Test Codes: S1A (Multiple-choice Type) and

S1B (Short Answer Type) 2005

Questions will be set on the following and related topics.

Algebra: Sets, operations on sets. Prime numbers, factorization of integers

and divisibility. Rational and irrational numbers. Permutations and
combinations. Binomial theorem. Logarithms. Theory of quadratic
equations. Polynomials and remainder theorem. Arithmetic and geo-
metric progressions. Inequalities involving AM, GM, and HM. Com-
plex numbers.

Geometry: Plane geometry of class X level. Geometry of 2 dimensions

with Cartesian and polar coordinates. Concept of a locus. Equation
of a line, angle between two lines, distance from a point to a line. Area
of a triangle. Equations of circle, parabola, ellipse and hyperbola and
equations of their tangents and normals. Mensuration.

Trigonometry: Measures of angles. Trigonometric and inverse trigono-

metric functions. Trigonometric identities including addition formulæ,
solutions of trigonometric equations. Properties of triangles. Heights
and distances.

Calculus: Functions, one-one functions, onto functions. Limits and con-

tinuity. Derivatives and methods of differentiation. Slope of a curve.
Tangents and normals. Maxima and minima. Use of calculus in sketch-
ing graph of functions. Methods of integration, definite and indefinite
integrals, evaluation of area using integrals.

Logical Reasoning: Consistency of statements.

Note. The actual selection paper will have about 30 questions in S1A and
about 10 questions in S1B. A candidate may answer as many as possible.

Sample Questions for S1A

1. For a given real number α > 0, define an = (1α + 2α + · · · + nα )n and

bn = nn (n!)α for n = 1, 2, .... Then
(A) an < bn for all n > 1,
(B) there exists an integer n > 1 such that an < bn ,
(C) an > bn for all n > 1,
(D) there exist integers n and m both larger than one such that an >
bn and am < bm .

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2. The last digit of (2137)754 is

(A) 1, (B) 3, (C) 7, (D) 9.

3. The sum of all distinct four digit numbers that can be formed using
the digits 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, each digit appearing at most once, is

(A) 399900, (B) 399960, (C) 390000, (D) 360000.

4. If n is a positive integer such that 8n + 1 is a perfect square, then

(A) n must be odd,
(B) n cannot be a perfect square,
(C) n must be a prime number,
(D) 2n cannot be a perfect square.

5. The coefficient of a3 b4 c5 in the expansion of (bc + ca + ab)6 is



12! 6 6
(A) , (B) 3!, (C) 33, (D) 3 .
3!4!5! 3 3

6. If log10 x = 10log100 4 then x equals

(A) 410 , (B) 100, (C) log10 4, (D) none of the above.

7. Let C denote the set of all complex numbers. Define A and B by

A = {(z, w) : z, w ∈ C and |z| = |w|},

B = {(z, w) : z, w ∈ C and z 2 = w2 }.

Then

(A) A = B, (B) A ⊆ B and A = B,

(C) B ⊆ A and B = A, (D) none of the above.

8. Consider the two arithmetic progressions 3, 7, 11, . . . , 407 and 2, 9, 16,

. . . , 709. The number of common terms of these two progressions is

(A) 0, (B) 7, (C) 14, (D) 15.

9. If positive numbers a, b, c, d are such that 1/a, 1/b, 1/c, 1/d are in arith-
metic progression then we always have

(A) a + d ≥ b + c, (B) a + b ≥ c + d,
(C) a + c ≥ b + d, (D) none of the above.

2
10. The set of all real numbers x satisfying the inequality x3 (x+1)(x−2) ≥
0 is

(A) the interval [2, ∞), (B) the interval [0, ∞),
(C) the interval [−1, ∞), (D) none of the above.

11. z 1 , z2 are two complex numbers with z2 = 0 and z1 = z2 and satisfying

 z1 + z2  z1
 
 z1 − z2  = 1. Then z2 is
(A) real and negative,
(B) real and positive,
(C) purely imaginary,
(D) none of the above need to be true always.

12. Let A be the fixed point (0, 4) and B be a moving point (2t, 0). Let
M be the mid-point of AB and let the perpendicular bisector of AB
meet the y-axis at R. The locus of the mid-point P of M R is

(A) y + x2 = 2, (B) x2 + (y − 2)2 = 1/4,

(C) (y − 2)2 − x2 = 1/4, (D) none of the above.

13. A circle of radius a, with both the coordinates of its centre positive,
touches the x-axis and the straight line 3y = 4x. Then its equation is
(A) x2 + y 2 − 2ax − 2ay + a2 = 0,
(B) x2 + y 2 − 6ax − 4ay + 12a2 = 0,
(C) x2 + y 2 − 4ax − 2ay + 4a2 = 0,
(D) x2 + y 2 − 2ax − 6ay + a2 = 0.

14. In a triangle ABC, the medians AM and CN to the sides BC and AB

respectively, intersect at the point O. Let P be the mid point of AC
and let M P intersect CN at Q. If the area of the triangle OM Q is s
square units, the area of ABC is

(A) 16s, (B) 18s, (C) 21s, (D) 24s.

15. The set of all solutions of the equation cos 2θ = sin θ +cos θ is given by
(A) θ = 0,
(B) θ = nπ + π2 , where n is any integer,
(C) θ = 2nπ or θ = 2nπ − π2 or θ = nπ − π4 , where n is any integer,
(D) θ = 2nπ or θ = nπ + π4 , where n is any integer.

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16. The sides of a triangle are given to be x2 + x + 1, 2x + 1 and x2 − 1.
Then the largest of the three angles of the triangle is


◦ x
(A) 75 , (B) π radians, (C) 120◦ , (D) 135◦ .
x+1

17. Two poles, AB of length two metres and CD of length twenty metres
are erected vertically with bases at B and D. The two poles are at a
distance not less than twenty metres. It is observed that tan ∠ACB =
2/77. The distance between the two poles is

(A) 72m, (B) 68m, (C) 24m, (D) 24.27m.

18. If A, B, C are the angles of a triangle and sin2 A + sin2 B = sin2 C,

then C is equal to

(A) 30◦ , (B) 90◦ , (C) 45◦ , (D) none of the above.


1
19. In the interval (−2π, 0), the function f (x) = sin
x3
(A) never changes sign,
(B) changes sign only once,
(C) changes sign more than once, but finitely many times,
(D) changes sign infinitely many times.
(ex − 1) tan2 x
20. lim
x→0 x3

(A) does not exist, (B) exists and equals 0,

(C) exists and equals 2/3, (D) exists and equals 1.

21. Let f1 (x) = ex , f2 (x) = ef1 (x) and generally fn+1 (x) = efn (x) for all
d
n ≥ 1. For any fixed n, the value of fn (x) is equal to
dx

(A) fn (x), (B) fn (x)fn−1 (x),

(C) fn (x)fn−1 (x) · · · f1 (x), (D) fn+1 (x)fn (x) · · · f1 (x)ex .

22. If the function

 2
 x − 2x + A

if x = 0
f (x) = sin x


B if x=0

is continuous at x = 0, then

4
 (A) A = 0, B = 0, (B) A = 0, B = −2,
(C) A = 1, B = 1, (D) A = 1, B = 0.

23. A truck is to be driven 300 kilometres (kms.) on a highway at a

constant speed of x kms. per hour. Speed rules of the highway require
that 30 ≤ x ≤ 60. The fuel costs ten rupees per litre and is consumed
at the rate 2 + (x2 /600) litres per hour. The wages of the driver are
200 rupees per hour. The most economical speed (in kms. per hour)
to drive the truck is
√ √
(A) 30, (B) 60, (C) 30 3.3, (D) 20 33

24. A right circular cone is cut from a solid sphere of radius a, the vertex
and the circumference of the base being on the surface of the sphere.
The height of the cone, when its volume is maximum, is

4a 3a 6a
(A) , (B) , (C) a, (D) .
3 2 5

x2
25. Let f be the function f (x) = cos x − 1 + . Then
2
(A) f (x) is an increasing function on the real line,
(B) f (x) is a decreasing function on the real line,
(C) f (x) is an increasing function on the interval (−∞, 0] and decreas-
ing on the interval [0, ∞),
(D) f (x) is a decreasing function on the interval (−∞, 0] and increas-
ing on the interval [0, ∞).

26. The area of the region bounded by the straight lines x = 12 and x = 2,
and the curves given by the equations y = loge x and y = 2x is
1 √ 5 3
(A) (4 + 2) − loge 2 + ,
loge 2 2 2
1 √ 5
(B) (4 − 2) − loge 2,
loge 2 2
1 √ 5 3
(C) (4 − 2) − loge 2 + ,
loge 2 2 2
(D) none of the above.
 1 t  a
e e−t
27. If b = dt then dt is
0 t+1 a−1 t − a − 1

(A) bea , (B) be−a , (C) −be−a , (D) −bea .

5
28. Let P, Q, R and S be four statements such that if P is true then Q is
true, if Q is true then R is true and if S is true then at least one of Q
and R is false. It then follows that
(A) if S is false then both Q and R are true,
(B) if at least one of Q and R is true then S is false,
(C) if P is true then S is false,
(D) if Q is true then S is true.

29. Given that the real numbers a ≥ 0, b ≥ 0, c ≥ 0 are such that a+b+c =
4 and (a + b)(b + c)(c + a) = 24, which of the following statements is
true?
(A) More information is needed to find the values of a, b and c,
(B) Even when a is given to be 1, more information is needed to find
the values of b and c,
(C) The system of two equations is inconsistent,
(D) By suitably fixing the values of a and b, the value of c can be
determined.
2 2
π
of roots of the equation x + sin x = 1 in the closed
30. The number
interval 0, 2 is

(A) 0, (B) 1, (C) 2, (D) 3.

31. The smallest positive integer n with 24 divisors, where 1 and n are also
considered as divisors of n, is equal to

(A) 240, (B) 360, (C) 420, (D) 480.

32. Let a1 , a2 , . . . be a sequence of real numbers such that limn→∞ an = ∞.

For any real number x define an integer valued function f (x) as the
smallest positive integer n for which an ≥ x. Then for any integer
n ≥ 1 and any real number x,

(A) f (an ) ≤ n and af (x) ≥ x, (B) f (an ) ≤ n and af (x) ≤ x,

(C) f (an ) ≥ n and af (x) ≥ x, (D) f (an ) ≥ n and af (x) ≤ x.

33. The number of maps f from the set {1, 2, 3} into the set {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
such that f (i) ≤ f (j) whenever i < j is

(A) 60, (B) 50, (C) 35, (D) 30.

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34. The number of distinct solutions (x, y) of the system of equations

x2 = y 2 , and (x − a)2 + y 2 = 1

where a is any real number, can only be

(A) 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, (B) 0, 1 or 3,
(C) 0, 1, 2 or 4, (D) 0, 2, 3 or 4.

35. The set of values of m for which mx2 − 6mx + 5m + 1 > 0 for all real
x is

(A) m < 14 , (B) m ≥ 0, (C) 0 ≤ m ≤ 14 , (D) none of the above.

36. A lantern is placed on the ground 100 feet away from a wall. A man six
feet tall is walking at a speed of 10 feet/second from the lantern to the
nearest point on the wall. When he is midway between the lantern and
the wall, the rate of change (in ft./sec.) in the length of his shadow is

(A) 2.4, (B) 3, (C) 3.6, (D) 12.

37. The locus of the foot of the perpendicular from any focus upon any
tangent to the ellipse x2 /a2 + y 2 /b2 = 1 is

(A) x2 /b2 + y 2 /a2 = 1, (B) x2 + y 2 = a2 + b2 ,

(C) x2 + y 2 = a2 (D) none of the foregoing curves.

38. An isosceles triangle with base 6 cms. and base angles 30◦ each is
inscribed in a circle. A second circle touches the first circle and also
touches the base of the triangle at its midpoint. If the second circle is
situated outside the triangle, then its radius (in cms.) is
√ √ √ √
(A) 3 3/2, (B) 3/2, (C) 3, (D) 4/ 3.

 2
39. The set of values of a for which the integral (|x − a| − |x − 1|) dx is
0
nonnegative, is

(A) all numbers a ≥ 1, (B) all real numbers,

(C) all numbers a with 0 ≤ a ≤ 2, (D) all numbers a ≤ 1.

7
40. The digit in the unit’s place of the number 1! + 2! + 3! + · · · + 99! is

(A) 0, (B) 1, (C) 3, (D) 7.

12 + 22 + · · · + n2
41. Let α = lim ,
n→∞ n3
(13 − 12 ) + (23 − 22 ) + · · · + (n3 − n2 )
β = lim . Then
n→∞ n4

(A) α = β, (B) α < β, (C) 4α = 3β, (D) 3α = 4β.

42. Consider the statement: x(α − x) < y(α − y) for all x, y with 0 < x <
y < 1. The statement is true

(A) if and only if α ≥ 2, (B) if and only if α < 2,

(C) if and only if α < −1, (D) for no value of α.

1000n
43. If an = , for n = 1, 2, 3, . . ., then the sequence {an }
n!
(A) does not have a maximum,
(B) attains maximum at exactly one value of n,
(C) attains maximum at exactly two values of n,
(D) attains maximum for infinitely many values of n.

44. Let S = {1, 2, . . . , n}. The number of possible pairs of the form (A, B)
with A ⊆ B for subsets A and B of S is
n


 
n n
(A) 2n , (B) 3n , (C) , (D) n!.
k n−k
k=0

45. Consider three boxes, each containing 10 balls labelled 1, 2, . . . , 10.

Suppose one ball is drawn from each of the boxes. Denote by ni , the
label of the ball drawn from the i-th box, i = 1, 2, 3. Then the number
of ways in which the balls can be chosen such that n1 < n2 < n3 is

(A) 120, (B) 130, (C) 150, (D) 160.

46. The maximum of the areas of the isosceles triangles with base on the
positive x-axis and which lie below the curve y = e−x is:

(A) 1/e, (B) 1, (C) 1/2, (D) e.

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 Sample Questions for S1B

1. How many natural numbers less than 108 are there, with sum of digits
equal to 7?

2. We say that a sequence {θn } of real numbers converges to λ if, for

every positive real number ε, there exists a positive integer m, such
that, for every n ≥ m, |θn − λ| ≤ ε. Using this definition, show that
the sequence { n1 } does not converge to 0.3.

3. Consider the function

loge (2 + x) − x2n sin x
f (x) = lim
n→∞ 1 + x2n
defined for x > 0. Is f (x) continuous at x = 1? Justify your answer.
Show that f (x) does not vanish anywhere in the interval 0 ≤ x ≤ π2 .
Indicate the points where f (x) changes sign.

4. Suppose all the three equations ax2 − 2bx + c = 0, bx2 − 2cx + a = 0

and cx2 − 2ax + b = 0 have only positive roots. Show that a = b = c.

5. Show that
250

√ 1 √
2( 251 − 1) < √ < 2( 250).
k=1
k

6. Let θ1 , . . . , θ10 be any 10 values in the closed interval [0, π]. Show that
the product

10
2 2 2 2 9
(1 + sin θ1 )(1 + cos θ1 ) · · · (1 + sin θ10 )(1 + cos θ10 ) ≤ .
4

What is the maximum value attainable by this product and at what

values of θ1 , . . . , θ10 is the maximum attained?

7. Find all positive integers x such that [x/5] − [x/7] = 1, where, for any
real number t, [t] is the greatest integer less than or equal to t.

8. Two intersecting circles are said to be orthogonal to each other if the

tangents to the two circles at any point of intersection are perpendicu-
lar to each other. Show that every circle through the points (2, 0) and
(−2, 0) is orthogonal to the circle x2 + y 2 − 5x + 4 = 0.

9. Show that there is exactly one value of x which satisfies the equation

2 cos2 (x3 + x) = 2x + 2−x .

9
10. An oil-pipe has to connect the oil-well O and the factory F , between
which there is a river whose banks are parallel. The pipe must cross
the river perpendicular to the banks. Find the position and nature of
the shortest such pipe and justify your answer.

11. Let x = (x1 , . . . , xn ) and y = (y1 , . . . , yn ) where x1 , · · · , xn , y1 , · · · , yn

are real numbers. We write x > y if either x1 > y1 or for some k,
with 1 ≤ k ≤ n − 1, we have x1 = y1 , . . . , xk = yk , but xk+1 > yk+1 .
Show that for u = (u1 , . . . , un ), v = (v1 , . . . , vn ), w = (w1 , . . . , wn ) and
z = (z1 , . . . , zn ), if u > v and w > z, then u + w > v + z.

12. For any positive integer n, let f (n) be the remainder obtained on
dividing n by 9. For example, f (263) = 2.

(a) Let n be a three-digit number and m be the sum of its digits.

Show that f (m) = f (n)
(b) Show that f (n1 n2 ) = f (f (n1 ) · f (n2 )) where n1 , n2 are any two
positive three-digit integers.

13. Suppose that the roots of x2 + px + q = 0 are rational numbers and

p, q are integers. Then show that the roots are integers.

14. Sketch the set A B in the complex plane, where A = {z : | z+1
z−1 | ≤ 1},
B = {z : |z| − Re(z) ≤ 1} and Re(z) denote the real part of z.

15. Using Calculus, draw a rough sketch of the function

x+1
f (x) =
(x − 1)(x − 7)

as x ranges over all possible values for which the above formula for
f (x) is meaningful.

16. Let
P (x) = xn + an−1 xn−1 + an−2 xn−2 + · · · + a1 x + a0
be a polynomial with integer coefficients, such that P (0) and P (1) are
odd integers. Show that:

(a) P (x) does not have any even integer as root.

(b) P (x) does not have any odd integer as root.

17. Prove by induction or otherwise that for every integer n ≥ 0,

 π/2
sin(2n + 1)x π
dx = .
0 sin x 2

10
 18. Consider the parabola y 2 = 4x. Let P = (ξ, η) be any point inside the
parabola, i.e., η 2 < 4ξ, and let F be the focus of the parabola. Find
the point Q on the parabola such that F Q + QP is minimum. Also,
show that the normal at Q to the parabola bisects the angle ∠F QP .

19. Let N = {1, 2, . . . , n} be a set of elements called voters. Let C =

{S : S ⊆ N } be the set of all subsets of N . Members of C are called
coalitions. Let f be a function from C to {0, 1}. A coalition S ⊆ N
is said to be winning if f (S) = 1; it is said to be a losing coalition
if f (S) = 0. A pair N, f as above is called a voting game if the
following conditions hold.

(a) N is a winning coalition.

(b) The empty set ∅ is a losing coalition.
(c) If S is a winning coalition and S ⊆ S  , then S  is also winning.
(d) If both S and S  are winning coalitions, then S ∩ S  = ∅, i.e., S
and S  have a common voter.

Show that the maximum number of winning coalitions of a voting game

is 2n−1 . Find a voting game for which the number of winning coalitions
is 2n−1 .

20. Suppose f is a real-valued differentiable function defined on [1, ∞) with

f (1) = 1. Suppose, moreover, that f satisfies f  (x) = 1/(x2 + f 2 (x)).
Show that f (x) ≤ 1 + π/4 for every x ≥ 1.

Note. Specimen copies of S1A and S1B papers are enclosed to

give a rough idea.

11
 S1A

1. If log2 (log3 (log4 x)) = log3 (log4 (log2 y)) = log4 (log2 (log3 z)) = 0, then
x + y + z is

(A) 49 (B) 50 (C) 89 (D) 99

√ √ √
2. Which of the following is a square root of 21 − 4 5 + 8 3 − 4 15?
√ √ √ √
(A) 2 3 − 2 − 5 (B) 5−3+2 3
√ √ √ √
(C) 2 3 + 2 − 5 (D) 2 3 − 2 + 5

3
1 − t6
3. The coefficient of t3 in the expansion of is
1−t

(A) 0 (B) 10 (C) 12 (D) 18

4. The value of 42 + 2 · 52 + 3 · 62 + . . . + 27 · 302 is

(A) 187854 (B) 187860 (C) 187866 (D) 187868

5. The value of sin 25◦ sin 35◦ sin 85◦ is equal to

√ √ √

1 1 3 3 1 √ 5 3
(A) + (B) (C) 2− 3 (D)
4 2 4 4 4 9

6. Consider a unit square ABCD. Two equilateral triangles P AB and

QCD are drawn so that AP , DQ intersect in R, and BP , CQ intersect
in S. The area of the quadrilateral P RQS is equal to
√ √ √ √
2− 3 2− 3 2− 3 2+ 3
(A) (B) √ (C) (D) √
6 3 3 6 3

7. Let 1, ω and ω 2 be the cube roots of unity. The least possible degree
of a polynomial with real coefficients, having 2ω, 2 + 3ω, 2 + 3ω 2 and
2 − ω − ω 2 as roots is

(A) 8 (B) 6 (C) 5 (D) 4

12
 8. If 3x4 − 6x3 + kx2 − 8x − 12 is divisible by x − 3 then it is also divisible
by

(A) 3x2 − 4 (B) 3x2 − x (C) 3x2 + x (D) 3x2 + 4

9. Consider the function f (x) = x(x − 1)(x + 1) from R to R, where R is

the set of all real numbers. Then,

(A) f is one-one and onto (B) f is not one-one but onto

(C) f is one-one but not onto (D) f is neither one-one nor onto

10. For all integers n ≥ 2, define fn (x) = (x + 1)1/n − x1/n , where x > 0.
Then, as a function of x,
(A) fn is decreasing for all n,
(B) fn is increasing for all n,
(C) fn is increasing for n odd and fn is decreasing for n even,
(D) fn is decreasing for n odd and fn is increasing for n even

11. There are 11 points on a plane with 5 lying on one straight line and
another 5 lying on a second straight line which is parallel to the first
line. The remaining point is not collinear with any two of the previous
10 points. The number of triangles that can be formed with vertices
chosen from these 11 points is:

(A) 145 (B) 125 (C) 105 (D) 85

12. Suppose the circumcentre of a triangle ABC lies on BC. Then the
orthocentre of the triangle is
(A) the incentre of the triangle
(B) the mid-point of the line segment joining the mid-points of AB
and AC
(C) the centroid of the triangle
(D) the point A

13. If a, b are positive real numbers satisfying a2 + b2 = 1, then the mini-

1
mum value of a + b + ab is

√ √
(A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 2 + 2 (D) 1 + 2

13
14. The numbers 12n + 1 and 30n + 2 are relatively prime for
(A) finitely many integers n,
(B) any positive integer n
(C) infinitely many, but not all, integers n
(D) none of the above

15. Let P (x) = ax2 + bx + c and Q(x) = −ax2 + bx + c, where ac = 0.

Consider the polynomial P (x)Q(x).
(A) All its roots are real
(B) None of its roots is real
(C) Exactly two of its roots are real
(D) At least two of its roots are real

16. The number of local maxima of the function f (x) = x + sin x is:

(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) infinite

cos x − sec x
17. lim
x−→0 x2 (x + 1)

(A) is −1 (B) is 0 (C) is 1 (D) does not exist

18. Consider the function f (n) defined for all positive integers as follows:

n+1 if n is odd
f (n) = n
2 if n is even

Let f (k) denote f applied k times; e.g., f (1) (n) = f (n), f (2) (n) =
f (f (n)) and so on. Then
(A) there exists one integer k0 such that for all n ≥ 2, f (k0 ) (n) = 1
(B) for each n ≥ 2, there exists an integer k (depending on n) such
that f (k)(n) = 1
(C) for each n ≥ 2, there exists an integer k (depending on n) such
that f (k)(n) is a multiple of 4
(D) for each n, f (k) (n) is a decreasing function of k

14
19. A function f is said to be odd if f (−x) = −f (x) for all x. Which of
the following is not odd?
(A) A functions f such that f (x + y) = f (x) + f (y) for all x, y
(B) f (x) = x2 sin x + x3 cos x
xex/2
(C) f (x) =
1 + ex
(D) f (x) = x − [x], where [x] denotes the greatest integer which is less
than or equal to x

20. Let pn (x), n = 0, 1, . . . be polynomials defined by p0 (x) = 1, p1 (x) = x

and pn (x) = xpn−1 (x) − pn−2(x) for n ≥ 2. Then p10 (0) equals

(A) −1 (B) 0 (C) 1 (D) 10

21. Let [x] denote the greatest integer which is less than or equal to x.
 π/4
Then the value of the integral [3 tan2 x]dx is
0
 
(A) π/4 − tan−1 ( 23 ) (B) π/3 − tan−1 ( 23 )
(C) 3 − [ 3π
4 ] (D) [3 − 3π
4 ]

22. Consider the following two statements:

P : all cyclic quadrilaterals ABCD satisfy

A B C D
tan tan tan tan = 1,
2 2 2 2
A B C D
Q : all trapeziums ABCD satisfy tan tan tan tan = 1.
2 2 2 2
Then
(A) P is true but Q is not true
(B) P is not true and Q is true
(C) both P and Q are true.
(D) neither P nor Q is true

23. Consider a circle passing through the points (0, 1−a), (a, 1) and (0, 1+
a). If a parallelogram with two adjacent sides having lengths a and b
and an angle 150◦ between them has the same area as the circle, then
b equals

(A) 12 πa (B) πa (C) 2πa (D) none of the above

15
24. The circles x2 + y 2 + 2ax + c2 = 0 and x2 + y 2 + 2by + c2 = 0 will touch
if

1 1 1 1 1 1
(A) + = (B) 2
+ 2 = 2 (C) a2 + b2 = c2 (D) a + b = c
a b c a b c

25. Which of the following numbers can be expressed as the sum of squares
of two integers?

(A) 2003 (B) 1999 (C) 1995 (D) none of the above

26. There are 4 pairs of shoes of different sizes. Each of the 8 shoes can
be coloured with one of the four colours: black, brown, white and red.
In how many ways can one colour the shoes so that in at least three
pairs, the left and the right shoes do not have the same colour?

(A) 4 × 123 (B) 124 (C) 16 × 123 (D) 28 × 123

27. A game consisting of 10 rounds is played among three players A, B

and C as follows: Two players play in each round and the loser is
replaced by the third player in the next round. If the only rounds
when A played against B are the first, fourth and the tenth rounds,
the number of games won by C

(A) is 7 (B) is 6 (C) is 5

(D) cannot be determined from the above information

28. The function


 1 − cos 4x

 if x < 0

 x2



f (x) = a if x = 0

 √



 2 x
 
 √ if x > 0
16 + x − 4

is continuous at x = 0 for

(A) a = 4 (B) a = 8 (C) a = 16 (D) no value of a

16
 29. Suppose a, b, c are real numbers such that a2 b2 + b2 c2 + c2 a2 = k, where
k is a constant. Then the set of all possible values of abc(a + b + c) is
precisely the interval

k k k k
(A) [−k, ] (B) [− , k] (C) [− , ] (D) [−k, k]
2 2 2 2
 x
2
30. Approximate values of the integral I(x) = (cos t)e−t /10 dt are given
0
in the following table.

x π/2 π 3π/2 2π
I(x) 0.95 0.44 0.18 0.22

Which of the following numbers best approximates the value of the

 5π/4
2
integral (cos t)e−t /10 dt?
0

(A) 0.40 (B) 0.32 (C) 0.23 (D) 0.16

S1B

Note: Try to give complete answers showing clearly how the steps are ob-
tained. However, you will get some marks for partially correct answers.

1. If a circle intersects the hyperbola y = 1/x at four distinct points

(xi , yi ), i = 1, 2, 3, 4, then prove that x1 x2 = y3 y4 .

2. Let a1 , a2 , · · · , an be n numbers such that each ai is either 1 or −1. If

a1 a2 a3 a4 + a2 a3 a4 a5 + · · · + an a1 a2 a3 = 0,

then prove that 4 divides n.

3. Let l, b be positive integers. Divide the l × b rectangle into lb unit

squares in the usual manner. Consider one of the two diagonals of
this rectangle. How many of these unit squares contain a segment of
positive length of this diagonal?

4. Find all (x, y) such that

sin x + sin y = sin(x + y) and |x| + |y| = 1.

5. Find the maximum among 1, 21/2 , 31/3 , 41/4 , · · ·.

17
 6. Using Calculus, sketch on plain paper the graph of the function
1 1
f (x) = x2 + x + + for x = 0.
x x2
Show that the function f defined as above for positive real numbers at-
tains a unique minimum. What is the minimum value of the function?
What is the value of x at which the minimum is attained?

7. Let S = {1, 2, . . . , n}. Find the number of unordered pairs {A, B} of

subsets of S such that A and B are disjoint, where A or B or both may
be empty.

8. Let f (x, y) = xy, where x ≥ 0 and y ≥ 0. Prove that the function f

satisfies the following property:

f (λx + (1 − λ)x , λy + (1 − λ)y  ) > min{f (x, y), f (x , y  )}

for all (x, y) = (x , y  ) and for all λ ∈ (0, 1).

9. Find all possible real numbers a, b, c, d, e which satisfy the following set
of equations:

3a = (b + c + d)3 ,
3b = (c + d + e)3 ,
3c = (d + e + a)3 ,
3d = (e + a + b)3 ,
3e = (a + b + c)3 .

10. At time 0, a particle is at the point 0 on the real line. At time 1,

the particle divides into two and instantaneously after division, one
particle moves 1 unit to the left and the other moves one unit to the
right. At time 2, each of these particles divides into two, and one of
the two new particles moves one unit to the left and the other moves
one unit to the right. Whenever two particles meet, they destroy each
other leaving nothing behind. How many particles will be there after
time 211 + 1?

18