1.

If the equations x2 + ax + b=0 and x 2 + bx + a=0 have exactly one common root, then the
numerical value of a + b is
(A) 1 (B) –1
(C) 0 (D) none of these
1. (B) Let  be the common root of x2 + ax + b = 0 and x2 + bx + a = 0.
Then 2 + a +b = 0 and 2 + b + a = 0 ,
subtracting one from other we get,
(a – b) = a – b   = 1 (as a  b , since if a = b then both the quadratic equations have same roots
but given that they have exactly one common root.).
putting  = 1, we get a + b = – 1.
Hence (B) is the correct answer.

2. The set of values of p for which the roots of the equation 3x 2 +2x +p(p-1) = 0 are of
opposite sign is
(A) (-, 0 ) (B) (0, 1)
(C) (1, ) (D) (0, )
2. (B) Since the roots of the given equation are of opposite sign, product of the roots < 0
p p  1
0
 3  p(p-1) < 0  p (0, 1).
Hence (B) is the correct answer.

2
mx +3 x+ 4
<5
3. If the inequality x 2 +2 x +2 is satisfied for all x  R , then
(A) 1 < m < 5 (B) -1 < m < 5
71
(C) 1< m < 6 (D) m < 24
3.(D) We have x2 +2x +2 = ( x +1 )2 +1 > 0 , " x Î R .
mx 2  3x  4
2
5
Therefore , x  2x  2
Þ mx2 +3x +4 < 5 ( x2 +2`x +2 )
Þ ( m-5 ) x2 – 7x - 6 < 0 , " x Î R
This is possible if
D = b2 -4ac = 49 +24 (m—5 ) < 0 and m - 5 < 0
71
Þm< 24 .
Hence (D) is the correct answer.

4. A root of the equation, sinx + x-1 = 0, lies in the interval

(A) (0, /2) (B) (-/2, 0)
(C) (/2, ) (D) (-,-/2)
4. (A) Let f(x) = sinx + x + 1
 
f 
f(0)  2  < 0
 
 0, 2 
 equation has at least one roots in  .
Hence (A) is the correct answer.
5. If the roots of the equation x2 – 2ax + a2 +a -3 = 0 are less than 3 then
(A) a < 2 (B) 2  a  3
(C) 3 < a  4 (D) a> 4
5. (A) Since roots are less than a real number, roots must be real
 4a2 - 4 (a2 + a –3 )  0
 a 3, ….. (1)
2 2
Let f(x) = x – 2ax + a +a - 3. Since 3 lie outside the roots,
f(3) > 0  a< 2 or a> 3 . . . .(2)
Sum of the roots must be less than 6
2a < 6  a < 3 . . . . (3)
From (1), (2) and (3) we have a< 2.
Hence (A) is the correct answer.

1 1 2
+ 2 +
6. If ,  be the roots of x2  a(x  1)  b=0, then the value of α −aα β −aβ a+b
2
is
4 1
(A) a+b (B) a+b
(C) 0 (D) 1
6. (C) From given equation,  +  = a,  = a + b
1 1  2  2  a(  )
2
 2  2 2
consider   a   a (  a )(  a)
(  )2  2  a(  )
2 2 2 2 2
=    a(   )  a 
a2  2(a  b)  a2 2

2 2 2 ab
= (a  b)  a (a  b)  a (a  b)
2 2

 Required expression = a  b a  b = 0.
Hence (C) is the correct answer.

  5i
7. If one of the roots of the equation 2x2 – 6x + k = 0 is 2 then the values of  and k are
3
(A)  = 3, k = 8 (B)  = 2 , k = 17
(C)  = –3, k = –17 (D)  = 3, k = 17
  5i   5i
7. (D) Given one root of 2x – 6x + k = 0 is 2 then other root will be 2 .
2

  5i   5i 6
So, 2 + 2 = 2 =3
   5i    5i  k
  
Also,  2  2  2
2 + 25 = 2k  k = 17.
Hence (D) is the correct answer.
 a b c
 
8. If a, b and c are positive real numbers then b c a is greater than or equal to
(A) 3 (B) 6
(C) 27 (D) none of these
8. (A) Using A. M.  G. M.
1/ 3
1  a b c   a  b   c   a b c
    
3  b c a   b    
 c   a   b c a  3.

Hence (A) is the correct answer.

9. If the sum of first n natural numbers is 1/5 times the sum of their squares, then the
value of n is
(A) 7 (B) 6
(C) 8 (D) none of these
n  n  1 1  n  n  1  n  1 
  
2 5 6 
9. (A)  2n + 1 = 15  n = 7

10. If S be the sum, p the product and R the sum of the reciprocals of n terms of a G.P.,
then (S/R)n is equal to
(A) p2 (B) p3
(C) p (D) none of these
10. (A) Let G.P. is a, ar, ar2,...,arn-1

a 1  rn  n n 1 1 1 r
n
 1
 n1
S= 1 r , P=a nr 2
, R= a 1  r r
2
n  n n 1 
S
R
 
 a r 
2 n 1
 anr 2

 

  = P2.

n(n  1)
11. If Sn = 1 + 3 + 6 + 10 +.........+ 2 then Sn is
1 1
(A) 6 n(n + 1) (n + 2) (B) 6 n(n + 1) (2n + 1)
1
(C) 4 n2(n + 1)2 (D) none of these
n  n  1
11. (A) Sn =
 2

12. If x, 2x + 2, 3x + 3 are in G.P. , then the fourth term is

(A) 27 (B) –27
(C) 13.5 (D) –13.5
12. (D) (2x + 2)2 = (3x + 3)x
x = -4 and -1
But x = -1 is neglected ( it makes 2x + 2 = 0)
3
Common ratio = 2
3 27
9    13.5
Fourth term = – 2 2 .
 3  5  7  .....  n terms
13. If 5  8  11  ...  10 terms = 7, then the value of n is
(A) 35 (B) 36
(C) 37 (D) 40
n 6   n  1 2 
7
10
2
 10  27
13. (A)  n (n + 2) = 35  37  n = 35.

an  bn
n 1 n 1
14. If a  b is the AM between distinct positive numbers a and b, then the value of n
is
(A) 0 (B) 1
(C) –1 (D) none of these
14. (B)
15. If three positive real numbers a, b, c are in A.P. , with abc =4, then the
minimum value of b is
(A) 41/3 (B) 3
(C) 2 (D) ½
15. (A) b = A. M. of a and c
 G.M. of a and c
 b  ac  b3/2  abc = 2
 b  22/3 = 41/3 .
Hence minimum value of b is 41/3.

16. The least value of the expression 5sinx-1 + 5-sinx-1 is

(A) 2/5 (B) 1/5
(C) 5 (D) 5/2
16. (A) Use A.M.  G.M.
1 1 2
sinx
5 {5 + 5
sinx
} 5 .

17. The third term of a G.P. is 4, the product of the first five terms is
(A) 43 (B) 45
4
(C) 4 (D) none of these
17. (B) Let the first five terms of the given G.P. be a1 , a2 , a3 , a4, a5 .
Hence a3 = 4. Now a1 a5 = a2 a4 = a32  a1 a2 a3 a4 a5 = 45.
Hence (B) is the correct answer.

1 1 1
, ,
1  ln x 1  ln y 1  ln z are in
18. If x > 1, y > 1, z > 1 are three numbers in G.P, then
(A) A.P (B) G.P
(C) H.P (D) none of these
18. (C) x, y, z are in G.P
 ln x, ln y, ln z are in A.P
 1 + ln x, 1 + ln y, 1 + ln z are in A.P
1 1 1
, ,
 1  ln x 1  ln y 1  ln z are in H.P.
 Hence (C) is the correct answer.

10

t 2
r
19. Let tr = 2r/2 + 2–r/2 then r 1 is equal to
21
2 1 221  1
10
 20  19
(A) 2 (B) 210
221  1
1
(C) 20 (D) none of these
1  1
2
1    
2(210  1) 2   2  
10

 (2 r
 2r  2) 
2 1

1
 20
r 1 1
19. (B) S = 2
210  1 221  1
211  2   20   19
= 210 210 .
Hence (B) is the correct answer.

n n
1
lim
n
 (k  1)
i 0
i  kS k
20. Let Sk = , then k 1 equals
n(n  1) n(n  1)
(A) 2 (B) 2
n(n  2) n(n  3)
(C) 2 (D) 2
1 k 1
 1 1 1  
lim    ......   1 k
n  k
 1 (k  1)2
(k  1)n  1
20.(D) Sk =  = k  1
n
(k  1) (n  1)(n  2) n(n  3)
k k

2
1
2
So, k 1 .
Hence (D) is the correct answer.

Integer Type
1 1 1
+ + +.. . .
1. The value of 6 . 10 10. 14 14 .18  equals to k then 1/k is……

1 1 1
+ + +.. .
1.(24) 6 . 10 10. 14 14 .18 
1 4 4 4
+
[ +
= 4 6. 10 10 .14 14 . 18
+.. . ∞
]
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
=
4 6 10
−
[(
+ −
10 14
+
14 18)(
− +.. .∞ )( ) ]
1 1 1
× =
= 4 6 24 .
2. If a, b, c be the sides of ABC and equations ax2 + bx + c = 0 and 5x 2 + 12x + 13 = 0
have a common root, then C in degree is……..

2.(90)
since 5x2 + 12x + 13 = 0 has imaginary roots as D = 144 – 4  5  13 < 0
So, both roots of ax2 + bx + c = 0 and 5x2 + 12x + 13 = 0 will be common
a b c
= =
 5 12 13  a2 + b2 = c2  C = 90°
3. If the sequence 1, 2, 2, 4, 4, 4, 4, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, ….. where n consecutive terms
has value n then 1025th term is

3. (1024) Let 2n starts from rth term. By observation we can see that r = 2n. Also 2n ends at (r + 2n)th term.
So 2n  1025  2 . 2n
 2n  210 + 1  2 . 2n  n = 10.
 210 is 1025th term.
4. The least value of |a| for which tan  and cot  are the roots of the equation
x2 + ax + b = 0 is…….

4(2) Since product of roots is one, b =1. Again since roots are real, a2 – 4  0. Thus least value of |a| is 2.

5. The sum of real roots of the equation |x2 – x – 6| = x + 2 is………

5.(4) The given equation is |x2 – x – 6| = x + 2

 |(x – 2)(x – 3)| = x + 2
Case I: x < 2
Given equation becomes (x – 2)(x – 3) = x + 2
 x2 – x – 6 = x + 2
x2 – 2x – 8 = 0  x = 4, –2
so x = –2.
Case II: 2  x < 3
– (x – 2)(x – 3) = x + 2  – x2 + x + 6 = x + 2
x2 = 4  x = 2, –2
so x = 2.
Case III: x  3
 x2 – x – 6 = x + 2  x = 4, –2
so x = 4.
Required root is x = –2, 2, 4.