Algebra Workshop

1. Let ( ),
n
P x n = 0, 1, 2, .. be polynomials defined by ( ) ( )
0 1
1, = = P x P x x and
( ) ( ) ( )
1 2
=
n n n
P x xP x P x for n > 2. Then ( )
1538
0 P equals.
a. 0 b. 1538 c. 1 d. -1

2. Find the number of positive integers n for which 6 is a factor of
( )
2
3 2 n n + + and n < 1991.
a. 1328 b. 1327 c. 1326 d. 1325 e. None of these


3. How many integral values of a are there such that the quadratic expression (x + a) (x + 1991) + 1
can be factored as a product (x + b) (x + c), where b and c are integers?
a. Two b. One c. None d. Zero e. None of these

4.
( )
2 2
7 14 1 0, x x q + + = q is an integer. How many integer roots can the above quadratic equation have?
a. Zero b. One c. Two d. None of these

5. a and b are two integers such that ab = 49. What can be the least value of a + b?
a. -14 b. 14 c. It would tend towards - d. None of these

6. a, b, c are all non-negative integers such that a + b + c = 100, 1000a + 300b + 50c = 10000. How
many such triplets (a, b, c) are possible?
a. None b. One c. Two d. Three

7. Let f(x + 2) + f(5x + 6) = 2x 1 for all real x. Find the value of f(1).
a. -2 b. -1 c.
5
2

d.
3
2

8. The number of common terms of the two sequences 17, 21, 25, ., 417 and 16, 21, 26, 466.
a. 21 b. 29 c. 20 d. 2

9. The following expression
2
1 1 1 1
1 1 1 .... 1 ,
4 9 16 n
| || || | | |

| | | |
\ .\ .\ . \ .
where n is a positive integer, is always larger
than.
a. 0.51 b. 0.55 c. 0.6 d. None of the above

10. The equation
1 1
3 5 34
x x
+ = has
a. no solution b. one solution c. two solutions d. more than two solutions

11. ( )
( ) 2 1
1
2
F n
F n
+
+ = for n = 1, 2, 3 and F(1) = 2. Then F(101) equals:
a. 50 b. 52 c. 54 d. None of these

12. The sum of the series
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
1 2 3 4 5 6 ... 100 + + is
a. 10100 b. -5050 c. -2525 d. None of these

13. For a real number a, we define a
+
= max {a, 0}. For example: ( ) 2 2 3 0
+
+
= = and .
Then, for two real numbers a and b, the equality ( ) ( )( )
ab a b
+
+ +
= holds if and only if
a. both a and b are positive
b. a and b have the same sign
c. a = b = 0
d. at least one of a and b is greater than or equal to 0


14. If the sum of the roots of the equation
2
' 0 mx nx p + + = is a, and the product of the roots of the
equation
2
' 0 mx n x p + + = is b, then what are the roots of the equation
2
0 mx nx p + + = ?
a.
2
a b
b.
2
a b a b +
c.
2
4
2
b b a
d.
2
4
2
a a b


15. Let P and Q be two non-zero integers such that P + Q > 0. Which of the following statements is/are
always true?
I.
1 1
P Q
< II.
3 3
P Q > III. P < Q
a. Only I b. Only I and II c. Only II and III d. Only III

16. Find the sum of the first 20 terms pf series 2 3, 4 6, 6 9, 8 12,.
a. 10710 b. 12654 c. 14880 d. 17220

17. Find the quadratic equation whose roots are half of the reciprocal of the roots of the equation
2
0. ax bx c + + =
a.
2
4 2 0 ax bx c + + = b.
2
4 2 0 cx bx a + + =
c.
2
2 0 cx bx a + + = d.
2
2 0 ax bx a + + =

18. The number of ordered pairs of integers (x, y) satisfying the equation
2 2
6 4 x x y + + = is
a. 2 b. 4 c. 6 d. 8

19. If 960 8 88 888 1000, x x x s + + s then which of the following values of x will be always true?
a. 200 < x < 250 b. 148 < x < 160 c. 168 < x < 208 d. -8.8 < x < 8


20. The number of points at which the curve
6 3
2 y x x = + cuts the x-axis is
a. 1 b. 2 c. 4 d. 6

21. All values of a for which the equation ( ) ( )
2
2 2 2 1 1 0 x a x a a + + = has roots o and | satisfying the
condition o < a < | are
a. ( ) ( ) , 0 3, b. ( ) ( ) , 3 0, c. ( ) 3, d. ( ) 3,

22. If ( )
2
5 6 f x x x = + and ( )
2
2 1, g y y y = + + for f(x) g(y) to be negative, the values of x and y must be
a. 2 < x < 3. y e R {-1} b. -3 < x < - 2, y < 1
c. 5 < x < 6, y > 1 d. -6 < x < - 5, 0 < y < 1

23.
2 2 2
, , , p qy rz q rz px r px qy = + = + = + then the value of
( ) ( ) ( )
x y z
p x q y r z
+ +
+ + +
is
a. pqr b.
pqr
xyz
c. 0 d. 1

24. The set of all x satisfying
2 2
2 2
4 9 2 8 0
x x + +
+ = consists of
a. infinitely many points
b. finitely many points from the set of all natural
c. no real solution
d. two integers

25. How many pairs of non-negative integers exist, such at the difference between their product and their
sum is 72?
a. 7 b. 5 c. 2 d. None of these

26. If the minimum value of
2
4 3 x px + is realized for x = a, where a > 0, which of the following
statements is necessarily true?
a. 8a + p < 0 b. 6a + p > 0 c. 11a + 2p >? 0 d. 15a + 2p <0

27. Aman, Balu and Chetan have some marbles with each of them. If the sum of the number of the marbles
with Aman and Balu together is 40% less than that with Balu and Chetan together, which in turn, is one-
sixth lessthan that with Chetan and Aman together, then which of the following statements is/are false?
I. Chetan had at least 57% of the total number of marbles with all of them.
II. Aman had 50% less marbles than Balu.
III. Chetan had 100% more marbles than Aman.
a. Only I b. Only II c. On;y II and III d. Only I and III

28.If
8pq
x
p q
=
+
and (x 4p) (x 4q) = 0, find the value of
4 4
.
4 4
x p x q
x p x q
+ +
+


a. 0 b. 1 c. 2 d. None of these

29. Mohan bought of total of 72 apples, bananas and oranges and paid Rs. 216. Each apple, banana and
orange costs Rs. 2, Rs. 3 and Rs. 4 respectively. Find the maximum number of oranges he could have
purchased.
a. 34 b. 35 c. 28 d. 30

30. At how many distinct points do the two curves given below intersect above the x-axis?

4 3
4 3 2
2
5 4
y x x x
y x x x x
= + +
= + + +

a. one b. two c. three d. four

31. The equations
2
0 x ax b + + = and
2
0 x cx d + + = have a common root. The other root of
2
0 x ax b + + =
is the square of the other root of
2
0 x cx d + + = , which of the following relationship holds true?
a.
2 2 2
b bd ad cd = b.
2 2 2
b bd cd ad =
c.
2 2 2 2
b b d a d a d = d.
2 2 2 2
b b d a d c d =

32. If 0 < x < y < z, then which of the following is always true?
a.
2 2
x z
z x
> b.
2
x yz
z x
< c.
2
x yz
z x
> d. Both (a) and (b)

33. Find the number of integral solutions for
( )( )
1 3 2 5 0. x x + <
a. 6 b. 4 c. 11 d. 5

34. x is an integer such that 16 81. x s s If
( )
2
3 2 9 162
9 18
x x x
y
x x
+ + +
=
+ +
,
a. + 13 < y < 63 b. 39 < y < 52 c. 0 < y < 13 d. 63 < y < 78

35. In a convex polygon, the interior angles are in A. P. with the smallest angle as 120 degrees and
common difference as 5. What is the number of sides of the polygon?
a. 16 b. 13 c. 9 d. cannot be
determined


36. If ( )
( )
9
,
9 3
=
+
x
x
F x evaluate
1 2 3 881
.......
882 882 882 882
F F F F
| | | | | | | |
+ + +
| | | |
\ . \ . \ . \ .

a. 440 b. 440.5 c. 441.5 d. CBD


37. 1 2 3 ........... 50 ??
( ( ( (
+ + + =


a. 227 b. 217 c. 127 d. 257


38. If a function is such that F(0) = 2, F(1) = 3, F(n+2) = 2F(n) F(n+1). Find F(5)
a. 15 b. 0 c. 10 d. 13

39. Let X = the set of real numbers, y = the set of rational numbers, Z = the set of integers, and W = the
set of positive numbers. Then which of the following is true?
a. ( ) Y W Z W z _ b. ( ) X Y Z is empty
c. ( ) Z W Y is non empty d. ( ) ( ) X W Y Z is empty

40. The sum of the series
( ) ( ) ( )
1 1 1
....
3 7 7 11 11 15
is + + +


a.
1
3
b.
1
6
c.
1
12
d.
1
24


41. If ( )
1
2 1 0,1, 2,..
n n
a a n

= + = and
0
1 = a then
a. 2 1
n
n
a =
b. 2 1
n
n
a = +
c.
1
2 1
n
n
a
+
=
d.
1
2 1
n
n
a
+
= +

42. The sum of the infinite series
2 3 4
1 5 9 13 17 ..........., + + a a a a where |a| < 1 is
a.
( )
( )
2
1 5
1
a
a

b.
( )
( )
2
1 3
1
a
a

c.
( )
( )
2
1 5
1
a
a
+

d.
( )
( )
2
1 3
1

+
a
a


Directions for Questions 121 223: A manufacturing unit can produce one or more of the commodities
A, B and C. If x units of A, y units of B and z units of C are produced then the cost of production is x + y + z
(in Rupees) while the net profit equals f(x, y, z) (in Rupees). A total amount of Rs. 30000 is available to
cover the cost of production.

43. If f(x, y, z) = x + 2y + 3z then the maximum possible profit (in Rupees) is
a. 70000 b. 80000 c. 90000 d. 100000

44. If f(x, y, z) = ( ) xyz then the maximum possible profit (in Rupee) is
a.
3
10 b.
4
10 c.
5
10 d.
6
10

45. If
2
1 ..., x a a = + + + and
2
1 ..., y b b = + + + where 0 < a < 1 and 0 < b < 1, then the value of 1 + ab +
( )
2
.... ab + is
a.
( ) 1
xy
x y +
b.
( )
( )
1 x y
xy
+
c.
( )
( )
x y
x y

+
d.
( )
( ) 1
x y
x y
+
+



46. The system of equations (3 a) x + 9y = 0, x + (3 a) y = 0, has a solution for x, y, with at least one
of x and y nonzero, if and only if.
a. a = 0
b. a = 0 or a = 6
c. a = 0 or a = -6
d. a = 0 or a = 6 or a = -6

47. If the equation ( ) ( )
2
10 4 0 x m x + = has all the roots as integers, then find the number of distinct
integral values that m can assume.
a. 4 b. 3 c. 2 d. 1

48. a, b, c, are the roots of the equation
3 2
0 x px qx r + =
What is the value of (a + b) (b + c) (c + a)?
a. pq-r b.
pq
r
c. pqr d. pq+r

49. If the roots of the equation (x a) (x b) k = 0 are c and d, then what are the roots of the equation
(x + c) (x + d) + k = 0?
a. a and b b. a and b c. ac and bd d. ad and bc

50. How many pairs of positive integers (a, b) are there satisfying
3 3
21? a b =
a. Exactly one b. Exactly three c. None d. Infinitely many

51. Let { }
n
V be the sequence of numbers defined by
1 2 1 1
1 ;
n n n
V V V V V
+
= = = + for n > 2. Let
n
r be the
remainder left when
n
V is divided by 5. Then
1993 1994
r r + equals
a. 3 b. 5 c. 7 d. 4

52. Suppose that the three distinct real numbers p, q, r are in G. P. and p + q +r = qx then
a. x < -1 or x > 3 b.
1 3
2 2
< > x or x c.
7
2
2
< > x or x d. None of these

53. If
3 5 1
2
x
+
= is a root of the equation
3 2
2 68 0 x ax bx + + + = where a, b are real numbers, then which
of the following is also a root?
a. -8 b. -16 c. -4 d.
5 3 1
2
+


54. Let a, b, c be positive numbers. The least value of
( ) ( ) ( ) 1 1 1 a b b c c a
abc
+ + + + +
is
a. 6 b.
1
6
c. 3 d. 6

55. a and b are positive real numbers satisfying
1
2 3 3,
6
a b
ab
+ + = then what is the value of
2 2
? a b ab + + a
a.
19
36
b.
7
12
c. 3 d. Data insufficient

56. If ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2 3 4 3 4 2 4 2 3
log log log log log log log log log 0 x y z = = = then x + y + z is equal to
a. 50 b. 49 c. 99 d. None of these


57. Let ( )
2
P x ax bx c = + + and ( )
2
, Q x ax bx c = + + where ac = 0. Consider the polynomial P(x). Q(x).
a. All its roots are real.
b. Exactly two of its roots are real
c. None of its roots are real
d. At least two of its roots are real

58. n is a positive integer such that
2
19 92 n n + + is square of a natural number. How many values of n
are possible?
a. None b. One c. Two d. Three e. None of these

59. It is given that
5 1
2
+
is a root of the equation.
4 2
5 2 3 0 x x x + + = .Then its other root can be:
a.
3 1
2

b.
7 1
2

c.
11 1
2

d.
13 1
2

60. The square root of the harmonic mean of the roots of the equation
( ) ( )
2
5 2 4 5 8 2 5 0 x x + + + + =
is
a. 3 b. 4 c. 2 d. None of the above

61. If one root is the square of the other root in the equation
2
0 x px q + + = , mark the correct relationship
in the following options.
a. ( )
3 2
3 1 0 p q p q + + = b. ( )
3 2
3 1 0 p q p q + =
c. ( )
3 2
3 1 0 p q p q + + = d. ( )
3 2
3 1 0 p q p q =

62. Find the solution set of the shaded region in the diagram below

a. 3x + y < 4, x + 5y < 5, x > 0, y > 0
b. x + y < 3, x + 4y < 5, x > 0, y > 0
c. 3x + y < 4, x + 2y < 5, x > 0, y > 0
d. 3x + 2y < 2, x + 2y < 5, x > 0, y > 0


63. f(x) is a polynomial of degree 2001 with roots 1, 2, 3, 42001. How many times does the
polynomial F(x) = f(x) + 1 crosses the x axis in the interval (1005, 1010?).
a. 2 b. 6 c. 8 d. 100 e. 4

64. Given that
{ } { } { } { } { }
1 1 1 1 1
.... ,
2 145 1 2 144 1 2 143 1 2 2 1 2 1 1
= + + + + +
( ( ( ( (
+ + + + +

S
where [x] denotes the greatest integer less than or equal to x. Find the value of S.
a.
265
25
b.
269
25
c.
277
25
d.
273
25


65. If the sum of the first 2n natural numbers is 100 more than the sum of the first n natural numbers,
then find the sum of the first 3n natural numbers.
a. 231 b. 300 c. 378 d. 465

66. Find the solution set for [x] + [2x] + [3x] = 8, where x is a real number and [x] is the greatest integer
less than or equal to x.
a.
4
1
3
x s < b.
5
3
x < c.
3 5
2 3
x s < d. None of these

67. If the roots of the equation
2
0 x px q + + = are two consecutive multiples of 3, then find the value of
( )
2
4 . p q
a. 3 b. 6 c. 9 d. Cannot be determined

68. Find the minimum value of |x p| + |x 10| + |x p 10|, if 0 < p < 10.
a. p b. p + 10 c. 10 d. None of these

69. The number of terms in the expansion of ( )
n
a b c + + is
a.
( )( ) 1 2
2
n n + +
b. n + 3 c.
( ) 1
2
n n +
d. None of these

70. ( ) | | | |
( )
1 4
2
2
2 , f x x x x x = + where x is real and [ x ] denotes the greatest integer less than or equal to
x. Find the value of ( ) ( ) 10.64 100.64 . f f
a. 0.8 b. 0.64 c. 10 10 d. 1000 e. None of these


71. How many real number x, are there which satisfy the following pair of equation and inequality?
I: | | | |
2
4 8 21 0 x x + <
II: | | | |
2
2
1
2
4
x x x x + =
(Here. [x] denotes the greatest integer less than or equal to x)
a. 2 b. 4 c. 5 d. 7 e. Infinitely many

72. Let a, c e {2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12} and b e {22, 24, 26}, where a, b and c are distinct. Find the number of
equations of the form
2
0, ax bx c + + = that can be formed such that the equation has real roots.
a. 15 b. 18 c. 45 d. 90 e. 36

73. Sum of the first 30 terms of an arithmetic progression is 0. If the first term is -29, then find the sum of
the 28
th
, 29
th
and 30
th
terms of this arithmetic progression.
a. 81 b. 84 c. -84 d. -81 e. None of these

74. A function f is defined for all natural numbers n > 2 as ( )
1
1 f n
n
| |
=
|
\ .
f(n 1)
If f(1) = 1, then what is the value of
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
1 2 3 1
..... ?
1 2 3 9 f f f f
+ + + +
a. 45 b. 54 c. 81 d. 36 e. None of these

75. Given that f(0) = 0, f(1) = 1 and f(2) = 1. If f(n) = f(n + 1) f(n 1), then find the value of
( ) ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( )
8 7 5
.
7 6 4
f f f
f f f
+


a.
13
5
b.
9
2
c.
16
5
d.
16
7
e.
13
2


76. Find the number of positive integral solutions of the equation
28 37
x x ( (
=
( (


Here, [x] denotes the greatest integer less than or equal to x.
a. 27 b. 28 c. 38 d. 58 e. 57

77. The value of the summation
10 10 10
100 100 100
2 3 100
2 2 2
....
log 3 log 3 log 3
+ + + is
a.
7
2 log100!
25log9
b.
8
2 log100!
50log3
c.
7
2 log100!
50log3 25log11 +

d.
8
2 log100! e.
8
25
2 log100!
log3


78. The cubic equation
3 2
0 x Ax Bx C + = has three positive integral roots two of which are identical.
Which of the following statement (s) is necessarily true?
a. If C is an even number then B must be an even number.
b. If B is an even number then A must be an even number.
c. If A is an even number then C must be an even number.
d. If C is an odd number then A must be an even number.
e. None of the above.

79. When a certain polynomial is divided by (x - 2) the remainder is 2, otherwise when divided by (x + 2)
the remainders is -2. What is the remainder when the polynomial is divided to (x - 4)?
a. 2 b. x c. 2x d. 4

80. If x > 1, then 1 2 1 2 x x x is equal to
a. x - 1 x b. 1 x - x c. x + 1 x d. a or b

81. If A =
100 ... 10 8 6 4 2
99 ... 9 7 5 3 1


, then choose the correct option.
a. A < 0.1
b. 0.1 < A < 0.2
c. 0.2 < A < 0.3
d. 0.3 < A < 0.4

82. What is the maximum value of y/x if (x 4) + (y - 3) = 9?
a. 22/7 b. 23/7 c. 24/7 d. 25/7

83. Given that f(n) =
2012 2
2012
7 7
7
+
n
, find the sum f(1) + f(2) + f(2011).
a. 1005 b. 1005.5 c. 1006 d. 1006.5

84. Find the sum of the series: 1234 +2345 + 3456 + + 6789
a. 6028 b. 6038 c. 6048 d. 6058

85. One root of x + kx 8 = 0 is square of the other. Then the value of k is
a.2 b. 8 c. -8 d. -2

Direction for questions 86 to 90: Answer the questions based on the following information.
A series S
1
of five positive integers is such that the third term is half the first term and the fifth term is 20
more than the first term. In series S
2
, the nth term defined as the difference between the (n+1) term and
the nth term of series S
1
, is an arithmetic progression with a common difference of 30.

86. First term of S
1
is
a. 80 b. 90 c. 100 d. 120

87. Last term of S
2
is
a. 50 b. 60 c. 70 d. None of these

88. What is the difference between second and fifth terms of S
1
?
a. 10 b. 20 c. 30 d. 60

89. What is the average value of the terms of series S
1
?
a. 60 b. 70 c. 80 d. Average is not an integer

90. What is the sum of series S
2
?
a. 10 b. 20 c. 30 d. 40


























Answer key


1.d 57.d
2.a 58.a
3.a 59.b
4.a 60.d
5.d 61.b
6.c 62.c
7.d 63.e
8.c 64.c
9.d 65.b
10.b 66.c
11.b 67.c
12.b 68.c
13.d 69.a
14.d 70.b
15.c 71.c
16.d 72.d
17.b 73.a
18.d 74.a
19.c 75.e
20.b 76.e
21.b 77.e
22.a 78.c
23.d 79.b
24. d 80.a
25.d 81.a
26. d 82.c
27. b 83.b
28.c 84.c
29.b 85.d
30.c 86.c
31.b 87.a
32.b 88.d
33.b 89.c
34.a 90.b
35.c
36.b
37.b
38.d
39.b
40.c
41.c
42.d
43.c
44.d
45.a
46.b
47.b
48.a
49.a
50.c
51.b
52.a
53.c
54.d
55.a
56.d