x =
Relation between the discriminant and nature of roots:
The discriminant (D) of the quadratic polynomial ax2 + bx + c is defined as = b2 – 4ac.
We observe that:
D > 0 Þ 2 distinct real roots (may be rational or irrational)
D = 0 Þ Single (repeated) real (rational) root
D < 0 Þ No real roots (roots are complex conjugates)
Moreover,
If D is a perfect square then the roots are Rational
If D not a perfect square then the roots are Irrational

7. Solve the following:

a) The sum of the roots of a quadratic equation is 3 while the sum of the squares of its roots
is 7. Find the equation.

b) Find a quadratic polynomial with integral coefficients having both sum and product of roots
= 4.5.

c) For what range of values of k will the polynomial 2x 2 + kx + 2 have:

i) 2 real roots
ii) 1 (repeated) real root
iii) no real roots

d) How many quadratic polynomials with leading coefficient 1 have ‘1 + i’ as one complex root?

1) 0 2) 1 3) 2 4) Infinitely many

e) If the roots of the quadratic equation 3x2 + 5x + 3(4p – 1) = 0 is reciprocal of each other.
Find the value of p.

* f) Find the quadratic equation whose roots are 2 more than the roots of the equation

x2 – 6x + 4 = 0.

* g) if α and β are the roots of the equation 2x2 + 5x + 6 = 0, then find the quadratic equation
whose roots are .

h) A man sold a certain number of cows for Rs 12000. Had he sold five cows less for the same
sum, he would have received Rs 80 more per cow. Find the number of cows he sold.

* i) If P and Q tried to solve the quadratic equation x 2 + bx + c = 0. P by mistake took the

wrong value of b and found the roots to be 12, 2. Q did a similar mistake by taking the
wrong value of c and found the roots to be 2, 8. Find the actual roots of the equation.

13
CATapult
ALGEBRA

j) If m is real then the nature of roots of the quadratic equation x2 + – 3m is

If D > 0 (equation has a real and non zero root)

Sum of the roots (S) Product of the roots (P) Sign of the roots
+ + + , +
– + –, –
+, –(positive root is greater in
+ –
magnitude)
–, + (negative root is greater in
– –
magnitude)

8. Ram and Rahim are solving a quadratic equation independently. Ram wrote the coefficient
of x incorrect and gave the solution set as {3, –5} while Rahim wrote the constant term
incorrect and gave the solution set as {–4, –6}. Find the actual quadratic equation.
1) x2 + 15x – 10 = 0 2) x 2 + 10x – 15 = 0
3) x2 – 10x + 15 = 0 4) x 2 – 15x + 10 = 0

9. Find the number of positive integer solutions for + = 1.

1) 4 2) 6 3) 8 4) 10

10. Find the value of x if x =

1) 2) 3) 4) Both (1) and (2)

*11. Find the number of positive integer solutions for + = .

1) 12 2) 16 3) 18 4) 9

*12. Let 4 = to infinity, then x could equal

1) 4 2) 8 3) 12 4) 16

*13. Anaya purchased 19 pencils at Rs.3 each. He paid the shopkeeper using notes of Rs.10, Rs.5
and Rs.2 denominations. How many different ways can he make the payment if he uses at
least one note of each denomination.
1) 17 2) 16 3) 15 4) 14

*14. For a quadratic equation ax2 + ax + 1 = 0, a Î I; 0 < a < 6, how many values can ‘a’ not
take, if the roots are real and distinct?
1) 2 2) 3 3) 4 4) 5

14
 Chapter QA
ADVANCED LINEAR AND QUADRATIC EQUATIONS 2.1

Challengers

1. Aakash goes to the post office to send a parcel. He finds that he needs to put stamps worth
Rs. 42 on the parcel. The post office has stamps in three denominations; Rs 2, Rs 7 and Rs
11. In how many different ways can Aakash put the stamps?
1) 4 2) 9 3) 11 4) 16

2. If 3p – 8q = 20 and p and q are integers, which of the following must be false?

1) if p is positive, q can be negative
2) if p is negative, q cannot be positive
3) there is a solution for q such that 197 ≤ q ≤ 203
4) there is a solution for p such that 197 ≤ p ≤ 203

3. A stick is broken in two parts such that the ratio of the smaller part to longer part is same
as the ratio of longer part to that of the entire stick. Find the ratio of length of smaller part
to longer part.

1) 2) 3) 4) none of these

4. Let x = to infinity, then x equals

1] 3 2] 3] 4]

5. How many pairs of positive integers satisfy + = where n is an odd integer less
than 60?
1] 6 2] 4 3] 3 4] 5

15
CATapult
ALGEBRA

PRACTICE EXERCISE - 1
DIRECTIONS for question 1: Solve as directed.

1. Find all possible non-negative integer solutions for:

A. 2x + 11y = 70 B. 4x + 10y = 40
C. 6x + 9y = 100 D. x + 2y + 7z = 10

DIRECTIONS for questions 2 to 11: Choose the correct alternative.

2. One root of a quadratic equation is 3 + 2 . The quadratic equation is

2
1) x – 6x – 7 = 0 2) x 2 + 6x – 7 = 0
3) x2 + 6x + 7 = 0 4) x 2 – 6x + 7 = 0

3. For what values of k will the equation: x 2 – (3k – 1)x + 2k 2 + 2k = 11 have equal roots.
1) 9, –5 2) –9, 5 3) 9, 5 4) –9, –5

4. Two students, A and B, were asked to solve a quadratic equation. A made a mistake only in
writing the correct coefficient of x. B made a mistake only in writing the constant term.
A gave the solution set as {–3, –3} and B gave the solution set as {3, 7}. Find the actual
quadratic equation if the coefficient of x2 was 1.
1) x2 + 10x + 9 = 0 2) x 2 + 10x – 9 = 0
2
3) x – 10x + 9 = 0 4) x 2 – 10x – 9 = 0

5. Find the real solution set for x, if

1) ! 2) ! 3) ! 4) None of these

6. If a and b are the roots of the equation 5x2 + 17x + 6 = 0, find the value of .

1) 2) 3) 4)

7. Let a and b be the roots of the quadratic equation 4x2 + 16x + 15 = 0. Find the value of
a3 + b3.
1) 109 2) 19 3) –19 4) 38

8. One root of x2 + kx – 8 = 0 is square of the other. Then the value of k is

1) 2 2) 8 3) –8 4) –2
(Past CAT question)

9. Given the quadratic equation x2 – (A – 3)x – (A – 2), for what value of A will the sum of
the squares of the roots be zero?
1) –2 2) 3 3) 6 4) None of these
(Past CAT question)

16
 Chapter QA
ADVANCED LINEAR AND QUADRATIC EQUATIONS 2.1

10. If the roots x1 and x2 of the quadratic equation x2 − 2x + c = 0 also satisfy the equation

THEORY
7x2 – 4x1 = 47, then which of the following is true?
1) c = –15 2) x 1 = −5, x2 = 3
3) x1 = 4.5, x 2 = −2.5 4) None of these

PRACTICE EXERCISE CLASS EXERCISE

(Past CAT question)

11. Determine the number of solutions (x, y) of the system of equations

x2 – xy + y2 = 21
x2 + 2xy – 8y 2 = 0 where x and y are real numbers.
1) 2 2) 3 3) 4 4) Infinitely many

DIRECTIONS for questions 12 to 14: Solve as directed.

12. How many pairs of integers (x, y) are possible for x² – y² = 287?

13. If (4x – 6) and (5y – 2) are two consecutive numbers (in that order) that are prime, what
is the sum of all the possible values of xy?

14. How many pairs of values of (x, y) satisfy the following two equations?
x + |y| = 6 and |x| + y = 4?

DIRECTIONS for questions 15 to 19: Choose the correct alternative.

15. Iqbal dealt some cards to Mushtaq and himself from a full pack of playing cards and laid
the rest aside. Iqbal then said to Mushtaq. "If you give me a certain number of your cards,
I will have four times as many cards as you will have. If I give you the same number of
cards, I will have thrice as many cards as you will have". Of the given choices, which could
represent the number of cards with Iqbal?
1) 9 2) 31 3) 12 4) 35

16. If x and y are integers, then the equation 5x + 17y = 87 has

1) No solution for x < 350 and y < 0 2) No solution for x > 250 and y > –80
3) A solution for 200 < x < 250 4) A solution for –69 < y < –66

17. The number of real roots of the equation = 1 where A and B are real numbers
not equal to zero simultaneously is
1) None 2) 1 3) 2 4) 1 or 2
(Past CAT question)

17
CATapult
ALGEBRA

18. Aziz bought apples and bananas such that the difference between the total sum he paid to
buy apples and bananas is Rs. 40 (total price of apples being more than the total price of
bananas). It is known that the price per kg of apple is Rs. 40 more than that of bananas
(both being integer values) and the quantity of apples bought was 2 kg less than the quantity
of bananas bought (both being integer values). Which of the following cannot be the total
sum he paid to buy apples and bananas?
1) Rs. 200 2) Rs. 440 3) Rs. 560 4) Rs. 760

19. If x2 + 5y2 + z 2 = 2y(2x + z), then which of the following statements are necessarily true?
A. x = 2y B. x = 2z C. 2x = z
1) Only A 2) Only B and C 3) Only A and B 4) None of these

(Past CAT question)

DIRECTIONS for question 20: Solve as directed.

20. Bholenath bought a certain number of mangoes to be sold in the market. On each day of his
business, he would sell one-third of his available stock, give half of the remaining mangoes
to his son and then take 10 mangoes to his own house. Whatever was left at the end of a
day after these transactions would become the available stock for the next day. It was found
that he could do business only for 3 days and there was no stock available for the fourth
day. What is the number of mangoes that he had bought initially?

18
 Chapter QA
ADVANCED LINEAR AND QUADRATIC EQUATIONS 2.1

PRACTICE EXERCISE - 2
DIRECTIONS for questions 1 and 2: Solve as directed.

1. Find the number of possible solutions for x + 2y = 40 where

A. x and y are positive integers
B. x and y are non-negative integers
C. x and y are even natural numbers
D. x and y are natural numbers and x > y
E. x and y are natural numbers and x ≤ 3y

2. In how many ways can a person pay back a loan of Rs 150, using three types of notes: Rs
10, Rs 25 and Rs 50?

DIRECTIONS for questions 3 to 19: Choose the correct alternative.

3. The sum of all the roots of two equations is 10. If one equation is x 2 – 7x = 6 what could
the other equation be?
1) x2 – 3x – 100 = 0 2) 2x 2 + 55 = 6x
3) 3x2 – 9x = 2 2 4) All of these

4. Given that x2 + + x – = 2 5 , which of the following may be a value of x?

1) 2) 54 3) 4) 5 ×

5. Find the value of m for which 4x 2 + (3m – 3)x + (2m – 1) = 0 has real and equal roots.

1) 2) 5 3) 5, 4) None of these

6. If the roots of the quadratic equation , x2 + mx + n = 0 are equal in magnitude and opposite
in sign, then
1) , = 0 2) m = 0 3) n = 0 4) None of these

7. If the equation x2 – 2kx – 2x + k 2 = 0 has equal roots, the value of k must be

1) zero 2) either zero or –

3) – 4) either or –

8. The number of triplets (a, b, c) where a, b, c are positive integers, which satisfy the simul-
taneous equations:
(i) ab + bc = 44 (ii) ac + bc = 23 is/are
1) 1 2) 2 3) 4 4) Indefinitely many

9. If + = 0, find m.
1) –3 2) 2 3) Both [1] & [2] 4) None of these

10. Given that x2 – 4(2m + 1) x + 3(m – 2) = 0 has equal roots. What can be the values of m?

1) ! 2) 0 3) ! 4) !

19
CATapult
ALGEBRA

11. A real number and its square root add up to 132. Find the number.
1) 144 2) 121 3) Both (1) & (2) 4) 225

12. One of the two roots of a quadratic equation is complex. Which of the following is de finitely true?
1) Product of the roots is always real 2) Sum of the roots is always real
3) Both (1) and (2) 4) Neither (1) nor (2)

13. If a quadratic equation has one of its root as 5 + 3i, what could be the equation?
1) x2 = 10x – 17 2) x 2 = 10x – 34 3) x 2 = 34 4) None of these

14. Mr. Iyer distributed Rs.24 amongst his grandchildren. Had there been 4 grandchildren less,
each would have got a rupee more. How many grandchildren does Mr. Iyer have?
1) 6 2) 10 3) 12 4) 8

15. The sum of a father’s age and his son’s age is 100 years. Also, one-tenth of the product of
their ages, in years, exceeds the father’s age by 180. How old is the son?
1) 60 years 2) 40 years 3) 30 years 4) 45 years

16. If a and b are the roots of a quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, having real but unequal
roots, then which of the following should be known to find the value of a b ,
a b
given that coefficients of the above quadratic equation are known?
1) Both a and b are different in polarity. 2) a > b
3) ab is perfect square. 4) No additional information needed.

17. What is the value of 5 + ?

!
1) 2) 3) 4) 7

18. Stephen was solving a couple of linear equations in ‘x’ and ‘y’ simultaneously. By mistake,
he interchanged the coefficients of x and y in each equation and got the solution as x = 3
and y = –2. What is the actual solution to the original two equations?
1) x = –2 and y = 3 2) x = 3 and y = –2
3) Infinite solutions 4) Cannot be determined

19. Which of the following is/are true for a quadratic equation ax 2 + bx + c = 0, whose roots
are a and b?
I. If a = m + n , then a + b = 2m II. If a = m + i n , then a – b = 2i n

III. If a + b = 0, then c = aa2 IV. If ab = 1, then a2b + b2a = –

1) I and II 2) I, II and IV 3) I, II and III 4) All of these

DIRECTIONS for question 20: Solve as directed.

20. What is the sum of all the roots of the equation x2 – 2|x| – 8 = 0?

20
CATapult
ALGEBRA

QA-2.2 POLYNOMIALS THEORY

Arithmetic operations on Algebraic Expressions

1. Addition and Subtraction of Algebraic Expressions
To find the sum of a polynomial add the numerical coefficients of like terms and annex the
common letter or letters

Example
3xy + 6xy + 9xy = 18xy;
–5a2b – 7a2b – 8a2b = –20a2b
–13x + 7x – 8x + 5x = –21x + 12x = –9x
If any number of terms are enclosed within brackets preceded by a ‘+’ sign or a ‘–’ sign, the
brackets may be removed by multiplying the sign of each term inside the bracket with the
respective sign before the bracket. If there are no similiar terms, the operation is algebraically
complete

Example
(2p – 3q + r) + (p + 2q – 3r) – (2p – 2q – 3r) = p + q + r

2. Multiplication of Algebraic Expressions

To multiply one polynomial with another:
(i) The product of two factors with like signs is positive, and of those with unlike signs is
negative.
(+ a) × (+ b) = + ab (– a) × (+ b) = – ab
(+ a) × (– b) = – ab (– a) × (– b) = ab
(ii) Multiply each term of one polynomial by each term of the other. Add the like terms thus
obtained.

Example
(i) (x + 5y) (x + 3y) = x(x + 3y) + 5y (x + 3y) = x 2 + 3xy + 5xy + 15y 2
= x2 + 8xy + 15y2
(ii) (a – 3b) (a + 2b) = a(a + 2b) – 3b(a + 2b) = a 2 + 2ab – 3ab – 6b 2
= a2 – ab – 6b 2

21
CATapult
ALGEBRA

3. Division of Polynomials

(i) Division Method

Step 1: Arrange the terms of the dividend in the descending order of powers.
Step 2: Divide the first term of the dividend by the first term of the divisor and write
this result as the first term of the quotient.
Step 3: Multiply the divisor by the first term of the quotient and then subtract from
the dividend.
Step 4: Now divide the result obtained in step 3 by the first term of the divisor and
write this result as the second term of the quotient.
Step 5: Repeat step 4 till a remainder whose degree is less than that of the divisor is
obtained.

Example

\ a3 – 6a2 + 11a – 6 = (a – 2) (a 2 – 4a + 3)

(ii) Synthetic division

Synthetic division can be used only if the divisor is in the form x + a.
Step 1: Write the dividend in the coefficient form (use zero for missing terms) in the
first row. If the divisor is of the form x + a, put (–a) in the first row to the
left of the first coefficient. Below the horizontal line in the third row, write the
first coefficient.
Step 2: Multiply the first coefficient in the third row by the divisor (here –4) and put
the product in the second row below the second coefficient of the first row
and write their sum in the third row.
Step 3: Repeat above step for the next coefficient
Step 4: The last number in the third row is the remainder and the remaining numbers
in the third row, in order, are the co-efficients of the quotient (left to right).

22
 Chapter QA
POLYNOMIALS 2.2

Example
Divide 6x3 + 5x2 + 5x + 12 by x + 4

Here the quotient is 6x2 – 19x + 81 and the remainder is –312

Note: The polynomial 6x3 + 5x + 2 in the coefficient form is written as 6, 0, 5, 2

Concept Builder 1

1. Is x2 + x + 3 a polynomial?
2. Simplify:(4p + 3q – 4r) – (8p – 5q) + (4p – 3q – 4r) + (–5q + 8r)

3. Find the remainder when a 3 – 9a2 + 26a – 24 is divided by a – 4

4. When 3x 2 – kx + 2 is divided by (x – 3) it leaves a remainder 5. Find the value of k

5. Find the degree of the polynomial x2 + 3x2 + 7x3 + 12

6. Check whether x + 2 is factor of x 2 – 3x – 10

7. Find the quotient when 2x5 – 3x2 + 4x – 17 is divided by x – 3.

Answer Key
2x4 + 6x3 + 18x2 + 51x + 157 7.

Yes 6. 3 5.

k = 8 4. 0 3.

0 2. NO 1.

23
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Properties of Polynomials

1. Zeros of a Polynomial
Consider the polynomial p(x) = 5x3 + 3x2 + x + 3
If we replace x by 1 in p(x), we get
p(1) = 5(1) 3 + 3(1)2 + 1 + 3
= 5 + 3 + 1 + 3 = 12
Similarly p(0) = 5(0) = 5(0) 3 + 3(0)2 + 0 + 3
= 0 + 0 + 0 + 3 = 3
and p(–1) = 5(–1) 3 + 3(–1)2 + (–1) + 3
= –5 + 3 –1 + 3 = 0
As p(–1) = 0, we say that –1 is a zero of the polynomial. It is also called as the root of the
polynomial.
You can see that the zero (root) of the polynomial p(x) is obtained by equating it to 0. i.e.
p(x) = 0 A polynomial can have more than one zero (root).

Example
Find p(0), p(1), p(2) for p(x) = 2 + x + 2x 2 – x³
p(0) = 2 + 0 + 2(0) 2 – (0)2 = 2
p(1) = 2 + 1 + 2(1) 2 – (1)3 = 2 + 1 + 2 – 1 = 4
p(2) = 2 + 2 + 2(2) 2 – 23
= 2 + 2 + 8 – 8 = 4

Example
Find the zeros of the following polynomials.
i) p(x) = 3x – 2 ii) q(x) = x 2 – 7x + 12
i) Let p(x) = 0
\ 3x – 2 = 0

\ x =

is the zero (root) of p(x).

ii) Let q(x) = 0

\ x2 – 7x + 12 = 0
\ (x – 4)(x – 3) = 0
\ x = 3, 4
3 and 4 are the zeros (roots) of q(x).

24
 Chapter QA
POLYNOMIALS 2.2

2. Remainder Theorem
Let p(x) be any polynomial of degree greater than or equal to one and let a be any real
number. If p(x) is divided by the linear polynomial x – a, the remainder is p(a).

Example
Find the remainder when x4 – 3x3 + 4x2 – x + 7 is divided by x – 1.
p(x) = x4 – 3x3 + 4x2 – x + 7 and zero of x – 1 is 1.
\ p(1) = (1)4 – 3(1)3 + 4(1)2 – 1 + 7 = 1 – 3 + 4 – 1 + 7 = 8
So, by Remainder Theorem, 8 is the remainder when x4 – 3x3 + 4x2 – x – 7 is divided by
x – 1.

Example
Check whether the polynomial p(a) = 4a 3 + 4a2 – a – 1 is a multiple of 2a + 1.
p(a) is a multiple of 2a + 1 if 2a + 1 divides p(a), leaving the remainder zero.

Now, 2a + 1 = 0 \ a = –

Then, p = 4 + 4 – – 1

= – + 1 + – 1

= 0
\ The remainder is 0.
\ 2a + 1 is a factor of the polynomial p(a) i.e. p(a) is a multiple of 2a + 1.

3. Factor Theorem
If p(x) is a polynomial of degree n > 1 and a is any real number, then
(i) x – a is a factor of p(x), if p(a) = 0
(ii) p(a) = 0 if (x – a) is a factor of p(x).

Example
Examine whether x – 2 is a factor of polynomial p(x) = x³ – 2x² + 7x – 14
The zero of x – 2 is 2.
Then p(2) = (2)³ – 2(2)² + 7(2) – 14
= 8 – 8 + 14 – 14 = 0
So, by Factor Theorem, x – 2 is a factor of polynomial p(x) = x³ – 2x² + 7x – 14.

Example
Find k if x + 3 is a factor of 2x³ – 5x² + 3x + k
As x + 3 is a factor of p(x) = 2x³ – 5x² + 3x + k
p(–3) = 0
Now p(–3) = 2(–3)³ – 5(–3)² + 3(–3) + k

25
CATapult
ALGEBRA

= –54 – 45 – 9 + k
= –108 + k
\ –108 + k = 0
\ k = 108

Example
Factorise x³ – 7x² + 14x – 8
Let p(x) = x³ – 7x² + 14x – 8
Factors of 8 are +1, +2, +4 and +8
p(1) = (1)3 – 7(1)2 + 14(1) – 8 = 0
So, (x – 1) is a factor of p(x)
Again, x³ – 7x² + 14x – 8
= x²(x – 1) – 6x(x – 1) + 8(x – 1)
= (x – 1)(x 2 – 6x + 8)
= (x – 1)(x – 2)(x – 4)

Example

Factorise x³ + 6x² + 11x + 6

Let p(x) = x³ + 6x² + 11x + 6
Factors of 6 are +1, +2, +3, +6
All the terms are positive. \ The value of x cannot be positive. Let us try x = –1
p(–1) = (–1)³ + 6 – 11(–1) + 6
= –1 + 6 – 11 + 6 = 0
So, (x + 1) is a factor of p(x).
Again, x3 + 6x² + 11x + 6
= x²(x + 1) + 5x(x + 1) + 6(x + 1)
= (x + 1)(x² + 5x + 6)
= (x + 1)(x + 2)(x + 3)

Example

Factorise x³ + 15x² + 23x – 231

Let p(x) = x³ + 15x² + 23x – 231
Factors of 231 are +3, +7, +11
p(3) = (3)3 + 15(3)² + 23(3) – 231
= 27 + 135 + 69 – 231 = 0
So, (x – 3) is a factor of p(x)
Again, x³ + 15x² + 23x – 231
= x²(x – 3) + 18x(x – 3) + 77(x – 3)

26
 Chapter QA
POLYNOMIALS 2.2

= (x – 3)(x² + 18x + 77)

= (x – 3)(x + 7)(x + 11)

4. Factorisation and HCF & LCM of polynomials

Factorisation of polynomials
An expression is said to be resolved into factors when those expressions of which it is the
product are found.

Example
x2 – 5x + 6 can be expressed as a product of (x – 2) and (x – 3)
We can also say that ‘x – 2’ and ‘x – 3’ are factors of the term x 2 – 5x + 6.
HCF of polynomials
When two or more polynomials are factorised, the product of all the common factors is the
HCF of the polynomials.
LCM of polynomials
When two or more polynomials are factorised, the product of all the factors with highest
powers is the LCM of the polynomials.

Example
Find the HCF and LCM of 14xy 3, 22x2y and 26x3y4.
14xy3 = 2 × 7 × x × y 3
22x2y = 2 × 11 × x 2 × y
26x3y4 = 2 × 13 × x 3 × y4
HCF = 2 × x × y = 2xy
LCM = 2 × 7 × 11 × 13 × x 3 × y4 = 2002x 3y4

27
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Important algebraic formulae

1. (x + a)(x + b) = x 2 + (a + b)x + ab
2. (a + b)(a – b) = a 2 – b2
3. (x + a)(x + b)(x + c) = x 3 + (a + b + c)x 2 + (ab + bc + ca)x + abc
4. (a + b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b2 = (a – b)2 + 4ab
5. (a – b)2 = a2 – 2ab + b2 = (a + b)2 – 4ab
6. (a + b)2 + (a – b)2 = 2(a2 + b2)
7. (a + b)2 – (a – b)2 = 4ab
8. (a + b + c) 2 = a2 + b2 + c2 + 2(ab + bc + ca)
9. (a + b + c + d) 2 = a2 + b2 + c2 + d2 + 2a(b + c + d) + 2b(c + d) + 2cd
10. (a + b)3 = a3 + 3ab(a + b) + b 3
11. (a – b)3 = a3 – 3ab(a – b) – b 3
12. a3 + b3 = (a + b)3 – 3ab(a + b) = (a + b)(a 2 – ab + b2)
13. a3 – b3 = (a – b)3 + 3ab(a – b) = (a – b)(a 2 + ab + b2)
14. a3 + b3 + c3 – 3abc = (a + b + c)(a 2 + b2 + c2 – ab – ac – bc)
If a + b + c = 0 then a 3 + b3 + c3 = 3abc

In general

15. (x + y)n = xn + nC1 xn-1y + nC2 xn-2 y2 + ............................ + n

Cnyn
(x – y)n = xn – nC1 xn-1y + nC2 xn-2 y2 + ............................ (–1) n nCn yn

Note : Formulae (15) is also known as binomial therom

where aCb = , Also nCn = = 1

16. an – bn = (a – b)(a n – 1
+ an – 2
b + an – 3 2
b + .... + b n – 1
) for all n.

17. an – bn = (a + b)(a n – 1
– an – 2
b + an – 3 2
b – .... – b n – 1
) if n is even.

18. (a n – bn) is divisible by (a + b) when n is even and always divisible by (a – b)

19. an + bn = (a + b)(a n – 1
– an – 2
b + an – 3 2
b + .... + b n – 1
) if n is odd.
n n
(a + b ) is divisible by (a + b) when n is odd.

28
 Chapter QA
POLYNOMIALS 2.2

SOLVED EXAMPLES

Q : Subtract the sum of 11p – 8q + 3r and 12p – 9q + 4r from 15p – 2q + 12r

A : 15p – 2q + 12r – [(11p – 8q + 3r) + (12p – 9q + 4r)]

= 15p – 2q + 12r – [23p – 17q + 7r]
= 15p – 2q + 12r – 23p + 17q – 7r
= –8p + 15q + 5r

Q : When x3 + kx2 + x + 1 is divided by x – 1, the remainder is 6. Find k.

A : p(1) = 6
\ 13 + k × 1 2 + 1 + 1 = 6
\ 1 + k + 1 + 1 = 6
\ 3 + k = 6
\ k = 3

Q : Multiply by

A : = +

= + + 3xy +

= + + +

Q : Simplify – +

–
A : – + = – +

= =

= = =

Q : Find the value of 5112.

A : (500 + 11)2 = 250000 + 11000 + 121 = 261121 [As (a+b) 2 = a2 + 2ab + b 2]

29
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Q : If x + = 15, find x2 + .

A : x2 + = (x + )2 – 2 = 225 – 2 = 223.

Q : If c = (a2 + b2 – 2ap)1/2, find c when a = 21, b = 13, p = 5.

A : c = (441 + 169 – 210) 1/2 = (400) 1/2 = 20.

Q : Find the square root of 4x4 + 9y4 + 16z4 + 12x2y2 – 16x2z2 – 24y2z2.

A : The given expression is 4x4 + 4x2(3y2 – 4z2) + 9y4 – 24y2z2 + 16z4,

i.e. (2x 2)2 + 2(2x2)(3y2 – 4z2) + (3y2 – 4z2)2 = [2x2 + (3y2 – 4z2)]2
Hence, the required square root is 2x 2 + 3y2 – 4z2.

Q : Find the square root of x6 – 2x5 + 3x4 + 2x3(y – 1) + x2(1 – 2y) + 2xy + y 2.
A : The expression only contains y2 and y, we therefore arrange it according to powers of y, and
have y2 + 2y(x3 – x2 + x) + (x 6 – 2x5 + 3x4 – 2x3 + x2).

Now, if the expression is a complete square, then the last term must be the square of half
the coefficient of y; and it is easy to verify that (x3 – x2 + x)2 = x6 – 2x5 + 3x4 – 2x3 + x2.
So the given expression can be written as y2 + 2y(x3 – x2 + x) + (x 3 – x2 + x)2
Hence, the required square root is y + x 3 – x2 + x.

Q : Find the factors of 81p – 54.

A : 81p – 54 = 27 × 3p – 27 × 2 = 27(3p – 2). Hence, the factors of (81p – 54) are 27 and
(3p – 2).

Q : Find the HCF and LCM of 25c 2 – 16d2 and 25c2d – 20cd2.

A : 25c2 – 16d2 = (5c)2 – (4d)2 = (5c – 4d)(5c + 4d)

25c2d – 20cd2 = 5cd(5c – 4d)
HCF = 5c – 4d
LCM = 5cd(5c – 4d)(5c + 4d)

Q : Find the remainder when 1724 – 1324 is divided by 8

A : x = 1724 – 1324
= (17 – 13) (17 23 + 1722 × 13 + ........................ + 17 × 13 22 + 1323)
= 4 (17 23 + 1722 × 13 + ........................ + 17 × 13 22 + 1323)

30
 Chapter QA
POLYNOMIALS 2.2

The expression in the bracket is divisible 2 (Since all the terms inside the bracket are odd
and there are even number of terms)
\ x is divisible by both 4 and 2
\ x is divisible by 4 × 2 = 8
\ Remainder = 0
Alternatively,
Þ 1724 – 1324
Þ (289)12 – (169)12
Þ (289 – 169)[289 11 + 28910 × 169 + ..... + 289 × 169 10 + 16911]
Þ 120[28911 + 28910 × 169 + .......]
As 120 is divisible by 8, \ x is divisible by 8
Hence, the remainder is zero.

Concept Builder 2
1. Simplify (2a + 3) 2 – (3a – 4) 2

2. Find the HCF & LCM of 12x 3y2z, 28x 2y3z2

3. (x – 3) (x + 2) (x + 6) = ?

4. (3x4 + 6x2 – 15) ÷ (x – 3) = A × (x – 3) – (B)

Find the value of A and B

5. If (x – 8) is one factor of x 2 – 12x + p. Find the other factor

6. Find the remainder when (916 – 516) is divided by 14

Answer Key
0 6. x – 4 5.

B = 282
A = 3x 3 + 9x2 + 33x + 99 4. x3 + 5x2 – 12x – 36 3.

LCM = 84x 3y3z2

HCF = 4x 2y2z 2. –5a2 + 36a – 7 1.

31
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Roots of Equations of Higher Order

For determining the roots of equations of degree 3 or more, we can use the following method.
Let a, b & g be the roots of an equation. The equation can be written as:
(x – a) (x – b) (x – g) = 0
[x² – (a + b)x + ab] (x – g) = 0
\ x³ – (a + b)x² + abx – gx² + (a + b)gx – abg = 0
\ x³ – (a + b + g)x² + (ab + ag + bg)x – abg = 0

We can observe that,

coefficient of x² = – (a + b + g) = – sum of the roots
coefficient of x = (ab + ag + bg)x = sum of the product of roots taken 2 at a time

constant term = – abg = – product of the roots

For example, consider the equation having roots as –1, 2 & –3.
(x + 1) (x – 2) (x + 3) = 0
x³ + 2x² – 5x – 6 = 0
Sum of roots = (–1 + 2 – 3) = –2
Sum of product of roots taken 2 at a time
= (–1)(2) + (–1)(–3) + (2)(–3)
= –2 + 3 – 6 = –5
product of roots = (–1)(2)(–3) = 6

Nature of the roots of a polynomial equation

The number of roots of an equation is equal to or less than the degree of the equation. If the
degree of the equation is ‘n’ then the number of roots < n.
The roots can be positive or negative or complex numbers.
– Number of complex roots will be an even number as for every complex root the conjugate
of it will always be a root of the equation. Thus, the number of complex roots will be 2, 4,
6, 8, .....

– To find out the number of positive or negative roots of an equation, we should count the
number of sign changes in the equation.

– Let the equation be f(x) = 0.

Count the number of sign changes in this equation. If the sign changes ‘k’ times the number
of positive roots will be k, k–2, k–4,....

32
 Chapter QA
POLYNOMIALS 2.2

For example consider the equation

f(x) = x³ – 2x² + 4x – 5 = 0
x³ – 2x² +4x –5
sign ------------® + – + –
sign change -----® 1 2 3

As there are 3 sign changes, the number of positive roots is 3 or 1.

– To find out the number of negative roots, count the number of sign changes of the equation
f(–x) = 0

f(–x) = – x³ – 2x² – 4x – 5 = 0

–x³ – 2x² – 4x – 5

sign – – – –

sign changes (No sign change)

As there is no sign change, the number of negative roots is 0.

The following table summarizes the possible cases.

Nature of root
positive negative complex
& Total no. of roots
3 3 0 0
3 1 0 2

33
CATapult
ALGEBRA

SOLVED EXAMPLES

Q : Find the nature of the roots of the equation x⁵ – 4x⁴ + 3x³ + x² – 7x + 15 = 0

A : Let f(x) = x⁵ – 4x⁴ + 3x³ + x² – 7x + 15

There are 4 sign changes \ No. of positive roots = 4, 2 or 0
f(–x) = –x⁵ – 4x⁴ – 3x³ + x² + 7x + 15
There is 1 sign change \ No. of negative roots = 1
The remaining roots will be the complex roots.
This can be summarized as follows:

Positive Negative Complex Total

4 1 0 5
2 1 2 5
0 1 4 5

Q : a, b & g are the roots of the equation x³ – 3x² – 13x + 15 = 0. Find the following:
(i) a + b + g (ii) abg (iii) ab + ag + bg
1 1 1
(iv) a² + b² + g² (v) + +
a b c

A : (i) a + b + g = sum of the roots

= – coefficient of x² = –(–3) = 3
(ii) abg = product of roots = – constant term = –(15) = –15
(iii) ab + ag + bg = sum product = coefficient of x = –13
(iv) a² + b² + g² = (a + b + g)² – 2(ab + ag + bg)
= (3)² – 2(–13)
= 9 + 26 = 35
1 1 1 + +
(v) + + =
a b c

= =

34
 Chapter QA
POLYNOMIALS 2.2

Q : Find the roots of the equation x³ – 4x – 11x + 30 = 0 and find the equation whose roots are
reciprocals of the roots of this equation.

A : f(x) = x³ – 4x² – 11x + 30 = 0

There are 2 sign changes.
So, the number of positive roots = 2 or 0.
f(–x) = –x³ – 4x² + 11x + 30 = 0
There is 1 sign change. So, the number of negative roots = 1
Let the three roots be a, b & g.
abg = – product = –30
a + b + g = – coefficient of x² = –(–4) = 4
ab + ag + bg = coefficient of x = –11
By trial and error, we get a = 2, b = 5, g = –3
a + b + g = 2 + 5 – 3 = 4
abg = (2)(5)(–3) = –30
ab + ag + bg = (2)(5) + (2)(–3) + (5)(–3)
= 10 – 6 – 15 = –11
Let required equation has roots
1 1 1
a¢ = , b¢ = , g¢ =
a b c
1
Product = a¢b¢g¢ = = = –

Sum = (a¢ + b¢ + g¢) =

+ +
= = =

Sum product = a¢b¢ + a¢g¢ + b¢g¢

1 1 1 + +
= + + =

= = –

\ The required equation is

x³ – x² + x – = 0
\ 30x³ –11x² – 4x + 1 = 0

35
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Q : Find the roots of the equation x⁴ – 7x³ + 8x² + 28x – 48.

A : f(x) = x⁴ – 7x³ + 8x² + 28x – 48

There are 3 sign changes. So, there are 3 or 1 positive roots.
f(–x) = x⁴ + 7x³ + 8x² – 28x – 48
There is 1 sign change. So, there is 1 negative root.
Let the 4 roots be a, b, c and d.
\ abcd = constant term = –48
a + b + c + d = –coefficient of x³ = –(7) = 7.
By trial and error we can get,
a = 2, b = –2, c = 3, d = 4
= (2)(–2) + (–2)(3) + (3) + (3)(4) + (2)(4) + (2)(3) + (–2)(4)
= –4 – 6 + 12 + 8 + 6 – 8 = 8 = coef ficient of x³
The roots of the equation are 2, –2, 3, 4.

Note: To find the roots of the equation by using this method, the coefficient of the term with
the highest degree should be made equal to 1.

36
 Chapter QA
POLYNOMIALS 2.2

CLASS EXERCISE

Teaser

I have two dice. I wish to number their faces in such a way that the dice can be placed alongside
to show any date of the year. Which numbers should I write on each die?

Note that both the dice must be used while displaying a date – e.g. If I write 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 on
one die and 6, 7, 8, 9, 1, 2 on the other, then I will not be able to display the dates 03, 04, etc.

37
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Polynomials

1. Expand / Simplify:

a) (x – 2)(x – 3) – (x – 1)(x + 1)
b) (x + 2)(x – 3) + (3 – x)(2 + x)
*c) (x + 1)(x + 2)(x + 3)

2. Find quotient and remainder when:

a) x3 + x2 + 1 is divided by x + 1
b) x4 – x3 + x2 – 1 is divided by x 2
c) x4 – x3 + x2 – 1 is divided by x – 1
d) x4 – x3 + x2 – 1 is divided by x 5 – 1
e) x3 is divided by x + 1
f) 14x5 – 2x3 + 27 is divided by x 3 – 1
g) x8 + x7 + 1 is divided by x 2 + x + 1

Remainder theorem/ Factor theorem

(x – a) is a factor of the polynomial p(x) if and only if ‘a’ is a root of p(x), i.e. p(a) = 0.

3. Answer the following:

a) For p(x) = x3 + x – 2, find p(0), p(3), p(–1) and p(1). Which of {0, 3, –1, 1} are roots of
p(x)?

b) Is p(x) = 2x2 – 3x + 1 divisible by the following?

i) x + 1 ii) x – 1

c) Find the remainder when p(x) = x 4 – x3 + x2 – x + 1 is divided by:

i) x – 1 ii) x + 2

d) Is 2x – 1 a factor of 2x2 + 13x – 7?

4. Factorize:
a) x3 + x2 – 5x + 3 b) x 3 – 19x – 30
c) 2x2 – 3 d) 3x³ + 5x² + 8x + 6
e) x³ – 15x² + 71x – 105

5. a) Find LCM of 12y 3 – 27y and 12y2 – 6y – 18.

b) Find the HCF of y 3 – 4y and 4y(y3 + 8)

38
 Chapter QA
POLYNOMIALS 2.2

Applications of Algebraic formulae

Some useful formulae
• (a + b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b 2
• (a – b)2 = a2 – 2ab + b 2
• (a + b)3 = a3 + 3ab(a + b) + b 3
• (a – b)3 = a3 – 3ab(a – b) – b 3
• a3 + b3 = (a + b)3 – 3ab(a + b) = (a + b)(a 2 – ab + b2)
• a3 – b3 = (a – b)3 + 3ab(a – b) = (a – b)(a 2 + ab + b2)
In general, for any natural number n,
• an + bn = (a + b)(a n-1 – an-2b + … + b n-1) only for odd n
i.e. (a + b) is a factor of a n + b n only if n is odd
• On the other hand, an – bn = (a – b)(a n-1 + an-2b + … + b n-1) for all n
i.e. (a – b) is always a factor of a n – bn

6. Which of the following are factors of a6 – b6?

i) (a – b) ii) (a + b)
2 2
iii) (a – b ) iv) (a2 + b2)
v) (a3 – b3) vi) (a3 + b3)
vii) (a4 – b4) viii) (a 4 + a2b2 + b4)

7. State true or false:

i) x + 1 is a factor of x 7 + 1 ii) x – 1 is a factor of x 8 – 1
iii) x + 1 is a factor of x 7 – 1 iv) x + 1 is a factor of x 8 – 1
v) x3 – 2 is not a factor of x6 – 4 vi) x 2 + y² is a factor of x10 + y10
vii) x2 + 1 is a factor of x3 + 1 viii) x 6 + y 6 cannot be factorized

8. Which of these is certainly a factor of a24 + 1?

i) a12 + 1 ii) a8 + 1
iii) a6 + 1 iv) a4 + 1
v) a3 + 1 vi) a2 + 1

Some more useful formulae

(a + b + c)2 = a2 + b2 + c2 + 2(ab + bc + ca)
a3 + b3 + c3 - 3abc = (a + b + c) (a 2 + b2 + c2 - ab - bc - ca)

9. State true or false:

i) 115 + 125 + 135 is divisible by 24
ii) 10003 + 10013 + … + 1019 3 + 1020 3 is divisible by 101

10. Simplify: (x7 + x–5)

39
CATapult
ALGEBRA

11. If a, b, c are such that = –1 and abc = then find the value of a 3 + b3 + c3.

12. What is the remainder when 16 3 + 173 + 183 + 193 is divided by 70?

13. What is the minimum value of x + (given that x > 0)?

1) 0 2) 1 3) 2 4) None of the above

14. If x + = 5 then find the value of x2 +

1) 20 2) 23 3) 25 4) 27

15. If x + = 5 then find the value of x3 +

1) 100 2) 115 3) 125 4) 110

16. *If x + = 5 then find the value of x 4 +

1) 527 2) 525 3) 529 4] 523

Roots of Higher Degree Polynomials

A polynomial with leading coefficient 1 and exactly 2 roots a and b can be written as
x2 – (a + b) x + (ab)
A polynomial with leading coefficient 1 and exactly 3 roots a, b and c, it can be written as
x3 – (a + b + c) x 2 + (ab + ac + bc) x – (abc)
A polynomial with leading coefficient 1 and exactly 4 roots a, b, c and d, it can be written as
x4 – (a + b + c + d) x³ + (ab + ac + ad + bc + bd + cd) x² – (abc + abd + acd + bcd) x + (abcd)
In general, a polynomial with leading coefficient 1 and exactly n roots a₁, a₂, a₃.....a n can be
written as
xn – ( sum of roots 1 at a time) xn-1 + (sum of roots taken 2 at a time) xn-2. . . + (-1) n (product
of all n roots)

17. a, b and g are the roots of the equation x³ – 7x² + 6x – 13 = 0. Find the following:

a) a + b + g b) abg c) ab + ag + bg
1 1 1
d) a² + b² + g² e) + +
a b c

18. Find the roots of x4 + 6x3 + 11x2 + 6x

19. Find the roots of the equation x³ + 5x² + 2x – 8 = 0 and find the equation whose roots are
reciprocals of the roots of this equation.

40
 Chapter QA
POLYNOMIALS 2.2

Challengers

1. What is the remainder when x2016 + x – 1 is divided by x – 1?

2. Find the roots of:

a) x4 – 2x2 + 1 b) 4x – 4 x + 1 c)

3. If p(x) = ax2 + bx + c is a quadratic polynomial such that p(1) = p(2) and p(4) = 0 then can
you find the value of:

a) m ¹ 4 such that p(m) = 0

b) p(5)

c)

–
4. Which of the following range best describes the value of M = ?

1) M < 2) < M < 3) < M < 1 4) M > 1

5. Which of the following is definitely a factor of 172016 + 122016 – 62016 – 12016 ?

1) 198 2) 253 3) 121 4) 143

6. If x3 + = 198 then find the value of x + .

1) 5.5 2) 6 3) 6.25 4) 7

41
CATapult
ALGEBRA

PRACTICE EXERCISE - 1
DIRECTIONS for questions 1 to 4: Choose the correct alternative.

1. If x – y = 1, evaluate x 3 – y3 – 3xy.
1) 0 2) 1 3) 2 4) x 2 – y 2

2. If x = b + c, y = c – a, z = a – b, find x2 + y 2 + z2 – 2xy – 2xz + 2yz.

1) a + b + c 2) 4b 2 3) abc 4) a 2 + b2

3. Find x3 + y3 + z 3 – 3xyz, when x + y + z = 9 and xy + yz + zx = 11.

1) 384 2) 192 3) 432 4) 48

4. Find the remainder when x 3 – 7x + 8 is divided by x – 3.

1) –8 2) 8 3) –2 4) 14

DIRECTIONS for questions 5 to 8: Solve as directed.

5. If x + = 3, calculate the value of x 4 +

6. If 3x + 4y = 40 and xy = 5, find the value of 27x3 + 64y3.

7. Match each expression to its factor:

i) p12 + q12 a) p9 – q9

ii) p35 + q35 b) p4 + q4

iii) p10 – q10 c) p6 + q6

iv) p36 – q36 d) p4 – q4

v) p27 – q27 e) p7 + q7

vi) p30 + q30 f) p5 + q5

8. p, q and r are the roots of the equation. 2x³ – 7x² + 5x + 14 = 0, then find the following:

a) pqr b) p + q + r c) pq + pr + qr

d) + + e) p² + q² + r²

42
 Chapter QA
POLYNOMIALS 2.2

DIRECTIONS for questions 9 to 17: Choose the correct alternative.

THEORY
9. Find the × × given that a6 + = –2.

PRACTICE EXERCISE CLASS EXERCISE

1) 2 2) 3) 4) None of these

10. What is the product of (1 – x + x 2)(1 – x2 + x4)(1 + x + x 2)?

1) 1 + x2 + x4 2) 1 + x3 + x6 3) 1 + x 4 + x8 4) 1 + x5 + x10

11. Let a polynomial P(k) = a 0k4 + a1k3 + a2k2 + a3k2 + a3k + a4 satisfy P(0) = P(1) = P(2) =
P(–1) = 0 and P(–2) = 12. Then P(3) equals:

1) 2) – 3) 12 4) 2

12. y1, y2, y3 ... are all distinct integers and represent the entire set of integers. P is a non neg-
ative number such that:
P = (x – y 1)(x – y2)(x – y3)…. upto ¥, where x is an integer. Which of the following value can
x take so that P has the least value?
I. 0 II. 1 III. –1
1) I only 2) II only 3) I and II only 4) any of I, II or III

13. (1943 + 1743) is definitely divisible by which of the following:

1) 48 2) 36 3) 72 4) 24

14. 54³ – 33³ – 21³ is atleast divisible by which of the following:

1) 33 and 21 2) 54 and 33 3) 54 and 21 4) 21, 33 and 54

15. If x – 2 is a factor of x4 – x2 – 2, find the other factor.

1) x3 + 2 x2 + x + 2 2) x3 + x + 2

3) – 2 x2 – x – 2 4) x 3 + x2 – 2

16. If a2 + b2 – ab = bc + ca – c 2, where a, b and c are non-zero real numbers, then find the

value of .

1) 0 2) 1 3) abc 4)

43
CATapult
ALGEBRA

17. If the roots of the equation x³ + ax2 – bx + c = 0 are a, b and g, while the roots of the
equation x3 – dx2 + ex – 72 = 0 are a + 3, b + 3 and g + 3, what is the value of 9a + 3b
+ c?
1) 45 2) 99 3) –45 4) –99

DIRECTIONS for questions 18 to 20: Solve as directed.

18. What is the remainder when x + 2x 2 + 3x3 + 4x4 + ... + 100x 100 is divided by x + 1?

19. How many distinct real values can y take in the equation y(y + 3)(3y + 5)(3y + 14) – 54 = 0?

20. Find the remainder when 12 – 22 + 32 – 42 + 52 – 62 + 72 – 82 + 92 – 102 + 112 is divided

by 22

44
 Chapter QA
POLYNOMIALS 2.2

PRACTICE EXERCISE - 2
DIRECTIONS for question 1: Solve as directed.

1. Which of the following are roots of: x6 – x5 – 15x4 + 3x3 + 38x2 – 2x – 24?
a) 1 b) –1
c) 2 d) –2
e) 3 f) –3
g) 4 h) –4
i) 2 j) 3

DIRECTIONS for questions 2 to 15: Choose the correct alternative.

2. Which of the following values of (x, y) satisfies + = x + y – 4.

1) (4, 7) 2) (44, 11) 3) (7, 4) 4) (–19, 19)

3. If xy = p, xz = p2 and yz = p3, also x + y + z = 13 and x 2 + y2 + z2 = 91, then is equal

to:

1) 3 2) 3) 13 4)

4. Solve for ‘a’ if ‘a’ is a positive rational number: = –

1) 2) 3) 4)

5. The difference between the squares of two positive numbers is 48 and the difference between
the reciprocals of their squares is . Find the product of the two numbers.
1. 160 2. 40 3 3. 80 4. 80 2

6. What is the product of x + 1 + , x + – 1, x2 – 1 + and x4 – 1 + ?

1) x8 – + 1 2) 3) x8 – – 1 4) x8 + + 1

7. P = a4 – ab and Q = b 2 – a4
a and b are natural numbers and a is a factor of b (a > 1, b > 1). Find HCF of P and Q.
1) a3 2) b2 3) ab 4) a 2

8. If a + b = p + q , what is the relation between the expressions I and II, where a, b, p

and q are integers such that none of them is a proper square of any integer?

I. a(bq – p2) + p(a2 – bq) II. b(ap – q2) + q(b2 – ap)

1) I > II 2) I < II 3) I = II 4) Cannot be determined

45
CATapult
ALGEBRA

9. If R = , then

1) 0 < R < 1 2) R > 2 3) 1 < R < 2 4) R < 0

10. One of the factors of x4 + 3x3 – 2x2 – 3x + 1 = 0 is . Given that (x + 1) and

(x – 1) are two of the factors, find a.
1) –1 2) 1 3) 0 4) 3

11. Let p(n) = (3 + 2 2 )n + (3 – 2 2 )n. Then, find the ratio (for all n), where [x]
greatest integer less than or equal to x.
1) 1 2) less than 1
3) greater than 1 4) Cannot be determined

12. The equations x3 – 5x2 – 2x + 24 = 0 and x 3 + ax2 – 7x – 6 = 0 share two common roots.
Find the value of a.
1) 0 2) 1 3) –2 4) 3

13. How many negative roots exist for the equation (x2 + 4)2 + 20x2 = 9x(x2 + 4)?
1) 0 2) 1 3) 2 4) 3

14. The GCD and LCM of three quadratic polynomials are (x + 3) and (x 4 – 12x3 + 29x2 + 102x
– 360) respectively. Which of the following isn’t one of the polynomials?
1) x2 – x – 12 2) x 2 – 2x – 15 3) x 2 – 3x – 18 4) x 2 + x – 12

15. If a, b and g are the roots of the equation x3 + 6x2 – 51x – 210 = 0, find the equation
1 1 1
whose roots are , and .
a b c
1) 210x3 + 6x2 – 51x – 1 = 0 2) 210x 3 + 51x2 – 6x – 1 = 0
3) 210x3 + x2 – 6x – 51 = 0 4) 210x 3 + 6x2 – x – 51 = 0

DIRECTIONS for questions 16 to 20: Solve as directed.

16. If a and b are the remainders when 2x4 + 9x3 – 15x + 5 = 0 is divided by (x – 1) and (x
– 3) respectively; what would be the least number to be added to/subtracted from (a + b)
so that the resulting number is a multiple of 63?

17. If a, b and g are the roots of the equation x3 + 8x2 – 15 = 0, find the value of

+ +

18. What is the remainder when 1 + 10 2 + 104 + 106 + 108 + ... + 10 100 is divided by 99?

19. Find the product of all the possible roots of the equation 4x2 + 7x – 7x–1 + 4x–2 = 19.

20. If ‘a’ and ‘b’ are the roots of the equation x 2 – 5x + 3 and ‘c’ and ‘d’ are the roots of the
equation x2 – 3x + 1, find the value of a4 – c4 + b4 – d4.

46
CATapult
GEOMETRY

QA-2.3 CARTESIAN COORDINATE SYSTEM, THEORY

EQUATION OF A LINE
Cartesian Co-ordinate System
All real numbers can be represented on a line called number line. The number zero corresponds
to the origin. The positive real numbers +x correspond to the points on the number line whose
distance from the origin is x units towards the right of the origin. The negative real numbers –x
correspond to the points on the number line whose distance from the origin is x units towards
the left of the origin.
Co-ordinate Geometry or Cartesian Geometry is that branch of geometry in which two numbers
i.e. the co-ordinates are used to indicate the position of a point in a plane. Co-ordinate geometry
was introduced in 1637 by René Descartes.

The number associated with a point on the number line is termed as a co-ordinate of that point.
Co-ordinate of A is 2.
Let X’OX and Y’OY be two coplanar number lines intersecting at the origin at right angles.

The horizontal line X’OX is called the x-axis and the vertical line YOY’ is called the y-axis. ‘O’
the point of intersection is called the origin. On the x-axis, the positive numbers are to the right
and negative numbers are to the left of the origin. On the y-axis, the positive numbers are above
and negative numbers are below the origin.

The x and y axes divide the plane into four quadrants XOY, YOX’, X’OY’ and Y’OX referred to as
the first, second, third and fourth quadrant, respectively. Any point in the plane is either in one
of these quadrants or on the x or the y-axis.

47
CATapult
GEOMETRY

Let P be a point in the first quadrant and PM be the perpendicular on the x-axis and PN be the
perpendicular on the y-axis. The lengths PN and PM are called the rectangular cartesian co-ordinates
or simply the co-ordinates of P.

The length PN is called the abscissa or x co-ordinate and is denoted by the letter x. The length
PM is called the ordinate or y co-ordinate and is denoted by the letter y. The co-ordinates of a
point are written in round brackets, the first number is the x co-ordinate and the second number
is the y co-ordinate.

The x and y co-ordinates of a point in the quadrants are:

Quadrant x-coordinate y-coordinate Coordinates

First Quadrant + + (+, +)
Second Quadrant – + (–, +)
Third Quadrant – – (–, –)
Fourth Quadrant + – (+, –)

The co-ordinates of the origin are (0, 0).

The x co-ordinate of every point on the y-axis is zero.
The y co-ordinate of every point on the x-axis is zero.

Reflection of a point
The reflection of a point P1(x, y) in the first quadrant in
the y-axis is P2(–x, y) and in the x-axis is P4(x, –y). P3(–x,
–y) is the double reflection of P 1(x, y), first in the y-axis
and then in the x-axis. P3(–x, –y) is also the reflection of
P1(x, y) across the origin.

48
 Chapter QA
CARTESIAN COORDINATE SYSTEM, EQUATION OF A LINE 2.3

Distance formula
The distance between two points (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) =

Example
Find the value of ‘a’ if the distance between A(a, 2) and B(5, a) is 5 units.
, (AB) =

5 =
5 = 29 – 14a + 2a 2
2a2 – 14a + 24 = 0
a2 – 7a + 12 = 0
(a – 3)(a – 4) = 0 \ a = 3 or a = 4

Note: The distance of the point (x1, y1) from the origin (0, 0) = =

Section formula
Internal Division

If point P divides the segment AB internally in the ratio m : n (i.e. PA : PB = m : n), where A º
(x1, y1) and B º (x2, y2) then the co-ordinates (x, y) of P are given by:

P(x, y) =

External Division

If P(x, y) divides the segment AB externally in the ratio m : n (i.e. PA : PB = m : n), where A º
(x1, y1) and B º (x2, y2) and m > n then the co-ordinates (x, y) of P are given by

P(x, y) =

49
CATapult
GEOMETRY

Example

Find the co-ordinates of the point which divides the segment AB where A º (5, –3) and B º
(3, –5) externally in the ratio 3 : 5.

P(x, y) = =

= = (8, 0)

Note: External division with a positive ratio can be treated as an internal division with negative ratio.

Midpoint of a segment
If P is the midpoint of the segment joining the points A(x1, y1) and B(x2, y2), then the co-ordinates

(x, y) of P are given by: P(x, y) =

Note: In the section formula for internal division, if m = n, then the point is the midpoint of
the segment.
1. If point P divides segment AB internally in the ratio of m : n (i.e. PA : PB = m : n), then
B divides segment AP externally in the ratio (m + n) : n [i.e. BA : BP = (m + n) : n]

2. If point P divides segment AB externally in the ratio m : n (where m > n and PA : PB = m

: n), then B divides segment PA internally in the ratio (m – n) : n [i.e. BA : BP = (m – n)
: n]

3. If point P divides segment AB externally in the ratio m : n (where m < n) i.e. PA : PB = m :

n, then A divides segment PB internally in the ratio m : (n – m) [i.e. AP : AB = m : (n – m)]

50
 Chapter QA
CARTESIAN COORDINATE SYSTEM, EQUATION OF A LINE 2.3

Application of co-ordinate geometry

Centroid of a Triangle
If A(x1, y1), B(x2, y2) and C(x3, y3) are the vertices of a triangle,
then

The co-ordinates of the centroid G(x, y) of the DABC are:

G(x,y) =

Note: The centroid is the point of intersection of the three medians of the triangle. The centroid
divides each median in the ratio 2:1.

Incentre of a Triangle

The co-ordinates of the incentre I(x, y) of the DABC

with vertices A(x1, y1), B(x2, y2) and C(x3, y3) are

I(x, y) =

where, a, b and c are the lengths of three sides opposite

to ÐBAC, ÐABC and ÐACB.

Note: Incentre is the point of intersection of the three angle bisectors of the triangle.

Area of a triangle given co-ordinates of the three vertices

If A(x1, y1), B(x2, y2) and C(x3, y3) are the three vertices of a triangle then,

Area of the triangle = = |[x1(y2 – y 3) – x2(y1 – y3) + x3(y1 – y2)]|

Example
Find the area of the triangle whose vertices are (–1, 3), (2, 4) and (3,–2).
Here, (x 1, y1) = (–1, 3), (x 2, y2) = (2, 4), (x 3, y3) = (3, –2)

Area of the triangle = = |[x1(y2 – y3) – x2(y1 – y3) + x3(y1 –y2)]|

= |[–1(4 – (–2)) – 2(3 – (–2)) + 3(3 – 4)]| = |[–6 – 10 – 3]| = = 9.5 sq.units.

51
CATapult
GEOMETRY

Some interesting results based on the above formulae

1. If the area = 0, then the 3 points are collinear.

2. is called the determinant of order 3.

An array of 9 numbers is arranged in three rows and three columns.

The value of the determinant is given by
a1(b2c3 – b3c2) – b1(a2c3 – a3c2) + c1(a2b3 – a3b2)

3. If one of the vertices of the triangle is at the origin and other two vertices are A(x 1, y1),

B(x2, y2), then Area =

Conditions for a parallelogram

If A(x1, y1), B(x2, y2), C(x3, y3) and D(x4, y4) are four non-collinear points such that x1 + x3 = x2
+ x4 and y1 + y3 = y2 + y4, then ABCD is a parallelogram.

Conversely, if A(x 1, y1), B(x2, y2), C(x 3, y3) and D(x4, y4) form a parallelogram, then x1 + x3 = x2
+ x4 and y1 + y3 = y2 + y4.

Example
In a parallelogram ABCD, where A(1, 0), B(2, 5), C(1, 9), find the co-ordinates of D.
Let the co-ordinates of D be (x 4, y4).
Since ABCD is a parallelogram, x1 + x3 = x2 + x4
\ 1 + 1 = 2 + x 4 Þ x4 = 0
Also, y1 + y3 = y2 + y4
\ 0 + 9 = 5 + y 4 Þ y4 = 4
The co-ordinates of D are (0, 4).

Shift of Origin
Sometimes the origin (0, 0) is shifted to a point (h, k) to make
the equation shorter. Then the old co-ordinates (x, y) of a point
P will change to (X, Y), where X = x – h and Y = y – k.

XOY is the old frame of reference and X´O´Y´ is the new

frame of reference.

The axes O´X´ and O´Y´ in the new frame of reference will
be parallel to OX and OY in the old frame of reference.

52
 Chapter QA
CARTESIAN COORDINATE SYSTEM, EQUATION OF A LINE 2.3

Example
If the origin is shifted to (1, 2), the axes remaining parallel to the old axes, find the new
co-ordinates of the point B(–3, –7).
Here, (h, k) = (1, 2)
\ X = x – h = –3 – 1 = –4
Y = y – k = –7 – 2 = –9
\ The new co-ordinates are (–4, –9)

Locus
A locus is a set of all points that satisfies a given geometrical condition. If a point moves according
to some fixed rule, its co-ordinates will satisfy some corresponding algebraic relation and the path
of the moving point is the locus of the point. If a point lies on a locus, its co-ordinates satisfy
the equation.

Example
If the point (5, b) lies on the locus x 3 + 3y 3 = 25x, find b.
(5, b) lies on the locus and therefore should satisfy the equation.
x3 + 3y 3 = 25x.
(5)3 + 3(b)3 = 25 × 5
3b3 = 0 \ b = 0

Concept Builder 1
1. The point A(2, –3) is in the II nd quadrant (T/F)
2. Find the distance between the points A(18, 3) and B (6, 8). Also find distance of point
B(6, 8) from the origin.
3. Find the point P which divides the segment AB where A º (2, 5) and B º (4, 2) in the ratio
2 : 1 internally.
4. If point P divides segment QR internally in the ratio 3 : 2, then what is the ratio in which
R divides segment QP externally?
5. Find the centroid of a triangle whose vertices are (6, 4), (3, 5) and (2, 8)
6. Find the area of the triangle whose vertices are (1, 3), (–7, 6) and (5, –1)
7. What will be the reflection of the point (3, 5) in the
a) second quadrant b) third quadrant
8. If the origin gets shifted to (3, 2), then what will be the new coordinates of the point (6, –3)
9. The points A (4, 5), B(1, 1) and C(7, 9) are collinear (T/F).
Answer Key

True 9. (3, –5) 8.

7. a) (–3, 5) b) (–3, –5) 10 sq.units 6. 5.

4. 5 : 2 3. 13 units, 10 units 2. False 1.

53
CATapult
GEOMETRY

Equation of a line
Any straight line on the co-ordinate plane can be described by the equation:
y = mx + c
where: x, y are co-ordinates of a point on the line
m is the slope of the line
c is the y-intercept (i.e., where the line crosses the y-axis).

Slope (Gradient) of a line

The slope of a line is the ratio of rate of change of y to rate of change of x. It is denoted by ‘m’

Slope of a line joining two points A(x 1, y1) and B (x2, y2) is given by, m =

Inclination of a line
If a straight line intersects the x-axis, the inclination of the
line is defined as the measure of the angle, which the x-axis
makes with the line in the anticlockwise direction.
If a straight line is parallel to the x-axis, its inclination is
defined to be zero.
The slope of a line having inclination q and not perpendicular
to the x-axis is defined to be tan q i.e. m = tan q.
The slope of a line perpendicular to x-axis is not defined,
as tan 90° is not defined. The slope of a line parallel to
x-axis is zero as tan 0 = 0. Hence, for a line parallel to
x-axis, m = 0 and for a line parallel to y-axis, m does not
exist or vice versa.
If q is acute, the slope is positive.
If q is obtuse, the slope is negative.

Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

1. Two lines whose slopes are m1 and m2 are parallel to each
other, if and only if m1 = m2, or both m1 and m2 do not exist.
2. Two lines whose slopes are m1 and m2 are perpendicular
to each other if and only if either m 1 × m 2 = –1 or if m 1 = 0 and m2 does not exist.
Thus, if the slope of a line is m, the slope of a line perpendicular to it is – .

54
 Chapter QA
CARTESIAN COORDINATE SYSTEM, EQUATION OF A LINE 2.3

Equation of lines parallel to the axes

1. The equation of a line parallel to the x-axis
and at a distance of k units above it is
y = k.
y = k is also called the y intercept.

Example
y = 3 is a line passing through (0, 3) and
parallel to the x-axis.

Note: Equation of x-axis is y = 0

2. The equation of a line parallel to the x-axis

and at a distance of k units below it is
y = –k.
y = –k is also called the y intercept.

Example

y = –1 is a line passing through (0, –1) and parallel to the x-axis.

3. The equation of a line parallel to the y-axis and at a distance of k units to the right of it is
x = k. x = k is also called the x intercept.

Example

x = 2 is a line passing through (2, 0) and parallel to the y-axis.

Note: Equation of y-axis is x = 0

4. The equation of a line parallel to the y-axis and at a distance of k units to the left of it is
x = –k. x = –k is also called the x intercept.

Example
x = –2 is a line passing through (–2, 0) and parallel to the y-axis.

55
CATapult
GEOMETRY

Standard forms for the equation of a line

1. The Point Slope form: The equation of a straight line passing through the point (x1, y1) and
having slope m is y – y1 = m(x – x 1).
2. The Two Point form: The equation of a straight line passing through the points (x1, y1) and

(x2,y2), where x1 ¹ x2 is = .

Example
The point (a, –4) lies on the line joining the points (6, 2) and (12, 5). Find a.

Equation of the line is =

– –
= ; x – 2y = 2
– –
(a, –4) satisfies this equation \ a – 2 × (–4) = 2
a = 2 – 8 = –6.
3. Slope Intercept form: The equation of a line having slope m and making an intercept c on
y-axis is y = mx + c.

Example
If the equation of a line is 3x + 4y = 12, then find the y-intercept and slope of the line.
Converting equation to Slope-intercept form y = mx + c, y = x + 3
Hence, m = , anc c = 3

4. Double Intercept form: The equation of a line making intercepts a and b, when a ¹ 0 and
b ¹ 0 on the x and y axis respectively is + = 1.

Example
If the equation of a line is 7x + 3y = 21, then find the x-intercept and the y-intercept of the
line.
Converting 7x + 3y = 21 to the double intercept form i.e., + = 1
Þ + = 1
Here, a = 3 b = 7 Þ x-intercept = 3, y-intercept = 7

Note: The x intercept of a line can be obtained by substituting y = 0 in the equation of the
line. Similarly, the y intercept can be obtained by substituting x = 0 in the equation of the line.

56
 Chapter QA
CARTESIAN COORDINATE SYSTEM, EQUATION OF A LINE 2.3

5. The Normal form: If the perpendicular drawn from the origin to a line has inclination a and
length p, then the equation of the line is x cos a + y sin a = p.

6. The Symmetric form: The equation of a line passing through a point (x1, y1) and making an
– –
angle of q with x-axis is =
i i

7. The General form: All the different forms of equations of a straight line are nothing but linear
equations of the first degree in x and y. Hence, the most general form of an equation is of
the form Ax + By + C = 0, where A, B and C are real numbers.
Conversely, Ax + By + C = 0, always represents a straight line.
Ax + By + K = 0 represents a line parallel to Ax + By + C = 0 and Bx – Ay + K = 0 represents

a line perpendicular to Ax + By + C = 0.

Slope m = – = x intercept = – = –

-
y intercept = – =

Point of intersection of two lines

If A1x + B1y + C1 = 0 and A2x + B2y + C2 = 0 are two straight intersecting lines, then co-ordinates
of the point of intersection can be obtained by solving the equations simultaneously for x and y.

Angle between two lines

-
If m1 and m2 are the slopes of two lines such that m1 × m2 ¹ 1, then tan q = where
q is the acute angle between the two lines.
Also, if the equation of the two lines are A 1x + B 1y + C1 = 0 and A 2x + B 2y + C2 = 0 then,

tan q =

Example
Find the equation of the straight lines passing through the point (2, 3) and inclined at an
angle of 45° to the line 3x + y – 5 = 0.

Slope (m2) of the given line is –

If m1 is the slope of the required line, tan 45° =

i.e., 1 = \ = 1 or = –1; \ m1 = – or 2.

(2, 3) is a point on the line.

So, the equation of the line is y – 3 = – (x – 2) or y – 3 = 2(x – 2)
i.e. x + 2y – 8 = 0 or 2x – y – 1 = 0

57
CATapult
GEOMETRY

Perpendicular distance of origin from a line

The perpendicular distance of origin from a line Ax + By + C = 0, is given by

Example
Find the shortest distance of origin from the line 3x + 4y + 10 = 0.

Perpendicular distance = = = = 2

Perpendicular distance of a point from a line

If P(x1, y1) is any point and Ax + By + C = 0 is a line, then the perpendicular distance of P from

the line is given by .

If Ax1 + By1 + C is positive, the point P(x 1, y1) lies on the origin side of the line and if Ax 1 + By1
+ C is negative, then P(x 1, y1) lies on the non-origin side of the line.

Perpendicular distance between two parallel lines

Ax + By + C1 = 0 and Ax + By + C 2 = 0 are two parallel lines, and the perpendicular distance
–
between them is given by .

Example
Find the distance between the parallel lines 3x + 4y – 10 = 0 and 6x + 8y + 15 = 0.
3x + 4y – 10 = 0 ...(i)

6x + 8y + 15 = 0; i.e., 3x + 4y + = 0 ...(ii)
...(making coefficients of x and y equal)
–
\ Distance between the parallel lines =

– –
= = = = 3.5 units

Condition for concurrency of three straight lines

If A1x + B1y + C1 = 0, A2x + B2y + C2 = 0 and A3x + B3y + C3 = 0 are three straight lines, then
the three lines will be concurrent (i.e., intersect at a point) if A 3(B1C2 – B2C1) + B3(C1A2 – C2A1)
+ C3(A1B2 – A2B1) = 0.

58
 Chapter QA
CARTESIAN COORDINATE SYSTEM, EQUATION OF A LINE 2.3

Family of lines
If u º A1x + B1y + C = 0 and v º A2x + B2y + C = 0 are two intersecting lines, then u + kv =
0, where k is any constant, represents a straight line through the point of intersection of u = 0
and v = 0.

Equation of a circle
Let P(x, y) be any point on the circle whose centre is C(h, k) and radius is r. The equation of the

circle is given by – – = r. This form is called the centre radius form.

Equation of a circle with centre as origin is = r

The general form of a circle is x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0, where g = –h, f = –k and c = h 2 +

k2 – r 2.

Note: The ratio of the distance of a point from a fixed point and a fixed straight line is called
the eccentricity and denoted by ‘e’.

Concept Builder 2
1. Find the equation of the line parallel to x-axis and 2 units below it
2. Find the equation of the line passing through (4, 5) and having slope = 3
3. Find the following for the equation 6x – 5y = 30:
a) x-intercept
b) y-intercept
c) slope
4. Find the angle between line 2x + 3y + 6 = 0 and 6x + 9y + 7 = 0
5. Find the shortest distance of origin from the line 12x + 9y + 5 = 0
6. Find the distance between 3x + 4y + 7 = 0 and 6x + 8y + 10 = 0
7. Find the perpendicular distance of A(2, 2) from the line 15x + 8x + 5 = 0.

Answer Key
7. 3 units units 6. units 4. Parallel Lines (0°) 5.

2. 3x – y – 7 = 0 3. a) +5 b) –6 c) 1. y = –2

59
CATapult
GEOMETRY

Solved Examples

Q : Find the ratio in which x-axis divides the segment joining A(–3, –2) and B(4, –4). Also find the
point of division. Is the division internal or external?
A : If P(x, 0) is the point of division and if the ratio is k : 1, then,

x = ; 0 =

x = ; 0 =

\ –4k – 2 = 0 \ k = –

So the ratio is k : 1 = – : 1 i.e., –1 : 2 i.e. 1 : –2

The negative sign implies that the division is external. Hence, the ratio is 1 : 2.

–
x = = = –10

\ The point of division is (–10, 0).

Q : The midpoints of the sides of DABC are shown in the figure. Find the co-ordinates of B and
A.

A : BDEF is a parallelogram ...(midpoint theorem)

If the co-ordinates of B are (a, b)
a – 3 = 1 + 2 \ a = 6
b + 5 = 3 – 1 \ b = –3
\ B º (6, –3)
Similarly, AFDE is a parallelogram.
If the co-ordinates of A are (x, y)
x + 1 = 2 – 3 \ x = –2
y + 3 = –1 + 5 \ y = 1 \ A º (–2, 1)

60
 Chapter QA
CARTESIAN COORDINATE SYSTEM, EQUATION OF A LINE 2.3

Q : Find the co-ordinates of the foot of the perpendicular from the point
(1, 2) on the line x – 3y + 7 = 0.

A : If the foot of the perpendicular is (a, b) it satisfies the equation.

\ a – 3b + 7 = 0 ...(i)
Slope of the given line is – =
–
Slope of PM = – ; Also, slope of PM =
–
–
\ = – ; \ 2 – b = –3 + 3a; \ 3a + b = 5 ...(ii)
–
Solving (i) and (ii), a = and b = \ Foot of the perpendicular is .

Q : Find k if the points A(–1, 4); B(2, 5); C(3, k) are collinear.
A : If the points are collinear, Slope of AB = Slope of BC ...(they are one and the same line)

\ = ; \ = ; \ k =

Alternatively,
The area of the triangle formed by the points A, B and C should be zero, i.e.,

= 0 Þ k = –

Q : Find the equation of the line parallel to the line passing through (5, 7) and (2, 3) and having
x intercept –4.
A : Slope of the given line = =
\ The slope of the required line is also =
One point on this line is (–4, 0).
\ Equation of the line is y – 0 = (x + 4); \ 3y = 4x + 16

Q : Find the equation of the locus of a point P equidistant from the points A(–3, 2) and B(5,4).
A : Let the co-ordinates of P be (x, y). PA = PB

\ =
Squaring and simplifying, 16x + 4y = 28, i.e., 4x + y = 7
This is the equation of the locus of the point P.

61
CATapult
GEOMETRY

Q : Find the acute angle between the lines x 3 + y = 7 and x – y 3 + 5 = 0.

A : Slope of the first line, m1 = – 3
Slope of the second line, m 2 =

\ m1m2 = = –1

\ The lines are perpendicular

\ Measure of the angle between them = 90°.

Q : In DABC, A(2, –3), B(0, 4), C(–6, 7). Find the equation of
altitude AD.

A : Slope of BC = = –

\ Slope of AD = + ...(as m1m2 = –1)

One point on AD is (2, –3)

\ Equation of AD is y + 3 = 2(x – 2)
\ 2x – y = 7.

Q : What is the x intercept made by the line whose gradient is and y intercept is –6?

A : Here, m = and C = –6.

Hence the equation of the line is y = x – 6
To find the x intercept, put y = 0
\ 0 = x – 6 \ x = 9

Q : One end of a diameter of a circle with centre C(–2, 0) is A(4, 4). Find the co-ordinates of the
other end of the diameter.
A : Let B(x, y) be the other end of the diameter.
C is the midpoint of AB.
–2 = and 0 =
–4 = x + 4 and 0 = y + 4
x = –8 and y = –4
\ B(–8, –4) is the other end of the diameter.

62
 Chapter QA
CARTESIAN COORDINATE SYSTEM, EQUATION OF A LINE 2.3

CLASS EXERCISE

Teaser

Jayant is visiting Pune city and wants to visit several old acquaintances.
• Starting from his hotel, he drives ten km north to meet Jagdish.
• He then goes 4 km west to Jigar’s house.
• After that he moves 3 km north to Jayashree’s place, and then 6 km east to Jalan’s home.
• He finally drives 13 km south to visit Jenny.

How far must he go to get back to his hotel, and in which direction?

63
CATapult
GEOMETRY

The Cartesian Coordinate System

Consider the following points:
A (4, 3) B (–4, –3) C (–2, –6) D (2, –3) O (0, 0)

1) Plot the above points on the given coordinate plane:

2) What is the distance of

(a) point A from point O?
(b) point B from point D?
(c) point C from point D?
(d) point A from point D?

3) Find the coordinates of the mid-point of segment BD.

4) Find the coordinates of the mid-point of segment CD.

5) Find the coordinates of the point that divides segment AB internally in the ratio 3:1

6) Find the coordinates of the point that divides segment AB externally in the ratio 3:2

Distance Formula: Distance between two points (x₁, y₁) and (x₂, y₂) is given by:

Midpoint Formula: The midpoint (x, y) of the line segment joining two points (x₁, y₁) and (x₂,

y₂) is given by: x =

Section Formula (Internal): The point (x, y) dividing the line segment joining two points (x₁, y₁)

and (x₂, y₂) internally in the ratio m:n is given by:

Section Formula (External): The point (x, y) dividing the line segment joining two points (x₁,

y₁) and (x₂, y₂) externally in the ratio m:n (where m ≠ n) is given by:

7) * Find the distance between the midpoints of the segments AB and CD

8) * Find the distance between the midpoints of the segments BD and AC

9) * Find the coordinates of the point which divides segment AO externally in the ratio 5:4

10) * Given P (21, 13) and Q (9, 19), find the point which divides PQ internally in the ratio 1:5

11) * Given R (7, –6) and S (–3, 8) find the point which divides segment RS externally in the ratio
3:2

64
 Chapter QA
CARTESIAN COORDINATE SYSTEM, EQUATION OF A LINE 2.3

Plotting Linear Equations

12) Consider the equation y = – 2x + 1

a) Given x, find y:

x –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3
y

b) Plot the points from the table above on the given coordinate axes
c) Find the change in y for a unit change in x

13) Consider the equation 2y = x – 3

a) Given x, find y:
x –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3
y

b) Plot the points from the table above on the given

coordinate axes
c) Find the change in y for a unit change in x

14) Find the solution for the above two equations y = – 2x + 1 and 2y = x – 3.

15) Find the slope of a line segment joining:

a) (3, 4) and (7, 6)
b) (–5, 3) and (–2, –6)
c) (4, 3) and (4, –2)

Slope of a line (m) is defined as the change in y for a unit change in x

Inclination of a line (θ) is defined as the angle between the line and the positive direction of
the X-axis

Slope of a line segment joining two points P(x₁, y₁) and Q(x₂, y₂) is given by m =

Slope in terms of inclination is given by m = tan θ

65
CATapult
GEOMETRY

16) Identify which of the following lines have (i) a positive slope and (ii) a positive y-intercept

17) Find a unique line, if it exists, having the given properties:

a) Passing through the point (7, –2)

b) Passing through (2, 3) and (3, 1)
c) Passing through (5, 7) with slope 2
d) With slope 3 and y-intercept –2
e) Parallel to the X-axis and two units from the origin
f) With x intercept –4 and slope –1
g) Cutting the X and Y axes at 3 and 2 respectively
h) Through (–2, 3) and parallel to the Y-axis
i) Through (2, 5), (8, 3) and (–7, 8)

Point-Slope Form: A line with slope m through P(x₁, y₁) : y – y1 = m (x – x1)

Two Point Form: A line through P(x₁, y₁) and Q(x₂, y₂) : (x – x1)
Slope-Intercept Form: A line with slope m and y-intercept c : y = mx + c

Two Intercept Form: A line with X-intercept ‘a’ and Y-intercept ‘b’ : = 1
(where a, b ≠ 0)

Standard form: The equation of a line can be written in the form : ax + by + c = 0

A line parallel to X – axis will always be of the form : y = constant
A line parallel to Y – axis will always be of the form : x = constant
A line passing through the origin will always be of the form : ax + by = 0

18) * Find the equation of a line:

a) Passing through (7, –4) and the origin

b) Passing through (3, 4) and parallel to the y-axis
c) Through the origin with a slope of 0
d) Having X-intercept = Y-intercept = 3
e) With slope –2 and lying entirely in the 2nd and 4th quadrants

66
 Chapter QA
CARTESIAN COORDINATE SYSTEM, EQUATION OF A LINE 2.3

19) * Find whether the following sets of points are collinear:

a) A (11, 2) B (14, 7) C (–1, –18)

b) P (5, 3) Q (0, 0) R (–7.5, –5)
c) W (4,5) X (13, 14) Y (–2, –3) Z (–8, –9)
d) L (5, 3) M (0, 1) N (–4, 3)

20) * For each of the following lines, identify the slope, y-intercept and x-intercept:

Equation Slope Y intercept X intercept

1 3x + 7y – 42 = 0
2 4x – 2.5y = 10
3 y = 2.25 x – 9
4 x = 1.6 y + 4
5 3y = 21 – 3.5x

21) Match the following:

1 A line parallel to 3x + 4y = 7 a x = y – 1
2 A line through the origin and perpendicular to 2x – 3y + 4 = 0 b y = 1.5x – 17
3 A line though (1,1) parallel to the X-axis c x + 3 = 0
4 A line through (2,3) parallel to x = y d 3x = 0
5 A line perpendicular to the x-axis through the origin e y = – 0.75 x – 2
6 A line perpendicular to 3x – 7y + 9 = 0 f 31 – 7x – 3y = 0
7 A vertical line through (–3, 1) g y – 1 = 0
8 A line parallel to 3x = 2y h 3x + 2y = 0

If two lines with slopes m₁ and m₂ are parallel then m 1 = m2

If two lines with slopes m₁ and m₂ are perpendicular, then m1m2 = –1

If two lines ax + by + c = 0 and dx + ey + f = 0 are parallel then

If two lines ax + by + c = 0 and dx + ey + f = 0 are perpendicular then ad = – be or
ad + be = 0

22) * Find the distance of the line 4x – 3y + 10 = 0 from the origin

23) * Find the distance of the point (5, 3) from the line 12x + 5y + 3 = 0

24) * Find the distance between the two lines x + 2y – 3 = 0 and x + 2y + 5 = 0

67
CATapult
GEOMETRY

The perpendicular distance of a point (x₁, y₁) from a line ax + by + c = 0 is

Corollary: The perpendicular distance of the origin from a line ax + by + c = 0 is

The perpendicular distance between two parallel lines ax + by + c 1 and ax + by + c2 is

25) * Consider the triangle ABC formed by the points A (5, 3), B (8, 4) and C (5,11).
a) Find the centroid of ΔABC
b) Find the area of ΔABC

Given three points A(x₁, y₁), B(x₂, y₂) and C(x₃, y₃):
The centroid of the triangle ABC is given by

The area of the triangle ABC formed by the given points is

If the lengths of the sides opposite to A, B and C are

a, b and c respectively, then the incentre of the
triangle ABC is given by:

26) Consider the circle given by (x – 3) 2 + (y + 4)2 = 25

a) What is the centre of the circle?
b) What is the radius of the circle?

27) Consider the circle x 2 + y2 + 4x – 6y – 36 = 0

a) What is the centre of the circle?
b) What is the radius of the circle?

A circle can be written in the form (x – a) 2 + (y – b)2 = r2 where the centre is (a, b) and the
radius is r
The standard form of a circle is x2 + y 2 + 2gx +2fy + c = 0. Here, centre = (–g, –f) and radius
=

68
 Chapter QA
CARTESIAN COORDINATE SYSTEM, EQUATION OF A LINE 2.3

Challengers
1) Which of the following attributes will guarantee a unique line?
a) Passing through (2, 2) and at a minimum distance of 1 unit from the origin?
b) Through a given x-intercept and a given y-intercept?
c) Intersecting the X-axis at a given point and not touching the Y-axis?
d) With a slope of 1 and at a perpendicular distance of 1 unit from the point (4, 4)

2) The graph of y – x against y + x is as shown below. (All graphs in this question are drawn
to scale and the same scale has been used on each axis.)

Which of the following shows the graph of y against x?

69
CATapult
GEOMETRY

3. Two ants Amar and Akbar are standing at the co-ordinates (3,7) and (9,1) respectively of a
coordinate plane. A third ant Anthony is standing at a point (x, 0) on the X-axis. Both Amar
and Akbar start crawling in a straight line towards Anthony at the same constant speed and
reach him simultaneously. What is the value of x?
1) 2 2) –2 3) 6 4) 3.25

4. Two ants Amar and Akbar are standing at the co-ordinates (3,7) and (9,1) respectively of a
coordinate plane. Amar wants to visit the X-axis and then meet Akbar. What is the minimum
distance he has to crawl to do this?
1) 7 + 2) 1 + 3) 10 4)

70
 Chapter QA
CARTESIAN COORDINATE SYSTEM, EQUATION OF A LINE 2.3

PRACTICE EXERCISE

DIRECTIONS for questions 1 and 2: Solve as directed:

1. a) What would be the equation of a line parallel to 4x + 7y = 8 and passing through the
origin?

b) What would be the equation of a line perpendicular to 4x + 7y = 8 and passing through

the origin?

c) What would be the equation of a line parallel to 4x + 7y = 8 and passing though (2, 1)?

d) What would be the equation of a line perpendicular to 4x + 7y = 8 and passing through

(2, 1)?

2. Match the following (More than one answer may be correct)

1 A line through (1,2) and (4,3) a x – 3y – 17 = 0

2 A line with slope –2, through the origin b x – 1 = 0
3 A line through (3, 5) with equal y- and x-intercepts c 15 – y = 2x
4 A line perpendicular to x – y = 4 d 5x – 8y = 20
5 A line perpendicular to y + 3x = 7 e x + 17 = – y
6 A line through (7, 5) with y intercept – 2 f 2x + y = 0
7 A line cutting the X-axis at 4 and the Y-axis at –2.5 g 1 – y = 0
8 A line passing through (1,1) and at a distance of 1 unit from h
y =
the origin
9 A line perpendicular to 2x – 4y – 9 = 0 i y = x – 2
10 A line with its y-intercept twice its x-intercept j x = 8 – y

DIRECTIONS for questions 3 to 11: Choose the correct alternative.

3. In DABC, the co-ordinates of A, B and C are (4, 3); (6, –2); (k, –3) respectively and the
triangle is right angled at A. Find k.

1) 11 2) –11 3) 4) –

4. Find the area of the triangle ABC whose vertices are A(4, 8); B(6, 0) and C(–2, 6).
1) 13 sq. units 2) 39 sq. units 3) 26 sq. units 4) 20 sq. units

71
CATapult
GEOMETRY

5. If P divides segment AB internally in the ratio 2 : 3 and if the co-ordinates of A and B are
(–7, –2) and (5, 3) respectively. Find the co-ordinates of P.

1) 2) 3) 4)

6. What will be the equation of line cutting lines 2x + y = 4 and x + 2y = 4 at same point and
parallel to line x + y = 0?
1) x + 3y = 8 2) 3x + y = 8
3) 3x + 3y + 8 = 0 4) 3x + 3y = 8

7. Find the coordinates of the centroid of a triangle formed by joining the mid-points of the
sides of a triangle whose vertices are at (4, –3), (5, 0) and (–12, 6).
1) (–1, –1) 2) (1, 1) 3) (–1, 1) 4) (1, –1)

8. Find the value of k such that the line (4x + 6y + 7) + K(3x – 2y + 17) = 0 is parallel to y axis.
-
1) k = 3 2) k = 5 3) k = 4) k = 0

9. At what point on line x – y = 3 does a perpendicular drawn from the line x – y = 1 at point
(3, 2) intersect?
1) (4, 1) 2) (1, 4) 3) (1, 3) 4) (3, 1)

10. Find the equation of the straight line passing through the point (3, 4) and inclined at an angle of
45o to the line 4x + y – 6 = 0.
1) 5y + 3x = 29 2) 3y – 5x + 3 = 0
3) Either (1) or (2) 4) Neither (1) nor (2)

11. In parallelogram ABCD, the co-ordinates of A, B and C are (1, 0); (4, 5); (1, 2) respectively.
Find the co-ordinates of D.
1) (4, 3) 2) (4, 7) 3) (–2, –3) 4) (–2, 3)

DIRECTIONS for question 12: Solve as directed:

12. Find the centre and radius of the circles below:

a) (x + 2)2 + (y + 3)2 = 9
b) x2 + y 2 + 8x – 2y – 64 = 0

72
 Chapter QA
CARTESIAN COORDINATE SYSTEM, EQUATION OF A LINE 2.3

DIRECTIONS for questions 13 to 16: Choose the correct alternative.

THEORY
13. Which of the following points will not form a triangle with the points (1, 1) and (10, 16)?

PRACTICE EXERCISE CLASS EXERCISE

1) (2, 4) 2) (3, 5) 3) (4, 6) 4) (5, 7)

14. How far from the origin is the point of intersection of the diagonals of the rectangle formed
by the lines x + 2y = 5, x + 2y = –5, 2x – y = –5 and 2x – y = 10?
1) Between 1 and 1.1
2) Between 1.1 and 1.2
3) Between 1.2 and 1.3
4) Between 1.3 and 1.4

15. Find the coordinates of the point on the line 7x + 8y = 77 that is equidistant from the points
(4, 2) and (8, 6).
1) (11, 0) 2) (–1, 10.5) 3) (7, 3.5) 4) (3, 7)

16. If the points (2, 1), (x, 10) and (10, y) are collinear and xy = 104, which of the following
points cannot be collinear with these three points?
1) (4, 4) 2) (6, 7) 3) (18, 7) 4) (14, 7)

DIRECTIONS for question 17: Solve as directed:

17. If the points (a – 3, 2), (4, a), (a + 1, 8) and (10, b) are collinear, find b.

DIRECTIONS for questions 18 to 20: Choose the correct alternative.

18. DABC is right-angled at B. AB lies along the line 2x + 3y – 7 = 0. BC extended meets the
y-axis at (0, 3). Find the coordinates of point B.

1) 2) 3) 4)

73
CATapult
GEOMETRY

19. Amy the ant starts walking from the point (–3, 1). She reaches point A and then takes a
right turn to reach the point (3, 3) such that the distances travelled before and after taking
the turn are the same. Find the coordinates of point A. (Amy always walks along a straight
line and on the x-y plane.)
1) (–1, 5) 2) (1, –1) 3) (–2, 3) 4) (2, –3)

20. Which of the following is the locus of a point which is always at a distance 5 units from
the line 2y – x + 2 = 0?
1) 2y – x + 7 = 0 2) 2y – x – 3 = 0
3) Both (1) and (2) 4) None of these

74
CATapult
ALGEBRA

QA-2.4 Plotting of Algebraic Functions THEORY

& Maxima and Minima
(A) Plotting of Linear Functions
Out of all algebraic functions, linear functions are simplest to plot. Consider a linear function such
as y = 2x + 4. You need two points to plot a unique line. If you put x = 0, you can see that y
= 4. Similarly, if you put y = 0, x = –2. Therefore, points (0, 4) and (–2, 0) de finitely lie on the
line. The line can be plotted as shown bellow—

SOLVED EXAMPLES

1) Plot y = 3x – y – 6 = 0
Put x = 0, y = –6, put y = 0, x = 2
Therefore points (0, –6) and (2, 0) are on the line. The line can be plotted as shown below—

75
CATapult
ALGEBRA

2) Plot 2x + 3y + 6 = 0
Put x = 0, y = –2. Put y = 0, x = –3
Therefore points (0, –2) and (–3, 0) are on the line. The line can be plotted as shown below—

(B) Plotting of Square Functions

Consider function y = x2. Since y is a square of a real number, it is positive. For all values of x.
Different values of x and y can be tabulated as below—

The nature of the curve is as below—

76
 Chapter QA
PLOTTING OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS, MAXIMA-MINIMA 2.4

The curve y = x2 + k (where k is a positive constant) is the curve y = x 2 shifted upwards by k

units. Similarly the curve y = x 2 – k (where k is a positive constant) is the curve y = x 2 shifted
downwards by k units.
The curves y = x2 + 2 and y = x 2 – 2 are as shown below—

The nature of the curve y = kx2 where k is a constant is as shown below—

In general if the value of k > 1, the curve becomes narrow and if k < 1, the curve becomes flat.

77
CATapult
ALGEBRA

(C) Plotting of Quadratic Functions

At times plotting the nature of the curve helps us solve the problems related to quadratics (especially
inequalities) fast. In this section, we will study how to draw rough sketches of quadratic curves.
Consider a quadratic polynomial, which can be factorised easily, such as x2 – 6x + 8. As we can
see, x2 – 6x + 8 = (x – 4) and (x – 2).
The equation x2 – 6x + 8 = 0 therefore, has two roots x = 4 and x = 2.
Therefore, the curve intersects x axis at x = 4 and x = 2.
If you put x = 0 in the expression, x2 – 6x + 8 = 8 > 0. Therefore, the expression is positive at
x = 0
Therefore nature of the curve is as follows—

SOLVED EXAMPLES

Q : Plot x2 + 3x –18
A : x2 + 3x – 18 = (x + 6)(x – 3). Therefore the curve interescts x-axis at x = –6 and x = 3.
Putting x = 0, x2 + 3x – 18 = –18 < 0
Therefore, nature of the curve is as follows—

78
 Chapter QA
PLOTTING OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS, MAXIMA-MINIMA 2.4

Q : Plot x2 + 8x + 15
A : x2 + 8x + 15 = (x + 5)(x + 3). Therefore, the curve intersects x-axis at x = –3 and x = –5.
Putting x = 0, x2 + 8x + 15 = 15 > 0. Therefore, the nature of the curve is as follows—

Q : Plot x2 + 6x + 9
A : x2 + 6x + 9 = (x + 3) 2. Therefore, the curve touches the x-axis at x = –3
Therefore, the nature of the curve is as follows—

79
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Now consider an expression such as x2 + 8x + 13, which cannot be factorised easily.

solving quadratic equation x2 + 8x + 13 = 0, we get
! !
x = = = –4 + 3
Therefore, the curve intersects x-axis at x = –4 – 3 and –4 + 3.
2
Putting x = 0 in x + 8x + 13, the expression = 13 > 0 at x = 0.
Therefore nature of the curve is as follows—

Now consider function –x2 + 4x + 21

–x2 + 4x + 21 = –(x 2 – 4x – 21) = –(x – 7)(x + 3).
Therefore, the curve interescts x-axis at x = 7 and x = –3.
Putting x = 0, –(x – 7)(x + 3) = 21 > 0

80
 Chapter QA
PLOTTING OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS, MAXIMA-MINIMA 2.4

Therefore, nature of the curve is as follows—

In a function ax2 + bx + c (a, b, c are real numbers), if a > 0, the curve opens upwards while
if a < 0, it opens downwards.

(D) Plotting of Modulus Functions

Consider the function y = |x|. A modulus function changes a negative value to a positive one. If
we plot a line y = x and wherever it drops below the x axis (i.e. wherever the function becomes
negative), the mirror image of part appears above x-axis.

81
CATapult
ALGEBRA

A basic modulus function will always have the distinctive, characteristic V shape seen above.
However, it could be modified by changing the various parameters of the function.

• For example if we changed the slope of the line to by making it y = then it would

be flatter than y = |x| as shown below:

If we can change the slope of the line to 2 by making it y = |2x|, then it would be steeper than
y = |x| as shown below—

In general, the graph of a line with higher slope is steeper and the graph of a line with lower
slope is flatter.

82
 Chapter QA
PLOTTING OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS, MAXIMA-MINIMA 2.4

Now consider y = |2x + 7| touches x axis at x = – and has slope equal 2(steeper line). The
nature of the graph is as shown below—

Now
Consider y = – |x|
Just as graph of y = |x| is positive for all values of x, the graph of y = –|x| is negative for all
values of x and is of the stape of ‘inverted V’ as shown below—

We can observe that a negative modulus lies entirely below the x-axis (since |x| is always > 0,
–|x| will always be < 0).

83
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Now consider y = –|2x + 7|. If x = – , 2x = –7 and 2x + 7 = 0

Therefore graph of y = –|2x + 7| touches x axis at x = – and has slope equal to 2 (steeper
line). However because of negative sign, it is of the shape of an inverted V as shown below—

Consider y = |x| + 3

84
 Chapter QA
PLOTTING OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS, MAXIMA-MINIMA 2.4

Consider x = |y|. You can see that we interchange x and y in the equation y = |x|. Therefore the
nature of the graph is similar to that of y = |x| with x and y axes interchanged.

85
CATapult
ALGEBRA

(E) Plotting of Cubic Function

Consider the function y = x3.
Since y is a cube of a real number, it is positive when x is positive and negative when x is negative.
Different values of x and y can be tabulated as below:

x –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3
y –27 –8 –1 0 1 8 27

The nature of the curve is as follows—

(F) Plotting of Square Root Function

Consider the function y = x .
Since square root of x is taken, x cannot be negative. As x is always positive or zero, the value
of y will always be positive, the graph of this function will always lie in the first quadrant.
Different values of x & y can be tabulated as below:

x 0 1 4 9 16 25
y 0 1 2 3 4 5

The nature of the curve is as follows:

86
 Chapter QA
PLOTTING OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS, MAXIMA-MINIMA 2.4

(G) Plotting of Reciprocal Function

Consider the function y = .
If x is positive, y will be positive and if x is negative, y will be negative.
As x,y cannot be zero, the graph will not touch any of the axes.
Different values of x and y can be tabulated as follows:

x –10 –4 –1 1 4 10
y –0.1 –0.25 –1 1 0.25 0.1

The nature of the curve is as follows—

y = 1/x
Shifting of the curve Upward, Downward, Left and Right
The curve y = (x + k) 2 is the curve of y = x2 shifted towards left by k units. Similarly, the curve
y = (x – k)2 is the curve of y shifted towards right by k units.
The curves y = (x + z) 2 and y = (x – z) 2 are as shown below:

87
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Now, consider y = –x2.

In the graph of y = –x2, y will be negative for all values of x and the shape will be as follows:

Linear Inequalities Represented on the Cartesian Plane

Most of the solution sets of an inequation are infinite sets and hence easier to visualize graphically.
Linear inequality in one variable

The graph of x > 2 is constructed by considering

the graph of x = 2. The line x = 2 divides the plane
into two regions called half planes.
As seen in the figure every abscissa to the right
hand side of the graph x = 2 is greater than 2 and
every abscissa to the left of graph x = 2 is less
than 2. The plane to the right of the graph x =
2 is x > 2 (including the line) and that to the left
of the graph x = 2 is x < 2 (excluding the line)

Some important points

1. If the inequality is ‘strictly less than’ i.e.
‘<’ or ‘strictly greater than’ i.e. ‘>’, then the
points on the line would not be included in
the region.
2. The inequalities x > 0 and y > 0 represent the entire first quadrant.
3. The inequalities x < 0 and y > 0 represent the entire second quadrant.
4. The inequalities x < 0 and y < 0 represent the entire third quadrant.
5. The inequalities x > 0 and y < 0 represent the entire fourth quadrant.

88
 Chapter QA
PLOTTING OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS, MAXIMA-MINIMA 2.4

Linear inequality in two variables

Plot the graph of 2x + 3y > 6.
The graph of the straight line 2x + 3y = 6 divides the plane into two planes, one of these planes
contains the origin.
If x = 0 and y = 0 then 2x + 3y = 0. Since 0 is not greater than or equal to 6, the origin will
lie on the graph of 2x + 3y < 6.
\ The plane without the origin is the graph of 2x + 3y > 6 and the one with the origin is the
graph of 2x + 3y < 6.
2x + 3y > 6 will be denoted by the same graph but the line 2x + 3y = 6 will be dotted to indicate
that the line is not included.

Some important points

1. Always write the equation in the form ax + by + c = 0 making the coefficient of x positive.
2. If the line passes through the origin, check for any other point, which is not on the line to
decide the required plane.
3. The union of a half plane and its boundary is called a closed half plane.

Solution set of two or more inequalities

Example
(i) Find the region bounded by x + 2y < 6, 2x + y <
6,
x > 0, y > 0.
x + 2y = 6, 0 is less than 6. Hence, origin side of
x + 2y = 6 is x + 2y < 6.
2x + y = 6, 0 is less than 6. Hence, origin side of
2x + y = 6 is 2x + y < 6.
x > 0 and y > 0 determine the first quadrant. Re-
quired region is the shaded part as shown in the
figure.

89
CATapult
ALGEBRA

(ii) Find the region bounded by y – 2x < 4 and x + y > –2

Zero is less than 4.
\ The origin side of the line y – 2x = 4 is y – 2x < 4.
Zero is greater than –2.
\ The origin side of the line x + y = –2 is x + y > –2.
The shaded region is an infinite region represented by y – 2x < 4 and x + y > 2

Graphical Approach to Quadratic Inequalities

Once we plot the nature of the quadratic curve, problems related to inequalities can be solved
as shown below—
Q : Solve x2 + 12x + 32 > 0
A : x2 + 12x + 32 = (x + 8)(x + 4) Therefore, the curve interesects x-axis at x = –8 and x = –4.
Putting x = 0, x 2 + 12x + 32 = 32 > 0
Therefore nature of the curve is as follows—

As we can see from the curve, x 2 + 12x + 32 > 0 for x < –8 and x > –4
90
 Chapter QA
PLOTTING OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS, MAXIMA-MINIMA 2.4

Q : Solve x2 – 7x – 18 < 0
A : x2 – 7x – 18 = (x – 9)(x + 2). Therefore the curve intersects x-axis at x = 9 and x = –2.
Putting x = 0, x2 – 7x – 18 = –18 < 0
Therefore, the nature of the curve is as follows—

It can be seen that x2 – 7x – 18 < 0 for –2 < x < 9

91
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Q : Solve –x2 + 4x + 32 < 0

A : –x2 + 4x + 32 = –(x 2 – 4x – 32) = –(x – 8)(x + 4).
Therefore, the curve interescts x-axis at x = 8 and x = –4.
Putting x = 0, –x(x – 8)(x + 4) = 32 > 0
Therefore, nature of the curve is as follows—

It can be seen that –x 2 + 4x + 32 < 0 for x < –4 and x > 8

92
 Chapter QA
PLOTTING OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS, MAXIMA-MINIMA 2.4

Q : Solve –x2 + 20x – 64 > 0

A : –x2 + 20x – 64 = –(x 2 – 20x + 64 = –(x – 16)(x – 4).
Therefore, the curve interescts x-axis at x = 16 and x = 4.
Putting x = 0, –(x – 16)(x – 4) = –64 < 0
Therefore, nature of the curve is as follows—

It can be seen that –(x – 16)(x – 4) > 0 for 4 < x < 16.

93
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Maxima and Minima of Quadratic Functions

As seen in the previous section, the nature of quadratics curve is either of the following two—

The curve as shown in (a) has a minimum value (minima) while there is no upper limit on the
value it can take. Similarly, the curve as shown in (b) has a maximum value (maxima) while there
is no lower limit on the value it can take.

Method for Calculating Maxima/Minima of Quadratic Functions

1) Determine whether x 2 – 4x – 12 has maxima or minima and calculate its value—
For such problems, express the given expression in the form (x + a)2 + b, where a and b
are constants.
x2 – 4x – 12 = (x 2 – 4x + 4) – 16 = (x – 2) 2 – 16.
Since (x – 2) 2 is a square, the minimum value taken by (x – 2) 2 is zero and it occurs at x
= 2
\ minimum value of the expression: 0 – 16 = –16 or minima = 16 at x = 2
2) Determine whether x2 + 6x + 5 has maxima or minima and calculate its value x2 + 6x + 5
= 9x2 + 6x + 9) – 4 = (x + 3) 2 – 4.
Since (x + 3) 2 is a square, the minimum value taken by (x + 3) is zero and it occurs at x =
–3.
\ minimum value of the expression: 0 – 4 = –4 or minima = –4 at x = –3.
3) Determine wheter x 2 + 10x + 38 has maxima has maxima or minima and calculate its value.
x2 + 10x + 38 = (x 2 + 10x + 25) + 13 = (x + 5) 2 + 13.
Since (x + 5) 2 is a square, the minimum value taken by (x + 5) 2 is zero and it occurs at x
= –5
\ minimum value of the expression: 0 + 13 = or minima = 13 at x = –5.
4) Determine whether –x 2 + 4x + 21 has maxima or minima and calculate its value—
–x2 + 4x + 21 = –(x 2 – 4x – 21) = –[(x 2 – 4x + 4) – 25]
= [(x – 2) 2 – 25] = –(x – 2) 2 + 25
The minimum value (x – 2)2 can take is zero.
\ The maximum value –(x – 2)2 can take is zero.
\ The maximum value –(x – 2)2 + 25 can take is 0 + 25 = 25 and it occurs at x = 2
5) Determine whether –x 2 + 8x – 15 has maxima or minima and calculate its value—
–x2 + 8x – 15 = –(x 2 – 8x + 15)
= –[(x 2 – 8x + 16) – 1]
= –[(x – 4) 2 – 1]
= –(x – 4) 2 + 1
The minimum value (x – 4)2 can take is zero.
\ The maximum value –(x – 4)2 can take is zero.
\ The maximum value –(x – 4)2 + 1 can take is 1
\ Maximum value of the expression = 1 or maxima = 1 at x = 4.

94
 Chapter QA
PLOTTING OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS, MAXIMA-MINIMA 2.4

Maxima and Minima of Modulus Functions

As we have seen earlier, the graph of the modulus function with positive coefficient is of the
shape of ‘v’ while the graph of the modulus function with negative coefficient is of the shape
of inverted ‘v’. Therefore the modulus function with positive coefficient has a minima while the
modulus function with negative coefficient has a maxima.
Therefore functions of the form |2x + 4|, 2|3x + 5| etc have minima
While the functions of the form –|2x + 4|, –2|3x + 5| etc have maxima

Method for Calculating Maxima or Minima of Modulus Functions

1) Consider function y = |x + 2| + |x – 4|
The function has a minima because both |x + 2| + |x – 4| have positive coefficients.
Step 1: Since Graphs of |x + 2| and |x – 4| touch the x axis at x = –2 and x = 4 respec-
tively, the minima will occur either at x = –2 or 4.
Step 2: The minimum value of the function occurs at one of the roots.
At x = –2, y = 6
At x = 4, y = 6
Therefore minimum value of the function is 6.
2) Consider function y = –|x + 3| – |x – 4|
The function has maxima because both –|x + 3| and –|x – 4| have negative coefficients.
Step 1: Since Graphs of –|x + 3| and |x – 4| touch the x axis at x = –3 and x = 4 respec-
tively, the maxima will occur either at x = –3 or +4.
Step 2: At x = –3, y = –7
At x = 4, y = –7
Therefore maxmum value of the function is –7.

3) Consider function y = |2x + 4| + |3x + 5|

The functions has minima because both |2x + 4| and |3x + 5| have positive coefficients.
Step 1: Since Graphs of |2x + 4| and |3x + 5| touch the x axis at x = –2 and x = –
respectively, the minima will occur either at x = –2 or – .
Step 2: At x = –2, y = 1
At x = – , y =
Therefore minimum value of function is .

4) Consider function y = |3x + 2| + |2x + 3|

Step 1: Since Graphs of |3x + 2| and |2x + 3| touch the x axis at x = – and x = –

respectively, the minima will occur either at x = – or x = – .

Step 2: At x = – , y =

At x = – , y =
Therefore minima of the function is

95
CATapult
ALGEBRA

5) Consider function y = |2x – 4| – |x – 1|

In this problem, one of the modulus functions has positive coefficient while the other has
negative coefficient. Slope of |2x – 4| is 2 while slope of |x – 1|. Since the term with positive
coefficient has greater slope, the function has a minima.
Step 1: Since Graphs of |2x – 4| and |x – 1| touch the x axis at x = 2 and x = 1 respec-
tively, the minima will occur at x = 2 or 1.
Step 2: At x = 2, y = –1
At x = 1, y = 2
Therefore minimum value of y is –1.

6) Consider function y = |x + 1| – |3x + 1|

Slope of |x + 1| is 1 while slope of |3x + 1| is 3. Since the slope of the term with negative
coefficient is more the function has a maxima,

Step 1: Since Graphs of |x + 1| and |3x + 1| touch the x axis at x = –1 and x = –

respectively, the maxima will occur either at x = –1 or – .

Step 2: At x = –1, y = –2

At x = – , y =
Therefore maximum value of y is .

96
 Chapter QA
PLOTTING OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS, MAXIMA-MINIMA 2.4

CLASS EXERCISE

Teaser

Yesterday, my colleague Rounak was telling me about the new social networking site Facepalm.
He explained how two people can link to each other and become “friends”. He proudly proclaimed
that he already had 500 “friends” on the site. He also boasted that no two of those “friends”
have the same number of “friends”, but none of them had as many as he does. I believe that he
was not telling the truth. Why?

97
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Plotting of Equations

1) Plot the following:

a) y = x + 3 b) y = 2x c) y = –x

d) y = x2 e) y = x2 f) y = –2x 2

g) y = x2 – 2 h) y = i) y = |x 2 – 4|

If y = ax2 + bx + c,
• ‘a’ indicates the steepness of the curve. If ‘a’ is positive, the curve will face upwards
(È), while if ‘a’ is negative, it will face downwards (Ç). The higher the value of |a|,
the steeper the curve.
• ‘c’ indicates the value of y when x = 0 i.e. the y-intercept of the curve
!
• The roots give the x-intercepts. If b 2 – 4ac < 0, then the curve will not
intersect the X-axis.

98
 Chapter QA
PLOTTING OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS, MAXIMA-MINIMA 2.4

3
j) y < 3x k) y < 5 x – 3

THEORY
PRACTICE EXERCISE CLASS EXERCISE
l) y < 3 * m) 0 ≤ y ≤ x ≤ 3y ≤ 6

2) Plot the following:

a) |x| = 2 b) y = 3 – |x – 1| c) x + 13 = 11 – y

3) How many points with integer coordinates lie within or on the boundary of the region formed
by the following?

a) 0 ≤ x ≤ 4, 0 ≤ y ≤ x b) –3 < x < 3, –2 < y < 2

99
CATapult
ALGEBRA

c) |x| + |y| = 3 d) Circle centred at origin with radius 5

Maximum or Minimum Values

4) Find whether each of the following modulus expressions has a maximum or a minimum. In
each case, also identify the x-value at which it occurs, and the value of the expression at
that point..
a) |2x + 3| b) 2 + |x – 3| c) 5 – |x + 2| d) 3 – |3x – 3|

A modulus function |ax + b| will have a minimum at x = –

A modulus function – |ax + b| will have a maximum x = –

The maximum or minimum value will be obtained by substituting x =– into the original
expression

5) Identify which of the following quadratics has a maximum. Also, identify the coordinates of
the extremum point (i.e. maximum or minimum) for each expression.
a) x2 + 5x – 6 b) 4x 2 – 4x + 1 c) x 2 + 2x + 3 d) 10 – 3x – x 2

A quadratic expression ax2 + bx + c will have a maximum if a is negative and a minimum if a

is positive

The maximum/minimum value of a quadratic expression ax2 + bx + c will occur at x = –

T
The maximum/minimum value of a quadratic expression ax² + bx + c will be y = –

100
 Chapter QA
PLOTTING OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS, MAXIMA-MINIMA 2.4

Challengers

1) If we define an expression P(x) = x2 and an expression Q(x) = |4x|, then for how many in-
teger values is P(x) – Q(x) a negative quantity?
1) 2 2) 4 3) 6 4) 8

2) Plot the region on the XY plane satisfying the inequality: |x| + |y| + |x + y| < 4
How many points with integer co-ordinates lie in the interior of this region?
1) 4 2) 5 3) 6
4) 7 5) 8

3) How many points with integer coordinates lie within or on the boundary of the region formed
by (x – 3)2 + (y + 2)2 = 25?
1) 79 2) 81 3) 83 4) 85

4) What is the maximum value of 25 + 2x 2 – x4?

1) 26 2) 28 3) 30 4) 32

5) How many points with non-negative integer coordinates lie in the region y ≤ 12 – x 2?
1) 34 2) 36 3) 38 4) 40

*6) Plot the following equations:

-
a) y = |x + 1| + |x – 1| b) y = 1 –

*7) Plot the following regions:

a) |y| = 6 – 2|x| b) |x + y| = 4

101
CATapult
ALGEBRA

PRACTICE EXERCISE
DIRECTIONS for questions 1 and 2: Solve as directed.

1. Solve the following inequalities graphically:

(a) –x2 – 6x + 7 < 0 (b) x 2 + 8x + 16 > 0

2. Mention whether the following functions have maxima or minima and calculate maxima/
minima:
(a) 4x2 + 20x – 34 (b) –x 2 + 8x + 30
(c) –x2 + 11x – 18 (d) x 2 + 7x + 3
(e) |2x + 3| – |3x – 4| (f) |x + 4| + |x + 6|

(g) |3x + 4| – |2x + 3|

DIRECTIONS for questions 3 to 8: Choose the correct alternative.

3.

The shaded region is represented by the inequation:

1) y > x 2) y > –x 3) y > | x | 4) y < | x |

102
 Chapter QA
PLOTTING OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS, MAXIMA-MINIMA 2.4

4.

THEORY
PRACTICE EXERCISE CLASS EXERCISE
The shaded region is represented by the inequality:
1) x – 2y < 2 2) x – 2y > 2 3) 2x – y < 2 4) 2x – y > 2

5. Find the inequations that bound the shaded region.

1) x > 0, y > 0, 8x + 3y > 24, 3y + 5x > 15

2) x > 0, y > 0, 3x + 8y > 24, 5x + 3y > 15
3) x > 0, y > 0, 8x + 3y < 24, 3y + 5x < 15
4) x > 0, y > 0, 3x + 8y < 24, 5x + 3y <15

6. Find the area of the region bounded by the equations |x + y| < 5 and |x – y| < 3.
1) 15 sq.units 2) 30 sq.units 3) 20 sq.units 4) 25 sq.units

7. Find the area of the region bounded by y – 2 > 0, x – y > 1 and x + 2y < 10.
1) 1.5 sq. units 2) 2 sq. units 3) 3 sq. units 4) 4 sq. units

103
CATapult
ALGEBRA

8. What is the area bounded by the curves |x + y| = 1, |x| = 1, |y| = 1?

1) 4 2) 3 3) 2 4) 1

DIRECTIONS for questions 9 and 10: Solve as directed.

9. Find the area (in square units) of the region bounded by the curves y = |x + 1| + |1 – x|
and y = 4.

10. Find the number of points with integer coordinates

a) which fall within the region bounded by |2x + y| = 6 and |2x – y| = 6.
b) which satisfy both y ≤ 5 – |2x| and y ≥ |x| – 4
c) which satisfy both 4y ≥ x2 – 24 and 4y ≤ 24 – x 2

DIRECTIONS for questions 11 to 17: Choose the correct alternative.

11. The curve y = 2x 2 + 3 is shifted horizontally and vertically such that point A now corresponds
to point B (3, 7). What will be the equation of the shifted curve?

1) y = 2x 2 – 12x + 25 2) y = 2x 2 – 12x + 18
3) y = 2x 2 – 12x + 11 4) y = 2x 2 + 12x + 25

104
 Chapter QA
PLOTTING OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS, MAXIMA-MINIMA 2.4

12. What is the equation of the following graph?

THEORY
PRACTICE EXERCISE CLASS EXERCISE
1) y = |x – 4| – |x – 2| 2) y = |x + 4| – |x – 2|
3) y = |x – 4| – |x + 4| 4) y = |x + 4| – |x + 2|

13. What is the equation of the graph described below?

1) |x| + |y| = 4 2) |x + y| = 4 3) |x| + |y| = 2 4) |x + y| = 2

14. Which of the following equations describe the given graph?

1) |x + 3| + |y + 2| = 4 2) |x + 3| + |y + 2| = 16
3) |x – 3| + |y – 2| = 4 4) |x – 3| + |y – 2| = 16

105
CATapult
ALGEBRA

15. Which of the following graphs best describes the function f(x) = |x – 2| + |x – 4| + |x – 6|?

1) 2)

3) 4)

16. What is the maximum possible distance between a point that satisfies the equations 2 < x
< 5, y > 1 and 5x + 8y < 40 and another point that satisfies the equations 2 < x < 5, y <
8 and 5x + 8y > 40?
1) 2) 3) 2 4)

17. Consider the function f(x) = | x – 2 | – | x – 3 |. Which of the following is true about the
function?
1) A part of the graph of the function lies on the line y = 2x – 5
2) There exists a value of x for which f(-x) = – f(x)
3) |f(x)| = 1 if |x| > 3
4) All of the above are true.

DIRECTIONS for question 18: Solve as directed.

18. What is the minimum value of the function y = maximum (|4 – 3x|, |6 – 2x|)?

DIRECTIONS for questions 19 and 20: Choose the correct alternative.

19. The minimum value of the function f(x) = a 2x2 + (2ab + a)x + b 2 + b + 1 is _____.

1) 2) 3) 4)

20. Which of the following sets of equations represent the

dark shaded area in the graph below?
1) |y| > |x| – 2 and |y| < |x| + 2
2) |y| > |x| – 2 and |y| > |x| + 2
3) |y| < |x| – 2 and |y| < |x| + 2
4) |y| < |x| – 2 and |y| > |x| + 2

106
CATapult
ALGEBRA

QA-2.5 FUNCTIONS AND GRAPHS THEORY

Introduction
By definition, a function is a special case of a relation between the members of two sets.

The following table gives the values of y on a certain graph for a given value of x.

x 1 2 4 7 10 12 15
y 2 4 8 14 20 24 30
What are the observations that can be made from the table above? We can say that in the
first column, value of x is 1 and value of y is 2 which is double the value of x. This relationship
is observed across all the columns in the above table i.e., y = 2x.
In the above the example, x is the independent variable and y is the dependent variable. We can
say that y is function of x. A function can be defined as follows:
“It is a relationship between two variables (Independent & Dependent) such that, for each value
of the Independent variable there is one and only one value of the Dependent variable”
We normally write functions as f(x) and read this as “function f of x”. We can also use other
letters for functions like g(x) and h(x).

Example
Area of the circle is the function of its radius. This can be written as A = f(r) = pr2
Now consider following table:
x –7 –4 –3 –2 2 3 4
y 49 16 9 4 4 9 16

Here, the relationship between y and x is y = x 2

It can be seen that at x = –2, y = 4
at x = 2, y = 4

Thus, at y = 4, there exist two values of x, but for every x there is only one value of y.

If all the values of x are denoted by a set A and all the values of y are denoted by a set B, for
every value of set A, one and only one value of set B can be associated. Then we say that there
exists a function from set A to set B.

In other words, if a general element of set A is denoted by x, and the corresponding element of
set B is denoted by y, then we say that y is a function of x if, for every x Î A, one and only one
value of y Î B can be determined.

107
CATapult
ALGEBRA

The function f, taking x Î A to y Î B, is denoted as f : A ® B and we write f(x) = y.

A is called the domain of the function of f and B is called the co-domain of the function f.
Since x Î A is associated with unique y Î B, y is called the image of x under f or the value of
the function f at x, commonly written as y = f(x); x Î A. Also, x is called the pre-image of y.
The set {f(x)/x Î A} is called the range of f.

Example
A º {–2, –1, 0, 1, 2} and B is the set of whole numbers.
For every xÎA, f(x)ÎB and f(x) = x2
Here, A is the domain and B i.e., the set of whole numbers is
the co-domain but the range of f º {(–2)2, (–1)2, 02, 12, 22}.

f(a) is the value of the function f, when x takes the value

a, i.e., when x is replaced by a. The elements of the co-
domain which is equal to f(x) form the range.
when x = –2, f(–2) = (–2) 2 = 4
when x = –1, f(–1) = (–1) 2 = 1
when x = 0, f(0) = (0) 2 = 0
when x = 1, f(1) = (1) 2 = 1
when x = 2, f(2) = (2) 2 = 4

About Functions
1. Each element of the set A must be associated with a unique element of set B.
2. Two or more elements of the set A may be associated with the same element of the set B.
3. There may be some elements of the set B, i.e., in the co-domain, which are not
assigned to any element of the set A.
4. Range is a subset of co-domain.

Classification of Functions
1. On the basis of correspondence
One-one function
A function f is called a one-one function if no two different
elements in A have the same image in B i.e., each element
of A has one and only one image in B and each element of
B has one and only one pre-image in A. Thus, the function
is a one-one correspondence.
Graphically, a function is one-one if and only if no line
parallel to the x-axis meets the graph of the function in
more than one point.

108
 Chapter QA
FUNCTIONS AND GRAPHS 2.5

Example
f(x1) = f(x2) Þ x1 = x2 and x1 ¹ x2 Þ f(x1) ¹ f(x2)

Note: The dots represent any point in the set.

Many-one function
A function f : A ® B is called a many-one function if at
least two elements in A have the same image in B i.e., at
least one element of B has more than one pre-image in A.
Graphically, a function is many-one if and only if a line
parallel to the x-axis meets the graph of the function in
more than one point.

Note: One-many function does not exist.

Example
f(x1) = f(x2) does not imply x1 = x2;
or x1 ¹ x2 but f(x1) = f(x2) for some x1 and x2 Î A

Onto function
A function f : A ® B is called onto function if for every element y of B there is atleast one
element in A so that f(x) = y
In an onto function, range º co-domain.

Example

Into function
A function f : A ® B is called an into function if there is atleast one
element of the set B which has no pre-image in the set A.
In an into function, range is a proper subset of co-domain.

109
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Based on the correspondence between elements of two sets, functions can be classified as the
following types:

One-one-onto function One-one-into function

If a function f : A ® B is both a one-one A function f : A ® B is a one-one into
function and an onto function then it is function if it is both one-one and into
one-one onto function. function.
i.e. (i) Range º Co-domain and i.e., (i) Range Î Co-domain
(ii) x1 ¹ x2 Þ f(x1) ¹ f(x2) (ii) f(x 1) = f(x2) Þ x1 = x2
i.e., f(x 1) = f(x2) Þ x1 = x2
Example
Example

Many-one-onto function Many-one-into function

If a function f : A ® B is both many-one A function f : A ® B which is both

and onto function then it is a many-one many-one and into function is called a
onto function. many-one into function.
i.e., (i) Range º Co-domain and i.e., (i) Range Î Co-domain
(ii) x1 ¹ x2 but f(x1) = f(x2) (ii) x 1 ¹ x2 but f(x1) = f(x2)
for some x1, x2 Î A
for some x1, x2 Î A

Example
Example

110
 Chapter QA
FUNCTIONS AND GRAPHS 2.5

2. On the basis of Symmetry

Even function
A function f: A ® B is called an even function if f(–x) = f(x) for all
x Î A.

Example
Consider the graph of the function f(x) = |x|.

Note f(–2) = |–2| = 2 = |2| = f(2)

f(–1) = |–1| = 1 = |1| = f(1)
As can be seen,
the graph of an even function is symmetric about the function axis.

Odd function
A function f: A ® B is called an odd function if f(–x) = –f(x)
for all x Î A.

Example
f(x) = x 3
f(–x) = (–x) 3 = –x3 \ f(–x) = –f(x)
In particular f(1) = 13 = 1
f(–1) = (–1) 3 = –1

The graph of an odd function is a double reflection, first in

the function axis and then in the other axis.

Note: There are functions, which are neither even nor odd.
Example
f(x) = x 3 + x2 + x + 5.

3. On the basis of Application

Linear function
A function f : A ® B of the form f(x) = ax + b, where a and b are real numbers is called a
linear function.
The graph of a linear function is always a
straight line.

Example
Graph of f(x) = 4x – 2 is as shown below:

111
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Quadratic function
A function f : A ® B is called a quadratic
function if it is of the form y = ax 2 +
bx + c, where a, b and c are real
numbers and a ¹ 0. The graph of such
a function is a curve called a parabola.

Example
Graph of f(x) = 2x2 is as shown below:
A quadratic function where b = 0 is an
even function

Modulus function
A function f : A ® B is called a modulus function if f(x) = P|Qx + R| + S. A special application
is f(x) = |x|, i.e., f(x) takes only the magnitude of x.
f(x) = –x if x < 0
= x if x > 0
A modulus function is also an even function.

Example
The graph of a modulus function,f(x) = |x| is as shown:
f(1) = f(–1) = 1, f(2) = f(–2) = 2, f(3) = f(–3) = 3

Constant function
A function f : A ® B is a constant function if each element of the domain is associated with
a single element of the co-domain i.e., the range of the function is a singleton set, i.e., f(x)
= some constant. Constant function is also an even function.

Example
The constant function f: A ® B given by f(x) = 1.
Graphically, a constant function will be a straight line parallel to
the variable axis (i.e., x-axis in general) or which is the same,
perpendicular to the function axis (i.e., f(x) axis).

112
 Chapter QA
FUNCTIONS AND GRAPHS 2.5

Example
f(x) = 3 (i.e., y = 3 if we consider the y-axis to be the function axis.)

Step function
A function f : A ® B is called step function, if it is a collection of constant functions over
various parts of its domain;

Example
which is given by f: [0, 4] ® {0, 1, 2, 3} as
f(x) = 0 if 2 < x < 3
= 1 if 0 < x < 1
= 2 if 3 < x < 4
= 3 if 1 < x < 2

Example
A simpler and more common example of a step function is
f(x) = [x]; i.e., the greatest integer less than or equal to x
e.g., If f(x) = [x], then
f(1.35) = 1, f(2.89) = 2, f(3) = 3, f(–1.29) = –2 etc.
Its graphical representation is as shown below:

f(x) = 0, where 0 < x < 1

f(x) = 1, where 1 < x < 2
f(x) = –1, where –1 < x < 0

113
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Exponential function
A function f : A ® B of the form f(x) = ax, where a > 1 and x Î
R is called an exponential function.

Example
The graph of the exponential function f(x) = 2 x is as shown below:

Note: The exponential functions ax will never be negative for any value of x. The least value
that it can have is 0 when x tends to negative infinity.

Logarithmic Function
A function of the form f(x) = Log x, where x > 0, is called a ‘Logarithmic Function’. The graph
is as shown below:

• The Graph of ‘Log Function’ is only in

1st and 4th Quadrant as the ‘Log’ of
negative values and ‘0’ is not defined.

Sine & Cosine Function

A function of the form f(x) = sin(x) is called a ‘Sine Function’. The graph is as shown below:

Sine function is an Odd Function.

A function of the form f(x) = Cos(x) is called a ‘Cosine Function’. The graph is as shown below:

Cosine function is an Even Function.

114
 Chapter QA
FUNCTIONS AND GRAPHS 2.5

Reciprocal Function
A function of the form f(x) = 1/x, where x Î R (except when x = 0) is called a ‘Reciprocal
Function’. The graph of the Reciprocal function is shown below:

• It is an Odd Function.
• Its domain is the set of Real Numbers, except zero.

Composite and Inverse Functions

Composite function
If f : A ® B is a function and g : B ® C is another, then
the composite of the functions f and g denoted by (gof) is a
function defined from A to C.
(gof) : A ® C is (gof)(x) = g[f(x)], x Î A

Let there be an element x Î A, then its image y = f(x) Î B and B is the domain of the function
g and z = g(y) Î C is the range of g.

Example
If f(x) = x 2 and g(x) = 3x, find the value of gof for x = 1, x = 2 and x = 3.
f(1) = 12 = 1
(gof)(1) = g[f(1)] = g(1) = 3 × 1 = 3
f(2) = 22 = 4
(gof)(2) = g[f(2)] = g(4) = 3 × 4 = 12
f(3) = 32 = 9
(gof)(3) = g[f(3)] = g(9) = 3 × 9 = 27

Alternatively,
(gof)(x) = g[f(x)] = 3[x2] = 3x2
\ (gof) (1) = 3 × 1 2 = 3
(gof) (2) = 3 × 2 2 = 12
(gof) (3) = 3 × 3 2 = 27

115
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Inverse function
A one-one onto function f : A ® B has an inverse function f–1. For each y Î B, f–1(y) Î A
and is unique.
–1
f : B ® A is a function defined by
–1
f (y) = x if and only if f(x) = y.
–1
f is the inverse of function of f.

Example
Consider f : A ® B given by f(x) = 4x
where A º {1, 2, 3} and B º {4, 8, 12}
Note, f(1) = 4, f(2) = 8, f(3) = 12.
Now, consider f–1 : B ® A given by f–1(x) =
where A º {1, 2, 3} and B º {4, 8, 12}.
Note, f–1(4) = 1, f –1(8) = 2, f –1(12) = 3.
Thus, f–1 is a function which takes the images under f (i.e., f(x)) back to the respective pre-
images (i.e., x).
Inverse functions should not be confused by interpreting inverse of f(x) as f .

Example

Concept Builder 1
1. What will be the domain of the function f(x) = sin x ?
2. Is Range a Proper Subset of Co-domain for f(x) = x?
3. A line drawn parallel to Y-axis cuts the graph of f(x) at two different points. Is f(x) a
function?
4. If a function f(x) is an Even function and another function g(x) is an Odd function then
‘f(x) × g(x)’ will be an Even function. True or False?
5. For f(x) = x2 + 2x + 2, Is f + f(3) = f
6. For the given f(x) = |x|, the graph of f(x) + 2 will shift towards the right. True or False
7. If f(x) is a Least Integer Function, then find f
8. If f(x) = 2 x, then the range of f(x) will be:
9. Is the ‘Greatest Integer Function’ an Odd function?

Answer Key
No 9.
8. R+ 7. 0 6. False Yes 5.
4. False 3. No 2. No Î × R 1.

116
 Chapter QA
FUNCTIONS AND GRAPHS 2.5

SOLVED EXAMPLES

Q : Is f(x) = 2x2 – 4 an even function?

A : f(x) = 2x2 – 4
f(–x) = 2(–x)2 – 4 = 2x2 – 4
\ f(–x) = f(x); Hence, f(x) = 2x 2 – 4 is an even function.

Q : Which of the following is an Odd Function?

(a) |x2| – 4x (b) x + (c) 2 2x + 3-x (d) x2 + 4
A : (a) f(x) = |x2| – 4x.
f(-x) = |(-x)2| – 4(-x)
= |x2| + 4x ¹ –f(x) So, it is not an Odd Function

(b) f(x) = x + .

f(-x) = –x –
= –(x + 1/x) = –f(x) So, it is an Odd Function
(c) f(x) = x 2 + 4.
f(-x) = (–x) 2 + 4
= x2 + 4 ¹ –f(x) So, it is not an Odd Function

Q : Find f(4) if f(x) = x 4 – 3x3 + 6x2 – 10x + 16.

A : f(x) = x 4 – 3x3 + 6x2 – 10x + 16
= (4)4 – 3(4)3 + 6(4)2 – 10(4) + 16
= 256 – 192 + 96 – 40 + 16 = 136.

Q : Find f(–1.5), if f(z) = 2 z-2

A : f(z) = 2z-2
f(–1.5) = 2 –1.5–2 = 2–3.5 = 2 = = =

Q : f(t) = 2t2 + + + 5t. Find f .

A : f(t) = 2t2 + + + 5t

f = 2 + + + 5 = + 2t2 + 5t + = f(t)

Q : If f(x) = 2x and g(x) = x + 1. Find (gof)(x).

A : (gof)(x) = g[f(x)] = g(2x) = (2x) + 1 = 2x + 1

117
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Q : If f(x, y) = 3x2 – 2xy – y2 + 4, find f(1,– 1).

A : f(x, y) = 3x2 – 2xy – y2 + 4
f(1,–1) = 3(1) 2 – 2(1)(–1) – (–1) 2 + 4 = 3 + 2 – 1 + 4 = 8

Q : If f(x) = 3x – 5 and f[g(x)] = 2x, then find g(x).

A : f(x) = 3x – 5
f[g(x)] = 3g(x) – 5 = 2x \ 3g(x) = 2x + 5
g(x) =

Q : If f(x) = ax2 + bx + 2. f(1) = 3 and f(4) = 42, find ‘b’.

A : f(x) = ax2 + bx + 2
f(1) = a(1) 2 + b(1) + 2 = 3
\ a + b + 2 = 3
\ a + b = 1 ... (i)
2
f(4) = a(4) + b(4) + 2 = 42
\ 16a + 4b + 2 = 42
16a + 4b = 40 ... (ii)
Solving (i) and (ii) simultaneously, b = –2

Data for next 2 examples

f(x) = 2x 2 + 1 if x > 1
= + 1 if 0 < x < 1
= 3|x| if x < 0

Q : Which of the following is true?

(i) f < f(1) (ii) f(–2) = f(2) (iii) f(–3) = f(2)

A : f = + 1 = 5

f(1) = 2(1) 2 + 1 = 3 \ (i) is not true.

f(2) = 2(2) 2 + 1 = 9
f(–2) = 3|–2| = 6 \ (ii) is not true.
f(–3) = 3|–3| = 9 \ f(–3) = f(2) is true. \ (iii) is true.

Q : Find f[f(x)] if x < 0 and x is an integer.

A : f(x) = 3|x| as x < 0

Now, 3|x| > 3
\ f[f(x)] = 2[3|x|]2 + 1 = 2 × 9x 2 + 1 = 18x 2 + 1

118
 Chapter QA
FUNCTIONS AND GRAPHS 2.5

Q : Find f-1(x) for f(x)= 2 + 2/x ?

A : Consider f(x) = y = 2 + 2/x

So, x = 2/(y-2)
Since, x = f -1(y),
f-1(y) = 2 / (y-2)
replacing y by x,
f-1(x) = 2 / (x-2)

Data for next 3 examples

The functions f and g are defined for natural numbers as:

f(x) = 1 + x 2, if x is even
= (1 + x)2, otherwise
g(x) = (x – 1)2, if x is prime
= x2 – 1, otherwise

Q : Find f[g(x)], if x = 3.

A : g(x) = (3 – 1) 2 = 4
f[g(x)] = f(4) = 1 + 4 2 = 17

Q : For which number is f[g(x)] = 1 + [(x – 1) 2]2 true.

A : g(x) = (x – 1) 2 which implies that x is prime.
f[g(x)] = 1+ [(x – 1) 2]2 i.e., f(x) = 1 + x 2 is applied i.e., (x – 1) 2 is even.
These two conditions are true for all primes other than 2.
\ f[g(x)] = 1 + [(x – 1) 2]2 is applicable for all prime numbers except 2.

Q : Which of the following is not true?

(i) f(2) + g(1) = f(2) (ii) f(5) = g(7) (iii) = 4

A : g(1) = 12 – 1 = 0
\ f(2) + g(1) = f(2) \ (i) is true.
f(5) = (1 + 5) 2 = 62
g(7) = (7 – 1) 2 = 62 \ (ii) is true.
g(3) = (3 – 1) 2 = 22 = 4
f(3) = (1 + 3) 2 = 42 = 16
\ = = \ (iii) is not true.

119
CATapult
ALGEBRA

We say that two functions f and g are

1. Even with respect to each other if g(–x) = f(x) for every x in the domain.
2. Odd with respect to each other if g(–x) = –f(x) every x in the domain.

Directions for next 2 examples: Determine whether the graphs given below are even or odd or
otherwise with respect to each other.

Q :

A : For positive y, e.g., y = a, we get f(y) as positive and for y = –a, g(y) as negative.
The nature of f(y) and g(y) is the same but they are in the first and third quadrants, respec-
tively. Thus, f(–a) = –g(a).
\ The functions f(y) and g(y) are odd with respect to each other.
Alternatively,
If we take reflection of the graph of f(y) with respect to the Origin, we get the graph g(y). So
they are Odd with respect to each other.

Q :

A : f(y) and g(y) by themselves are even functions. f(y) and g(y) are curves of a parabola,
where g(y) = –y 2 and f(y) = y2.
\ g(–y) = –f(y) and f(–y) = –g(y).
Thus, g(y) and f(y) are odd with respect to each other.
Alternatively,
As the graph g(y) is a double reflection of the function f(y), first about the function axis f(x)
and then about the other axis, i.e., y, it represents an odd function.

120
 Chapter QA
FUNCTIONS AND GRAPHS 2.5

CLASS EXERCISE

Teaser

Nick wants to travel to Hogsmeade from Hogwarts. There are trains leaving Hogwarts for Hogsmeade
every hour starting 8:00 am. Similarly there are trains from Hogsmeade to Hogwarts every hour
starting 8:00 am. The journey in both the directions takes exactly 4 hours. If Nick boards a train
at Hogsmeade at 2 pm, how many trains travelling in the opposite direction will he meet on the
way (excluding the endpoints)?

121
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Functions and Graphs

For questions 1 to 6:
Consider the following functions defined from R to R (R denotes the set to real numbers)
f(x) = x g(x) = 3x h(x) = x 2 k(x) = 2x – 5
1. Find:
1) k (10) 2) f [g (5)] 3) h o g (-5) – g o h (-5)
4) k o g o h (x 2) 5) g –1 (4.5) 6) h o k –1
(3)

2. What is the range of:

1) h(x)
2) k(x) if the domain of k(x) is reduced to the set (2,3), i.e. {x Î R: 2 < x < 3}

3. Are the following functions even / odd / neither:

1) h o g (x) 2) g o f (x) 3) k(x) 4) m(x) = x 3

4. Draw rough graphs of the functions f(x), g(x), h(x) and k(x) defined above:

5. * Is h–1(y) a well-defined function on the set of real numbers?

6. *Which of the following functions are inverses of each other on the set of all real numbers?
1) f(x) and f*(x) = 2) h(x) and h*(x) = x

3) k(x) and k*(x) = 4) All the above

7. * Suppose a function f: A ® B is defined where

A: set of all real numbers and
B: set of all non-negative real numbers.
Indicate whether the following functions are into functions into or onto functions.
1) f(x) = x 2 2) f(x) = 10 x
3) f(x) = |x| 4) f(x) = (x ¹ 0)

122
 Chapter QA
FUNCTIONS AND GRAPHS 2.5

8. Draw rough graphs of the following functions:

1) f(x) =
2) *g(x) = 2x
3) h(x) = |x – 2| – 2
4) k(x) = 2 for x < 2
= 3 for 2 < x < 3
= 4 for 3 < x < 4
= 5 for x > 4
5) m(x) = (x – 3) (x + 4)

Suppose operation # is defined on two real numbers such that

1) If a # b = b # a, the operation # is said to be commutative
2) If m (a # b) = ma # mb, where m is a constant, the operation # is said to be distributive
3) If (a # b) # c = a # (b # c), the operation # is said to be associative.

9. Consider the relation a # b = . Which is the following is true?

1) It is commutative but not distributive
2) It is distributive but not commutative
3) It is both commutative and distributive
4) It is neither commutative not distributive

Q-10-12
Suppose operations # and @ are defined for real numbers as follows

a # b = ab if both a and b are positive

= 1 otherwise

a @ b = (a + b)a+b if ab is positive
= 1 otherwise

10. =

1) 2) 12 3) 144 4)

11. =

1) 8 2) 1 3) 2 4) 4

123
CATapult
ALGEBRA

12. Suppose = 1, what can be said about x and y?

1) Only one of x and y is positive while the other one is negative.

2) Both x and y are either positive or negative
3) Both x and y are positive but cannot be negative
4) Both x and y are negative but cannot be positive

13. Let f(x) be a function satisfying f(x) f(y) = f(xy) for all real x, y. If f(2) = 4, then what is the
value of ?
1) 0 2) 3)
4) 1 5) Cannot be determined

14. Which of the following represents the domain of the function f(x) = correctly?
1) All real numbers except x = –3 and 4
2) All real numbers except x = 1, 2, –3 and 4
3) | x| > 2
4) All |x| > 2 except x = –3 and 4

Higher Order Curves

15. Consider the polynomial P = (x – 1)(x + 2)(x – 4)(x + 5)

a) How many roots does P have?
b) What are the roots of P?
c) At a very large positive value of x, is P positive or negative?

If the function is of the form f(x) = (x – a)even number × (x – b)odd number, the graph of the polynomial
just touches the x-axis at x = α and intersects the x-axis at x = β.
In general, a function with degree n can touch/intersect x-axis in maximum n points.

16. *Draw rough graphs of the following functions

1. f(x) = |(x – 1) 2 (x – 2)|
2. f(x) = |(x – 1)(x – 2) 2 (x – 3)3 (x – 4)|

In a graph of an absolute value of f(x), the part of the graph where f(x)>0 (i.e. where the graph
is above x-axis) remains unchanged. However the part of the graph where f(x)<0 (i.e. where
graph is below x-axis) is chopped off and the mirror image of that part appears above x-axis.

124
 Chapter QA
FUNCTIONS AND GRAPHS 2.5

Points of intersection of two curves

17. Find the points of intersections of the following pair of functions
1. y = x 2 – 7x + 10 and y = 4
2. y = x 2 – 7x + 10 and y = x – 4
3. y = 2x 2 – 7x + 5 and y = x 2 – 3x + 2
4. *y = x2 – 7x + 10 and x = 4
5. *y = 5x2 – 28x + 15 and y = 3x 2 – 19x + 6

Graphs of a line and a function representing a quadratic function can intersect in either 0/1/2
points depending on the value of discriminant obtained. If Δ > 0, the line intersects the quadratic
curve in two points, if Δ = 0, the line touches the quadratic function in one point. If Δ < 0, the
line does not intersect the quadratic function.

6. y = 2x 2 +10x + 29 and y = x 2 + 4x + 5
7. y = x 2 + 6x + 14 and y = x 2 + 4x + 10

Two quadratic functions can intersect in zero/one or two points.

8. y = x 3 + 6x2 + 6x – 9 and y = x 3 + 2x2 + 10 x – 10

In general, graphs of a function of power m and power n (m>n) will intersect in at most m points.

Common roots of two curves

18. Calculate the common roots between the following pairs of equations
1. y = x 3 + 6x2 + 11x + 6 and y = x 3 + 7x2 + 11x + 5
2. y = x 3 + 6x2 + 11x + 6 and y = 2x 3 + 6x2 + 10x + 6
3. *y = 2x3 – 6x2 – 2x + 6 and y = x 3 + 2x2 – x – 2

125
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Challengers

1. Consider the function f(x) = max (x + 3, 7 – x).

This means that for every value of x, y will take the
larger value out of (x + 3) and (7 – x), i.e. the ‘maxi-
mum of these two values.
Then:
1) Find the values of f(3) and f(-2)
2) For which value/s of x is f(x) = 8?
3) Find the minimum value that f(x) can take
4) Plot the graph of f(x)

2. If f(x) is a well defined function on the set of all positive real numbers such that f(xy) = f(x)
+ f(y) for any positive real numbers x and y then which of the following is certainly true:
1) f(0) = 0 2) f(1) = 1 3) f(1) = 0 4) None of these

Q-3-4
Suppose three functions are defined as follows
f(x) = 2x + 4
g(x) =
h(x) = x – 4
3. f o g o f o g o f o g o f o g (2000) =
1) 2000 2) 4004 3) 998 4) 1996

4. h o f o h o f o h (2004) =
1) 250 2) 16000 3) 4000 4) 8000

Directions for question 5: Answer the questions on the basis of the information given below.

f1(x) = x 0 < x < 1

= 1 x > 1
= 0 Otherwise
f2(x) = f1(-x) for all (x)
f3(x) = -f2(x) for all (x)
f4(x) = f3(-x) for all (x)

5. How many of the following products are necessarily zero for every x:
f1(x)f2(x), f2(x)f3(x), f2(x)f4(x)?
1) 0 2) 1 3) 2 4) 3

6. A function f(x) satisfies f(1) = 7200 and f(1) + f(2) + ….. + f(n) = n 2. f(n) for all positive
integers n > 1. Which of the following is the value of f(8)?
1) 200 2) 400 3) 800 4) 900

126
 Chapter QA
FUNCTIONS AND GRAPHS 2.5

PRACTICE EXERCISE - 1
DIRECTIONS for questions 1 to 4: Choose the correct alternative.

1. The functions f(x) and g(x) are related as f(g(x)) = xg(f(f(x))), where f(x) = . What could
be the functional form of g(x)?

1) 2) 3) 4)

2. If a function is defined as:

f(x, y) = f(2x – y, x – 2y) + x + y for x – y < 0
= f(y – 2x, 2y – x) – x – y for x – y > 0
then, find the value of f(–9, 0) – f(1, 0).

1) –9 2) 9 3) 16 4) –16

3. The number f(n); n Î N, satisfies the recurrence f(n + 2) = f(n) + 2 for n Î N, with f(1) = 1
and f(2) = 3. What is the ratio of f(45) to f(14)?
1) 1 2) 2 3) 3 4) Data insufficient

4. If f(x) = ax 2 – bx + 7 and f(2) = 5 and f(4) = 11 find the value of a + b.

1) 1 2) 3 3) 2 4) 4

DIRECTIONS for questions 5 and 6: Solve as directed.

5. Suppose a function f(x) is defined as follows: 3f(x) + 4f = 7x, What is the value of
f(6)?

6. Suppose a function on natural numbers x and y is defined as f(x × y) = f(x) × f(y). If f(2) =
2, what is the value of f(512) – f(1)?

DIRECTIONS for questions 7 and 8: Refer to the data below and answer the questions that follows.

A function f(x) is said to be even if f(-x) = f(x), and odd if f(-x) = –f(x). Thus, for example, the
function given by f(x) = x2 is even, while the function given by f(x) = x 3 is odd. Using this definition,
answer the following questions.

7. The function given by f(x) 3 = |x|3 is

1) even 2) odd 3) neither 4) both

8. The sum of two odd functions

1) is always an even function 2) is always an odd function
3) is sometimes odd and sometimes even 4) may be neither odd nor even

127
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Direction for questions 9 and 10: Refer to the data below and answer the questions that follows.

A, S, M and D are functions of x and y, and they are defined as follows.

A(x, y) = x + y
S(x, y) = x – y
M(x, y) = xy

D(x, y) = , y ¹ 0

9. What is the value of M(M(A(M(x, y), S(y, x)), x), A(y, x)) for x = 2, y = 3?
1) 60 2) 140 3) 25 4) 70
(Past CAT question)

10. What is the value of S[M(D(A(a, b), 2), D(A(a, b), 2)), M(D(S(a, b), 2), D(S(a, b), 2))]?
1) a2 + b2 2) ab 3) a 2 – b2 4) b
(Past CAT question)

DIRECTIONS for questions 11 to 16: Choose the correct alternative.

11. If f(x) = x 2 + 6x + 8, how many real values of ‘x’ satisfy f(f(x)) = 0 ?

1) 0 2) 2 3) 3 4) 4

12. P and Q are real numbers.

f(P, Q) = |P| |Q|.
g(P, Q) = –f(P, Q)
h(P, Q) = –g(P, Q)
Which of the following is not true?

1) h(P, Q) = f(P, Q) for any value of P and Q. 2) g(P, Q) = f(P, Q) for P > 0 and Q > 0.
3) g(P, Q) × f(P, Q) = g(P, Q) × h(P, Q). 4) None of these.

13. A function can sometimes reflect on itself, i.e. if y = f(x), then x = f(y). Both of them retain
the same structure and form. Which of the following functions has this property?

1) 2)

3) 4) None of the above.

14. If y = f(x) and f(x) = , which of the following is true?

1) f(2x) = f(x) – 1 2) x = f(2y) – 1 3) f = f(x) 4) x = f(y)

(Past CAT question)

128
 Chapter QA
FUNCTIONS AND GRAPHS 2.5

15. For two positive integers a and b define the function h (a, b) as the greatest common factor

THEORY
(gcf) of a, b. Let A be a set of n positive integers G(A), the gcf of the elements of set A is
computed by repeatedly using the function h. The minimum number of times h is required
to be used to compute G is:

PRACTICE EXERCISE CLASS EXERCISE

1) 2) n – 1 3) n 4) None of these
(Past CAT question)

16. There are two whole numbers – x and y. A function of x and y is defined such that:
f(0,y) = y + 1,
f(x + 1,0) = f(x, 1)
f(x + 1,y + 1) = f(x, f(x + 1,y))
What is the value of f (1,2)?

1) 2 2) 4 3) 3 4) Cannot be determined
(Past CAT question)

Directions for questions 17 to 20: Choose the answer as:

1) if F1(x) = -F(x)
2) if F1(x) = F(-x)
3) if F1(x) = -F(-x)
4) if None of the above is true

17.

129
CATapult
ALGEBRA

18.

19.

20.

130
 Chapter QA
FUNCTIONS AND GRAPHS 2.5

PRACTICE EXERCISE - 2
DIRECTIONS for questions 1 and 2: Choose the correct alternative.

1. A function, f(x), is defined as follows:

f(x) = x + x 2 + x3 if x > 0
= g(x) if x < 0
g(x) = 2x + 30
Find f{g[f(g(x))]}, if x = –14.

1) 58 2) 0 3) 198534 4) 2069

2. The function f : N ® N, satisfies the recurrence f(n + 2) = 2f(n) + 1, for n Î I, with f(1) =
1 and f(2) = 3. What is (approximately) the ratio of f(41) to f(21)?
1) 128 2) 1024 3) 8192 4) 65536

DIRECTIONS for questions 3 to 5: Refer to the data below and answer the questions that follows.
Graphs of some functions are given. Mark option:
1. If f(x) = 3f(–x)
2. If f(x) = f(–x)
3. If f(x) = –f(–x)
4. If 3f(x) = 6f(–x), for x > 0

3.

1) 1 2) 2 3) 3 4) 4
(Past CAT question)

131
CATapult
ALGEBRA

4.

1) 1 2) 2 3) 3 4) 4
(Past CAT question)

5.

1) 1 2) 2 3) 3 4) 4
(Past CAT question)

DIRECTIONS for question 6: Solve as directed.

6. If we define a function f(x) on natural numbers as f(x + 1) = f(x) + x and f(1) = 1, what is
the sum f(1) + f(2) + f(3) + ... + f(30)?

DIRECTIONS for questions 7 to 9: Choose the correct alternative.

7. If a function f(x) is defined as f(x) = and f2(x) = f(f(x)), f 3(x) = f(f(f(x))) and so on,

what is the product of f(x) × f2(x) × ... × f 10(x)?

1) 2) 3) 4)

132
 Chapter QA
FUNCTIONS AND GRAPHS 2.5

8. The graph of functions f(x) and g(x) are shown below.

THEORY
PRACTICE EXERCISE CLASS EXERCISE
Which of the following is true?
1) f(x) = g(x) 2) f(–x) = g(–x) 3) f(x) = –g(x) 4) None of these

9. If a function f(x) satisfies the equation f = x2 + , x ¹ 0, then f(x) equals

1) x2 – 2 for x ¹ 0 2) x 2 – 2 for all satisfying |x| > 2

3) x2 – 2 for all satisfying |x| < 2 4) None of these

DIRECTIONS for questions 10 and 11: Refer to the data below and answer the questions that follows.
A function f(x, y) is defined such that
f(x, y) = (x + y) 0.5 (the positive root) if (x + y) 0.5 is real
f(x, y) = (x + y) 2 otherwise
g(x, y) = (x + y) 2 if (x + y)0.5 is real
g(x, y) = – (x + y) otherwise

10. Which expression yields positive values for non zero and real values of x and y?
1) f(x,y) – g(x,y) 2) f(x,y) – [g(x,y)] 2 3) g(x,y) – [f(x,y)] 2 4) f(x,y) + g(x,y)
(Past CAT question)

11. When is f(x,y) > g(x,y)?

1) y > x 2) Both x & y are less than –1
3) Both x & y are greater than 0 4) Both x & y are less than 0

(Past CAT question)

DIRECTIONS for questions 12 to 14: Choose the correct alternative.

12. f is function defined on natural numbers such that

2f(n) × f(2n + 1) = f(2n) × [2f(n) + 1] and 8f(n) > f(2n) > 4f(n). Find the value of f(12).
1) 63f(1) + 108 2) 6f(1) + 9 3) 6 2f(1) + 6 4) f(1) + 108

133
CATapult
ALGEBRA

13. A function f(x) is defined as f(x) = ax2 + bx + |c|, (a ¹ 0). If it is known that f(1) = f(–2),
under what conditions will the function have real roots?
1) a = b; a < 4c 2) a = b; a > 4c
3) a = b; < c < 4) a ¹ b; < c <

14. If f(x) = |x 2 – 7|, find f(x) – f(f(x)) + f(f(f(x))) – f(f(f(f(x)))) + … up to 20 terms, at x = 2.

1) 10 2) 20 3) 30 4) Cannot be determined

DIRECTIONS for questions 15 and 16: Refer to the data below and answer the questions that follows.

For real number x, let f(x) = , if x is non-negative

= 1 + x, if x is negative
fn (x) = f(fn-1 (x)), n = 2, 3, ...
15. What is the value of product, f(2) f 2 (2) f3 (2) f4 (2) f5 (2) ?

1) 2) 3 3) 4) None of these
(Past CAT question)

16. If r is an integer > 2, then what is the value of f r–1(-r) + fr(-r) + fr+1 (-r) ?
1) –1 2) 0 3) 1 4) None of these
(Past CAT question)

DIRECTIONS for questions 17 to 20: Choose the correct alternative.

17. f(x) = ax3 – bx2 + cx + 7, if f(1) = 12, f(2) = 27, what is the value of (2a – c)?
1) 1 2) 0 3) –1 4) Cannot be determined

18. A function defined on a two-dimensional plane is called a ‘pseudometric’, if it satisfies the

following properties:
i) f((x 1, x2), (y1, y2)) > 0
ii) f((x 1, x2), (y1, y2)) = 0 if and only if (x 1, x2) = (y 1, y2).
Which of the following is not a pseudometric?
1) f((x1, x2), (y1, y2)) = |x1 – y1| + |x2 – y2|

2) f((x1, x2), (y1, y2)) =

3) f((x1, x2), (y1, y2)) = maximum {|x1 – y1|, |x2 – y2|}
4) f((x1, x2), (y1, y2)) = (x1 – y1)2 – (x2 – y2)2

19. If f(x) = –3x 3 + + 5x2 – which of the following is/are true?

I. f(x) = f(–x) II. f = f(x)

1) Only I 2) Only II 3) Both I and II 4) Neither I nor II

20. Find x if f(x) = 1 + x – x 2 and f(x + 1) = f(x + 2)

1) 0 2) 1 3) – 1 4) 2

134
CATapult
ALGEBRA

QA-2.6 INEQUALITIES THEORY

Definition of an inequation
A mathematical statement, which states that two expressions are not equal is called an inequation
and is denoted by x ¹ y.
A mathematical statement, which states that one expression is greater than the other in value is
called an inequality.
Symbols of inequality
x > y for x is greater than y.
x < y for x is less than y.
x > y for x is greater than or equal to y.
x < y for x is less than or equal to y.
Any quantity x is said to be greater than another quantity y when ‘x – y’ is positive. Thus –2 is
greater than –3 as –2 – (–3) = 1 is positive.
Any quantity x is said to be less than y when ‘x – y’ is negative. Thus, –5 is less than –2 as –5
– (–2) = –3 is negative.

Unconditional Inequality
An unconditional inequality is one that holds for all values of the variables.
Example
3x2 + 2 > x – 2 which is true for all values of x.
Conditional Inequality
A conditional inequality is true only for certain values of the variable.
Example
3x + 2 > 8 \ 3x > 6 \ x > 2
Thus, the inequation 3x + 2 > 8 is true only for those values of x which are greater than 2.

The set of values, which satisfies the given statement is called the solution set or truth set.
Example
Solution set of –2 < x < 7, where x is an integer is (–1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

Rules of Inequalities
1. An inequality will still hold after each side has been increased or diminished by the same
number.
i.e., if a > b and c is any number
a + c > b + c
a – c > b – c
2. An inequality will still hold after each side has been multiplied or divided by the same pos-
itive quantity. i.e., if a > b and c > 0

135
CATapult
ALGEBRA

ac > bc

3. If the sides of an inequality are multiplied or divided by the same negative quantity, the sign
of the inequality must be reversed. i.e., if a > b and c < 0, then ac < bc
Example
–2 < 4
Multiplying both sides of the inequality by –1, we get LHS = 2 and RHS = –4.
2 > –4
Therefore on multiplying both sides of the inequality by the same negative value, the sign of
the inequality gets reversed.

4. In an inequality, any term may be transposed from one side to the other if its sign is changed.
i.e., if a – c > b, then a > b + c or –c > b – a

Summary of Rules
1. If a > b then a + c > b + c where c Î R
2. If a > b then
(i) ac > bc if c > 0
(ii) ac < bc if c < 0
3. If a > b then
(i) > if c > 0

(ii) < if c < 0

Linear Inequalities
1. Linear Inequalities with Addition and Subtraction
To solve an inequality in one variable, we use the method used for solving a linear equation.
Transpose all the terms containing the unknown variable to the left hand side of the inequality
and the remaining to the right hand side.

Example
2x + 3 < 4x + 5
2x – 4x < 5 – 3
i.e., –2x < 2
\ x > –1

2. Linear Inequalities with Multiplication and Division

To solve an inequality with multiplication/division transpose all the terms to the left hand side
of the inequality and 0 to the right hand side.

136
 Chapter QA
INEQUALITIES 2.6

Example

< 1

–1 < 0

< 0

< 0

This means that the above fraction is negative. This will happen only if both the numerator
and the denominator have a different sign. We have to consider 2 cases.
Case 1: 2x – 3 < 0 and x + 1 > 0
x < and x > –1
i.e., –1 < x <

Case 2: 2x – 3 > 0 and x + 1 < 0

x > and x < –1

Both inequalities cannot occur simultaneously

So the required solution is –1 < x <

Union and intersection of the solution

Intersection
1) x > 2 and x < 7
The solution can be represented on the number line as follows:

The common region lies between 2 & 7 (execluding 2 and including 7) i.e. 2 < x < 7
2) x > 3 and x < 2
The solution can be represented on the number line as follows:

There is no common region. Hence, no solution.

3) x > 2 and x > 5
The solution can be represented on the number line as follows:

The solution is:

x > 5 i.e. x Î [5, ¥)
4) 3 < x < 10 and 7 < x < 12
The solution can be represented on the number line as follows:
The solution is:

7 < x < 10 i.e. x Î [7, 10]

137
CATapult
ALGEBRA

5) 5x – 3 > 7 and x – 4 < 8

The solution can be represented on the number line as follows:
5x – 3 > 7 i.e. x > 2
x – 4 < 8 i.e. x < 12

The solution is 2 < x < 12 i.e. x Î [2, 12)

6) 7 – x > 4 and 5 – 2x < 2
7 – x > 4 i.e. x < 3
5 – 2x < 2 i.e. 2x > 3 i.e. x >
The solution can be represented on the number line as follows:
The solution is:

The solution is < x < 3 i.e. x Î b ?

Union

1) x > 2 or x < 1

The solution is x Î (–¥, 1) È [2, ¥)

2) x > 2 or x < 7

The solution is x Î (–¥, ¥)

3) x > 3 or x > 5

The solution is x Î [3, ¥]

Note: When an inequality is such that the unknown variable (say x) has an inequality sign on
both sides, then we solve both the inequations individually to get the range of the values of x.

138
 Chapter QA
INEQUALITIES 2.6

Quadratic Inequalities
A quadratic inequality is defined as an inequality of the form:
ax2 + bx + c " 0 (a ¹ 0) where the symbol " represents any of the inequalities >, <, > or <

Solving a Quadratic inequality

To solve a quadratic inequality, we first find the factors of the quadratic polynomial ax2 + bx + c
using any of the methods discussed in the chapter on quadratic equations. Express factors of the
quadratic polynomial as (x – a) and (x – b), i.e.,
ax2 + bx + c = (x – a) (x – b) where a < b
Now depending on the sign of the inequality in the polynomial ax2 + bx + c " 0 (a ¹ 0) we can
derive the following rules
RULE 1
If ax2 + bx + c < 0
Þ (x – a) (x – b) < 0
Þ a < x < b i.e., x lies between a and b
This is an illustrated with an example below
Example
x2 + 8x + 7 < 0
Þ (x + 1)(x + 7) < 0
For the product of the above 2 terms i.e., (x + 1) and (x + 7) to be negative one of the terms
is positive and the other is negative. Since we do not know the value of x, we have to consider
2 cases
Case 1
x + 1 < 0 and x + 7 > 0
Þ x < –1 and x > –7
Þ –7 < x < –1
\ –7 < x < –1.
Case 2
x + 1 > 0 and x + 7 < 0
Þ x > –1 and x < –7
Since both inequalities cannot occur simultaneously, only Case 1 is possible.
\ –7 < x < –1.
Alternatively,
(x + 1) (x + 7) < 0
Þ [x – (–1)] [x – (–7)] < 0
Rearranging the terms,
Þ [x – (–7)] [x – (–1)] < 0
Comparing this with (x – a) (x – b) < 0 such that a < b we get,
–7 < x < –1.
RULE 2
If ax2 + bx + c > 0
Þ (x – a) (x – b) > 0 where a < b
Þ x < a or x > b
Example
Þ x2 + 7x + 12 > 0

139
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Þ (x + 3) (x + 4) > 0
For the product of the 2 terms to be positive either both terms are positive or both terms are
negative. So we again consider 2 cases.
Case 1
x + 3 > 0 and x + 4 > 0
Þ x > –3 and x > –4
Þ x > –3
Case 2
x + 3 < 0 and x + 4 < 0
Þ x < –3 and x < –4
Þ x < –4
i.e., either x < –4 or x > –3
Alternatively,
(x + 3) (x + 4) > 0
Þ [x – (–3)] [x – (–4)] > 0
Rearranging the terms such that a < b
Þ [x – (–4)] [x – (–3)] > 0
Þ x < –4 or x > –3
RULE 3
If ax2 + bx + c > 0 such that roots of the quadratic expression are equal i.e., a = b then the
solution of the inequality is such that x < a or x > a i.e., x ¹ a
Example
Solve x2 – 10x + 25 > 0
y = x2 – 10x + 25 > 0
Þ (x – 5)2 > 0
y becomes positve for all real values of x except at x = 5
\ the solution is x ¹ 5

Shortcut Method for Quadratic Inequality

1. If ab > 0
then a > 0 and b > 0
or a < 0 and b < 0

Example
If (x – 1)(x + 2) > 0, find x.
(x – 1)(x + 2) > 0 (x – 1)(x + 2) > 0
\ x – 1 > 0 and x + 2 > 0 \ x – 1 < 0 and x + 2 < 0
\ x > 1 and x > –2 \ x < 1 and x < – 2
\ x > 1 \ x < – 2

The solution is x < –2 and x > 1.

140
 Chapter QA
INEQUALITIES 2.6

2. If ab < 0
then a < 0 and b > 0
or a > 0 and b < 0
eg if (x – 3)(x + 1) < 0, find x.
(x – 3)(x + 1) < 0
\ x – 3 < 0 and x + 1 > 0
\ x < 3 and x > – 1

The solution is –1 < x < 3

Note: The value of the expression (x – a)(x – b) is negative if a < x < b (provided a < b), the
value of the expression (x – a)(x – b) is positive, if x < a and x > b (provided a < b)

Understanding of Quadratic Inequalities by Graphical Representation

For the quadratic polynomial of the form ax2 + bx + c, the discriminant D = b2 – 4ac
Let y = ax2 + bx + c where a, b, c are real and a ¹ 0 then y represents a parabola whose axis
is parallel to y-axis. For some values of x, y may be positive, negative or zero. Also if a > 0 then
parabola opens upwards and for a < 0 the parabola opens downwards. This gives the following
cases.

Case 1: D < 0
i) If a < 0, y is negative for all real values of x.
ii) If a > 0, then ax 2 + bx + c > 0 for all x.
y will always be positive for all real values of x.
(i.e.,) if D < 0 then the values of the quadratic expression takes the
same sign as the coefficient of x2.
In other words, if D < 0 then all the real values of x are solutions of the
inequalities ax2 + bx + c > 0 and ax 2 + bx + c > 0 for a > 0 and have no
solution if a < 0.
Also, if D < 0 all real values of x are solutions of inequalities ax 2 + bx + c
< 0 and ax2 + bx + c < 0 if a < 0 and these inequalities will not have any solution for a > 0.

Case 2: D = 0
i) When a > 0
y will be positive for all real values of x except at the vertex where = 0
ii) When a < 0
y is negative for all real values of x except at the vertex where y = 0.

141
CATapult
ALGEBRA

If the discriminant of a quadratic expression is equal to zero, then the value of the quadratic
expression takes the same sign as that of the coefficient of x2 (except when x = – , at which
the value of the quadratic expression becomes 0).

For D = 0,

(i) The inequality ax2 + bx + c > 0 has a solution any x ¹ – if a > 0 and has no solution
if a < 0

(ii) The inequality ax 2 + bx + c < 0 has a solution any x ¹ – if a < 0 and has no solution
if a > 0
(iii) The inequality ax2 + bx + c > 0 has as solution any x if a > 0 and has unique solution

x = – if a < 0.
(iv) The inequality ax 2 + bx + c < 0 has as solution any x if a < 0 and has unique solution x
= – for a > 0.

Case 3: D > 0
i) When a > 0
Let a, b be the two real roots of y = 0 (a < b), then y will be positive
for all real values of x which are lower than a or higher than b; y = 0
when x = a or b. When x lies between a and b then y will be negative.
ii) When a < 0
Let a,b (a < b) be the two real roots of y = 0. Then y will be negative
for all real values of x that are lower than a or higher than b. and y =
0 when x equals to either a or b. When x lies between a and b then y
will be positive.
If a, b (a < b) are the roots of the quadratic expression then it can be
said

(i) For a > 0, ax2 + bx + c is positive for all values of x outside the interval [a, b] and
is negative for all x within the interval (a, b).
Besides, for values x = a or x = b the value of the quadratic expression becomes zero.
(ii) For a < 0, ax2 + bx + c is negative for all values of x outside the interval [a, b] and is
positive for x in the interval (a, b). Besides for x = a or b the value of the quadratic expres-
sion becomes zero.

Applications of Rules of Inequalities

1. For positive numbers, if a > x, b > y, c > z then a + b + c +… > x + y + z + … and abc… >
xyz…
2. If x is positive and a < b, then

If x is positive and a > b, then

142
 Chapter QA
INEQUALITIES 2.6

3. If x is positive and a > b > x, then,

If x is positive and x < a < b, then,

4. is less than the greatest and greater than the least of the fractions

5. If the sum of two positive quantities is given, their product is greatest when they are equal;
and if the product of two positive quantities is given, their sum is least when they are equal.

6. If a > b and a, b > 0 then a n > bn, and , or a–n < b –n; for any positive integer n.

7. The square of every real quantity is positive and therefore must be greater than zero.
i.e., for a ¹ b, (a – b)2 > 0; a 2 + b2 > 2ab;

Similarly, if x > 0, y > 0 then, $

Hence, the arithmetic mean of two positive quantities is greater than or equal to their geo-
metric mean.

8. If a, b, c…k are n unequal quantities, then, > a × b × c × d … × k

i.e., > (a × b × c × ... k) 1/n

Note:
The arithmetic mean of any number of positive quantities is greater than their geometric mean.

9. If a and b are positive and unequal, except when m is a positive proper

fraction.

If m is a positive integer or any negative quantity

If m is positive and less than 1,

If there are n positive quantities a, b, c… k, then:

unless m is a positive proper fraction.

10. (n!)2 > nn, for n > 2.

11. For any positive integer n, 2 < < 3

143
CATapult
ALGEBRA

12. a2 + b2 + c2 > bc + ca + ab

13. a2b + b2c + c 2a > 3abc

14. > 4

15. a4 + b4 + c4 + d4 > 4abcd

16. If a, b, c are positive and not all equal, then, (a + b + c)(ab + bc + ca) > 9abc and, (b +
c) (c + a)(a + b) > 8abc.

Concept Builder 1
1. 5x + 7 < –8,
2. 2(3x – 1) < 5(x + 4)

3. < 5

4. x2 – 3x + 2 < 0
5. 2(x – 2) + 4 < 6 – (1 – 5x)
6. x2 – 6x + 9 > 0
7. x² – 7x + 12 > 0
8. (x + 2)(3x – 4) < 0
9. (2x – 1)(x + 1) > 0

Answer Key

x < –1 and x > 9. 8. –2 < x < 7. x < 3, x > 4

x ¹ 3 6. 5. x > 4. 1 < x < 2

, x < 1 x > 3. 2. x < 22 1. x < –3

144
 Chapter QA
INEQUALITIES 2.6

SOLVED EXAMPLES

Q : Which of the two numbers (1.000001) 1000000 and 2 is greater?

A : (1.000001) 1000000 = which is greater than 2.

Q : Which of the two numbers 10001000 and 1001999 is greater?

A :

2 < < 3

\ × < 1 \ < 1 \ 10001000 > 1001999

Q : Solve (–2x + 3) < 6

A : –2x + 3 < 6 \ –2x < 3 \ 2x > –3 \ x >

Q : If w satisfies both the following inequalities and w is an integer, what values can we have?
(i) 5(w + 10) – 4w > 0 (ii) 8 + 7w < 3(2w + 1)

A : From (i): 5(w + 10) – 4w > 0

w + 50 > 0 \ w > –50
From (ii): 8 + 7w < 6w + 3
w < –5
\ From (i) and (ii), w lies between –50 and –5. i.e., –50 < w < –5.

Q : Between what values of x, is the expression 19x – 2x 2 – 35 positive?

A : Let y denote the given expression
y = –(2x2 – 19x + 35) = –(2x – 5)(x – 7)
= (2x – 5)(7 – x) = (7 – x)

(Refer property of quadratic inequalities)

For y to be positive,
(x – 7) < 0 \ < x < 7

145
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Q : Find the range of value of x if x 3 – 7x2 + 16x – 10 is positive.

A : x3 – 7x2 + 16x – 10 has a factor x – 1. Using synthetic division.

The second factor is x2 – 6x + 10

\ x3 – 7x2 + 16x – 10 = (x – 1)(x 2 – 6x + 10) = (x – 1)[(x – 3) 2 + 1]
[(x – 3)2 + 1] is always positive.
\ x3 – 7x2 + 16x – 10 will be positive if x > 1.

146
 Chapter QA
INEQUALITIES 2.6

Inequalities of Higher Order Curves

Wavy Curve Method

In order to solve the inequalities of the form

f(x) = > 0

where n1, n2, .... , nk, m 1, m2, ...., mp are real numbers and a₁, a₂, ....., ak, b₁, b₂, .... bp are any
real numbers such that ai ¹ bj
where i = 1, 2, 3, ... k and j = 1, 2, 3, ...., p.
We will begin with simple inequalities to understand the concept.

Example
(x – 1)(x – 2)(x – 3) < 0
Equate the L.H.S. to zero and get the values of x.
If (x – 1)(x – 2)(x – 3) = 0 then x = 1, 2, 3.
These are the points where the value of the expression will be zero. Draw a number line and
mark these points. The 3-points will give you 4 intervals as shown below:

Now, starting from rightmost interval mark the intervals alternately + and –.
+ means the value of expression is +ve and – means the value of expression is –ve in that interval.

\ – ¥ < x < 1 and 2 < x < 3 is the required region.

It can be written as x Î (– ¥, 1) È (2, 3)
For equation (x – 1)(x – 2)(x – 3) > 0, x Î (1, 2) È (3, ¥)

Example
(x + 3)⁴ (x – 2)⁵ < 0
Equate LHS to zero.
If (x + 3)4 (x – 2)5 = 0, then x = –3, 2.
The powers of the breakets can be interpreted as follows:
While moving from rightmost interval to left, if the power of the corrosponding bracket is even,
do not change the sign & if the power is odd, change the sign.
This can be done as shown below:

147
CATapult
ALGEBRA

The sign will change at x = 2 but will not change at x = –3

The solution is x Î (– ¥, +2)

Example
(x + 3)⁴ (x – 2)⁵ (x – 4) > 0
Equate LHS to zero.
If (x + 3)⁴ (x – 2)⁵ (x – 4) = 0 then x = –3, 2, 4.
Using Wavy Curve Method, we get,

The sign will change at x = 2 & x = 4 but not at x = –3.

The solution is x Î (–¥, 2] È [4, ¥] i.e., x Î R – (2, 4)

Concept Builder 2
Solve the following for x.
1. (x + 3)(x – 5) < 0
2. (x – 1)(x + 4) > 0
3. 5x – 3 < 2 and 3x + 5 > 2
4. (x + 3)(x – 1) (x + 2) < 0
5. (2x + 1)(x – 4) (x + 5) > 0
6. (x + 7) 2 (x – 3) (x + 4) 3 < 0
7. (x + 2) 17 (x – 4)24 > 0
8. (3x – 2) (x + 2) 7 (x – 1)10 < 0
Answer Key

–2 < x < 8. 7. x > –2

–4 < x < 3 6. or x > 4 5. –5 < x <

x < –3 or –2 < x < 1 4. 3. –1 < x < 1

x < –4, x > 1 2. 1. – 3 < x < 5

148
 Chapter QA
INEQUALITIES 2.6

SOLVED EXAMPLES

Q : Solve for x: (x + 7)⁷ (x – 5)⁴ (x + 3)² (x – 1)³ > 0

A : Equate LHS = 0
If (x + 7)⁷ (x – 5)⁴ (x + 3)² (x – 1)³ = 0
\ x = –7, –3, 1, 5.
Draw the number line

The solution is (– ¥, –7) È (1, ¥)

Q : (3x + 1)(3 + 2x)(5x – 2) < 0

A : Equate LHS to zero. Then x = – , – ,

The solution is x Î 3 È

Q : (3 – 2x)(1 – 5x)(–2 – x) > 0

A : (3 – 2x)(1 – 5x)(–2 – x) > 0

\ (–1)(2x – 3)(–1)(5x – 1)(–1)(x + 2) > 0
\ (–1)(–1)(–1)[(2x – 3)(5x – 1)(x + 2)] > 0
\ (2x – 3)(5x – 1)(x + 2) < 0
Equate LHS to zero. Then x = –2, ,

The solution is x Î (–¥, –2) È

149
CATapult
ALGEBRA

–
Q : > 0

–
A : > 0

–
> 0

Equate LHS to zero.

x = 1, –3, 5.

The solution is: x Î [–3, 1] È (5, ¥)

Note: As (x – 5) is the denominator, x cannot be 5.

Q : < 0

A : The break points can be obtained directly by equating numerator & denominator of the LHS
to 0.
\ x = –2, 1, –5, –1, 3

The solution is
x (–¥, –2] È [1, 3)

Note: At x = 3 & x = –1 the graph will be discontinuous as the denominator is (x +1) 4(x – 3).
\ x cannot take these values.
At x = –5, x = –2 and x = 1, the graph cuts the x axis. Hence, the value of the expression
on LHS is zero.

150
 Chapter QA
INEQUALITIES 2.6

Inequalities with Modulus Sign

If an inequality is given as |x| < a, it can be interpreted as x < a and –x < a i.e. x < a and x >
–a. Hence the solution is –a < x < a. (a and –a are not inclusive)

In other words, the solution lies between the interval stretched upto a distance ‘a’ units away
from the centre, in both the sides.
For |x| < a the solution is: –a < x < a

Example
i) |x| < 10 means –10 < x < 10
ii) |x + 5| < 10 means –10 < x + 5 < 10 Þ –5 – 10 < x < –5 + 10
\ –15 < x < 5

Short Cut Method

Here x + 5 is equated to 0. \ x + 5 = 0
\ x = – 5. Now the origin will be –5.
Subtract and add 10 to get the minimum and maximum limit of the solution interval.

For |x| > a, the solution is

x < –a and x > a

Example
|x + 1| > 3
As x + 1 = 0, x = –1
Take –1 as the origin.
–1 – 3 > x and x > –1 + 3
i.e. –4 > x and x > 2

151
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Some important identities are as follows:

Absolute value and inequalities
1. |x| = x; if x > 0 and
–x; if x < 0
Where x is any real number
2. |x| is always positive.
3. |x| > x
4. |x – y| = |y – x|
5. |x.y| = |x| . |y|
6. |x + y| < |x| + |y|
7. |x + y| > |x| – |y|
8. |x – y| > |x| – |y|
9. If x > y then |x – y| = x – y and if x < y then |x – y| = y – x.
10. |x| < a Þ –a < x < a
11. |x| > a Þ x > a or x < –a
12. –|x| < x < |x|

Concept Builder 3
Solve the following for x.
1. |x – 5| < 3
2. |2x + 3| > –5
3. |x – 3| < 7
4. |7x – 2| < 5
5. |3(4x – 6)| > 0
6. |x + 7| < –1
7. |2x + 1| > 3
8. |5x – 1| > 7
Answer Key
, x < – x > 8. 7. x < –2, x > 1

No solution 6. 5. x can take any value

< x < 1 4. 3. –4 < x < 10

x can take any value 2. 1. 2 < x < 8

152
 Chapter QA
INEQUALITIES 2.6

SOLVED EXAMPLES

Q : |x2 – 5| < 7, then find the value of x.

A : \ |x2 – 5| < 7.
\ –2 < x2 < 12
–2 < x² is always true.
As x² < 12,
x² – 12 < 0
(x + 2 3 ) (x – 2 3 ) < 0
–2 3 < x < 2 3
Hence the solution is x Î (–2 3 , 2 3 )

Q : If < 3, then find the value of x.

A : < 3,

\ –3 < 0

When – 3 < 0 When – – 3 < 0

\ < 0 \ < 0

\ < 0 \ < 0

\ > 0 \ > 0
x < – 4 or x > – 1 x < – 1 and x > –2/5

Combining the two cases we can conclude

x can be any real number except –1, –4 and – .

Q : If > 0, then find the value of x.

A : The modulus value is always positive.

\ > 0 is true for all real values.
But x + 5 ¹ 0 i.e. x ¹ – 5
Also x2 – 9 ¹ 0 i.e. x ¹ 3 & x ¹ – 3
\ The solution is x Î R – {–5, 3, –3}

153
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Q : If > 1, then find the value of x.

A : > 1

\ – 1 > 0

\ > 0
Case I: When x + 3 is positive,
|x + 3| = x + 3 & x > –3
Again, > 0

\ > 0
The solution is

Hence, x Î (–3, –2) È (–1, ¥)

Case II: When x + 3 is negative
|x + 3| = –(x + 3) and x < –3
Again, > 0

\ > 0

\ < 0
The solution is

Hence, x Î (–5, –3)

Case III: When x + 3 = 0
|x + 3| = 0 \ x = –3

It gives

= = = 3 > 0
Hence, x = –3
The final solution is,

x Î (–5, –2) È (–1, ¥)

154
 Chapter QA
INEQUALITIES 2.6

CLASS EXERCISE

Teaser

A magician is performing for 10 children at a party. He places ten coins on a table, 5 with a Head
showing and the other 5 with a Tail. Then he moves away and asks nine of the children to go to
the table one by one and turn exactly 1 coin each (chosen at random) upside down. He tells the
tenth child to cover one of the coins. Looking at the remaining 9 coins, he sees 2 heads and 7
tails. Is the hidden coin more likely to show a head or a tail?

155
CATapult
ALGEBRA

Linear Inequalities

• If a > b and c is any number

 a + c > b + c
 a – c > b – c
• If a > b and c > 0
 ac > bc
a b
 >
c c
• If a > b and c < 0, then ac < bc
• If a – c > b, then a > b + c or –c > b – a.

1. Plot the values of x on a number line for the following cases.

–5 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

a) x = 3 b) x < 4
c) x > 5 d) x < 4
e) –2 < x < 5 f) x  (–2, 4]
g) x  (–, 3)  [6, )

2. Find the values/ range of values of x that satisfy the given inequalities:
a) 2x + 3 < 11 b) 3x - 7 ≥ 11
c) 17 - 4x > 7 d) 1 < 2x+9 ≤ 7
e) -5 ≤ 28 - 3x < 37

20
3. Which of the following integral values can x have if 2x + 8 < ?
3
1) 0 2) 1 3) –2 4) 2

Linear Inequalities with Modulus Sign

• |x| < a  –a < x < a
• |x| > a  x > a or x < –a

4. Find the values/ range of values of x that satisfy the given inequalities:
a) |x| < 5 b) |x – 2| > 5
x +
c) ≤ 7d) d) 1 < |4x – 3| < 13
2 5

e) |2x + 3| > – 5

156
 Chapter QA
INEQUALITIES 2.6

Quadratic Inequalities

• If x2 < a, where a is a positive number

Þ – a < x < a ( a is the positive square root of a)
2
• If x > a, where a is a positive number
Þ x > a or x < – a ( a is the positive square root of a)

5. Find the values/range of values of x that satisfy the given inequalities:

a) x² < 16
b) x² > 49
c) (x – 2)² < 36
d) (2x + 3)² < 81
e) (3x – 2)² > 25

6. Plot the graph for y = x² – x – 2

a) Find the range of x for which the corresponding values
of y is negative.
b) Find the range of x for which the corresponding values
of y is positive.

• If ax² + bx + c < 0
Þ (x – a) (x – b) < 0, where a < b
Þ a < x < b i.e., x lies between a and b
• If ax² + bx + c > 0
(x – a) (x – b) > 0, where a < b
x < a or x > b

7. What is the value of m which satisfies 3m2 – 21m + 30 < 0?

1) m < 2 or m > 5 2) m > 2 3) 2 < m < 5 4) –5 < m < –2
(Past CAT question)

8. Which of the following values can x have so that 2x 2 – 11x + 12 is positive?

1) –3 2) 2 3) 3 4)

9. Find the common range of x for the equations x2 + x – 6 < 0 and x 2 – x – < 0.

1) – < x < 2) –3 < x < 3) – < x < 2 4) –3 < x < –

157
CATapult
ALGEBRA

10. If < . Find the range of the values of x:

1) – 3 < x < 4 2) x > 4 or x < –3

3) x = 0 4) x > 3

Inequalities of Higher Order Curves

11. Consider the polynomial P = (x – 1)(x + 2)(x – 4)(x + 5)

What is the solution set for the inequality P ≤ 0?
1) x Î [–5, –2] È [1, 4] 2) x Î [–2, 1] È (4, ¥)
3) x Î [–5, –2] È [4, ¥) 4) None of these

12. Solve: (x – 4)⁴ (x – 3)³ (x + 2)² (x + 1) ≤ 0

1) x Î [–2, –1] È [3, 4] 2) x Î (–¥, 2] È [–1, 4]
3) x Î (–2) È [–1, 3] È (4) 4) None of these

13. Find the number of positive integer solutions for (x +3)³ (x – 1)⁵ (x – 4)⁷ < 0

14. Solve the inequality < 0.

1) –2 < x < 1 2) –1 < x < 2 3) –1 < x < –2 4) –2 < x < 1

Challengers

1. If 6 > x > –2 and 4 > y > –4, find the limits for , where x and y are non zero integers.

1) > 2, < 2) > , < 2

3) > , < 4) > –4, < 4

2. The number of distinct integer solutions of the inequation x² – 8|x| + 15 < 0 is:
1) 4 2) 5 3) 6 4) 8

3. The number of integral values that do not satisfy the inequation |x + 1| + |x – 4| > 7
1) 5 2) 6 3) 7 4) 8

4. Find the range of values of x that satisfy the equation < 2

1) –6 < x < 7 2) –7 < x < 6 3) –7 < x < –6 4) 6 < x < 7

158
 Chapter QA
INEQUALITIES 2.6

5. If > 1, then what is the range of the values of x?

1) x > –2 2) x < –2 3) –2 < x < 3 4) 1 < x < 2

(Past CAT question)

6. Which of the following range of values do not satisfy the inequation

x² + 4x + 6 > |(x 2 + 3x)| ?

1) –6 < x < –2 and x > –3/2 2) x Î [–6, ¥) – (–2, –3/2)

3) –6 < x < –3 4) –2 < x < –3/2

7. The solution set for the inequation 7P – 3 < |4P + 3| < 3P – 1 is:

1) R – 2) R – [–4, ¥)

3) R – 4) None of these

159
CATapult
ALGEBRA

PRACTICE EXERCISE
DIRECTIONS for questions 1 to 20: Choose the correct alternative.

1. The number of integers n satisfying –n + 2 ≥ 0 and 2n ≥ 4 is

1) 0 2) 1 3) 2 4) 3
(Past CAT question)

2. Given that –2 < x < 2, –2 < y < 1.5 and –4 < z < –1 and U = , then which of the
following is necessarily true?
1) 0 < U < 1 2) –3.5 < U < 4
3) 3.5 < U < 4 4) –1 < U < 1

3. What values of x satisfy + – 2 < 0?

1) –8 < x < 1 2) –1 < x < 8 3) 1 < x < 8 4) 1 < x < 8
(Past CAT question)

4. If < then:

1) x < 2 2) x > 2 3) x < 6 4) x > 6

5. If 0 < x < 5 and 1 < y < 2, then which of the following is true?
1) x + y < 0 2) –3 < 2x – 3y < 4
3) –6 < 2x – 3y < 7 4) –3 < 3x – y < 2

6. Which of the following values of x do not satisfy the inequality (x 2 – 3x + 2 > 0) at all?
1) 1 ≤ x ≤ 2 2) –2 < x < –1 3) 0 ≤ x ≤ 2 4) –2 < x < 0
(Past CAT question)

7. Find the range of values satisfying (x – 2011)2011 (x – 2014)2014 (x – 2017)2017 (x – 2020)2020 < 0.
1) (2011, 2014) È (2017, 2020) 2) (2011, 2017)
3) (2011, 2014) È (2014, 2017) 4) [2011, 2017] – (2014)

8. The solution set for the inequation 5m + 2 < |2m + 3| < 4 – m is:

1) 2) 3) 4)

160
 Chapter QA
INEQUALITIES 2.6

9. If > then which of the following is true?

THEORY
1) x Î (–3, –2) È 2) x Î È 3

PRACTICE EXERCISE CLASS EXERCISE

3) x Î (–2, –1) È 4) x Î (–3, –1) È (2, 5)

10. What real values of x satisfy |x + 3| + |3x – 1| > –3?

1) < x < 3 2) –3 < x < 3

3) – < x < 4) All real numbers

11. Find the range of the values of x if < 0

1) (–¥, – 7/2] È (–3, –1] 2) [–7/2, –3) È [–1, 3)

3) [–7/2, –3) È (–3, 3) 4) (–¥, –3) È [–1, 3)

12. Find the range of the values of x if > 0

1) ( –¥, 2) È [3, 5] È [7, ¥) 2) (2, 5] È [7, ¥] – (3)

3) [2, 3) È [5, 7] – (2) 4) (– ¥, 3) È [5, 7]

13. The number of integral values of x that satisfy the inequation |x + 3| + |x – 2| < 9 is
1) 5 2) 8 3) 10 4) 12

14. (x + 1)(x – 3)(x + 5)…….(x – 99) < 0 has how many integer solutions?
1) 72 2) 75 3) 64 4) 87

15. If < 1, then what is the range of the values of x?

1) (–¥, 4) 2) (–¥, –4) È (1, 4)

3) (4, ¥) 4) (–1, 3) È (4, ¥)

16. Which of the following represents the solution for the inequality x 3 + 8x2 – 5x – 84 > 0?
1) x < –3 or 4 < x < 7 2) x < 3 or 4 < x < 7
3) x > 7 or –7 < x < –4 4) x > 3 or –7 < x < –4

17. If –3 < a < 1, –2 < b < 2, –1 < c < 4 and 1 < d < 3, which of the following is true?
1) –9 < ab + cd < 12 2) –6 < ab + cd < 18
3) –9 < ab + cd < 18 4) –6 < ab + cd < 12

161
CATapult
ALGEBRA

18. How many pairs of (x,y) with both x and y having integer values satisfy the inequality |2x +
3y| + |2x – 3y| < 12?

1) 24 2) 18 3) 15 4) None of these

19. If x satisfies the inequality |x – 1| + |x – 2| + |x – 3| > 6, then

1) 0 < x < 4 2) x < 0 or x > 4
3) x < –2 or x > 3 4) None of the above

20. Which of the following range of values does not satisfy the inequality?
|2x2 – x – 1| < x 2 + 1

1) b ? 2) : 3) : l 4)

162
CATapult
MODERN MATH

QA-2.7 SEQUENCES & SERIES THEORY

Definition of a sequence

A sequence is a succession of terms arranged in a definite order according to some rule.

Example

(i) Sequence of even numbers

2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, .....

(ii) Sequence of prime numbers from 1 to 30

2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29

The numbers in a sequence are called the terms of the sequence. A sequence, which has a last
term, is called a finite sequence. A sequence which does not have a last term i.e. has in finite
terms is called an infinite sequence.

The first term of a sequence is denoted by a1, second term by a2 and so on. Thus, an represents
the nth term of the sequence, where n is a positive integer.

The nth term of the sequence is considered ‘the rule’ for forming the sequence and may be
denoted by f(n) or Tn. The n th term of the sequence is also called the general term of the
sequence.

Example
The nth term of a sequence is given by Tn = 2n + 1. Find the first, second, third and tenth
term of the sequence.
First term (n = 1) º a1 = 2 × 1 + 1 = 3
Second term (n = 2) º a2 = 2 × 2 + 1 = 5
Third term (n = 3) º a3 = 2 × 3 + 1 = 7
Tenth term (n = 10) º a10 = 2 × 10 + 1 = 21

Note: The function f(n) i.e., Tn may be specified by an algebraic, trigonometrical or any other
analytical formula.

Definition of a series
The indicated sum of the terms of a sequence is called a series.
In case of a finite sequence a1, a 2, a3 , .... , a n the corresponding series is a1 + a2 + a3 + .... +
an = /

163
CATapult
MODERN MATH

The Greek letter S (Sigma) is the summation sign whose upper and lower limit i.e., i = 1 and n
indicate the range of the variable ‘i’ over which the sum is calculated

Example

/
The sum of the first n terms of a sequence is denoted by Sn. i.e., S1 = T 1
S2 = T1 + T2
S3 = T1 + T2 + T3
Sn–1 = T1 + T2 + T3 ..... + Tn–1
Sn = T1 + T2 + T3 ...... + Tn–1 + Tn
Hence,Tn = Sn – Sn–1

Find S5 for Tn = 3n – 2.
T1 = 1, T 2 = 4, T3 = 7, T4 = 10, T5 = 13
\ S5 = 1 + 4 + 7 + 10 + 13 = 35
Sequences following certain patterns are more often called progression. Arithmetic progression,
Geometric progression and Harmonic progression are three important types of progression.

Types of sequences
1. Arithmetic progression (A.P.)
A sequence is called an arithmetic progression if the difference between any term and its
previous term is a constant. If the first term is ‘a’ and the common difference i.e., constant
is ‘d’, then the progression takes the form a, a + d, a + 2d, a + 3d ....
The nth term of the arithmetic progression is given by T n = a + (n – 1)d and the sum of

the n terms of the arithmetic progression is given by S n = [2a + (n – 1)d]

Example
Find the Sn and Tn for the Arithmetic progression 6, 10, 14, 18,....
a = 6, d = 10 – 6 = 4
Tn = a + (n – 1) d = 6 + (n – 1) 4 = 6 + 4n – 4 = 2 + 4n = 2(1 + 2n)

Sn = [2a + (n – 1)d]

= [2 × 6 + (n – 1)4] = [12 + 4n – 4] = 2n(2 + n)

About Arithmetic progressions

1. An arithmetic progression can be continually increasing or decreasing by the same number.
2. d = Tn – Tn – 1

164
 Chapter QA
SEQUENCES & SERIES 2.7

3. Sn = [T1 + Tn]
4. When three terms are in Arithmetic progression, the middle term is called arithmetic mean
between the other two. i.e., if a, b and c are in A.P then b = .
5. Three numbers in A.P. are taken as a – d, a , a + d. Four numbers in A.P. are taken as
a – 3d, a – d, a + d, a + 3d.

Inserting ‘n’ Numbers between 2 given numbers

If we insert n numbers a1, a2, a3... an between two numbers P and Q, such that P, a1, a2,
a3, ... a n, Q are in Arithmetic Progression, then there will be a total of ‘n + 2’ numbers in
the new sequence
Let ‘d’ be the common difference between the terms of the above Arithmetic Progression.
Also, P is the 1st term and ‘Q’ is the (n + 2) th term in the progression \ Q = P + (n + 1)d

d = Þ a = p + , a2 = P + and so on
Hence,

Example
If 10 numbers are inserted between 5 and 38 such that the sum of they form an AP, then
find the sum of the numbers
Let the numbers be a1, a2, a 3... a10.
Then, 5, a1, a2, a3... a10, 38 are in AP and 38 is the 12 th term in the arithmetic progression.
Hence, 38 = 5 + 11d \ d = 3
So, the inserted numbers are 8, 11, 14 ... 35

Sum of all numbers = [2 × 5 + (12 – 1)3] n

Þ 6[10 + 33] Þ 258

2. Geometric progression (G.P.)

A sequence is called a geometric progression if the ratio of any term to the preceding term
is a constant, called common ratio.
If the first term is ‘a’ and the common ratio is ‘r’, then the sequence takes the form a, ar,
ar2, ar3, ....

Example
Sequence Common ratio
(i) 1, 2, 4, 8, 16,... 2

(ii) ,– , , –2,... –

165
CATapult
MODERN MATH

The nth term of the geometric progression is given by T n = arn–1

The sum of the first n terms of the geometric progression is given by

Sn = a ; for r < 1 and Sn = a ; for r > 1

For r = 1, Sn from the above formulae is indeterminate.

Example
Find S6 and T5 for the G.P. 1, 3, 9, 27, ...

a = 1; r = = 3

Tn = a rn-1
5-1
T5 = 1 × 3 = 34 = 81

Sn = a

S6 = 1 × = = 364

About Geometric progressions

1. If three quantities a, b and c are in G.P., then b is the geometric mean of a and c
\ b =

2. Three numbers in G.P. can be taken as , a, ar. Four numbers in G.P. can be taken as
, , ar, ar3.

Inserting ‘n’ Numbers between 2 given numbers

If we insert n numbers a1, a2, a3... an between two numbers P and Q, such that P, a1, a2,
a3, ... an, Q are in Geometric Progression.
Let ‘r’ be the common ratio between the terms of the above Geometric Progression.
‘Q’ is the (n + 2) th term in the G.P. \ Q = P.rn+1

r =
Hence, a1 = Pr, a 2 = Pr2........ a n = Prn

Example
Insert three numbers between 3 and 48 such that they form a G.P.
Let the numbers be a 1, a2, a3, then 3, a 1, a2, a3, 48 will be in a G.P.
If the common ratio is ‘r’, then 48 = 3×r4.
\ r = 2
So, the three numbers are: 6, 12, 24

166
 Chapter QA
SEQUENCES & SERIES 2.7

Infinite Geometric series

Sum of an infinite geometric series, where | r | < 1 is given by S ¥ =
For | r | > 1, sum of an infinite G.P. tends to infinity.
The symbol ¥ indicate infinite.

Example
What will be the sum of all the terms of the sequence: 2, , , ... ¥

The given sequence is an Infinite Geometric Progression with the first term as ‘2’ and the
Common Ratio as .
So, the sum of all the terms (S¥) = =

3. Harmonic progression (H.P.)

A sequence formed by the terms a1, a2, a3, an,... for which the reciprocals of the terms,

, , , ... , ... form an arithmetic progression is called a harmonic progression.

The nth term of an harmonic progression is given by,

Tn = where, a and d are the first term and common difference of the cor-

responding Arithmetic progression.

Example

, , , , ... form an harmonic progression since the reciprocal of the term, 2, 4, 6, 8,...
forms an Arithmetic progression
About Harmonic Progressions
1. There is no general formula for the sum of any number of terms in harmonic progression.
Questions based on harmonic progression are generally solved by converting them into
an arithmetic progression by taking the reciprocal of the terms.

2. The harmonic mean of a and b is . The concept of harmonic mean is used to find

the average speed of a body over a particular distance.

167
CATapult
MODERN MATH

Some important Formulae

(i) Sum of the first n natural numbers is given by /
(ii) Sum of the first n even natural numbers = n(n+1)

(iii) Sum of the first n odd natural numbers = n2

(iv) Sum of the squares of the first n natural numbers is given by /
(v) Sum of the cubes of the first n natural numbers is given by /
=

Miscellaneous Types of Sequences

Combination of an A.P. and G.P.

It is a sequence of the form a, (a + d)r, (a + 2d)r 2 . . . . where Tn = [a + (n – 1)d]r n–1 ....

Example
Find out the sum of is the terms of the sequence: , , , ,....¥

In the above sequence, 3, 5, 7, .... are in A.P. and , , ,... are in G.P.

Let, S = + + + + ...¥ ... (i)

Multiplying both sides of equation (i) by the common ratio i.e., .

Þ S = + + + ...¥ ...(ii)

Subtracting (ii) from (i),

Þ S = + + + ......¥

Þ S = + + + + ...¥ Þ S = + 2 3

Þ S = + 2 Þ S = + 2

Þ S = + Þ S = Þ S =

Sequences where Second Level Differences are Constant

The second level difference is the difference between the difference of the terms in a sequence. If
this difference is constant, then the nth term in this sequence (Tn) can be expressed in quadratic
form i.e.
Tn = an2 + bn + c

168
 Chapter QA
SEQUENCES & SERIES 2.7

This is illustrated with an example below

Example
Find the 50th term and sum of first 50 terms of the sequence: 4, 6, 9, 13, 18...
Observing the terms of the sequence, we see that the second level differences are constant, as
shown below:
4 6 9 13 18...
2 3 4 5...
1 1 1...
Putting n = 1 in the term Tn = an2 + bn + c, we get
T1 = a + b + c = 4 … (i)
T2 = 4a + 2b + c = 6 … (ii)
T3 = 9a + 3b + c = 9 … (iii)

Subtracting (i) from (ii) and (i) from (iii) we get 3a + b = 2 and 5a + b = 3

So, a = , b = and c = 3 Þ So, Tn = n2 + n + 3 = (n2 + n + 6)

So, the 50th term = T50 = (502 + 50 + 6) = 1278

Now, the sum of ‘50’ terms Sn = / \ Sn = / / /

\ Sn = = (42925 + 1275 + 300) = 22250

Concept Builder
Which type of progression (i.e., A.P, G.P, H.P or A.G.P) do the following sequences represent?

1. , 2, , , ... 2. , , , , ...

3. 6, 18, 54, 162, ... 4. , , , , ...

Answer the following questions.

5. What is the Arithmetic mean of A.P. : 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23
6. What is the Geometric mean of G.P.: 3, 6, 12, 24, 48
7. Find the sum of the terms of AP whose 1st term, last term & common difference are 7,
100, and 3, respectively.

8. In a G.P of Real Numbers, the 2 nd term is ‘9’ & the sixth term is , then find the 4th
term.
9. The sum of the first 25 terms of an A.P. is ‘0’. Which term of this A.P. will be ‘0’?
10. Find the sum of the first 50 natural numbers.

Answer Key
10. 1275 13 th 9. 1 8. 1712 7. 6. 12

13 5. A.G.P 4. G.P. 3. H.P. 2. 1. A.P.

169
CATapult
MODERN MATH

Solved Examples

Q : Find the sum of 30 terms of the series 5 + 11 + 17 + ...

A : The terms 5, 11, 17, ... form an Arithmetic Progression.
as d = 11 – 5 = 17 – 11 = 6; also, a = 5
\ S30 = [2a + (n – 1)d] = [2 × 5 + 29 × 6]

= 15 [10 + 174] = 2760

Q : If Sn = n(n + 8), find T1 and Tn

A : S1 = T1 = 1(1 + 8) = 9
Sn–1 = (n – 1) (n – 1 + 8)
= (n – 1) (n + 7)
= n2 + 6n – 7
Tn = Sn – Sn–1 = (n2 + 8n) – (n 2 + 6n – 7) = 2n + 7

Q : The sum of the first 31 terms of an A.P is ‘0’. Which term of this A.P. will surely be a non-neg-
ative integer?

A : In an A.P. with sum of all terms ‘0’, Sum of the first & last term, second and second-last
term, third and third-last term and so on, will also be’0’. But whether these terms are positive
or negative and whether they are integers or not, cannot be determined.
Since, the number of terms in the given A.P. is 31 (i.e. odd), the middle term (i.e. 16 th term)
has to be ‘0’.
So, the 16th term will surely be a non-negative integer.

Q : If the 4th and the 9th terms of a geometric progression are and 81 respectively, find the
first term.
A : Tn = a rn – 1

T4 = ar3; = ar3 ... (i)

T9 = ar8; 81 = ar8 ... (ii)
5
Dividing (ii) by (i); 81 × 3 = r \ r = 3
Substituting value of r in equation (i)
= a(3)3 \ a = . Hence, the first term is .

170
 Chapter QA
SEQUENCES & SERIES 2.7

Q : How many terms of the series 1 + 5 + 9 + ... must be taken in order, so that the sum is 190?
A : a = 1, d = 4
Sn = [2a + (n – 1)d]

190 = [2 × 1 + (n – 1)4]
380 = 2n + 4n 2 – 4n
2n2 – n – 190 = 0
(2n + 19) (n – 10) = 0
\ n = – or n = 10
n cannot be – ; \ n = 10

Q : Find the geometrical progression whose sum to infinity is and the second term of which
is – 2.
A : ar = – 2 \ a =
=

=
– 4 = 9r – 9r 2
9r2 – 9r – 4 = 0
(3r + 1) (3r – 4) = 0
\ r = – or r =

If r = – , a = – = 6 and the series is 6, –2, , .......

The value of r = is inadmissible, for r must be numerically less than unity.

Q : The number of bacteria in a culture triples in every 15 minutes. Find the number of bacteria
in the culture after 105 minutes, if there were 10,000 bacteria initially.
A : a = 10,000; r = 3; n = 8
Tn = a(rn–1) = 10,000(3 8–1)
= 10,000(2187) = 2187 × 10 4 bacteria.

Q : Find the value of K so that 8K + 3, 6K – 3 and 2K + 6 are in Arithmetic progression

A : If 8K + 3, 6K – 3 and 2K + 6 are in Arithmetic progression then (6K – 3) – (8K + 3)
= (2K + 6) – (6K – 3) ... [common difference]

–2K – 6 = – 4K + 9 \ K = = 7.5

171
CATapult
MODERN MATH

Q : Find the sum of the first 20 terms of the sequence 5, 5.5, 5.55, 5.555...
A : S20 = 5 + 5.5 + 5.55 + ... + T 20

= [(10 – 1) + (10 – 0.1) + (1 0 – 0.01) + ... + (10 – 10 –19)]

= [10 + 10 + 10 + ... upto 20 terms]

= = × 1790 ... . = 110.5

Q : Find the sum of the first 10 terms of the sequence whose nth term is 2n – 8.

A : Tn = 2n – 8
a = T1 = 2 × 1 – 8 = –6
T2 = 2 × 2 – 8 = –4
T3 = 2 × 3 – 8 = –2
–6, –4, –2 form an A.P. \ d = T2 – T 1 = – 4 – (– 6) = 2
S10 = [2a + (n – 1)d]

= [2 × (–6) + 9 × 2]
= 5 [–12 + 18] = 30

Q : What will be the 27 th term in the sequence: (3 × 5) + (5 × 8) + (7 × 11) + ...

A : By observation, we can make out that each term in this sequence is multiplication of
two expressions i.e. (2n+1) & (3n+2), where n = 1, 2, 3,...
Now, the n th term of the sequence Tn = (2n+1) × (3n+2)
\ 27th term can be find out by putting n = 27.
T27 = (2 × 27 + 1) × (3 × 27 + 2) = 4565

Note: In the above question, you will find that the second level difference is constant. So, you
can also use the method explained earlier to derive the n th term of the sequence i.e Tn = an2
+ bn + c)

172
 Chapter QA
SEQUENCES & SERIES 2.7

CLASS EXERCISE

Teaser

Two trains A and B, travelling at speeds of 15 kmph are approaching each other on the same
railway track. A bird C is sitting on the engine of train A. When the trains are 120 km apart, the
bird starts flying at 25 kmph towards B. The moment it meets B, it turns back and flies towards
A. It keeps this pattern up until the two trains collide. What is the total distance the bird will
cover in the process?

173
CATapult
MODERN MATH

Sequences, Series and Progressions: Theory

1. The Maharaja of Mysore was extremely fond of the game of chess. Two artisans Dodda and
Chikka designed for him a large chessboard with king-size chessmen. The Maharaja was
pleased and decided to award them with grains of gold. He asked them how many grains
they would like to have. Dodda said he would like 100 golden grains on the first square of
the board and in every consecutive square, 50 grains more than in the previous. Chikka said
that he wanted only one grain in the first square but in every consecutive square he wanted
twice as many grains as in the previous.
a) How many grains will Dodda get in the 10 th square?
b) In how many squares will Chikka get more grains than Dodda?
c) How many grains will Chikka get in the last square?
d) How many grains will Dodda get in all?

2. Consider the series 1, 4, 7, 10, 13…

a) What will be the 100 th number (term) in the series?
b) Will the number 172 be there in this series? If yes, what will be its position?
c) What will be the sum of the first 100 terms in the series?
d) What will be the difference between 100 th and 102nd term?

3. Consider the series 2, 6, 18, 54…

a) What will be the 50th term in the series?
1) 2 × 3 49 2) 2 × 3 50 3) 2 × 3 51 4) 350

b) Will the number 1008 be there in this series? If yes, what will be its position?
1) No 2) Yes, 336 th 3) Yes, 168 th 4) Yes, 56th

c) What will be the sum of first 10 terms of this series? (Note: 310 = 59049)
1) 59048 2) 29524 3) 118098 4) 19682

4. What will be the sum of infinite terms of the series: 1, , , , , …?

For an Arithmetic Progression (A.P.) with 1st term (t1) = a and common difference ‘d’,
· nth term (tn) = a + (n – 1) d
· Sum of n terms (Sn) =

For a Geometric Progression (G.P.) with 1st term (t1) = a and common ratio ‘r’,
· nth term (tn) = arn–1

· Sum of n terms (Sn) =

· If r < 1, Sum of infinite terms ( S¥) =

174
 Chapter QA
SEQUENCES & SERIES 2.7

5. Find the sum of + + ..... up to ‘n’ terms

6. Find the next term in the following series:

a) 4, 7, 13, 25, 49, 97, _____
b) 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, _____
c) 3, 6, 10, 15, 21, 28, _____

7. Find the expression for the nth term (Tn) of the following series:
a) 15, 22, 29, 36, 43…
b) 5, 7, 11, 19, 35,
c) 3, 6, 10, 15, 21, 28…

8. Find the sum of the first ten terms of the following series:
a) 11, 12, 13, 14, 15….
b) 36, 49, 64, 81, 100…
c) 3, 6, 10, 15, 21, 28…

The sum of the first n natural numbers is given by /

The sum of the first n perfect squares is given by /

The sum of the first n perfect cubes is given by / /

9. * Find the sum of

10. * In a bacteria culture the number of bacteria doubles after every minute. If a dish is full
of bacteria exactly after 10 minutes when was it half full?

11. * Marbles are arranged in the shape of a regular tetrahedron such that the marble at the
top rests on 3 marbles, which further rest on 6 marbles and so on.
a) If there are 120 marbles in all, how many layers of marbles are there?
b) If there are 120 marbles in the last row, how many layers of marbles are there?

Sequences, Series and Progressions: Examples

1. A certain sequence is defined by the recursive relation Tn+1 = 2Tn + 3

a) If T1 = 2, find T5
b) If T5 = 125, find T1
c) If T1 = 3 and T11 = 6141, find T2 + T3 + T 4 + … + T10

2. If in an Arithmetic Progression with general term an, it is known that a7 + a9 = a3 + a4 +

a10, then what is the first term of the AP?

175
CATapult
MODERN MATH

3. A group of 630 children is arranged in rows for a group photograph session. Each row con-
tains three fewer children than the row in front of it. What number of rows is not possible?
1) 3 2) 4 3) 5 4) 6 5) 7

4. A tennis ball is initially dropped from a height of 180 m. After striking the ground, it rebounds
(3/5)th of the height from which it has fallen. The total distance that the ball travels before
it comes to rest is
1) 540 m 2) 600 m 3) 720 m 4) 900 m

5. If the sum 3 + .... to n terms is , find the value of n.

1) 5 2) 10 3) 15 4) 20

6. Find the last digit of the 200-digit number 122333444455555…..

7. Calculate sum of

8. equals

9. The inverse of the sum of the following series up to n terms can be

written as

1) 2) 3) 4)

10 The sum of the series 12 – 22 + 32 – 42 + ... + 2001 2 – 20022 + 20032 is

1) 2007006 2) 1005004 3) 200506 4) None of the above

11 * A child was asked to add the first few natural numbers (i.e. 1 + 2 + 3 + ...) so long as his
patience permitted. When he stopped, he gave the sum as 575. When the teacher declared
the result wrong, the child discovered that he had missed one number in the sequence during
addition. The number he missed was
1) 10 2) 18 3) 20 4) None of the above

12. * If the sum of the first 5 terms of an Arithmetic Progression is equal to the sum of the first
10 terms, then which term of the AP must necessarily be zero?
1) 6th 2) 8th 3) 10th 4) 9th

13. * A square is drawn by joining the midpoints of the sides of a given square. A third square
is drawn inside the second square in the same way and this process is continued indefinitely.
If a side of the first square is 8 cm, the sum of the areas of all the squares such formed
(in sq. cm) is
1) 128 2) 120 3) 96 4) None of these

176
 Chapter QA
SEQUENCES & SERIES 2.7

14. * In an Arithmetic Progression, the 8th, 12th and 17th terms are in Geometric Progression. What
is the ratio of the first and tenth terms?

15. * What is the sum of the series …. to 10 terms?

1) 2) 3) 4)

16. * Two men X and Y started working for a certain company at similar jobs on January 1,
1950. X asked for an initial monthly salary of Rs. 300 with an annual increment of Rs. 30
on the monthly salary. Y asked for an initial monthly salary of Rs. 200 with a rise of Rs.15
on a monthly salary every 6 months. Assume that the arrangements remained unaltered till
December 31, 1959. Salary is paid on the last day of the month. What is the total amount
paid to them as salary during the period?
1) Rs. 93,300 2) Rs. 93,200 3) Rs. 93,100 4) None of the above

17. * The infinite sum 1 + … equals

1) 2) 3) 4)

Challengers

1. Consider a sequence where nth term, t n = , n = 1, 2, ……………….

The value of t 3 × t4 × t5 × ……… × t 53 equals:
1) 2) 3)

4) 5)

2. If a1 = 1, a n+1 = 2an + 5, n = 1, 2, ………. then a 100 is equal to

1) 5 × 299 – 6 2) 5 × 2 99 + 6 3) 6 × 2 99 + 5 4) 6 × 2 99 – 5

r
3. Given that , find the value of
r r r r
1) 8 2) 4 3) 4)

4. There are 8436 steel balls, each with a radius of 1 centimeter, staked in a pile with 1 ball
on top, 3 balls in the second layer, 6 in the third layer, 10 in the fourth and so on. The
number of horizontal layers in the pile is
1) 34 2) 38 3) 36 4) 32

5. There is a series of terms such that T 1 = 1, T2 = 5 + 52, T3 = 53 + 54 + 55 and so on. Find

T10.

1) 2) 3) 4)

177
CATapult
MODERN MATH

PRACTICE EXERCISE - 1
DIRECTIONS for questions 1 to 4: Choose the correct alternative.

1. Five numbers are in geometric progression such that their product is 1024. Find the third
number.
1) 1 2) 4 3) 16 4) 2

2. A ball dropped from a height of 24 m rebounds two-third of the distance it falls. How much
distance will it travel before coming to rest?.
1) 240 m 2) 60 m
3) 120 m 4) Cannot be determined

3. The three angles of a triangle are in GP. What type of triangle is it, if one of its interior angle
is 60°?
1) Equilateral triangle 2) Isosceles triangle
3) Scalene triangle 4) Data insufficient

4. a, b, c are in Arithmetic Progression with common difference = d. Which of the following is

certainly TRUE (select the best option):
1) At least one of a, b, c, d is divisible by 3
2) At most one of a, b, c, d is divisible by 3
3) Either all or none of a, b, c, d is divisible by 3
4) None of the above

DIRECTIONS for question 5: Solve as directed.

5. The sum of first 10 terms of an AP is equal to the sum of first 15 terms.

a) If the sum of first ‘k’ terms is 0, find the value of ‘k’.
b) If the 25th term is 10, find the first term and the common difference of the A.P.

DIRECTIONS for questions 6 to 15: Choose the correct alternative.

6. Find the sum to infinity of a decreasing GP with the common ratio x such that |x| < 1; x ¹
0. The ratio of the fourth term to the second term is and the ratio of third term to the
square of the second term is .
1) 6 2) 12 3) 18 4) None of these

7. A series has terms of the form ab where a is the base and b is the exponent. The bases in
the series increase as a GP, while the exponent increase as an AP. Another series is con-
structed from this series as follows.
If T1, T2, T3, ..... Tr, .... are the terms of the given series.

The new series is , ..... , ..... etc.

Thus, the new series will be a:

1) AP 2) GP 3) HP 4) None of these

178
 Chapter QA
SEQUENCES & SERIES 2.7

8. For a generalized fibonacci sequence, which of the following statement/s is/are true? Fibonacci

THEORY
sequence is 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, .....

I. / = an+2 – a2

PRACTICE EXERCISE CLASS EXERCISE

II. an2 = (an–1 × an+1) + a2
(where an is the nth term of the fibonacci sequence)
1) Only I 2) Only II 3) Both I and II 4) None of these

9. The sum of the reciprocal of the product of first three natural numbers, the reciprocal of the
product of three consecutive natural numbers starting with 2, the reciprocal of the product
of next three consecutive natural numbers starting with 3 and so on till the reciprocal of the
product of (n – 2)th, (n – 1)th and nth natural numbers will be:

1) 2) 3) 4)

10. A sequence, {an}, is defined recursively as a1 = 2; an+1 = an + 2n (n > 1). Find a 100.
1) 9900 2) 9902 3) 9904 4) 9906

11. Sum of the series: 1 + 2 + + + + + + ..... is:

1) 8 2) 10 3) 9 4) ¥

12. If the product of z positive real numbers is unity, then their sum is necessarily:

1) a multiple of z 2) equal to z +
3) never less than z 4) a positive integer

13. Consider three numbers in GP such that the middle number is 36. If A = Sum of the three
numbers and B = Sum of the products of two numbers taken at a time, then find the relation
between A and B.
1) B = 36 2A 2) B = 6A 3) B = 36A 4) A = 36B

14. A body dropped from an airplane falls 10 meters in the first second of its motion, 15 meters
in the second, 20 meters in the third, 25 meters in the fourth and so on. Find the distance
travelled by the body if it hits the earth in 120 seconds.
1) 73.8 km 2) 40 km 3) 36.9 km 4) 1428 km

15. The price of an X-ray machine is Rs.3,00,000. If the machine is bought in monthly install-
ments in a period of 3 years with Rs.500 as the first installment and increasing the value of
the installment by Rs.500 every succeeding month, find the extra amount paid by the buyer
in the installment scheme.
1) Rs.3000 2) Rs.3300 3) Rs.30000 4) Rs.33000

179
CATapult
MODERN MATH

DIRECTIONS for questions 16 and 17: Solve as directed.

16. The sum of n terms of a sequence is 4n2 + 7n. What is the sum of the 6 th, 7th and 8th terms
of the sequence?

17. The kth term of an AP is given by formula Tk = 2016 – 23k. Find the smallest value of n for
which Sn, the sum of first n terms, is negative.

DIRECTIONS for questions 18 to 20: Choose the correct alternative.

18. The fourth term of an arithmetic progression is 8. What is the sum of the first 7 terms of
the arithmetic progression?
1) 7 2) 64 3) 56 4) Indeterminate

(Past CAT question)

19. If are in A.P., which of the following terms are also in A.P.?

1) x, y, z 2) x 2, y², z² 3) 4) None of these

(Past CAT question)

20. What is the sum of the following series:

+ + + .... + ?

1) 2) 3) 4)

(Past CAT question)

180
 Chapter QA
SEQUENCES & SERIES 2.7

PRACTICE EXERCISE - 2
DIRECTIONS for questions 1 to 3: Solve as directed.
1. Find the sum 12 + 32 + 52 + … + 99 2.

2. If the sum of three distinct natural numbers in Geometric Progression (having common ratio
r, where r is a natural number) is 57, what will be the sum of their squares?

3. The sum of the first ‘n’ terms of an arithmetic progression is given by the expression 2n2 –
15n. What is the sum of the 2 nd term, 4th term, 6th term … 18th term and the 20th term?

DIRECTIONS for questions 4 to 18: Choose the correct alternative.

4. The three interior angles of a quadrilateral are in AP, such that the difference between the
largest and the second largest angle is equal to the smallest angle considering the same three
angles. Also the fourth angle is equal to one of the three angles that are in AP. At least one
of the angles of the quadrilateral is 90o. The least angle of the quadrilateral can be:
1) 40o 2) 45o 3) 51.3o 4) Data insufficient

5. A ball dropped from a certain height bounces its original height every time it hits the
ground. What is the ratio of the total distance travelled by the ball in the downward direction
(towards the ground) to the total distance travelled by the ball in the upward direction (away
from the ground) from the moment it is dropped till it comes to a complete halt? Assume
that the ball bounces at the same point on the ground each time.
1) 7 : 6 2) 13 : 7 3) 7 : 1 4) Data insufficient
6. Three integers a, b, c are such that 2a + 3b – 4c, b + 2c – 3a and 2a + 2c – b are in
arithmetic progression. The integers a + b, b + c, a + c are also in arithmetic progression.
Then a, b, c are in the ratio
1) 3 : 2 : 4 2) 2 : 3 : 1 3) 3 : 1 : 5 4) Cannot be determined
7. What is the sum of the series given below?

+ + + + .... upto ¥.

1) ¥ 2) 2 3) 4 4) 1

8. If f(x) = / for non-zero x, then the minimum value f(x) can attain is:
–
n
1) 2 2) 2(n + 1) 3) 2n + 1 4) 2 n + 1

9. T = {Tn |Tn = / e } and

Ai = {Ti–1 + k + 1 | 0 < k < i -1} for i Î N and Ti-1 Î T and where N and W are sets of natural
numbers and whole numbers, respectively. Which of the following represents the sum of the
elements of set An?
1) 2Tn–1 + Tn 2) nTn–1 + Tn 3) (Tn–1 + Tn) 4) Cannot be determined

1
10. If x = + + + .... + , what can be said about x ?
11

1) < x < 2) x > 3) < x < 1 4) Cannot be determined

181
CATapult
MODERN MATH

11. Find the value of .

1) 2) 3) 4)

12. The lowest platelet count in human blood is 50,000. The leukemia reduces the platelet count
in the blood and a radiation dose is given to a patient whose platelet count is less than
10000. For a patient suffering from leukemia ALL L1 type the following platelet count was
recorded every fortnight over a cycle of 2 months 51000, 44500, 38250, 32125 ..... And the
trend is continued in the same manner. When will the radiation dose be given to the patient?
1) 3rd month 2) After 3 and a half months
3) End of 4th month 4) 4 and a half months

13. Find the value of ‘x’ if

x = + + + + + ... +

1) 2) 3) 4)

14. The ratio of the 9th and the 12th terms of an AP is 20:27. What will be the ratio of the 3 rd
and the 6th terms of the same AP?
1) 6 : 13 2) 25 : 39 3) 25 : 46 4) 9 : 23

15. Consider all APs that can be formed using natural numbers up to 100 such that the first term
of the AP is 1 and the last term is 100. Which of the following cannot be the total number
of terms in that AP?
1) 4 2) 10 3) 11 4) 34

16. Each term ak of the sequence a 1, a2, …, a50 is defined as k less than the sum of the other 49
terms of the sequence. Find the value of S 50, the sum of all the 50 terms of the sequence.

1) 2) 3) 1275 4)

17. What is the approximate sum up to 10 terms of the following series?

+ + + ...
1) 546 2) 551 3) 601 4) 646

18. If ‘p’ times the (p – 1) th term of an AP is equal to ‘q’ times the (q – 1) th term of the AP,
what will be the (p + q – 1) th term of the AP?
1) 0 2) 1 3) 2 4) Data insufficient

DIRECTIONS for questions 19 and 20: Solve as directed.

19. Kulbushan takes every 3rd number counting from 1001 up to 4000 (1003, 1006, 1009, …,
3997, 4000) and writes them down in sequence. What will be the 251st digit in this sequence?

20. Evaluate the following expression:

(Past CAT question)

182