Here are few mathematical shorcuts to solve probs asked in IIT-JEE....

1. (IIT 04)
then the interval in which 'a' lies is
(a)a<-5
(b)-5<a<2
(c)a>5
(d)2<a<5
Comment: the alternatives do no have a common value. Put a convenient value for a. Let us try : a=0.
Then
Therefore, (b) is the correct answer!!!
2. (AIEEE04) The domain of the function
is
(a) [1,2)
(b) [2,3)
(c) [1,2]
(d) [2,3]
Comment: Look at the alternatives: Neither (a) nor (c) is the correct ans. boz x=1,
does not exist. now he prob reduces to whether 3 belongs to domain or not.
When x=3, denominator = 0. Hence, (b) is the ans.
3. (IIT 2K) The domain of function y(x) given by
is
(a) [0,1]
(b) (0,1]
(c)
(d)
Comment: When x=1, 2+2^y = 2 is not possible. Hence, (a) and (b) are not the ans. Now, put the
value for x betn. (0,1) and check. That is cumbersome. Therefore don't think this kind of technique
works for every prob.
4. (IIT 05) In any triangle ABC (with usual notations of the sides a,b,c)
(a) b-c/2 sin A = a cos A
(b)(b-c) cos A/2 = a sin B-C/2
(c)b+c/2 cos A/2 = a sin B-C/2
(d)(b+c) cos A/2 = 2a sin B+C/2
Comment: Try an isosceles triangle in which b=c, i.e. B = C.
Take (b): 0 =0 ; no other alternatives satisfy them.
5. A hyperbola having transverse axis of length
Then its eqn. is
(a)

, is confocal with the ellipse

(b)

(c)
(d)
Comment: The hyperbola in (a) alone has 2 sin 0 as the length of the transverse axis and hence (a) is
the correct ans.
6. (IIT 2K) If
are complex numbers such that
=1,
then Iz,1 + z,2 + z,3I is
(a) equal to 1
(b)<1
(c) >3
(d) equal to 3
Comment: Put
. It satisfies the given condition and hence (a) is the ans.

7. (IIT 01) If a+b = pi/2 and b+c=a, then tan a equals

(a) 2(tan b + tan c)
(b) tan b + tan c
(c) tan b + 2 tan c
Comment: Put a=b=pi/4, then c=0. Tan a = 1.
Hence, (b) or (c) is the correct ans.
Suppose a = 22 1/2, then b = 67 1/2. Then c=-45.
Then tan b + tan c =
. Hence, (c) is the ans.

(d) 2 tan b+ tan c

In above question , just by visualizing the diagram in mind , students can get the conclusion that one of
the points of contact is (3,0) and other lies in II quadrant. Now with this presence of mind one can
directly jump to conclusion for option (D) without using ink.

InquestionwhichisfromIITJEE
95,thevalueoftrigonometricexpre
ssionisrequiredandfromoptionsitsclearthatitisindependentof"X",nowtheoutputisgoingtobe
sameforallreal"X",letsputX=0forgettingtheresult.Itworks,optionCiscorrectandwecangetit
verbally.
2. Substitution Method
Substitution method is another important trick which you can apply widely in Mathematics. There are
many such topics in Mathematics where you can apply this method. Some of the main portions are;
Coordinate geometry, Straight lines, Complex numbers; Sequence and series et.
Let us take one example to know the method.
Q. The straight line (2+)X + (1+ )Y=5+ , for different values of passes through the fixed point
(a) (2,9)
(b) (2, -9)
(c ) (-2,-9)
(d ) (-2, -9)
Sol:
This is very easy to solve, just put the value of =0. Now the equation is simplified to
2X+Y=5. Look at the option and just put the value of x in each case in the equation and find the value
of y. Check the value of y is the one given in option. For eg, take the first option. Here the value of x is
2. Put it in equation and you will get the value of y=1. But in the option its given as 9. So the option is
wrong. From here itself, we find that second option too is wrong.
Now put x=-2 . This gives the value of y=-9. Hence, the correct answer is (d) (-2, -9).
This is one of the most effective methods to be adopted to solve entrance questions very easily. And
even if you dont know the theory, you can solve lots of questions just substitution as done above.
Practice alone will make you a good problem solver of this kind.
Some other examples are;

Q. If non-zero numbers a,b and c are in H.P, then the straight line x/a+ y/b +1/c=0 passes through the
fixed point
(a)(1,-.5)
(b) (1,-2)
(c )(-1,-2
(d ) (-1,2)
Sol:
Here you need to know only one thing; If a,b and c are in Harmonic Progression (HP), then their
reciprocals are in AP, ie 1/a, 1/b and 1/c are in AP. Now just take an AP sequence. Let us take the least
complicated one; 1,2,3 and substitute it in the above equation.
The new equation is; x+2y+3 =0.
Then substitute the value of x as given in each option and check the y value given there also satisfies
the option. Take x=1, then the y value should be -2 and hence the correct answer is (b). You can check
with x=-1 also. For x=-1, y=-2.5. Theres no such option given. So the correct answer is (b) itself.
3. METHOD OF ASSUMPTION.

This is another important method. In some of the questions, some unknown quantities will be given.
What we will do there is to assign some values to these quantities without changing the conditions
given. This is almost similar to the method of substitution.

Q. If a(n) denotes the nth term in an Arithmetic Progression. Then

1/a(1)a(2) +1/a(2)a(3) ++1/a(n-1)a(n)=
(a) n-1/a(1)a(n)
(b)n/a(1)a(n+1)
(c )n-2/a(1)a(n-1)
(d) n/a(1)a(n)
Sol:
Take a simple AP=1, 2, 3, 4..let us take n=3.
Therefore our questions comes to be:1/1*2 +1/2*3 =4/6 =2/3= n-1/a(1)a(n).
Hence the correct option is (a).
4. METHOD OF PROBLEM SOLVING BY DRAWING GRAPHS AND DIAGRAMS

Solving problems by drawing graphs and diagrams is a widely appreciated method. Its also very easy
to do comparing to the conventional method. If you are strong with this tool, you will come across lots
of questions from many engineering entrance exams including IIT JEE.
5. METHOD OF APPROXIMATION

Method of approximation comes handy when the options differ largely in magnitude. Many of the
students dont know about this method and hence devotes more time to some questions. You should
practice this method to use the time efficiently.

2. Find the value of

1/2!+1/4!+1/6!+.......
A.(e^2-1) / 2

(AIEEE 2004)
B.(e^2-2) / e

C.(e^2-1) / 2e

D.(e-1)^2 / 2e

This is also an irritating problem which requires a sound knowledge of the exponential
series.This problem is tough to solve,and almost impossible, in less than a minute if you go
by the normal method.
But if you examine the series carefully you may write it as,
1/2!+1/4!+1/6!+....... = 1/2 + 1/4.3.2.1 +1/6.5.4.3.2.1 +..........
= 0.5 + 1/24

+1/120

+..........

= 0.5 + 0.05 (approx) + 0.01 (approx)+ ....

This series can be approximated by taking only the first 2 terms because the succeeding
terms become negligible.
thus
1/2!+1/4!+1/6!+....... = 0.5 + 0.05

(approximately)

Now lets check the options one by one

A .(e^2-1) / 2
=(2.71^2 -1) / 2

take 2.71^2 ~= 8 (ie:a little less than 3^2)

= 3.5
which cant be the answer.
Similarly
B .(e^2-2) / e =(8-2)/2.71 ~= 2 which too cant be the answer
C.(e^2-1) / 2e =(8-1)/(2.71*2) > 1
D.(e-1)^2 / 2e =(2.71-1)^2/(2*2.71) < 1
We note that the option D is closer to the answer.Hence the answer is D
This way of solving problems may appear a bit tedious in the beginning.But mark my
words,once you solve more problems like these,you get accustomed to these methods, and
can solve them easily.
THIS IS CALLED "THE METHOD OF APPROXIMATIONS".

3.The co efficient of xn in the expansion of

(1+x)(1-x)n is

(AIEEE 2004)
B. (-1)(n-1) * n

A. (n-1)
C. (-1)(n-1) * (n-1)2

D. (-1)n * (1-n)

Whenever you see terms like m,n etc it is highly advisable that you put particular values for
m,n.
Here let us put n=0
Then the question becomes,find the co efficient of x^0 (which is 1) in the expansion
of (1+x)(1-x)^0=1+x
the co efficient of 1 in this expression is 1.Hence the correct option should lead us to the
answer 1.
Let's check
A.(n-1)
= 0-1
= -1 therefore A cant be the answer
B.(-1)^(n-1) * n
=(-1)^(-1) * 0
= 0 Hence B cant be the answer.
C. (-1)^(n-1) * (n-1)^2
=(-1)^(-1) * (-1) ^2
= -1 Thus C is not the answer.
Since A,B,C dont qualify to be the answers,we can directly deduce that D is the correct
answer.However lets check if this is true.
D. (-1)^n * (1-n)
= (-1)^0 * (1-0)
= 1
This is exactly what we should get if the option is right.Hence D is the correct answer.

5.The sum of the first n terms of the series

1^2+2 . 2^2 + 3^2 +2 . 4^2 +5^2+2 . 6^2 + ............. is
n(n+1)^2/2 when n is even.
When n is odd the sum is

(AIEEE 2004)

A.3n(n+1)/2

B.[n(n+1)/2]^2

C.n(n+1)^2/4

D.n^2*(n+1)/2

Without even bothering to see what the question actually is let us put a value for n,
ie; n=1 (note that this value should be odd)
Now the required sum = 1^2
= 1

(the first term of the series only)

Now lets check in the options

A.3n(n+1)/2
=3*1(1+1)/2
=3
CANT BE THE ANSWER
B.[n(n+1)/2]^2
=[1(2)/2]^2
=1
C.n(n+1)^2/4
=1
D.n^2*(n+1)/2
=1
Now we see that the options B,C,D all give us the correct answer.But only one of them is
correct.Hence we need to put another value for n.Lets put n=3 and check.
The required sum is 1+8+9=18
A.3n(n+1)/2
Already eliminated
B.[n(n+1)/2]^2
=[3(4)/2]^2
= 36
therefore not the answer
C.n(n+1)^2/4
=36

therefore not the answer

D.n^2*(n+1)/2
=18
Thus D is the correct answer.
If you are smart enough(which will be true if you follow all the instructions in this site properly
and consistently) you would have observed that three of the options give the same answer
when we substitute n=1.Hence you would have substituted n=3

Algebra - JEE type

The integral value of a for which the equation

(x^2 + x + 2)^2 (a-3)(x^2 + x + 2)(x^2 + x + 1) + (a-4)(x^2 + x + 1)^2 = 0
has atleast one real root is
(A) 6
(B) 7
(C) 8
(D) 9
option (A) is the answer!
let x^2 + x +1 = t (say)
=> (t+1)^2 - (a-3)t(t+1) + (a-4)t^2 = 0
=> (a-5)t - 1 = 0
=> now if a = 6
=> t-1 = 0
=> x^2 + x = 0
=> x(x+1) = 0 and the condition is satisfied ..
if we replace a with 7/8/9 the we'll get 3 other quadratic equations in which the discriminants are < 0 ..
hence they dont satisfy the condition..

Complex No. - Assertion Reason

by nikhil_ Tue Mar 08, 2011 8:12 pm
Let z1 and z2 be two complex numbers such that |z1-z2|=|z1+z2|
Statement I:
If z1, z2 are end point of diameter of circle then it passing through the origin
Statement II:
|arg(z1/z2)| = /2

(A)Both true. II is correct explanation of I.

(B)Both true. II is not correct explanation of I.
(C)I true, II false.
(D)I false, II true.
Both true and II is the correct explanation.
note that the equation of a circle which has z1 and z2 as end points of one of its diameter is |z - (z1 +
z2)/2| = |(z1-z2)/2|
z = 0 satisfies this and hence, the circle does pass through the origin.
also, |z|^2 = z * z(bar)
put z = z1 - z2 in the above equation to get,
z1 * z2(bar) = - z2 * z1(bar)
take argument on both the sides
arg(zbar) = - arg(z) and arg(z1 * z2) = arg(z1) + arg(z2) this gives, |arg(z1/z2)| = pi/2