Institute of Actuaries of India

ACET December 2021 Solutions

Mathematics
1. D. Let 𝑦 = sin−1 𝑥 2 so that sin 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 and therefore 𝑥 2 ≤ 1 ⇒ |𝑥| ≤ 1.

1 1 1 1 2 3 1 2 3
2. B. Let 𝑃 = 32 . 94 . 278 … ∞ = 32 . 34 . 38 … ∞ = 32+4+8+⋯∞ = 3𝑆 (say),
1 2 3 1 1 2
where 𝑆 = 2 + 4 + 8 + ⋯ ∞ ⇒ 2 𝑆 = 4 + 8 + ⋯ ∞.
1 1 1 1 1 1/2
Thus 𝑆 − 2 𝑆 = 2 𝑆 = 2 + 4 + 8 + ⋯ ∞ = 1−1/2 = 1 ⇒ 𝑆 = 2.
Hence the required value 𝑃 = 32 = 9.

3. A. 𝑎𝑑𝑗(3𝐴) = 34−1 𝑎𝑑𝑗 𝐴 = 27𝑎𝑑𝑗 𝐴, as order of 𝐴 is 4.

4. C. Both 1-1 and onto, since ℎ(2𝑚) = 2𝑚 − 1 and ℎ(2𝑚 − 1) = 2𝑚, i.e., consecutive
odd and even numbers are interchanged.
1
2 2
′ (𝑥) 1
5. A. 𝑓 =− 1 (1 − 𝑥 ) → ∞, as 𝑥 → 0. Thus 𝑓′(0) does not exist.
3
𝑥3
But 𝑓(0) = 1 > 𝑓(𝑥), ∀ 𝑥 in the neighbourhood of 𝑥 = 0.
Thus, 𝑓(𝑥) has a maximum at 𝑥 = 0.

6. D. The given equation reduces to 𝑟 sin(𝜃 + 𝜑) = 𝑐, where 3 = 𝑟 cos 𝜑 , 4 = 𝑟 sin 𝜑,

so that 𝑟 = 5.
𝑐 𝑐
Hence the equation takes the form sin(𝜃 + 𝜑) = 5, it is solvable only when |5| ≤ 1,
i.e., −5 ≤ 𝑐 ≤ 5.

7. B. 7103 = 7. (72 )51 = 7. (50 − 1)51 = 7. (5051 − 𝐶151 5050 + 𝐶251 5049 − ⋯ − 1) =
7. (25𝑘 − 1) = 25. (7𝑘 − 1) + 18, where 𝑘 is an integer.

8. A. By solving the first two equations one gets 𝑥 = 2, 𝑦 = −1, which satisfies the third
equation too. Therefore, this is the unique solution.

5 2 log 𝑥 5 log 𝑥 5 log(8−𝑥)

9. D. 𝜇 = ∫3 𝑑𝑥 = ∫3 𝑑𝑥 = ∫3 𝑑𝑥 = 𝜇.
2 log 𝑥+log(8−𝑥)2 log 𝑥+log(8−𝑥) log(8−𝑥)+log 𝑥
5
Hence 2𝜇 = ∫3 𝑑𝑥 = 2, i.e., 𝜇 = 1.

10. D. If the coefficient matrix is non-singular, then it is invertible and therefore the only
solution is 𝑥 = 𝑦 = 𝑧 = 0.
For there to be more than one solution, the coefficient matrix has to be singular (i.e.,
has to have determinant equal to 0), which happens only when 𝑎 = 4.

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 7 2 7 2
11. B. The required equation in Cartesian form is (𝑥 + 2) + 𝑦 2 = (2) .
7 2 49
The corresponding polar form becomes (𝑟 cos 𝜃 + 2) + (𝑟 sin 𝜃)2 = 4 , which
reduces to 𝑟 = −7 cos 𝜃.
The range may be ascertained by ensuring that the graph of the circle should lie
only on the second and third quadrants.
The correct range ensures that 𝑟 is always positive.

12. D. Here 𝑥 2 = 𝑡 − 3 and 𝑦 2 = 4 − 𝑡, so that 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 1, representing the equation of

a circle.
1 1
𝑒 𝑥 −1 0−1 𝑒 𝑥 −1
13. D. lim 1 = 0+1 = −1, but lim 1 = 1. Hence the limit does not exist.
𝑥→0− 𝑒 𝑥 +1 𝑥→0+ 𝑒 𝑥 +1

14. A. At 𝑥 = 0 log|𝑥| is not defined. Therefore, 𝑓(𝑥) is undefined, and hence

discontinuous at that point.
At 𝑥 = −1, 1, log|𝑥| = 0 and therefore 𝑓(𝑥) is undefined and discontinuous.
For all other values of 𝑥 the function log|𝑥| has a non-zero value and is continuous.
Therefore its inverse is also continuous at those points.
Thus the number of points of discontinuities is 3.

15. D. The range of cosec −1 𝜃 is [− 𝜋 , 𝜋] − {0}.

2 2

16. C. Since the function 𝑓(𝑦) = 𝑒 𝑦 − 𝑒 −𝑦 for −1 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 1 has the derivative

𝑓′(𝑦) = 𝑒 𝑦 + 𝑒 −𝑦 > 0, it is an increasing function, with maximum at 𝑦 = 1
1
and the maximum value of the function is 𝑓(1) = 𝑒 − = 2.72 − 0.37 < 2.5.
𝑒
Therefore, the left hand side 𝑒 sin 𝑥 − 𝑒 − sin 𝑥 of the given equation can never attain
the value 2.5 on the right hand side.

17. B.

18. A. Since 𝑥 2 − 1 is an even function, the given integral simplifies as

3 3 1 3
∫ |𝑥 2 − 1|𝑑𝑥 = 2 ∫ |𝑥 2 − 1|𝑑𝑥 = 2 ∫ (1 − 𝑥 2 )𝑑𝑥 + 2 ∫ (𝑥 2 − 1)𝑑𝑥
−3 0 0 1
2 2 2 2 44
= 2 − + (27 − 1) − 2(3 − 1) = 2 − + 18 − − 4 = .
3 3 3 3 3

19. B. Note that ∆4 𝑦0 = (𝐸 − 1)4 𝑦0 = 0, i.e., 𝑦4 − 4𝑦3 + 6𝑦2 − 4𝑦1 + 𝑦0 = 0.

Hence, 81 − 4𝑦3 + 54 − 12 + 1 = 0.
It follows that 𝑦3 = 31.

⃗⃗ on the plane of the unit vectors 𝑖⃗ and 𝑗⃗ is 𝑖⃗ + 𝑗⃗.

20. C. The projection of 𝑖⃗ + 𝑗⃗ + 𝑘
Therefore the cosine of the angle between these two vectors is the dot product
2
between the corresponding unit vectors, which is = √2/3.
√2×3

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 Statistics
21. D. Since the arithmetic mean of the four consecutive integers starting with 𝑥 is 𝑦, we
have 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 6/4.
Therefore, the arithmetic mean of the eight consecutive integers starting with 𝑥 + 2
is (𝑥 + 2) + 28/8 = 𝑥 + 11/2 = 𝑥 + 3/2 + 4 = 𝑦 + 4.

22. C. Among the three medians in the three groups, the largest could be 13.
The next largest median could be 10, provided two smaller integers are put in the
first group (along with 13, 14 and 15).
Likewise, the largest median of the third group is 7, which may be achieved by
putting two smaller numbers in the second group (along with 10, 11 and 12).
Thus, the largest possible average is 10.
One of the possible choices of the three groups that achieves the three largest
medians is as follows.
1 2 13 14 15
3 4 10 11 12
56789

23. B. Given all the conditions the only way to arrange the revenues of the five companies
is
100 300 600 1000 1000
Hence the difference between the highest and the lowest of the revenues among the
five companies is 1000 − 100 = 900.

24. A. Standard deviation is the square root of the difference between the mean of squares
of the numbers and the square of mean of the numbers.
Therefore 𝑆𝐷 = √232/4 − (28/4)2 = √58 − 49 = 3.

25. A. 𝜆 = 1/60. The probability of not completing within 90 minutes is

exp(− 𝜆 × 90) = exp(− 3/2).

26. D. Here 𝜆 = 5/60 and 𝑡 = 3. Therefore, 𝑃(0) = exp(− 𝜆 × 3) = exp(− 1/4).

27. C. The number of errors in eight pages is the sum of eight iid Poisson random
variables, which has the Poisson distribution.
Mean number of errors in 8 pages is 8 × 0.2 = 1.6 with SD √1.6.
So, CV is 1/√1.6.

28. B. Probability of a perfect recording is 0.8.

Number of perfect recordings out of 10 has a Binomial distribution
with 𝑝 = 0.8 and 1 − 𝑝 = 0.2,
so that the probability of at least one perfect recording is
1 − 𝑃(No perfect recording) = 1 − 0.210 .

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29. C. If 𝑥 is the 87th percentile, 𝑃[𝑍 ≤ (𝑥 − 65)/15] = 0.87 = 1 − 0.13, that is,
(𝑥 − 65)/15 = 1.13, or 𝑥 = 65 + 15 × 1.13 = 82 (Approximately).

30. D. 𝑃(𝑍 < 2.58) = 0.995 = 𝑃(𝑍 > −2.58).

𝑃(𝑋 > 100) = 0.995.
(𝑍>(100− mean)/1) = 0.995.
Mean = 100 + 2.58 = 102.58.

31. B. 𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑟 (𝑋, 𝑌) = 1/4.

𝐶𝑜𝑣(𝑋, 𝑌) = 𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑟(𝑋, 𝑌) × √𝑉𝑎𝑟 𝑋√𝑉𝑎𝑟𝑌 = 3/4.
𝐶𝑜𝑣( 𝑌, 𝑋 + 𝑌) = 𝐶𝑜𝑣( 𝑋, 𝑌) + 𝑉𝑎𝑟(𝑌) = 3/4 + 9 = 39/4.

32. D. 𝐸(𝑋) = 4/2 = 2.

3
𝐸(𝑌) = 𝐸[𝐸(𝑌|𝑋)] = 𝐸[1/𝑋] = ∫1 (1/𝑥)(1/2) 𝑑𝑥 = (1/2) log 3.
𝐸(𝑋𝑌) = 𝐸[𝐸(𝑋𝑌|𝑋)] = 𝐸[𝑋𝐸(𝑌|𝑋)] = 𝐸[𝑋/𝑋] = 1.
𝐶𝑜𝑣(𝑋, 𝑌) = 𝐸(𝑋𝑌) − 𝐸(𝑌)𝐸(𝑋) = 1 − 2(1/2) log 3. = 1 − log 3.

33. C. 𝐶𝑜𝑣(𝑋, 𝑌) = 𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑟(𝑋, 𝑌) × 𝑆𝐷(𝑋) × 𝑆𝐷(𝑌) = 7.5.

𝑉𝑎𝑟(𝑋 + 𝑌) = 𝑉𝑎𝑟(𝑋) + 𝑉𝑎𝑟(𝑌) + 2𝐶𝑜𝑣(𝑋, 𝑌) = 25 + 9 + 15 = 49.
𝑆𝐷(𝑋 + 𝑌) = √𝑉𝑎𝑟(𝑋 + 𝑌) = √49 = 7.

34. D. If the regression line of 𝑋 on 𝑌 is 4𝑋 = 5𝑌 − 33, and that of 𝑌 on 𝑋 is 9𝑌 =

20𝑋 − 107, then 𝑏𝑥𝑦 = 5/4 and 𝑏𝑦𝑥 = 20/9, so that the correlation coefficient 𝑟
satisfies 𝑟 2 = 𝑏𝑥𝑦 𝑏𝑦𝑥 = 100/36 > 1, which is not possible.
If the regression line of 𝑌 on 𝑋 is 5𝑌 = 4𝑋 + 33 and that of 𝑋 on 𝑌 is 20𝑋 = 9𝑌 +
107, then 𝑏𝑦𝑥 = 4/5 and 𝑏𝑥𝑦 = 9/20, so that 𝑟 2 = 𝑏𝑥𝑦 𝑏𝑦𝑥 = 36/100.
Since the regression coefficients are positive, 𝑟 > 0. So 𝑟 = 6/10 = 3/5.

35. C. Since (𝐸𝑋, 𝐸𝑌) is the point of intersection of the two regression lines,
solving the two equations we get 𝐸𝑋 = 13/14 and 𝐸𝑌 = −33/14.

36. A. The regression of 𝑃 on 𝑆 is

𝑃 − 𝐸(𝑃) = 𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑟(𝑃, 𝑆)[𝑆𝐷(𝑃)/𝑆𝐷(𝑆)](𝑆 − 𝐸(𝑆)), i.e.,
𝑃 − 50 = 0.5[4/2](𝑆 − 60), which simplifies to 𝑃 = S − 10.

37. C. Let 𝑛 (> 0) be the number of sides.

𝑛
Then the number of diagonals is ( ) − 𝑛 = 170.
2
Therefore, 𝑛2 − 3𝑛 − 340 = 0, i.e., 𝑛 = 20.

38. A. Let the three particular objects be considered as a single entity. This group has to
occur in every permutation of 5 objects out of 10.

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 There are 7𝑃2 ways that the other 2 objects can be permuted from the remaining set
of 7 to choose from.
The group of 3 can be put between 2 selected objects in 3 ways.
The group itself can be permuted among themselves in 3! ways.
Thus, the required number is 7𝑃2 × 3 × 3! = 42 × 3 × 6 = 756.

39. D. The concerned set is equivalent to (𝐵 − 𝐴) ∩ (𝐴 ∩ 𝐵) = 𝜙.

40. A. 𝑋 ∩ 𝑍, 𝑌 ∩ 𝑍 and 𝑋 ∩ 𝑌 ∩ 𝑍 are subsets of, 𝑍 so that

𝑃(𝑋 ∩ 𝑍) ≤ 𝑃(𝑍) = 0, 𝑃(𝑌 ∩ 𝑍) ≤ 𝑃(𝑍) = 0, 𝑃( 𝑋 ∩ 𝑌 ∩ 𝑍) ≤ 𝑃(𝑍) = 0.
Therefore, 𝑃(𝑋 ∩ 𝑍) = 0 = 𝑃(𝑋)𝑃(𝑍), 𝑃(𝑌 ∩ 𝑍) = 0 = 𝑃(𝑌)𝑃(𝑍),
𝑃( 𝑋 ∩ 𝑌 ∩ 𝑍) = 0 = 𝑃(𝑋)𝑃(𝑌)𝑃(𝑍). Hence 𝑋, 𝑌, 𝑍 are independent.

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 Data Interpretation

41. C. The following is the contribution from unit 𝑋 in each year.

Year 𝑋
2016 150/(150 + 188 + 173 + 139) = 23.08%
2017 241/(241 + 138 + 207 + 309) = 26.93%
2018 205/(205 + 290 + 296 + 236) = 19.96%
2019 275/(275 + 130 + 365 + 127) = 30.66%
2020 140/(140 + 99 + 232 + 158) = 22.26%

42. D. 𝑋 never had the maximum production level;

𝑍 never had the minimum production level.

43. B. The table below shows the average of sales in two cities against each model variant.
Model 2 has the same average across the two cities.
Model 1 160 179
Model 2 177 177
Model 3 178 165
Model 4 170 165
Model 5 182 176
Model 6 165 184
Model 7 166 192

44. A. The table below shows, against each model variant, the excess in number of units
sold (taking together all brands) in Jaipur over that in Ahmedabad. Model 1 has the
largest excess.

Ahmedabad Jaipur Excess of Jaipur over Ahmedabad

Model 1 641 714 73
Model 2 707 707 0
Model 3 713 659 −54
Model 4 679 660 −19
Model 5 729 703 −26
Model 6 660 734 74
Model 7 664 766 102

45. D. Cost of one gram of vitamin 1 in 2017-18

Apple: 0.140/0.04% = 350 rupees; Guava: 0.160/0.03% = 533 rupees;
Mango: 0.135/0.025% = 540 rupees; Grapes: 0.150/0.025% = 600 rupees.

46. A. Cost of one gram of vitamin 2 in 2017-18

Apple: 0.140/0.025% = 560 rupees; Guava: 0.160/0.03% = 533 rupees;
Mango: 0.135/0.025% = 540 rupees; Grapes: 0.150/0.045% = 333 rupees.
The ratio of largest to smallest is 560/333 = 1.68.

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47. C. The table below gives the price of 0.25 gram of Vitamin 1 in each fruit in 2019-20.
Apple (0.150/0.04%)/4 = 375/4 = 94 rupees
Guava (0.155/0.03%)/4 = 517/4 = 129 rupees
Mango (0.130/0.025%)/4 = 520/4 = 130 rupees
Grapes (0.150/0.025%)/4 = 600/4 = 150 rupees
Total 503 rupees

48. A. If 1 kg of apple, 2 kg of guava, 3 kg of mango and 4 kg of grapes are mixed,

then, out of the total weight of 10000 grams,
weight of Vitamin 1 and 2 in apples is 0.4 + 0.25 = 0.65 grams;
weight of Vitamin 1 and 2 in apples is (0.3 + 0.3) × 2 = 1.2 grams;
weight of Vitamin 1 and 2 in apples is (0.25 + 0.25) × 3 = 1.5 grams;
weight of Vitamin 1 and 2 in apples is (0.25 + 0.45) × 4 = 2.8 grams.
A total of 6.15 grams or 0.0615% will be constituted by Vitamin 1 and Vitamin 2.

49. C. Company C had grown from 20 Crores in2019 to 30 Crores in 2020 with the sales
growth rate of 50% only, lowest among all the companies.
Sales Growth Rate
A 75.00%
B 150.00%
C 50.00%
D 166.67%
Others 100.00%

50. D. The current sales growth rate for Others category is 100%, leading to 10 crores
business in 2020.
If the sales growth rate becomes 200%, then the business is of 15 crores in 2020.
Therefore it is a 205 crores market instead of a 200 crores market in 2020.

51. A. Sales of other companies will become 20 crores instead of 10 crores in 2020. Hence
the ratio of sales in 2020 to 2019 is 20/5 = 4.

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 English

52. A.
53. C.
54. B.
55. A.
56. B.
57. A.
58. C.
59. D.
60. A.
61. B.
62. B.

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 Logical reasoning
63. C.

64. D. One cannot determine the last day of the next month which has 31 days because one
does not know the number of days in the present month which may be 30, 31, 28 or
29 (in a leap year).

65. B. The order is 𝑆, 𝑄, 𝑃, 𝑇, 𝑅.

66. A.

67. B.

68. B. We know that angle traced by hour hand in 12 hours is 360°

From 7 to 1, there are 6 hours.
Angle traced by the hour hand in 6 hours is 6 × (360/12) = 180°.

69. C. If the cardboard box is flattened then the shortest crawling path is the line joining
the source and destination points, which is a diagonal of a rectangle of sides 1 meter
and 2 meters. The length of the diagonal is √5 meters.

70. C. If 𝑥 is the number of students in all three activities,

then the numbers of students in the various segments are as given below.
All three: 𝑥.
Art and Trekking only: 16 − 𝑥.
Trekking and Cricket only: 14 − 𝑥.
Cricket and Art only: 9 − 𝑥.
Art only: 40 − (16 − 𝑥) − (9 − 𝑥) − 𝑥 = 15 + 𝑥.
Cricket only: 28 − (14 − 𝑥) − (9 − 𝑥) − 𝑥 = 5 + 𝑥.
Trekking only: 48 − (16 − 𝑥) − (14 − 𝑥) − 𝑥 = 18 + 𝑥.
None: 100 − (18 + 𝑥) − (5 + 𝑥) − (15 + 𝑥) − (9 − 𝑥) − (14 − 𝑥) − (16 − 𝑥) −
𝑥 = 23 − 𝑥.

CRICKET
ART

5+𝑥 9−𝑥 15 + 𝑥
𝑥
14 − 𝑥 16 − 𝑥
23 − 𝑥
18 + 𝑥
TREKKING

Since none of these numbers can be negative, 𝑥 can be at most 9.

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