JJU By Dereje Alemu(PhD)

EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENT AND EXAMINATION SERVICE

ETHIOPIAN SECONDARY SCHOOL LEAVING CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION (ESSLCE)
2023 Scholastic Aptitude Test
Booklet Code 430
Section Two: Quantitative Reasoning (Questions 36-60)

Questions

36. Suppose {a n }∞
n=1 is an arithmetic sequence and a 5 + a 8 = 41 and a 8 − a 5 = 9, then which of

the following is the sequence?

A. {4, 7, 10, 13, 16, . . .} B. {2, 5, 8, 11, 14, . . .}

C. {3, 6, 9, 12, 15, . . .} D. {1, 4, 7, 10, 13, . . .}

37. Which one of the following is the 100t h term of the geometric sequence {G n }∞
n=1 where G n ÷

G n−1 = −1 and G 3 = 5?

A. −5 B. 1

C. −1 D. 5

38. If the n t h term of an arithmetic sequence {a n }∞

n=1 is a n = 3n − 2, then which one of the fol-

lowing is the the sum of the first seven terms of the sequence?

A. 19 B. 70

C. 28 D. 72

39. Which
( µ ¶ one )of∞the following is the the sum of the first six terms of the geometric sequence
1 (n−1)
3 ?
2
n=1
189 45
A. B.
32 8

381 93
C. D.
64 16

40. Consider the system of linear equation x − 2y = 3 and −3x + 2y = 1. Then which of the fol-
lowing is true about the system?

1
JJU By Dereje Alemu(PhD)

A. The system has infinite solutions. B. The system has no solution.

C. The system has unique solution. D. The system has two different solutions.

41. Suppose you want to select a 3−person committee from a group of 7 teachers. How many
ways are there to do this?

A. 35 B. 210

C. 120 D. 60

42. A box contains 12 pieces of paper, each of which has the name of one of the 12 students
in a class consisting of 7 male and 5 female students, all with different names. What is the
probability of a randomly selected piece of paper has a female student name?

5 5
A. B.
7 12

7 7
C. D.
5 12

43. According to a survey in an area, 25% of the trees planted did not grow in the year 2011 E.C.
and 35% of the trees planted did not grow in the year 2014 E.C.. What was the percentage
increase in the fraction of trees planted that did not grow from the year 2011 EC to the year
2014 EC?

A. 40% B. 60%

C. 30% D. 50%

44. A lake was 30 deep. Two months later, its depth decreased by 20%. If the depth of the lake
increased from where it was after two months by 15% in three months’ time, what is the
cumulative percentage change in the depth of the lake during the five months?

A. 5% B. 6%

C. 10% D. 8%

45. Which of the following is the solution set of the system of equations given by x + y = 1 and
3x − y = 7?

2
JJU By Dereje Alemu(PhD)

A. {(2, −1)} B. {(−1, 2)}

C. {(−2, 1)} D. {(2, 1)}

46. Which of the following ordered pair of numbers is not in the solution of the system of linear
inequalities x + y ≥ 1 and x − 2y ≤ 2?

A. {(2, 1)} B. {(1, 2)}

C. {(2, −1)} D. {(−1, 2)}

47. Given the system of linear inequalities ax + b y ≥ c and ax + b y ≤ c for arbitrary constants
a, b, andc ∈ R with c ̸= 0, then which one of the following is true about the solution set of the
system?

A. {(x, y) : ax + b y ≤ c} B. {(x, y) : ax + b y ≤ c}

C. {(x, y) : ax + b y ̸= c} D. {(x, y) : ax + b y = c}

48. A women spent one fifth of her salary for clothing and two fifth her salary for different bills
and 100 Birr for her transport. After covering all these costs she left with 4, 500 Birr. What
was the salary she received?

A. 12, 500 Birr B. 11, 500 Birr

C. 10, 500 Birr D. 13, 500 Birr

49. During the sunshine, an upright building 16 meters tall is casting a shadow 12 meters long.
At the same time, a nearby upright building is casting a shadow of 18 meters long. If the
lengths of the shadows are proportional to the heights of the buildings, what is the height, in
meter, of the taller building?

A. 17 B. 32

C. 24 D. 36

50. Which one of the following is true for every natural number n?

3
JJU By Dereje Alemu(PhD)

A. 6n − 1 ≤ 625 B. (n + 1)3 ≥ n 3 + 1

C. n 2 ≥ n! D. (n + 1)2 ≤ n 2 − 2n + 1

Direction: Questions 16 to 20 are based on the data given in the table below. Answer each of
the questions based on the given data.

Student enrollment in a collage

Distribution of enrollment by class and danger

Total enrollment: 4,800.

Class Male Female Total

Freshman (1st Year) 1,000 800 1,800

Sophomore (2nd Year) 750 450 1,200

Junior (3rd Year) 620 380 1,000

Senior (4th Year) 480 320 800

Total 2,850 1,950 4,800

Percent of total enrollment majoring in selected academic area

Area Percent

Social Science 30%

Natural Science 50%

Other Science 20%

51. What is the ratio of the number of male freshman social science students to the number of
female sophomore natural science students?

A. 4 to 3 B. 9 to 20

C. 3 to 4 D. 20 to 9

52. If the total enrollment is 20% more than it was five years ago, what was the total enrollment
five years ago?

4
JJU By Dereje Alemu(PhD)

A. 4, 600 B. 3, 600

C. 4, 000 D. 3, 000

53. How many students are either juniors or male or both?

A. 2, 850 B. 1, 000

C. 3, 230 D. 620

54. In which enrollment do the female students have highest percentage?

A. Junior B. Freshman

C. Senior D. Sophomore

55. What is the number of male junior social science students?

A. 620 B. 310

C. 500 D. 186

56. If your total income is 12,000 Birr per month and you can’t spend more than 60% on housing,
what is the maximum amount of your total income that can be spent on housing?

A. 5,600 Birr B. 9,000 Birr

C. 7,200 Birr D. 6,000 Birr

57. Suppose that a rectangular farming land is 80 meter. If the farm is y meter long and x meter
wide then which one of the following functions of x will model the total area of the farm in
square meter?

A. g (x) = x 2 − 40x B. f (x) = −x 2 + 40x

C. k(x) = 2x 2 + 80x D. k(x) = −2x 2 − 80x

58. Which one of the following is the coefficient of x 3 y in the expansion of the algebraic expres-
sion (x + y)4 ?

5
JJU By Dereje Alemu(PhD)

A. 6 B. 2

C. 3 D. 4

59. Which one of the following is the degree of the polynomial function f (x) = (2x +7)5 (3x −1)2 ?

A. 5 B. 6

C. 2 D. 7

60. Which one of the following is necessarily true about any real numbers x and y?

A. (x + y)2 ≤ (x − y)2 B. (x − y)2 ≤ (x + y)2

C. |x + y| = | − x − y| D. |x + y| ≥ |x − y|

6
JJU By Dereje Alemu(PhD)

Solutions

36. Let’s denote the common difference of the arithmetic sequence as d and the first term as a 1 .
Based on the given information, we have the following two equations:

a 5 + a 8 = 41

a8 − a5 = 9

Using the formula for arithmetic sequence, a n = a 1 + (n − 1) · d , we express the terms of the
sequence in terms of a 1 and d as follows:

a 5 = a 1 + 4d ,

a 8 = a 1 + 7d

Substituting these expressions into equation, a 8 − a 5 = 9 we have:

(a 1 + 7d ) − (a 1 + 4d ) = 9

Simplifying these equations, we get: 3d = 9 which gives d = 3. Substituting this value back
into the first equation, we have:

2a 1 + 11(3) = 41

2a 1 + 33 = 41

2a 1 = 8

a1 = 4

Therefore, the first term of the arithmetic sequence is a 1 = 4 and the common difference is
d = 3. Then, we can get the subsequent terms by a n = a 1 + (n − 1)d . Therefore, the sequence
is:

{4, 7, 10, 13, 16, . . .}

Therefore, the correct option is A.

Gn
37. Given G 3 = 5, and G n−1
= −1 for the geometric sequence {G n }∞
n=1 , we can find the 100th term

by first determining the common ratio r and the first term G 1 .

Since G n = G 1 × r n−1 , we have G n−1 = G 1 × r n−2 , so

Gn G 1 × r n−1 r n−1
= = = r (n−1)−(n−2) = r
G n−1 G 1 × r n−2 r n−2

7
JJU By Dereje Alemu(PhD)

Thus, r = −1 and 5 = G 1 × (−1)3−1 = G 1 × (−1)2 = G 1 .. Therefore, G 1 = 5. Now we have the

common ratio and the first term, so that:

G 100 = G 1 × r 100−1 = G 1 × r 99

= 5 × (−1)99 = 5 × (−1) = −5.

Therefore, the 100th term of the geometric sequence is −5, which corresponds to option A.

38. To find the sum of the first seven terms of the arithmetic sequence, we use the formula for
the sum of an arithmetic series:
n
Sn = [a 1 + a n ]
2
where S n is the sum of the first n terms, a 1 is the first term, and a n is the nth term.

Since the nth term of the arithmetic sequence is given by: a n = 3n −2, substituting n = 1 and
n = 7 into the formula, we get the first and seventh terms as follows:

a 1 = 3(1) − 2 = 3 − 2 = 1 and a 7 = 3(7) − 2 = 21 − 2 = 19.

Now we can use the formula for the sum of the first seven terms:

7
S 7 = [a 1 + a 7 ]
2
7 7
= [1 + 19] = (20) = 70.
2 2

Therefore, the sum of the first seven terms of the arithmetic sequence is 70, which corre-
sponds to option B.
( µ ¶ )∞
1 (n−1)
39. To find the sum of the first six terms of the geometric sequence, 3 , we use the
2
n=1
formula for the sum of a geometric series.

G 1 (1 − r n )
Sn =
1−r

where S n is the sum of the first n terms, G 1 is the first term, r is the common ratio, and n is
the number of terms. Remember, the general term of the sequence is
µ ¶(n−1)
1
Gn = 3 n = 1, 2, 3, . . .
2

Hence, its first and second terms can be calculated as follows:

µ ¶1−1 µ ¶0
1 1
G1 = 3 =3 = 3 × 1 = 3,
2 2
µ ¶2−1 µ ¶1 µ ¶
1 1 1 3
G2 = 3 =3 =3 =
2 2 2 2

8
JJU By Dereje Alemu(PhD)

3
Thus, the common ratio of the geometric sequence is given by r = 3 = 12 . Substituting the
2

values into the formula, we have:

³ ¡ ¢6 ´
3 1 − 21 1
¡ ¢
3 1 − 64
S6 = =
1 − 21 1
2
¡ 63 ¢
3 64 3 · 63 · 2
= 1
=
2
64 · 1
189
=
32

189
Therefore, the sum of the first six terms of the geometric sequence is 32 , which corresponds

to option A.

40. To determine the nature of the system of linear equations, we can solve the equations to find
the solution.

Given the system of equations:

x − 2y = 3

−3x + 2y = 1

We can add the two equations together to eliminate the y variable:

(x − 2y) + (−3x + 2y) = 3 + 1

(x − 3x) + (−2y + 2y) = 4

x = −2

Substituting the value of x back into either of the original equations, we can solve for y. Let’s
use the first equation:

−2 − 2y = 3

−2y = 3 + 2
5
−2y = 5 ⇒ y = − .
2

Therefore, the solution to the system of equations is x = −2 and y = − 52 . Since the system
gives only one solution for each variable, we say the system has a unique solution. The cor-
rect option is C.

41. To determine the number of ways to select a 3-person committee from a group of 7 teachers,
we use the concept of combinations.

9
JJU By Dereje Alemu(PhD)

The number of ways to choose k items from a set of n items is given by the binomial coeffi-
cient, denoted as nk or C (n, k). In this case, we want to select a 3-person committee from a
¡ ¢

group of 7 teachers, so we need to calculate C (7, 3).

The formula for the binomial coefficient is:

n!
C (n, k) =
k!(n − k)!

Substituting the values into the formula, we have:

7!
C (7, 3) =
3!(7 − 3)!
7! 7 × 6 × 5 × 4!
= =
3!4! 4! × 3 × 2 × 1
C (7, 3) = 35

Therefore, there are 35 ways to select a 3-person committee from a group of 7 teachers. The
correct option is A.

42. There are a total of 12 pieces of paper, each corresponding to one student in the class. Out
of these 12 students, 5 are female.

To calculate the probability of randomly selecting a piece of paper with a female student’s
name, we need to determine the number of favorable outcomes (pieces of paper with female
names) and the total number of possible outcomes (total number of pieces of paper).

The number of favorable outcomes is 5, as there are 5 pieces of paper with female names.

The total number of possible outcomes is 12, as there are 12 pieces of paper in total.

Therefore, the probability of randomly selecting a piece of paper with a female student name
is given by:

Number of favorable outcomes 5

P (Female name) = =
Total number of possible outcomes 12
5
Thus, the correct option is B. 12
.

43. To calculate the percentage increase in the fraction of trees planted that did not grow from
the year 2011 E.C. to the year 2014 E.C., we need to compare the fractions of trees that did
not grow in each year.

Let’s assume that the total number of trees planted is 100 for simplicity.

In the year 2011 E.C., 25% of the trees did not grow. This means that 25 trees did not grow.

10
JJU By Dereje Alemu(PhD)

In the year 2014 E.C., 35% of the trees did not grow. This means that 35 trees did not grow.

To calculate the percentage increase, we can find the difference between the number of trees
that did not grow in the two years and express it as a percentage of the number of trees that
did not grow in the year 2011 E.C.

The increase in the fraction of trees that did not grow from 2011 E.C. to 2014 E.C. is given by:
µ ¶
Number of trees that did not grow in 2014 E.C.
Increase = − 1 × 100%
Number of trees that did not grow in 2011 E.C.

Substituting the values, we have:

µ ¶
35
Increase = − 1 × 100%
25
µ ¶
7
Increase = − 1 × 100%
5
µ ¶
7−5
Increase = × 100%
5
µ ¶
2
Increase = × 100%
5
Increase = 40%

Therefore, the percentage increase in the fraction of trees planted that did not grow from the
year 2011 E.C. to the year 2014 E.C. is 40%. The correct option is A.

44. Initially, the depth of the lake was 30 units. After two months, the depth of the lake decreased
by 20%. Therefore, the new depth of the lake is 30 − (20% × 30) = 30 − 6 = 24 units.

In the next three months, the depth of the lake increased by 15%. Therefore, the new depth
of the lake is 24 + (15% × 24) = 24 + 3.6 = 27.6 units.

To find the cumulative percentage change in the depth of the lake, we calculate the differ-
ence between the final depth and the initial depth, and express it as a percentage of the
initial depth.

The cumulative percentage change is given by:

µ ¶
Final depth − Initial depth
Cumulative percentage change = × 100%
Initial depth

Substituting the values, we have:

µ ¶
30 − 27.6
Cumulative percentage change = × 100%
30

11
JJU By Dereje Alemu(PhD)

¶ µ
2.4
Cumulative percentage change = × 100%
30
Cumulative percentage change = 8%

Therefore, the cumulative percentage change in the depth of the lake during the five months
is 8%, which corresponds to option D..

45. Given the system of equations:

x+y =1

3x − y = 7

We can solve it by using the method of substitution or elimination. Here, we’ll use the
method of elimination as the coefficients for y in both equations are equal and opposite.
So, to eliminate the y variable, add the two equations together:

(x + y) + (3x − y) = 1 + 7

(x + 3x) + (y − y) = 8

4x = 8

x =2

Substituting the value of x back into the first equation, to solve for y:

2+ y = 1 ⇒ y = −1.

Therefore, the solution to the system of equations is x = 2 and y = −1. This corresponds to
the option A. {(2, −1)}.

46. To determine which ordered pair of numbers is not in the solution of the given system of lin-
ear inequalities, we need to test each option by substituting the values into the inequalities
and checking if the inequalities hold true.

The system of inequalities is:

x+y ≥1

x − 2y ≤ 2

Let’s test each option: A. {(2, 1)}: Substituting x = 2 and y = 1 into the given system, we have:
2 + 1 ≥ 1 which is True, and 2 − 2(1) = 0 ≤ 2 again True.

Again for option B. {(1, 2)}: substituting x = 1 and y = 2 into the given system, we obtain
1 + 2 ≥ 1 True, and 1 − 2(2) = −3 ≤ 2 True.

12
JJU By Dereje Alemu(PhD)

For choice C. {(2, −1)}: substituting x = 2 and y = −1 into the given system, 2 + (−1) ≥ 1 True,
and 2 − 2(−1) = 4 ≤ 2 which is False.

D. {(−1, 2)}: substituting x = −1 and y = 2 into the given system: −1 + 2 ≥ 1 −1 − 2(2) = −5 ≤ 2

giving True statements.

For option C, the second inequality does not hold true. Therefore, the ordered pair {(2, −1)}
is not in the solution of the system of linear inequalities. The correct answer is option C.

47. The solution set of the given system of linear inequalities ax + b y ≥ c and ax + b y ≤ c for
arbitrary constants a, b (with a and b not both equal to zero) and c ̸= 0 is the common line
ax + b y = c.

The common line ax + b y = c represents the set of all points (x, y) that satisfy both inequal-
ities simultaneously. Since the coefficients of x and y are the same in both inequalities, the
solution set is the line defined by ax + b y = c.

Therefore, the correct answer is option D. {(x, y) : ax +b y = c}. This corresponds to option D.

48. Let’s denote the woman’s salary as x Birr.

According to the information given:

• She spent one-fifth of her salary for clothing, which is 15 x Birr.

• She spent two-fifths of her salary for different bills, which is 25 x Birr.

• She spent 100 Birr for her transport.

After covering all these costs, she was left with 4,500 Birr. So, we can set up the equation:
µ ¶
1 2
x − x + x + 100 = 4, 500
5 5

Simplifying the equation:

µ ¶
3
x − x + 100 = 4, 500
5
3
x − x − 100 = 4, 500
5
2
x = 4, 600
5
5
x = × 4, 600
2
x = 11, 500

Therefore, the woman’s salary was 11,500 Birr. The correct answer is option B. 11, 500 Birr.

13
JJU By Dereje Alemu(PhD)

49. Let’s set up a proportion to solve the problem.

The proportion between the lengths of the shadows and the heights of the buildings can be
expressed as:

Height of the taller building Height of the shorter building

=
Length of its shadow Length of its shadow

Let’s substitute the given values:

Height of the taller building 16

=
18 12

Now we can cross-multiply and solve for the height of the taller building:

12 × Height of the taller building = 18 × 16, 12 × Height of the taller building = 288, dividing
both sides by 12 gives Height of the taller building = 288
12 = 24.

Therefore, the height of the taller building is 24 meters. The correct answer is option C. 24.

50. Such statements defined on natural numbers, if they are true, can be proved using the prin-
ciple of mathematical induction (PMI). However, if not true, we can use some algebraic ma-
nipulations to disprove or can be disproved using counter example.

A. 6n − 1 ≤ 625: This option states that 6n − 1 is less than or equal to 625 for all n ≥ 1. If we
add 1 on both sides, we get 6n ≤ 626,

61 = 6 ≤ 626 is true for n = 1,

62 = 36 ≤ 626 is true for n = 2,

63 = 216 ≤ 626 is true for n = 3,

64 = 1296 ≤ 626 is false for n = 4.

but starting from n = 4, the inequality does not work where n = 4 is a counter example that
shows the statement is false.

B. (n + 1)3 ≥ n 3 + 1: This option states that (n + 1)3 is greater than or equal to n 3 + 1 for all
natural numbers. Expanding both sides of the inequality, we have n 3 + 3n 2 + 3n + 1 ≥ n 3 + 1.
Simplifying, we get 3n 2 +3n ≥ 0, which is true for every natural number n. Therefore, option
B is true for every natural number n.

14
JJU By Dereje Alemu(PhD)

C. n 2 ≥ n!: This option states that the square of any natural number is greater than or equal
to its factorial. This inequality is not true for every natural number n. For example, if n = 5,
52 = 25 ≥ 5! = 120.

D. (n + 1)2 ≤ n 2 − 2n + 1: This option states that (n + 1)2 is less than or equal to n 2 − 2n + 1.

Expanding both sides of the inequality, we have n 2 + 2n + 1 ≤ n 2 − 2n + 1. Simplifying, we get
4n ≤ 0, which is false for all natural numbers n.

Thus, the correct answer is option B.

51. The ratio of the number of male freshman social science students to the number of female
sophomore natural science students:

To find this ratio, we need to determine the number of male freshman social science students
and the number of female sophomore natural science students.

From the table, we see that the number of male freshman social science students is 30%
of the total number of male freshmen. Similarly, the number of female sophomore natural
science students is 50% of the total number of female sophomores.

Number of male freshman social science students = 30%o f 1, 000 = 0.3 × 1, 000 = 300. and
number of female sophomore natural science students = 50%o f 450 = 0.5 × 450 = 225.

Now we can calculate the ratio:

Number of male freshman social science students

Ratio =
Number of female sophomore natural science students
300
=
225

Simplifying the ratio by dividing both sides by 75, we get: Ratio = 4 : 3. The correct answer is
option A. 4 to 3.

52. If the total enrollment is 20% more than it was five years ago, what was the total enrollment
five years ago?

Let’s denote the total enrollment five years ago as x. So, based on the given information, the
current total enrollment is 20% more than it was five years ago:

x + 0.2x = 4, 800

Simplifying the equation: 1.2x = 4, 800

Dividing both sides by 1.2, we have: x = 4,800

1.2
= 4, 000.

15
JJU By Dereje Alemu(PhD)

Therefore, the total enrollment five years ago was 4,000. The correct answer is option C.
4, 000.

53. How many students are either juniors or male or both?

To find the number of students who are either juniors or male or both, we need to add the
number of junior students and the number of male students and then subtract the number
of students who are both juniors and male to avoid double counting.

From the table, we see that the number of junior students is 1,000 and the number of male
students is 2,850.

To find the number of students who are both juniors and male, we look at the intersection of
the "Junior" row and the "Male" column in the table, which is 620.

Number of students who are either juniors or male or both = Number of junior students +
Number of male students - Number of students who are both juniors and male Number of
students who are either juniors or male or both = 1,000 + 2,850 - 620 = 3,230

Therefore, there are 3,230 students who are either juniors or male or both. The correct an-
swer is option C. 3, 230.

54. In which enrollment do the female students have the highest percentage?

To determine the enrollment where female students have the highest percentage, we need
to compare the percentage of female students in each enrollment category.

From the table, we can calculate the percentage of female students in each category: For
Freshman: Percentage of female students = (800 / 1,800) * 100 = 44.44% For Sophomore:
Percentage of female students = (450 / 1,200) * 100 = 37.5% For Junior: Percentage of female
students = (380 / 1,000) * 100 = 38% For Senior: Percentage of female students = (320 / 800) *
100 = 40%

From the calculations, we can see that the highest percentage of female students is in the
Freshman enrollment category. The correct answer is option B. Freshman.

55. What is the number of male junior social science students?

From the table, we see that the number of male junior students is 620 and the percentage
majoring in social science is 30%. To find the number of male junior social science students,
we need to calculate 30% of the number of male junior students.

Number of male junior social science students = 30% of the number of male junior students
Number of male junior social science students = (30 / 100) * 620 = 0.3 * 620

16
JJU By Dereje Alemu(PhD)

Calculating this, we find: number of male junior social science students = 186.

The correct answer is option D. 186.

56. To find the maximum amount of your total income that can be spent on housing, you need
to calculate 60% of your total income.

Maximum amount spent on housing = 60% of 12,000 Birr. Maximum amount spent on hous-
ing = (60/100) * 12,000 Birr.

Calculating this, we get: maximum amount spent on housing = 0.6 * 12,000 Birr = 7,200 Birr.
Therefore, the maximum amount of your total income that can be spent on housing is 7,200
Birr.

The correct answer is option C. 7,200 Birr.

57. To find the function that models the total area of the rectangular farm, we need to combine
the formulas for the area and perimeter of a rectangle.

In this case, the length of the farm is y meters and the width of the farm is x meters.

Area = y · x, and Perimeter = 2y + 2x

First let us express y in terms of x using the perimeter formula. Given that the perimeter of
the rectangular farm is 80 meters, we can substitute the values:

80 = 2(y + x)

Dividing both sides of the equation by 2 gives: 40 = y + x. Now we can solve this equation for
y in terms of x: y = 40 − x. Substituting this expression for y into the area formula:

Area = y · x = (40 − x) · x

Simplifying further: Area = 40x − x 2 . Therefore, the correct option is: Option B: f (x) = −x 2 +
40x.

58. To find the coefficient of x 3 y in the expansion of (x + y)4 , we can use the binomial theorem.

The binomial theorem states that the expansion of (x + y)n can be written as:
à ! à ! à ! à !
n n n 0 n n−1 1 n n−2 2 n 0 n
(x + y) = x y + x y + x y +...+ x y
0 1 2 n

In this case, we are interested in the term containing x 3 y, so we need to find the coefficient
of that term. From the expansion of (x + y)4 , we can see that the term containing x 3 y is:

17
JJU By Dereje Alemu(PhD)

¡4¢
1
x 3 y = 4x 3 y.
To calculate 41 , we use the formula for binomial coefficients: nr = n!
¡¢ ¡ ¢
r !(n−r )!
. In this case, we
¡4¢ 4!
have n = 4 and r = 1. Substituting these values into the formula, we get: 1 = 1!(4−1)!
¡4¢ 4!
Simplifying the factorials: 1
= 1!·3! , 4! = 4 · 3 · 2 · 1 = 24 (the factorial of 4), 1! = 1 (the factorial
of 1), and 3! = 3 · 2 · 1 = 6 (the factorial of 3).
¡4¢ 24
Substituting these values back into the formula: 1
= 1·6
¡4¢
Simplifying the expression: 1
= 24
6
= 4. Therefore, the coefficient of x 3 y in the expansion of
(x + y)4 is 4. The correct answer is option D.

59. To find the degree of the polynomial function f (x) = (2x +7)5 (3x −1)2 , we need to determine
the highest power of x in the expression.

Expanding the given expression, we have: f (x) = (2x + 7)5 (3x − 1)2 .

The highest power of x in this expression is obtained by multiplying the highest power of x
from each term within the parentheses.

In the first term, (2x + 7)5 , the highest power of x is x 5 .

In the second term, (3x − 1)2 , the highest power of x is x 2 .

So, the degree of the polynomial function is determined by the highest power of x, which is

x 5 · x 2 = x 5+2 = x 7 .

Therefore, the correct answer is option D.

60. A. (x + y)2 ≤ (x − y)2

Expanding both sides, we have:

x 2 + 2x y + y 2 ≤ x 2 − 2x y + y 2

Canceling out the x 2 and y 2 terms, we are left with:

2x y ≤ −2x y

This statement is not true for all real numbers x and y. For example, if x = 1 and y = 2, the
left-hand side becomes 4 while the right-hand side becomes −4, which violates the inequal-
ity.

B. (x − y)2 ≤ (x + y)2

Expanding both sides, we have:

18
JJU By Dereje Alemu(PhD)

x 2 − 2x y + y 2 ≤ x 2 + 2x y + y 2

Canceling out the x 2 and y 2 terms, we are left with:

−2x y ≤ 2x y

This statement is also not true for all real numbers x and y. Using x = 1 and y = −1), the left-
hand side becomes 2 while the right-hand side becomes −2, which violates the inequality.

C. |x + y| = | − x − y|

This statement is always true for any real numbers x and y. By applying the properties of
absolute value, we have | − x − y| = | − 1| · |x + y| = |x + y|.

D. |x + y| ≥ |x − y|

This statement is not true for all real numbers x and y. For example, if we take x = 4 and
y = −3, we get |x + y| = 1 ≥ |x − y| = 7, which is wrong. Therefore, the correct options are C.
|x + y| = | − x − y|.

19