1 Algebra

1.1 Operations on Rational Numbers

1. Basic Rules on Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
Commutative Law : a + b = b + a ; ab = ba
Associative Law : a + b + c = a + (b + c) ; (ab)c = a(bc)
Distributive Law : ac + bc = (a + b)c = c(a + b)
2. Rules for Removing Brackets
For any rational numbers x, y,
(i) x + (y) = x + y, x + (–y) = x – y;
(ii) x – (y) = x – y, x – (–y) = x + y.
(iii) x × (–y) = – xy; (–x) × y = –xy; (–x) × (–y) = xy;
(–1)n = –1 for odd n,
(–1)n = 1 for even n.
(iv) If the denominators of the following expressions are not zero, then

x x x x x x
 ;  ;  .
y y y y y y

3. Ingenious Ways for Calculation

• Make a telescopic sum by using the following expressions :

1 1 1
  ,
k(k  1) k k  1

1 1 1 1 
  ,
k(k  m) m  k k  m 

1 1 1 1 
   .
k(k  1)(k  2) 2  k(k  1) (k  1)(k  2) 

• By the use of the following formulae :

(a ± b)2 = a2 ± 2ab + b2;
a2 – b2 = (a – b) (a + b);
a3 + b3 = (a + b) (a2 – ab + b2);
a3 – b3 = (a – b) (a2 + ab + b2), etc.

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Solved Examples 1.1
Ex.1 Evaluate :

(4  7  2)(6  9  2)(8  11  2).....(100  103  2)

.
(5  8  2)(7  10  2)(9  12  2).....(99  102  2)

Sol. From n(n + 3) + 2 = n2 + 3n + 2 = (n + 1) (n + 2) for any integer n, we have

(4  7  2)(6  9  2)(8  11  2).....(100  103  2)

(5  8  2)(7  10  2)(9  12  2).....(99  102  2)

(5  6)(7  8)(9  10).....(101  102)

=
(6  7)(8  9)(10  11).....(100  101)
= 5 × 102 = 510.

Ex.2 Evaluate 1  1  1  1  1  1 .
3 15 35 63 99 143

1 11 1 
Sol. Since    for any positive integer k, so
k(k  2) 2  k k  2 

1 1 1 1 1 1
    
3 15 35 63 99 143

1 1 1 1 1 1
=     
1  3 3  5 5  7 7  9 9  11 11  13

1  1 1   1 1   1 1 
=     ...   
2  1 3   3 5   11 13 


1  1 6
=  1   .
2  13  13

1 1 1
Ex.3    ..... to 
1.4 4.7 7.10

1 1 1
Sol.    ..... to 
1.4 4.7 7.10

1 3 3 3 
=    .... to 
3  1.4 4.7 7.10 

1  4 – 1 7 – 4 10 – 7 
=     ....to  
3 1.4
 4.7 7.10 

1  1   1 1  1 1  
=   1 –    –    –  ....to  
3  4   4 7   7 10  

1 1
  
3 3

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1 1 1 1
Ex.4 The value of (1 – 2 ) (1 – 2 ) (1 – 2 ) . . . (1 – 2 ) is
2 3 4 2019

2018 1009 1010

(1) (2) (3) (4) 1
2019 2019 2019

 1  1  1  1   1 
Sol.  1  2  1  2  1  2  1  2  ...  1  
 2  3  4  5   20192 

 1  1  1  1  1  1 
=  1   1   1    1   ...  1   1
 2  2  3  3  2019  2019 

1 3 2 4 3 5 2018 2020
=       
2 2 3 3 4 4 2019 2019

1 2020 1010
=   .
2 2019 2019

3 3 3 3
Ex.5 Calculate :    ...  .
1  4 4  7 7  10 19  22

3 3 3 3
Sol.    ... 
1  4 4  7 7  10 19  22

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 21
=     ...    1 
1 4 4 7 7 19 19 22 22 22

666665 777776
Ex.6 Which fraction is larger, or ?
666667 777778

Sol. Method 1 :

777776 666665  111111


777778 666667  111111

m mk 666665 777776

We know that if m < n, k is a positive integer :   
n nk 666667 777778

Method 2 :

666665 2 777776 2
=1– ; =1–
666667 666667 777778 777778

2 2 2 2 666665 777776
Since > 1– <1–  <
666667 777778 666667 777778 666667 777778

1
Ex.7 If S = , what is the integer part of S ?
1 1 1
  ... 
1980 1981 1997

Sol. First we estimate the value of the denominator first :

1 1 1 1 1 1 18
  ...     ...  
1980 1981 1997 1980 1980 1980 1980

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1 1 1 1 1 1 18
  ...     ...  
1980 1981 1997 1997 1997 1997 1997

1980 1997 17
So S 110 < S < 110
18 18 18
The integer part of S is 110.
EXERCISE - 1.1
1 1 1 1 1
1. Find the sum + + + + .
5  7 7  9 9  11 11  13 13  15

1 1 1 1 1
2. Find the sum     .
10 40 88 154 238

1 2 3 50
3. Find the sum  + +...+ .
1  12  14 1  22  24 1  32  34 1  502  50 4

4. Find the sum 11 + 192 + 1993 + 19994 + 199995 + 1999996 + 19999997 + 199999998 + 1999999999.

12 22 92
5. Evaluate the expression 2 + 2 +...+ .
1  10  50 2  20  50 92  90  50

1 1 1  1 1   1 1 1  1 1 1 
6. Evaluate    ...    1   ...   –  1    ...      ...  .
3 4 2020   2 2019   3 4 2020   2 3 2019 

1 1 3 4 22
7. Find the value of a + b where     ...  .
a ! b! 1! 2! 3! 2! 3! 4! 20! 21! 22!

1.2 Polynomials and their zeroes

Definitions

Monomial : A product of numerical numbers and letters is said to be a monomial. In particular, a number or a letter
alone is also a monomial, for example, 16,32x, and 2ax2y, etc.

Coefficient : In each monomial, the part consisting of numerical numbers and the letters denoting constants is said
to be the coefficient of the monomial, like 32 in 32x, 2a in 2ax2y, etc.

Degree of a Monomial : In a monomial, the sum of all indices of the letters denoting variables is called the degree
of the monomial. For example, the degree of 3abx2 is 2, and the degree of 7a4xy2 is 3.

Polynomial : The sum of several monomials is said to be a polynomial, its each monomial is called a term, the term
not containing letters is said to be the constant term of the polynomial. The maximum value of the degree of terms
in the polynomial is called d eg re e of the pol ynom ia l, for example, t he degree is 2 f or
3x2 + 4x + 1, and 5 for 2x2y3 + 2y. A polynomial is called homogeneous when all its terms have the same degree,
like 3x2 + xy + 4y2.
Arrangement of Terms : When arranging the terms in a polynomial, the terms can be arranged such that their
degrees are in either ascending or descending order, and the sign before a term should remain attached to when

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moving it. For example, the polynomial x y – 1 – 2xy – x y should be arranged as x y – x3y – 2xy2 – 1 or
3 3 2 3 3 3

– 1 – 2xy2 – x3y + x3y3.

Like Terms : Two terms are called like terms if they have the same construction except for their coefficients, like in
4ax2y and 5bx2y.
Combining Like Terms : When doing addition, subtraction to two like terms, it means doing the corresponding
operation on their coefficients. For example, 4ax2y + 5bx2y = (4a + 5b)x2y and 4ax2y – 5bx2y = (4a – 5b)x2y.
Operations on Polynomials
Addition : Adding two polynomials means :
(i) take all terms in the two polynomials as the terms of the sum;
(ii) combine all the like terms if any;
(iii) arrange all the combined terms according to the order of ascending or descending degree.
Subtraction : Let P and Q be two polynomials. Then P — Q means
(i) change the signs of all terms in Q to get -Q at first;
(ii) take all terms in the two polynomials P and -Q as the terms of P - Q;
(iii) combine all the like terms if any;
(iv) arrange all the combined terms according to the rule mentioned above.
Rule for Removing or Adding Brackets :
The rule for removing or adding brackets is the distributive law. For example, to remove the brackets in the
expression – 2x(x3y – 4x2y2 + 4), then
– 2x(x3y – 4x2y2 + 4) = –2x4y + 8x3y2 – 8x,
and to add a pair of bracket for containing the terms of the expression – 4x5y2 + 6x4y – 8x2y2 and pick out their
common factor with negative coefficient, then
– 4x5y2 + 6x4y – 8x2y2 = –2x2y(2x3y – 3x2 + 4y).
Multiplication :
(i) For natural numbers m and n,
am an = am + n ; (am)n = amn; (ab)n = anbn;
(ii) When two monomials are multiplied, the coefficient of the product is the product of the coefficients, the letters
are multiplied according to the rules in (i);
(iii) When two polynomials are multiplied, by using the distributive law, get a sum of products of a monomial and a
polynomial first, and then use the distributive law again, get a sum of products of two monomials;
(iv) Three basic formulae in multiplication :
(i) (a – b) (a + b) = a2 – b2;
(ii) (a + b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b2;
(iii) (a – b)2 = a2 – 2ab + b2.
Divisions of Polynomials
(I) Long Division : When a whole number n is divided by a non-zero whole number m, a quotient q and a
remainder r can be obtained. The result can be written in the form n = mq + r, where 0  r < m, and the process
for getting the expression is called division with remainder.
In the division of polynomials, when a polynomial f(x) is divided by a non-zero polynomial g(x) under the usual
division (long division), there is a quotient q(x) and a remainder r(x), where the degree of f(x) is sum of the
degrees of g(x) and q(x), and the degree of r(x) is less than that of g(x). The result can be written in the form
f(x) = g(x)  q(x) + r(x).
(II) Synthetic Division. When the divisor g(x) = x – a, where a is a constant, then q(x) is a polynomial with degree
n – 1 if the degree of f(x) is n, and the remainder r is a constant. Write
f(x) = anxn + an – 1 xn – 1 +...+ a1x + a0,
q(x) = bn – 1 xn – 1 + bn – 2 xn – 2 + ... + b1x + b0.
Since
f(x) = (x – a) (bn – 1 xn – 1 + bn – 2 xn – 2 +  + b1x + b0) + r

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= bn – 1 xn + (bn – 2 – abn – 1)xn – l + (bn – 3 – abn – 2)xn – 2
+  + (b0 – ab1)x – ab0 + r,
by the comparison of the coefficients of f{x), we have
bn – 1 = an, bn – 1 = an – 1, + abn – 1,  , b0 = a1 + ab1, r = a0 + ab0.
Thus, the following operation table is obtained :
a an an – 1 an – 2 ... a1 a0
+) abn – 1 abn – 2 ... ab1 ab0

bn – 1 bn – 2 bn – 3 ... b0 r

(III) Remainder Theorem and Factor Theorem

Theorem I. The Remainder Theorem: For any constant a, a polynomial f(x) of degree n  1 can be written in
the form f(x) = (x – a)q(x) + r, q(x) is a polynomial of degree n – l, and r = f(a).
For any given constants a and b, a polynomial f(x) of degree n  2 can be written in the form f(x) = (x – a)
(x – b)q(x) + r(x), where q(x) is a polynomial of degree n – 2, and the remainder r(x) is zero polynomial or has
degree 1 or zero.
Theorem II. The Factor Theorem: A polynomial f(x) has the factor (x – a) if and only if f(a) = 0.
Theorem III. For a polynomial with integral coefficients f(x) = anxn + an – 1 xn – 1 +  + a1x + a0, if it has the factor

q
(x – ), where p, q are two relatively prime integers, then q is a factor of a0, and p is a factor of an.
p

q
Proof. By the factor theorem, f   = 0, therefore
p
n n 1
q q q
0 = an   + an – 1   + . . . + a 1   + a0
p
  p p

0 = anqn + an – 1 pqn – 1 +...+ a1pn – 1 q + a0pn,

– a0pn = (anqn – 1 + an – 1pqn – 2 + ... + a1pn – 1)q,
so q | a0pn, which implies that q | a0 since (p, q) = 1. Similarly, we have
–anqn = (an – 1 qn – 1 + an – 1pqn – 2 + ... + a1pn – 2 q + a) pn – 1) p,
so p | anqn, which implies p | an since (p, q) = 1.
(IV)The Factorization of Symmetric or Cyclic Polynomials. A polynomial of multi-variables is called symmetric
if the polynomial does not change by any permutat ion of its variables . For example,
x + y + z,x2 + y2 + z2,xyz, etc..
A symmetric expression containing two variables x and y can be always factorized as a product of factors
expressed in terms of the basic symmetric expressions (x + y), xy; a symmetric expression containing three
variables x, y, z can be always factorized as a product of factors expressed in terms of the basic symmetric
expressions (x + y + z), xy + yz + zx, xyz.
A polynomial of multi-variables is called cyclic if after changing all its variables cyclically the resulting polynomial
does not change. For example, xy + yz +zx, x2y + y2z + z2x, (x + y) (y + z) (z + x), etc.. A symmetric polynomial
must be cyclic, but the inverse is not true.
If a cyclic polynomial has a factor, then the expressions obtained by cyclically changing its variables of the factor
are all factors of the polynomial, since the factorization of the polynomial is also cyclic. Based on this feature, we
can consider one of the variables as the principal one, and the others as constants at the moment, so that we get
a polynomial of single variable. Then it is easy to find a factor by using the factor theorem, and using above cyclic
feature of the factors, we can obtain the other factors at once. Finally, if there are a few constant coefficients to
be determined, then the coefficient-determining method is useful for this.
Solved Examples 1.2
4 3 2
Ex.1 Factorise : 6x – 19x – 23x + 10x + 8
Sol. Let f (x) = 6x4 – 19x3 – 23x2 + 10x + 8
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on hit and trial basis, we find that f(–1) = 0 and f (4) = 0
(x + 1) as well as (x – 4) = is a factor f (X).
So, (x + 1) (x – 4) = x2 – 3x – 4 is a factor f (x).
on dividing f (x) = 6x4 – 19x3 – 23x2 + 10x + 8 by (x2 – 3x – 4),
we get (6x2 – x – 2).
6x4 – 19x3 – 23x2 + 10x + 8 = (x2 – 3x – 4) (6x2 – x – 2)
= (x + 1) (x – 4) (6x2 – 4x + 3x – 2)
= (x + 1) (x – 4) [2x(3x – 2) + 1(3x – 2)]
= (x + 1) (x – 4) (3x – 2) (2x + 1)
Ex.2 The number of the form (34n – 2 + 26n – 3 + 1) where ‘n’ is a positive integer, is divided by 17. Find the remainder.
Sol. ak + bk is divisible by a + b if k is odd.
 aK + bk = M (a + b) (1)
 34n – 2 + 26n – 3 + 1 = 32(2n – 1) + 23(2n – 1) + 1
= 92n – 1 + 82n – 1 + 1
Now, 92n – 1 + 82n – 1 is of the form of ak + bk
 a = 9, b = 8 and 2n – 1 = k
Substituting in (1)
 92n – 1 + 82n – 1 + 1 = M (17) + 1
The required remainder is 1.
Ex.3 Solve : x3 – (x + 1)2 = 2001
Sol. Given x3 – (x + 1)2 = 2001
adding 1 on both sides
x3 + 1 – (x – 1)2 = 2002
(x + 1) (x2 – x + 1) – (x + 1)2 = 2002
(x + 1) (x2 – x + 1 – x – 1) = 2002
(x + 1) (x2 – 2x) = 2002
(x + 1) x(x – 2) = 2002
(x + 1) x(x – 2) = 14 × 13 × 11 [2002 = 14 × 13 × 11]
x = 13.
Ex.4 Find the remainder when x100 is divided by x2 – 3x + 2.
Sol. We know that
Dividend = Divisor × Quotient + Remainder (1)
Where the remainder is one degree less than the divisor
given divisor = x2 – 3x + 2
= (x – 1) (x – 2)
As the divisor is the second degree, the remainder will be of the first degree of the form Px + R
Applying (1) we have,
x100 = (x – 1) (x – 2) Q(x) + (Px + R) (1)
Where Q(x) is the quotient
Putting x = 1 in (1) we get
1100 = (1 – 1) (1 – 2)Q(1) + P + R
 1=P+R
 P+R=1 .....(2)
putting x = 2 in (1), we get
2100 = (2 – 1) (2 – 2)Q(2) + 2P + R
2P + R = 2100 .....(3)
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substracting (2) from (3)
(2P + R) – (P + R) = 2100 – 1
P = 2100 – 1
Now, substituting the value of P in (2)
we have (2100 – 1) + R = 1
R = 2 – 2100
The remainder = Px + R
= (2100 – 1)x + (2 – 2100)
1 1 1
Ex.5 Real numbers a,b,c satisfying the equations a + b + c = 26,   = 28.
a b c
a b c a c b
Find the value of     
b c a c b a
Sol. Given a + b + c = 26 (1)

1 1 1
  = 28 (2)
a b c
 (1) × (2)

1 1 1
 (a + b + c)     = 26 × 28
a b c

 a a b b c c 
  1  b  c  a  c  a  b  1  = 728
 

a b c a c b
  b  c  a  c  b  a  + 3 = 728
 

a b c a c b
      = 725
b c a c b a
Ex.6 The numbers a, b, c are the digits of a three digit number which satisfy 49a + 7b + c = 286. What is the value
of 100 a + 10b + c.
Sol. Given 49a + 7b + c = 286
7(7a + b) + c = 286 (1)
A number ‘7’ divides 7 (7a + b)
remainder on L.H.S. = c
Remainder obtained by dividing 286 by ‘7’ gives the remainder = 6
c = 6.
49a + 7b + 6 = 286
49a + 7b + 6 = 286
49a + 7b = 280
7a + b = 40 (2)
‘7a’ is divisible by ‘7’
 remainder on L.H.S = b
Remainder obtained by dividing ‘40’ by 7 gives the remainder = 5
b = 5
7a = 35 from (2)

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a = 5
 value of 100 a + 10 b + c = 100 × 5 + 10 × 5 + 6
= 500 + 50 + 6
= 556.
31
Ex.7 Given that (1 – x) (1 + x + x2 + x3 + x4) = and x is a rational number. Then find the value of
32
(1 + x + x2 +x3 + x4 + x5)

1
Sol. (1 – x) (1 + x + x2 + x3 + x4) = 1 – x5 = 1 –
32

1 1
i.e., x5 = or x = .
32 2

1
1
1  x6 64 = 63 .
 1 + x + x2 + ... + x5 = =
1x 1 32
1
2
Ex.8 Find the number of real solutions of the equation 1 + x + x2 + x3 = x4 + x5.
Sol. 1 + x + x2 + x3 = x4 + x5
(1 + x) (1 + x2) = x4  (1 + x)
(1 + x) (x4 – x2 – 1) = 0
(1 + x) (4x4 + 4x2 – 4) = 0
(1 + x) [(2x2 – 1)2 – 5] = 0
x + 1 = 0 i.e. x = – 1
or (2x2 – 1)2 = 5

2x2 – 1 = ± 5

If 2x2 = 5 +1

5 1
x= 
2
(or)

if 2x2 = – 5 + 1, x has no real solution.

There are 3 real solutions in x.
Ex.9 It is known that the roots of the equation
x5 + 3x4 – 4044118x3 – 12132362x2 – 12132363x – 20112 = 0
are all integers. How many distinct roots does the equation have?
Sol. Let the roots be n1 n2  n3  n4  n5. Then the polynomial can be factorized as
(x – n1) (x – n2) (x – n3) (x – n4) (x – n5) = x5 – (n1 + n2 + n3 + n4 + n5)x4 +– n1n2n3n4n5.
Compare the coefficients: n1 + n2 + n3 + n4 + n5 = – 3 and n1n2n3n4n5 = 20112. Then
n1 = –2011, n2 = n3 = n4 = – 1, n5 = 2011.

x y z a b c x2 y 2 z2
Ex.10 Suppose    2 and   = 0 . Find 2  2  2 .
a b c x y z a b c

9
IOQM/NMTC
2
x y z x2 y2 z2  xy yz zx  x2 y 2 z2 xyz  c a b 
Sol. 2=     =    2  
 ab bc ca  = 2
 2  2 2    .
a b c a 2
b 2
c 2
  a b c abc  z x y 

x2 y 2 z2
So    2.
a 2 b2 c 2
Ex.11 Let x be a real number. If a = 2011x + 9997, b = 2011x + 9998 and c = 2011x + 9999, find the value of a2 +
b2 + c2 – ab – bc – ca.
Sol. We have
1
a2 + b2 + c2 – ab – bc – ca = [(a – b)2 + (b – c)2 + (c – a)2]
2
1
=  [(–1)2 + (–1)2 + 22] = 3.
2
Ex.12 It is given that a, b and c are three real numbers such that a + b = c – 1 and ab = c2 – 7c + 14. Find the largest
possible value of a2 + b2.
Sol. The roots of the equation x2 – (c – 1)x + c2 – 7c + 14 = 0 are a and b, which are real. Thus the discriminant of
the equation is non-negative. In other words,
(c – 1)2 – 4(c2 – 7c + 14) = –3c2 + 26c – 55 = (–3c + 11) (c – 5) 2  0.
11
So we have  c  5. Together with the equalities
3
a2 + b2 = (a + b)2 – 2ab
= (c – 1)2 – 2(c2 – 7c + 14)
= –c2 + 12c – 27= 9 – ( c – 6)2,
we see that maximum value of a2 + b2 is 8 when c = 5.
Ex.13 Let x0 be the largest (real) root of the equation x4 – 16x – 12 = 0. Evaluate [10x0].
(where [] is greatest integer function)

Sol. Since x4 – 16x – 12 = x4 + 4x2 + 4 – 4(x2 + 4x + 4) = (x2 – 2x – 2) (x2 + 2x + 6), we conclude that x0 = 1 + 3

and so 1 + 2.89 < x0 < 1 + 3.24. Consequently, [10x0] = 27.

Ex.14 Given that
 +  +  = 14,
2 + 2 + 2 = 84,
3 + 3 + 3 = 584,
find max {, , }.
Sol. We consider the polynomial
P(t) = t3 + bt2 + ct + d.
Suppose the root of the equation P(t) = 0 are x,y and z. Then
– b = x + y + z = 14,
1 1
c = xy + xz + yz = ((x + y + z)2 – x2 – y2 – z2) = (142 – 84) = 56
2 2
and
x3 + y3 + z3 + 3d = (x + y + z) (x2 + y2 + z2 – xy – xz – yz).
Solving for b, c and d, we get b = –14, c = 30 and d = – 64. Finally, since t3 – 14t2 + 30t – 64 = 0 implies
t = 2 or t = 4 or t = 8, we conclude that max {, , } = 8.
Ex.15 A real-valued function f satisfies the relation

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 Mathematics
2 2 2
f(x + x) + 2f(x – 3x + 2) = 9x – 15x

for all real values of x. Find f(5).

Sol. Given the original equation

f(x2 + x) + 2f(x2 – 3x + 2) = 9x2 –15x,

we replace x by 1 – x and obtain

f(x2 – 3x + 2) + 2f(x2 + x) = 9 (1 – x)2 – 15 (1 – x) = 9x2 – 3x – 6.

Eliminating f(x2 – 3x + 2) from the two equations, we obtain

3f(x2 + x) = 9x2 + 9x – 12,

thereby f(x2 + x) = 3x2 + 3x – 4 = 3(x2 + x) – 4,

hence f(5) = 3(5) – 4 = 11

Ex.16 Let a and b be real numbers such that a > b, 2a + 2b = 75 and 2–a + 2–b = 12–1. Find the value of 2a – b + 2.

75 17 1
Sol. = (2a + 2b) (2–a + 2–b) = 2 + 2a – b + 2b – a. Then aa – b + 2b – a = =4+ .
12 4 4
Since a > b, we obtain 2a – b = 4. So 2a–b+2 = 16

x 3  x  120
Ex.17 Find the sum of all positive integers x such that is an integer..
(x  1)(x  1)

x 3  x  120 120
Sol. Note that x 2 . It is an integer if and only if (x2 – 1) is a factor of 120.
(x  1)(x  1) x 1
Then x2 – 1 = ±1 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 12 15 20 24 30 40 60 120.

Hence, x = 0, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11; and 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 11 = 25.

xy
Ex.18 Suppose x and y are real numbers satisfying x2 + y2 – 22x – 20y + 221 = 0. Find .
10
Sol. Complete the square: (x – 11)2 + (y – 10)2 = 0. Then x = 11 and y = 10

Ex.19 If the roots of the equation x2 + 3x – 1 = 0 are also the roots of the equation x4 + ax2 + bx+ c = 0, find the value
of (a + b + 4c)2.

Sol. We have the factorization

(x2 + 3x – 1) (x2 + mx – c) = x4 + ax2 + bx + c.

Comparing coefficients give 3 + m = 0, – 1 – c + 3m = a and – 3c – m = b. We can solve these equations to

obtain a + b + 4c = – 7.

Ex.20 Let a, b, c and d be four distinct positive real numbers that satisfy the equations

(a2012 – c2012) (a2012 – d2012) = 2011

and (b2012 – c2012) (b2012 – d2012) = 2011

(cd)2012  (ab) 2012  111

Find the value of .
100
Sol. Let A = a2012, B = b2012, C = c2012 and D = d2012. Then A and B are distinct roots of the equation (x – C )
(x – D) = 2011. Thus the product of roots, AB = CD – 2011 and CD – AB = 2011.
Ex.21 Suppose x, y, z and  are positive real numbers such that

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IOQM/NMTC
yz = 6x
xz = 6y
xy = 6z
x 2 + y2 + z 2 = 1
Find the value of (xyz)–1.
Sol. Multiplying the first three equations by x, y and z respectively, we have
xyz = 6x2 = 6y2 = 6z2
1 1
Since  0 and x2 + y2 + z2 = 1, we deduce that x2 = y2 = z2 = , so x = y = z =
3 3
xyz x3 1
and = 2
 2
 .
6x 2x 6 3
Hence (xyz)–1 = ( 3 )3 6 3 = 54

2
Ex.22 Given that f(x) is a polynomial of degree 2012, and that f(k) = for k = 1, 2, 3, · · · , 2013, find the value of 2014
k
× f(2014).
Sol. Let g(x) = xf(x) – 2, hence g(x) is a polynomial of degree 2013. Since g(1) = g(2) = g(3) =  = g(2013) = 0, we
must have
g(x) = (x – 1) (x – 2) (x – 3)  (x – 2012) (x – 2013)
2
for some . Also, g(0) = – 2 = –  2013!, we thus have  = Hence,
2013!
2
g(2014) = (2013!) = 2014  f(2014) – 2
2013!
concluding that 2014  f(2014) = 4
Ex.23 There are a few integers n such that n2 + n + 1 divides n2013 + 61 . Find the sum of the squares of these integers.
Sol. Since n3 – 1 = (n – 1) (n2 + n + 1), we know that n2 + n + 1 divides n3 – 1.
Also, since n2013 – 1 = (n3)671 – 1, we also know that n2 + n + 1 divides n2013 – 1. As
n2013 + 61 = n2013 – 1 + 62,
we must have that n2 + n + 1 divides n2013 + 61 if and only if n2 + n + 1 divides 62.
Case (i) : If n2 + n + 1 = 1, then n = 0, – 1.
Case (ii) : If n2 + n + 1 = 2, there is no integer solution for n.
Case (iii) : If n2 + n + 1 = 31, then n = 6, – 5.
Case (iv) : If n2 + n + 1 = 62, there is no integer solution for n.
Thus, all the integer values of n are 0, –1, 6, –5. Hence the sum of squares is 1 +36 + 25 = 62.
Ex.24 Suppose the real numbers x and y satisfy the equations
x3 – 3x2 + 5x = 1 and y3 – 3y2 + 5y = 5
Find x + y .
Sol. From x3 – 3x2 + 5x = 1, we have
(x – 1)3 +2(x – 1) = –2,
and from y3 – 3y2 + 5y = 5, we have
(y – 1)3 + 2(y – 1) = 2.
Thus

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3 3
0 = (x – 1) + 2(x – 1) + (y – 1) + 2(y – 1)

= (x + y – 2) ((x – 1)2 – (x – 1)(y – 1) + (y – 1)2) + 2(x + y – 2)

= (x + y – 2) (2 + (x – 1)2 – (x – 1)(y – 1) + (y – 1)2).

For any real numbers x and y, we always have

(x – 1)2 – (x – 1) (y – 1) + (y – 1)2  0

and thus x + y – 2 = 0, implying that x + y = 2.

Ex.25 The product of two of the four roots of the quartic equation x4 – 18x3 + kx2 + 200x – 1984 = 0 is – 32. Determine
the value of k.

Sol. Let a, b, c, d be the four roots of x4 – 18x3 + kx2 + 200x – 1984 = 0 such that

ab = –32. Then

a + b + c + d = 18,

ab + ac + ad + bc + bd + cd = k,

abc + abd + acd + bcd = –200,
abcd = –1984.

Since ab = – 32 and abcd = –1984, we have cd = 62. Then, from abc + abd + acd + bcd = – 200 we have

– 200 = – 32c – 32d + 62a + 62b = – 32(c + d) + 62(a + b).

Solving this equation together with the equation a + b + c + d = 18 gives that

a + b = 4, c + d = 14.

From ab + ac + ad + bc + bd + cd = k, we have

k = ab + ac + ad + bc + bd + cd = – 32 + ac + ad + bc + bd + 62

= 30 + (a + b) (c + d) = 86.

Ex.26 How many integer solutions does the equation (x3 – x – 1)x + 2013 = 1 have?

Sol. If x + 2013 = 0, then x = – 2013. Suppose x + 2013  0. Then x3 – x – 1 = ±1.

If x3 – x – 1 = 1, there is no integer solution; if x3 – x – 1 = –1, then x = 0, 1, –1. Since x + 2013 is even,

x = 1 or x = – 1.

1  10x  n terms

Ex.27 Let f(x) = . Set f n  f  f      f . Find the value of

10  100x

1 1 1  1

f    f 2    f 3    ...  f 6000    500.
2 2 2 2

1  10x 1 1  10x
Sol. Let f(x) = . Then f 2 (x) = – , f 3 (x) = and f 4 (x) = x. Then
10  100x 100x 10  100x

1 1  1  1 1 1 1 
f    f 2    ...  f 6000   = 1500 f    f 2    f 2    f 4   
2 2 2  2 2 2  2 

 3 1 1 1
= 1500        595.
 10 50 15 2

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IOQM/NMTC
EXERCISE - 1.2
1. Given 3x2 + x = 1, find the value of 6x3 – x2 –3x + 100.
2. Given a4 + a3 + a2 + a + 1 = 0. Find the value of a2000 + a2010 + 1.
3. If (x2 – x – 1)n = a2nx2n + a2n – 1 x2n – 1 +...+ a1x2 + a1x + a0, find the value of a0 + a2 + a4 + ... + a2n.
4. Find a natural number n, such that 28 + 210 + 2n is a perfect square number.
5. Given that f (x) is a polynomial of degree 3, and its remainders are 2x – 5 and –3x + 4 when divided by x2 – 1 and
x2 – 4 respectively. Find the f (–3).
6. Factorize x4 + y4 + (x + y)4.
7. Given that f (x) = x2 + ax + b is a polynomial with integral coefficients. If f is a common factor of polynomials g(x) =
x4 – 3x3 + 2x2 – 3x + 1 and h(x) = 3x4 – 9x3 + 2x2 + 3x – 1, find f (x).
8. For any non-negative integers m, n, p, prove that the polynomial x 3m + x3n + 1 + x3p + 2 has the factor
x2 + x + 1.
9. When f (x) = x3 + 2x2 + 3x + 2 is divided by g(x) which is a polyniomial with integer coefficients, the quotient and
remainder are both h(x). Given that h is not a constant, find g and h.
10. Find an integer x that satisfies the equation
x5 – 101x3 – 999x2 + 100900 = 0.

1
11. It is given that x = . Find the value of
2 3

x6 – 2 3x 5 – x4 + x3 – 4x2 + 2x – 3 .

12. Let f(x) = a0 + a1x + a2x2 + ... + anxn, where ai are nonnegative integers for i = 0, 1, 2,..., n. If f(1) = 21 and

f(10)  3
f(25) = 78357, find the value of .
100

13. Let m  n be two real numbers such that m2 = n + 2 and n2 = m + 2. Find the value of 4mn – m3 – n3.

a 2  3a  3
14. There are a few integer values of a such that is an integer. Find the sum of all these integer values of a.
a 2
15. Suppose that a, b, x and y are real numbers such that

ax + by = 3, ax2 + by2 = 7, ax3 + by3 = 16 and ax4 + by4 = 42.

Find the value of ax5 + by5.

S
16. Let the sum of the coefficients of the polynomial is S. Find .
16

(4x2 – 4x + 3)4 (4 + 3x – 3x2)2.

17. Suppose f is a function satisfying f(x + x–1) = x6 + x–6, for all x  0. Determine 400 – f(3).

18. Find the value of

x 4  6x 3  2x 2  18x  23
when x = 19  8 3 .
x 2  8x  15

19. Let P be a cubic polynomial with P(0) = k, P(1) = 2k, and P(–1) = 3k. If P(2) + P(–2) = JK. What is J × 5 ?

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 Mathematics
100 200 2
20. Find the remainder when (x – 1) + (x – 2) is divided by x – 3x + 2.

21. Given that x and y are real numbers satisfying the following equations :

x + xy + y = 2 + 3 2 and x2 + y2 = 6,

then the value of |x + y + 1|= a  b . Find the product of a and b.

1 1
22. Given that a + =b+ – 2 and a – b + 2  0, find the value of ab – a + b.
a 1 b 1

23. If |x|+ x + 5y = 2 and |y|– y + x = 7, find the value of (x + y)3.

1
24. Let x be a real number such that x2 – 15x + 1 = 0. Find the last two digits of x4 + .
x4

25. If x, y and z are real numbers such that x + y + z =9 and xy +yz + zx = 24, find the largest possible value of z.

(20202  20100)(201002  1002 )(20002  20100)

26. Evaluate .
10(20106  106 )

27. Let the value(s) of x is such that 8xy –12y + 2x – 3 = 0 is true for all values of y. Then find (16x).

28. How many real numbers x satisfy the equation 32x + 2 – 3x + 3 – 3x + 3 = 0?

29. For how many integers is the number x4 – 51x2 + 50 negative?

30. What is the sum of all the roots of the equation

5|x| 8  x2  16 .

1.3 Quadratic equations

Definition
1. The quality ax2 + bx + c = 0 is called a quadratic equation, where a, b, c are real constant coefficients with
a  0, x is the unknown variable.
2. A real number  is called a root or solution of the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 if it satisfies the equation,
i.e. a()2 + b + c = 0.
3. For the quadratic equation, the value  = b2 – 4ac is called the discriminant of the equation.

Basic Methods for Finding Roots of ax2 + bx + c = 0

2
 b  4ac  b2
(i) Based on ax 2  bx  c  a  x    , the roots  and  can be given by
 2a  4a

b   b  
 ,  .
2a 2a
(ii) By factorizing ax2 + bx + c to the form a(x – a1) (a – a2), the roots then are a1 and a2. All the methods for
factorizations can be used here, including multiplication formulae, factor thorem and observation method, etc.
(iii) For quadratic equations with absolute values, it is needed to convert them to normal equations by substitution or
by partitioning the range of x piecewise to remove the absolute signs.
Relation between Discriminant and Existence of Real Roots
1. Use  to determine the existence of real roots without solving the equation:
15
IOQM/NMTC
(i)  > 0  the equation has two distinct real roots.
(ii)  = 0  the equation has two equal real roots.
(iii)  < 0  the equation has no real roots.
2. Geometrical explanation of the relation is as follows: since the real roots of the quadratic equation are the
x-coordinates of the points of the image  of the function y = ax2 +bx + c (which is a parabola) with the
x-axis.
(i)  > 0  the curve  intersects the x-axis at two distinct points.
(ii)  = 0  the curve  is tangent to the x-axis at one point.
(iii)  < 0  the curve  and the x-axis have no point of intersection.
Relation between Roots and Coefficients of Quadratic Equation
Viete Theorem and Newton Identity are two important results in discussing the relation between roots and coefficients
of polynomial equations. As the fundamental knowledge about the quadratic equation, in this chapter we only
mention Viete theorem and its some applications.
Therorem I.
(Viete Theorem) If x1 and x2 are the real roots of the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 (a  0), then

 b
 x1  x 2   a

x x 2  c
 1 a
Proof.
By the factor theorem, the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 (a  0) has roots x1 and x2 if and only if
ax2 + bx + c = a(x – x1)(x – x2), x  R.
Expanding the right hand side yields ax2 – a (x1 + x2) x + ax1x2, so the comparision of coefficients of both sides gives
the conclusion at once.
Or, the conclusion can be verified by applying the formula for roots.
Note: The method used here can be used also for proving the generalized Viete Theorem for polynomial equation
of degree n (n  2).
Theorem II
(Inverse Theorem) For any two real numbers  and , the equation
x2 – (+ )x +  = 0
has  and  as its two real roots.
The proof is obvious since the left hand side of the given equation can be factorized to the form
(x – ) (x – ).
When the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 is given, i.e. a, b, c are given, by Viete Theorem, not only the roots
x1 and x2 can be investigated, but many expressions in x1 and x2 can be given by a, b, c provided the expression is
a function of x1 + x2 and x1x2, for example, the following expressions are often used:

b2 2c
x12  x22  (x1  x 2 )2  2x1 x 2   ;
a2 a


(x1  x2 )2  (x1  x2 )2  4x1 x 2 
a2
1 1 x1  x2 b/a b
   
x1 x 2 x1 x2 c/a c

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 Mathematics
1 1  x12  x 22 2 2
 (x1  x 2 )  2x1x 2 b  2ac
2
 2   
x1 x 2  x12 x22  (x1 x 2 )2 c2
x13 + x23 = (x1 + x2) (x12 – x1x2 + x22)
3
 b bc
 (x1  x 2 )[(x1  x 2 )2  3x1x 2 ]      3 2 .
 a  a
Based on the above, it is possible to establish new equations with required roots by the inverse Viete theorem.
Conversely, by applying the Viete Theorem, the given information on roots of a quadratic equation with parameters
can be used to determine the values or ranges of the parameters. To construct quadratic equations by using the
inverse Viete theorem can be also used to determine the values of some algebraic expressions. The examples below
will explain these applications.
Solved Examples 1.3
a3  1
Ex.1 Given that a is a root of the equation x2 – x – 3 = 0. Evaluate .
a  a 4  a 3  a2
5

Sol. a2 – a – 3 = 0 yields a2 – a = 3. On the other hand,

a3 + 1 = (a + 1) (a2 – a + 1)
a – a – a + a = a2 (a3 – a2 – a + 1) = a2 [a2(a–1)–(a–1)]
5 4 3 2

= a2 (a – 1)(a2–1) = a2(a + 1) (a –1)2

= (a + 1) (a2 – a)2,
a3  1 a2  a  1 4 4
5 4 3 2
 2
 2  .
It follows that a a a a 3 9

a2  a 
For quadratic equations with parameters, the information on root can conversely determine the range of the
parameters, as shown in the following examples.
Ex.2 Given that the equation in x
mx2 – 2(m + 2)x + m + 5 = 0
has no real root, how about the real roots of the following equation
(m – 6)x2 –2(m + 2)x + m + 5 = 0?
Sol. The equation has no real root implies m  0 and its discriminant is negative, so
[–2(m + 2)]2 –4m(m + 5) = – 4m + 16 < 0, i.e. m > 4.
For the equation,

3
(i) When m  6, becomes – 16x + 6 = 0, its solution is x  .
8
(ii) Whem m  6, then is a quadratic equation, and its discriminant is given by
4(m + 2)2 – 4(m – 6)(m + 5) = 4 (10m + 4) > 0 ( m > 4), so has two distinct real roots for this case.
Thus, has two distinct real roots for this case.
3
Thus, has one root x  when m = 6, or two distinct real roots when m  6.
8
Ex.3 x1 and x2 are roots of the equation x2 + x – 3 = 0. Find the value of x13  4x22  19.

Sol. By Viete Theorem, x1 + x2 = –1, x1x2 = –3. Let A = x13  4x22  19,B  x32  4x12  19.

3
 3 2
 2
A + B = x1  x 2  4 x1  x 2  38 
2 2
  x1  x 2   x1  x 2   3x1 x2   4  x1  x 2   2x1 x2   38
   
  1  9  4 1  6   38  0,

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IOQM/NMTC
3
3 2
 
2
A – B  x1  x 2  4 x1  x 2 
2
  x1  x2   x1  x2   x1 x2  4(x1  x2 ) 
 
= (x1 – x2)[1 + 3 – 4] =0
Thus, 2A = (A + B) + (A – B) = 0, i.e. A = 0.
Ex.4 Given that m is a real number not less than –1, such that the equation in x.
x2 + 2(m – 2)x +m2 – 3m + 3 = 0 has two distinct real roots x1 and x2.

(i) If x12  x22  6, find the value of m.

mx12 mx 22
(ii) Find the maximum value of  .
1  x1 1  x2
Sol. The equation has two distinct real roots implies that  > 0, so
 = 4(m – 2)2 – 4(m2 – 3m + 3) = – 4m + 4 > 0.
Thus, –1  m < 1.
(i) By Viete Theorem, x1 + x2 = –2(m – 2), x1x2 = m2 – 3m + 3, so

6  x12  x22  (x1  x2 )2  2x1 x2

= 4(m – 2)2 –2(m2 – 3m + 3) =2m2 – 10m +10,

5  17
i.e. m2 – 5m + 2 = 0, so m  . Since –1  m < 1,
2

5  17
m .
2
mx12 mx 22 m[x12 (1  x 2 )  x22 (1  x1 )]
(ii)  
1  x1 1  x 2 (1  x1 )(1  x2 )

m[x12  x22  x1 x 2 (x1  x 2 )]

=
x1x 2  (x1  x 2 )  1

m[(2m2  10m  10)  2(m2  3m  3)(m  2)]


m2  3m  3  2(m  2)  1

m(2m3  8m2  8m  2)
  2(m2  3m  1)
m2  m
2 2
 3 5  3 5
 2  m     2  1     10 since –1  m < 1.
 2 2  2 2

mx12 mx22
Thus, the maximum value of  is 10.
1  x 1 1  x2

3 2
Ex.5 The sum of the roots of the equation x x
 ( x ) x is :
2/ 3
Sol. xx  xx / 2
x3
 x = 1 or x2/3 = x/2  x2 =
8
 x3 – 8x2 = 0  x2(x – 8) = 0  x = 0, x = 8.
The sum of the roots = 8 + 1 = 9.
Ex.6 The value of x which satisfies the equation 52.54.56... 52x = (0.04)–28 is _____

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 Mathematics
2 4 6 2x 2 + 4 + 6 +....+ 2x
Sol. 5 . 5 . 5 ... 5 =5
x( x 1)
2
= 52(1 + 2 + 3 +...+ x) = 5 2

2+x
 5x = (0.04)–28

2 1 28
 5x +x ( )  5 56
25
 x2 + x – 56 = 0
(x + 8) (x –7) = 0
x = 7.
Ex.7 x, y, z are real numbers such that (x + y)2 = 16, (y + z)2 = 36, (z + x)2 = 81, x + y + z > 3. The number of
possible values of (x + y + z) is______.
Sol. x + y = 4, y + z = 6, various combinations of 2(x + y + z) are 19, 11, 7, 1,–1, 7, –11, –19.
7 11 19
x+y+z= , or .  x + y + z > 3.
2 2 2
Ex.8 If one root of a  x  b  x  a  b is 2012, then a possible value of a – b is

Sol. a  x  b  x  a  b.
Squaring both sides we get,

a  x  b  x  2 (a  x)(b  x)  a  b  2 ab

 2 (a  x)(b  x)  2 ab

(a – x) (b + x) = ab
ab – bx + ax – x2 = ab
 x2 + bx – ax = 0
x(x + b – a) =0
 x = 0 or x = a – b
 a – b = 2012.

Ex.9 The value of 1  2008 1  2009 1  2010 1  2011  2013 is______

Sol. 1+20112013 = (2012 – 1) (2012 + 1) + 1

= (2012)2

1  2010  2012 = 2011

1  2009  2011 = 2010

1  2008  2010 = 2009

Ex.10 p and q are primes. It is given that the quadratic equation x2 – px + q = 0 has distinct real roots.
Then (p + 2q) is
Sol. If  and  are the distinct real roots of x2 – px + q = 0 where p, q are primes, p2 – 4q > 0. As  = q p r i m e
number, we have  = 1,  = q or  = q,  = 1. Hence  +  = p implies q = p – 1. As both q and p are primes,
p = 3, q = 2. Hence p + 2q = 3 + 4 = 7.
Ex.11 It is given that a, b, c are positive integers such that the roots of the three quadratic equations
x2 – 2ax + b = 0, x2 – 2bx + c = 0, x2 – 2cx + a = 0

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IOQM/NMTC
are all positive integers. Determine the maximum value of the product abc.
Sol. We shall show that the only possible values of a, b, c are a = b = c = 1 so that abc = 1. From the first equation,
we note that a2 – b = (x – a)2 is a perfect square less than a2. Thus a2 – b  (a – 1)2. That is b  2a – 1. Likewise
c  2b – 1 and a  2c – 1. Combining these inequalities, we have a  8a – 7 or a  1. Thus a = 1. Similarly b =
c = 1.
Ex.12 Let  and  be the roots of the quadratic equation x2 + 2bx + b = 1. Find the smallest possible value of
( – )2.
Sol. Since x2 + 2bx + (b – 1) = 0, we have  = b – 1 and +  = – 2b. Then
(a – )2 = (a + )2 – 4 = ( –2b)2 – 4(b – 1)
= 4(b2 – b + 1) = 4[(b – 1/2)2 + 3/4]  3
The equality holds if and only if b = 1/2.

EXERCISE - 1.3

1. For what values of b do the equations:

1988x2 + bx + 8891 = 0 and 8891x2 + bx + 1988 = 0 have a common root?
2. Given that the equation in x has at least a real root, find the range of m.
(m2 – 1)x2 –2(m + 2)x + 1 = 0
3. If the equation is x has real roots, then find the value of a and b.
x2 + 2(1 + a)x + (3a2 + 4ab + 4b2 + 2) = 0
2
4. Given that a, b are roots of the equation x2 – 7x + 8 = 0, where a > b. Find the value of  32 without solving

the equation.
5. Both roots of the quadratic equation x2 – 63x + k = 0 are prime numbers. The number of possible values of k is
6. Find the sum of all possible values of a such that the following equation has real root in x:
(x – a)2 + (x2 – 3x + 2)2 = 0.
7. Let p be a real number such that the equation 2y2 – 8y = p has only one solution.
Then find the value of p + 64.
8. Let a, b and c be the lengths of the three sides of a triangle. Suppose a and b are the roots of the equation
x2 + 4(c + 2) = (c + 4)x,
and the largest angle of the triangle is x°. Find the value of x.
9. How many ordered pairs of integers (x, y) satisfy the equation
x2 + y2 = 2(x + y) + xy?
is an integer. Find the value of n.
10. Suppose that the two roots of the equation
1 1 2
  0
x2  10x  29 x 2  10x  45 x 2  10x  69
are  and . Find the value of (–).
2
11. Let a and b be two integers. Suppose that 7  4 3 is a root of the equation x + ax + b = 0. Find the value of b
– a.
12. Suppose a and b are the roots of x2 + x sin  + 1 = 0 while c and d are the roots of the equation
1 1 1 1
x2 + x cos  – 1 = 0. Find the value of    .
a 2 b2 c 2 d 2

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2 2
13. Let a and b be the roots of x + 2000x + 1 = 0 and let c and d be the roots of x – 2008x + 1 = 0. Now P is defined
as P = (a + c) (b + c) (a – d) (b – d). Then find sum of all the digits of P

14. Given that (m – 2) is a positive integer and it is also a factor of 3m2 – 2m+ 10. Find the sum of all such values
of m.

15. Let a and b be the roots of the equation x2 – mx + 2 = 0. Suppose that a + (1/b) and b + (1/a) are the roots of the
equation x2 – px + q = 0. What is 2q?

16. The quadratic equation x2 + mx + n = 0 has roots that are twice those of x2 + px + m = 0, and none of m, n, and
n
p is zero. What is the value of ?
p
17. What is the negative of the sum of the reciprocals of the roots of the equation

2003 1
x  1   0?
2004 x
18. Both roots of the quadratic equation x2 – 63x + k = 0 are prime numbers. The number of possible values of k is

19. Suppose that a and b are are nonzero real numbers, and that the equation x2 + ax + b = 0 has solutions a and b. Find
the value of (a – b).

20. The zeroes of the function f(x) = x2 – ax + 2a are integers. What is the sum of all possible values of a?

1.4 Miscellaneous equations

Linear Equations :

Usual Steps for Solving Equations

(i) Remove denominators : When each term of the given equation is multiplied by the L.C.M. of denominators,
all the denominators of the terms can be removed. After removing the denominators, the numerator of each
term is considered as whole as an algebraic expression, and should be put in brackets.
(ii) Remove brackets : We can remove brackets by using the distributive law and the rules for removing brackets.
Do not leave out any term inside the brackets, and change the signs of each term inside the brackets if there is
a "—" sign before the brackets.
(iii) Move terms : Move all the terms with unknown variable to one side of the equation and other terms to another
side of the equation according to the Principle for moving terms: when moving a term from one side to the
other side of an equation, its sign must be changed. All unmoved terms keep their signs unchanged.
(iv) Combine like terms : After moving the terms, the like terms should be combined, so that the given equation is
in the form
ax = b
where a, b are constants but sometimes are unknown. An unknown constant in an equation is called a parameter
b
(v) Normalize the coefficient of x : When a  0, we have unique solution x = . If a = 0 but b  0, the equation
a
has no solution. If a = b = 0, any real value is a solution for x. In particular, when ‘a’ contains parameters, ‘a’
cannot be moved to the right as denominator unless it is not zero, and thus it is needed to discuss the value of a
on a case by case basis.
Remark : It is not needed to perform the above steps according to the order listed strictly, different orders are
needed for different questions.
System of Simultaneous Linear Equations
1. In general, the system of two equations of 2 variables can be expressed the form

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IOQM/NMTC
 a1 x  b1 y  c1,

a 2 x  b2 y  c 2 .
2. To eliminating one variable for solving the system, we use (i) operations on equations as usual; (ii) substitution
method. In many cases the method (i) is effective.

a1 b1
3. When a  b , the system has unique solution
2 2

c1b2  c2 b1 a1c2  c2c1

x = a b a b , y = a b a b
1 2 2 1 1 2 2 1

a1 b1 c1 a1 b1 c1
4. When a  b  c the system has two same equations, so it has infinitely many solutions, when a  b  c ,
2 2 2 2 2 2

the two equations are inconsistent, so it has no solution.

Important Formulae
Basic Multiplication Formulae
(1) (a – b) (a + b) = a2 – b2.
(2) (a ± b)2 = a2 ± 2ab + b2.
(3) (a ± b) (a2  ab + b2) = a3 ± b3.
Proof.
(a + b)(a2 – ab + b2) = a3 – a2b + ab2 + a2b – ab2 + b3 = a3 + b3.
Use ( – b) to replace b in above formula, we obtain
(a – b)(a2 + ab + b2) = a3 – b3.
(4) (a ± b)3 = a3 ± 3a2b + 3ab2 ± b3.
Proof.
(a + b)3 = (a + b) . (a + b)2 = (a + b) (a2 + 2ab + b2)
= a3 + 2a2b + ab2 + a2b + 2ab2 + b3
= a3 + 3a2b + 3ab2 + b3.
Use (– b) to replace b in above formula, we obtain
(a – b)3 = a3 – 3a2b + 3ab2 – b3.
(5) (a + b + c)2 = a2 + b2 + c2 + 2ab + 2bc + 2ca.
Proof
(a + b + c)2 = [(a + b + c]2 (a + b)2 + (a + b)c + c2
= a2 + 2ab + b2 + 2ac + 2bc + c2
= a2 + b2 + c2 + 2ab + 2bc + 2ca.
Generalization of Formulae
(1) (a – b)(a3 + a2b + ab2 + b3) = a4 – b4.
(2) (a – b)(a4 + a3b + a2b2 + ab3 + b4) = a5 – b5.
(3) (a – b)(an–1 + an–2b + ...... + abn–2 + bn–1) = an – bn for all for all = n  N.
Proof.
(a – b) (an–1 + an–2 b +.....+ abn–2 + bn–1)
= (an + an–1b + ..... + a2bn–2 + abn–1) – (an–1b + an–2b2 + ..... + abn–1 + bn)
= an – bn.
(4) (a + b) (an–1 – an–2b + ..... –abn–2 + bn–1) = an + bn for odd = n  N. .
Proof.
For odd n, by using (–b) to replace 6 in (3), we obtain
(a + b)(an–1 + an–2(–b) + an–3 (–b)2 + ...+ a(–b)n–2 + (–b)n–1) = an – (–6)n, therefore
(a + b)(an–1 an–2b + an–3b2 ...... – abn–2 + bn–1) = an + bn.
(5) (a1 + a2 +...+ an)2 = a12 + a22 + ... + a2n + 2a1a2 + 2a1a3 + .... + 2a1an +2a2a3 + ... + 2a2an +...+ 2an – 1an.

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Proof.
(a1 + a2 + ...+ an)2
= (a1 + a2 + a3 + ....+an)(a1 + a2 + a3 + .... an)
= a12 + a22 + .....+ a2n + 2a1a2 + 2a1a3 + ....+ .... + 2a1an.....+ 2a2a3 + .... + 2a2an + ... + 2an – 1an.
Derived Basic Formulae
(1) a2 + b2 = (a ± b)2  2ab.
(2) (a + b)2 – (a – b)2 = 4ab.
(3) a3 ± b3 = (a ± b)3  3ab(a ± b).
(4) a3 + b3 + c3 – 3abc = (a + b + c)(a2 + b2 + c2 – ab – bc – ca).
Proof
a3 + b3 + c3 – 3abc
= (a3 + 3a2b + 3ab2 + b3) + c3 – 3a2b – 3ab2 – 3abc
= (a + b)3 + c3 – 3ab (a + b + c)
= [(a + b) + c][(a + b)2 – (a + b) c + c2] – 3ab (a + b + c)
= (a + b + c)(a2 + 2ab + b2 – ac – bc + c2) – 3ab(a + b + c)
= (a + b + c)(a2 + b2 + c2 + 2ab – bc – ca – 3ab)
= (a + b + c)(a2 + b2 + c2 – ab – bc – ca).

Solved Examples 1.4

1  3x 10  6x
x x 2x 
Ex.1 Solve the equation 1 – 5 = – 7 .
3 2 2
Sol. Since the given equation contains complex fractions in both sides, it is better to simplify each side separately first.
From
1  3x
x
1 5  1  5x  (1  3x)  15  2x  11  16  2x ,
3 15 15 15
10  6x
2x 
x 7 x 14x  (10  6x) 10  13x ,
   
2 2 2 14 14
it follows that
16  2x 10  13x
 ,
15 14
14(16 – 2x) = 15(10 – 13x),
224 – 28x = 150 – 195x, i.e. 167x = –74,
74
x = – .
167
xab xbc xca
Ex.2 If a, b, c are positive constants, solve the equation   = 3.
c a b
Sol. By moving 3 in the given equation to the left hand side, it follows that
xab  xbc  xca 
  1    1    1  = 0,
 c   a   b 
xabc xabc xabc
+ + = 0,
c a b
1 1 1 
(x – a – b – c)     = 0,
c a b
1 1 1
   > 0, x – a – b – c = 0, i.e. x = a + b + c.
c a b

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IOQM/NMTC
Ex.3 Given that the equation ax + 4 = 3x – b has more than 1 solution for x. Find the value of (4a + 3b)2015.
Sol. We rewrite the given equation in the form (a – 3)x = – (4 + b). Then the equation has more than 1 solution
implies that
a – 3 = 0, and 4 + b = 0,
i.e. a = 3, b = – 4. Thus, (4a + 3b)2007 = 02007 = 0.
Ex.4 Two natural numbers differ by 41. The bigger number is greater than 30 times the smaller number plus 10.
Then the smaller number is
Sol. Let the natural numbers be x, (41 + x).
Given 41 + x > 30x + 10 31 > 29x.
Only x = 1 satisfies 29x < 31.
Ex.5 If two successive discounts of a% and b% are given on the sale of a certain article, then what is the single
equivalent discount ?
Sol. If 100 is the marked price, after a discount of a%, the sale price is 100 – a. After allowing another b% the sale
 b  ab
price will be (100 – a)  1  = 100 – a – b + .
 100  100
ab
Effective equivalent discount is 100 – [100 – a – b + ]
100
ab
i.e., a + b – .
100
Ex.6 Solve the system of equations
5x – y + 3z = a, ...(i)
5y – z + 3x = b, ...(ii)
5z – x + 3y = c, ...(iii)
Sol. By 2 × (i) + (ii) – (iii), it follows that
2a  b  c
14x = 2a + b – c, x = .
14
By 2 × (ii) + (iii) – (i), it follows that
2a  c  a
14y = 2b + c – a, y = .
14
Similarly, by 2 × (iii) + (i) – (ii), we have

2a  a  b
14z = 2c + a – b, z = .
14
Ex.7 Solve the system of equations for (x, y), and find the value of k.
x + (1 + k)y = 0, ...(i)
(1 – k)x + ky = 1 + k, ...(ii)
(1 + k)x + (12 – k)y = – (1 + k) ...(iii)
Sol. To eliminate k from the equation, by (ii) + (iii), we obtain
2x + 12y = 0, i.e. x = –6y. ...(iv)
By substituting (iv) into (i), we have (k – 5)y = 0. If k 5, then y = 0 and so x = 0 also. From (ii) we have
k = – 1.
6 36
If k = 5, (ii) yields (– 4) (– 6y) + 5y = 6, so y = ,x=– .
29 29
Ex.8 Solve the system of equations
x  y  5

y  z  6
z  x  7

Sol. Let the given equations be labeled as
x+y=5 ...(i)
y+z=6 ...(ii)

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 Mathematics
z + x = 7. ...(iii)
1
By ((i) + (ii) + (iii)), it follows that
2
x + y + z = 9. ...(iv)
Then (iv) – (i) yields z = 4;
(iv) – (ii) yields x = 3;
(iv) – (iii) yields y = 2.
1 1 1
Ex.9 If x + y + z = 2007, xy + yz + zx = 4011 x 1; y 1; z 1 then find the value of   .
1x 1y 1z
Sol. (1 – y) (1 – z) = 1 – (y + z) + yz (1)
(1 – x) (1 – y) = 1 – (x + y) + xy (2)
(1 – z) (1 – x) = 1 – (z + x) + zx (3)
(1) + (2) + (3) (1 – y) (1 – z) + (1 – z) (1 – x) + (1 – x) (1 – y) = 0 (4)
because 3 – 2(x + y + z) + xy + yz + zx = 3 – 2 × 2007 + 4011 = 0
(4) ÷ (1 – x) (1 – y) (1 – z) assuming that x 1; y 1; z 1?!

1 1 1
   = 0.
1– x 1y 1z
Ex.10 a, b, c, d and c are positive reals. If a – 2c + e = 0, b – 2c + d = 0, c – 2d + e = 0 then the set consisting of the
largest and the smallest numbers among a, b, c, d, e is_______
Sol. a, b, c, d, e > 0 a + e = 2c c lies between a and e.
Also, b + d = 2c  c has to be between b and d.
and c + e = 2d  d has to be between c and e.
from above, a + e = 2c = b + d
 Both b and d lie between a and e I
or a and e lie between b and d II
 c + e = 2d d lies between c and e.
I II
a b c d e b a c e d

OK
Not Ok. Since d is beyond c and e
Max, Min set is {a, e}
1 1 1
Ex.11 Find all the positive integral solution of the equation   .
x y 2013
Sol. x, y must be > 2013.
We need to get y in terms of x

1 1 1 x  2013
  
y 2013 x 2013  x

2013  x 2013(x  2013)  20132

y= 
x  2013 x  2013
2
2013
= 2013 +
x  2013
This means x – 2013 must divide 20132 exactly 20132 = 32 × 112 × 612
x – 2013 must be a factor of 32 × 112 × 612
x – 2013 = 1, 3, 11, 61, 3 × 11, 11 × 61, 3 × 61, 3 × 11 × 61
32, 112, 612, 32 × 11, 32 × 61, 32 × 11 × 61
112 × 3, 112 × 61, 112 × 61 × , 3, 612 × 3, 612 × 11
612 × 112 × 3, 32 × 112, 32 × 112 × 61, 112 × 612
112 × 612 × 3, 612 × 32, 612 × 32 × 11, 32 × 112 × 612.

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IOQM/NMTC
27 solutions for x and the corresponding values for y.
5 2 13
Ex.12 Given x + y  , x + y2  , find the value of x5 + y5.
2 4
Sol. (x2 + y2)(x3 + y3) = (x5 + y5) + (xy)2 (x + y) implies that

13 5 65  13  5
(x 5  y 5 )  (x  y)(x 2  y 2  xy)  (xy)2   xy   (xy)2.
4 2 8  4  2
It suffices to find the value of xy. Then
1 2 1  25 13  3
xy 
2 
  
x  y   x2  y2   
2 4
  , therefore
4  2

65  13 3  5 9 455  180 275

x5  y5    .   .
8  4 2  2 4 32 32

Ex.13 Given that the real numbers x, y, z satisfy the system of equations
 xyz 6
 2
 x  y2  z 2  26
 x3  y3  z 3  90

Find the values of xyz and x4 + y4 + z4.
Sol. (x + y + z)2 = (x2 + y2 + z2) + 2(xy + yz + zx) implies that

1 1
xy + yz + zx = [(x + y + z)2 – (x2 + y2 + z2)] = [62 – 26] = 5.
2 2
Since x3 + y3 + z3 – 3xyz = (x + y + z)[(x2 + y2 + z2 – (xy + yz + zx)],
90 – 3xyz = 6[26 – 5] = 126,
1
 xyz = (90 – 126) = –12.
3
Further, by completing squares,
= x4 + y4 + z4 = (x2 + y2 +z2)2 – 2(x2y2 + y2z2 + z2x2)
= 262 – 2[(xy + yz + zx)2 – 2(xy2z + yz2x + x2yz)]
= 262 – 2[52 – 2xyz(x + y + z)]
= 262 – 2(25 + 24 6) = 676 – 338 = 338.
Ex.14 For any real numbers a, b and c, find the smallest possible values that the following expression can take:
3a2 + 27b2 + 5c2 – 18ab – 30c + 237.
Sol. By completing squares,
3a2 + 27b2 + 5c2 – 18ab – 30c + 237
= (3a2 – 18ab + 27b2) + (5c2 – 30c + 45) + 192
= 3(a2 – 6ab + 9b2) + 5(c2 – 6c + 9) + 192
= 3(a – 36)2 + 5(c – 3)2 + 192  192.
The value 192 is obtainable when a = 36, c = 3. Thus, the smallest possible value of the given expression is 192.
Ex.15 If a, b, c, d > 0 and a4 + b4 + c4 + d4 = 4abcd, prove that a = b = c = d.
Sol. Solution We rewrite the given equality in the form a4 + b4 + c4 + d4 – 4abcd = 0, and use the technique for
completing squares, then
0 = a4 + b4 + c4 + d4 - 4abcd
= (a4 – 2a2b2 + b4) + (c4 – 2c2d2 + d4) + (2a2b2 + 2c2d2 – 4abcd)
= (a2 – b2)2 + (c2 - d2)2 + 2(ab – cd)2, therefore a2 – b2 = 0, c2 – d2 = 0, ab – cd = 0. Since a, b, c, d > 0,
so a = b,c – d, and a2 = c2, i.e. a = c. Thus a = b = c = d.
Ex.16 Given a + b = c + d and a3 + b3 = c3 + d3. Prove that a2009 + b2009 = c2009 + d2009.

26
 Mathematics
3 3
Sol. a + b = c + d yields (a + b) = (c + d) , therefore
a3 + 3a2b + 3ab2 + b3 = c3 + 3c2d + 3cd2 + d3.
 a3 + b3 = c3 + d3
 3a2b + 3ab2 = 3c2d2 + 3cd2, i.e. 3ab(a + b) = 3cd(c + d).
If a + b = c + d = 0, then b = – a, d = – c, therefore
a2009 + b2009 = 0 = c2009 + d2009
If a + b = c + d  0, then ab = cd, therefore
(a – b)2 = (a + b)2 – 4ab = (c + d)2 – 4cd = (c – d)2.
(i) When a – b = c – d, considering a + b = c + d, it follows that 2a = 2c, i.e. a = c, and b = d also.
(ii) When a – b = – (c – d), considering a + b = c + d, it follows that 2a = 2d, ie.e, a = d, and b = c also.
The conclusion is true in each of the two cases.
Ex.17 Find all positive integer solutions to the equation 12x+ 5y = 125.
Sol. 12x = 5(25 – y) indicates 5 | x. Let x = 5, then 5y = 65 gives y = 13, so (5, 13) is a special solution. By
the formula for general solution, it is obtained that x = 5 + 5t and y = 13 – 12t, where t is an integer.
Since x  1, so t  0. But y  1 implies t  1, so t = 0 or 1.
When t = 0, the solution is x = 5, y = 13. When t = 1, then x = 10, y = 1. Thus, the equation has exactly two
solutions.
Ex.18 Given that the positive integers x > 1 and y satisfies the equation 2007x – 21y = 1923. Find the minimum value of
2x + 3y.
Sol. Simplify the given equation to 669x = 7y + 641. Changing its form to 669 (x – 1) = 7(y – 4), since x – 1 > 0,
so y > 4 and the minimum positive values of x and y are given by x – 1 = 7, y – 4 = 669. Thus,
2xmin + 3ymin = 28 + 3673 = 2043.
Ex.19 Find all the integer solutions of the equation 25x + 13y + 7z = 6.
Sol. Let 25x + 13y = U, then U + 7z = 6. Consider U as a constant at the moment to solve the equation 25x + 13y =
U. Since (–U, 2U) is a special solution for (x, y), the general solution is obtained:
x = – U + 13t1, y = 2U – 25t1 , t1  Z
Next, solve the equation U + 7z = 6 for (U, z). Since (–1, 1) is a special solution, the general solution is given by
U = –1 + 7t2, and z = 1 – t2, t2  Z.
By substituting the expression of U into those for x and y, the general solution is obtained:
x = 1 + 13t1 – 7t2, y = –2 – 25t1 + 14t2, z = 1 –t2, t1, t2  Z.
Ex.20 The digits a, b and c of a three-digit number abc satisfy 49a + 7b + c = 286. Find the three-digit number abc .
Sol. By taking modulo 7 to both sides of the given equation, it follows that c  6 (mod 7).
Since c is a digit, so c = 6. Then the given equation becomes 7a + b = 40 or 7a = 40 – b. Since
31  40 – b  40, and there is only one number 35 divisible by 7 in this interval, so b = 5, a = 5, i.e.
abc  556.
Ex.21 Given that n is positive integer, and the equation 2x + 2y + z =n has a total of 28 positive integer solutions for (x,
y, z). Then the value of n is
(1) 14 or 15 (2) 15 or 16 (3) 16 or 17 (4) 18 or 19
Sol. Let u = x + y, then 2u + z = n. Consider  2 as a constant at the moment for solving x and y. For the equation
x + y = u, (u – 1, 1) is a special solution, so x = u – 1 + t1, y = 1 – t1, t1  Z is the general Solution.
Since x  1, y  1, so 2 – u  t1 0, i.e. t1 has u – 1 permitted values for each given value u  2.
Now consider the equation 2u + z = n.
z n
When n is even, then z is even also, the equation becomes u   . The value of u can take from 2 to
2 2
n
 1. Thus, the number of positive solutions is
2

27
IOQM/NMTC
n
(2  1)  (3  1)  ....  (  2)  28.
2
n
Since 1 + 2 + ... + 7 = 28, so  2  7, i.e., n = 18.
2
n 1
When n = 2k + 1, then u can take the value from 2 to , so the number of positive solutions is
2
n 1
1  2  ...  (  1)  28.
2
n 1
From  1  7 we have n = 16 +1 = 17. Thus, the answer is D.
2
Ex.22 Find all triples (x, y, z) of three non-negative satisfying the system of equations.
5x + 7y + 5z = 37....... (1)
6x – y – 10z = 3........ (2)
Sol. By eliminating a variable from the system, the question will become one with two variables.
2 × (1st equ.) + (2nd equ.) yields 16x + 13y = 77.
Since 16(x – 4) +13(y – 1) = 0, then x = 4, y = 1 is a special solution. So the general solution is
x = 4 + 13t, y = 1 – 16t, t  Z.
Since y  0, t  0. But x  0 implies t  0, so t = 0 is the unique permitted value of t. Thus, x = 4, y = 1,
and z = 2
x
..
Ex.23 Let x[n] denote x x , where there are n terms of x. What is the minimum value of n such that 9[9] < 3[n]?
2
(For example, 3[2] = 33 = 27; 2[3] = 22 = 16.)
Sol. Suppose 9[m] < 3[n]. Note that 9[m] = 3p and 3[n] = 3q for some integers p and q. Thus, q  p + 1. In particular,
2(9[m]) < 3(9[m]) = 3p + 1  3q = 3[n].
Then we have
9[m + 1] = (32)9[m] = 32(9[m]) < 33[n] = 3[n + 1].
Thus, 9[m] < 3[n] implies 9[m + 1] < 3[n + 1]. It is clear that 9[2] = 81 = 34 < 3[3]. Continuing this way,
9[9] < 3[10]. It is also clear that 9[9] > 3[9], hence the minimum value of n is 10.

Ex.24 If abcd is a four-digit number such that 2( abcd ) + 1000 = dcba , then find the value of a + b + c + d.
Sol. Rewrite the equation as the following:
a b c d
a b c d
 1 0 0 0
d c b a
Since a is the last digit of 2d, a is even; since 2a + 1 d  9, a  4. So a = 2 or a = 4.
If a = 4, then d  2a + 1 = 9 and thus d = 9; but then the last digit of 2d would be 8  a, a contradiction.
If a = 2, then d  2a + 1 = 5 and the last digit of 2d is 2; so d = 6. The equation reduces to
b c
b c
 1
1 c b
There are 2 cases : either 2c + 1 = b and 2b = 10 + c, which has no integer solution; or 2c + 1 = 10 + b and
2b + 1 = 10 + c, which gives b = c = 9.
Ex.25 Find the minimum value of

28
 Mathematics
x 2  (20  y)2 + y 2  (21  z)2 + z 2  (20  w)2 + w 2  (21  x) 2 .
Sol. As shown below,

x 2  (20  y)2  y 2  (21  z) 2  z 2  (20  w)2  w 2  (21  x) 2

= AB + BC + CD +DA

= A'B + BC + C D + D A "

A' A" = 422  402  58.

A' x A 21 – x A'

20 – y

w
D

20 – w
B
y z
21 – z C

D
A"
Ex.26 Find the sum of all the integral values of x that satisfy

x  3  4 x  1  x  8  6 x  1  1.

2 2
Sol. The equation can be rewritten as  x 1  2    x 1  3  = 1.

If x  1 3, it reduces to x 1 – 2 + x  1 – 3 = 1 i.e. x  1 = 3 giving x = 10.

If x  1  2, it reduces to 2 – x 1 + 3 – x  1 = 1 i.e. x  1 = 2 giving x = 5.

If 2 < x  1 < 3, i.e. 5 < x < 10, it reduces to x  1 – 2 + 3 – x  1 = 1 which is true for all values of x
between 5 and 10.
Hence the sum of all integral solutions is 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 10 = 45.
Ex.27 Given that

S x 2  4x  5  x 2  2x  5 ,

for real values of x, find the maximum value of S4.

Sol. S (x  2) 2  (0  1) 2  (x  1)2  (0  2)2 .

Let P = (x, 0) , A = (– 2, 1) and B = (–1, 2), then S represents the difference between the lengths PA and PB.
S is maximum when the points P, A and B are collinear and that occurs when P = (– 3, 0). So

S ( 1)2  (1) 2  (2) 2  (0  2) 2  2 2 2 .

Thus the maximum value of S4 = 4.

Ex.28 If a, b, c are real numbers such that |a – b| = 1, |b – c| = 1, |c – a| = 2 and abc = 60, find the value of
1
a b c 1 1 1
 bc  ca  ab  a  b  c  .
 
a b c 1 1 1 a 2  b2  c2  bc  ca  ab
Sol.      
bc ca ab a b c abc

29
IOQM/NMTC
(a 2  2ab  b2 )  (b2  2bc  c 2 )(c 2  2ca  a 2 )

2abc
(a  b)2  (b  c) 2  (c  a)2

2abc
12  12  22 1
  .
120 20
ab 1 bc 1 ca 1 24abc
Ex.29 Let a, b and c be real numbers such that  ,  and  . Find the value of .
ab 3 bc 4 ca 5 ab  bc  ca
1 1 1 1 1 1
Sol. Taking reciprocals, we find that  = 3,  = 4 and  = 5. Summing the three equations, we get
a b b c a c
1 1 1 ab  bc  ca
12  2      2  .
 a b c  abc
24abc
Hence = 4.
ab  bc  ca
Ex.30 Let a and b be two real numbers. If the equation ax + (b – 3) = (5a – l)x + 3b has more than one solution, what is
the value of 100a + 4b?
Sol. Rearranging the terms of the equation, we obtain
(1 – 4a)x = 2b + 3.
Since the equation has more than one solution (i.e., infinitely many solutions), we must have 1 – 4a = 0 and 2b
1 3
+ 3 = 0. Therefore a = and b = – . Consequently, 100a + 4b = 19.
4 2
Ex.31 Let a, b, c be positive real numbers such that a + b + c = 2013. Find the maximum value of
3a  12 + 3b  12 + 3c  12 – 100.
Sol. Note that

( 3a  12  3b  12  3c  12)2 < 3(3a + 12 + 3b + 12 + 3c+12)

= 9(a + b + c + 12) = 9(2013 + 12) = 9 × 2025,

where the equality holds if 3a + 12 = 3b + 12 = 3c + 12, i.e., a = b = c = 671. Thus the answer is
3 × 45 = 135.

EXERCISE - 1.4

1
1. If an + 1 = (n = 1, 2, ..., 2008) and a1 = 1, find the value of a1a2 + a2a3 + a3 a4 + ... + a2008a2009.
1
1
an

2. Solve the system of equations

x  y  z  5

y  z  x  1
 z  x  y  15


3. Solve the system of equations

30
 Mathematics
x  y  z  1

 y  z  u  2
z  u  v  3
u  v  x  4

 v  x  y  5

4. Solve the system of equations

1 1 1
x  y  z  2

1 1 1
  
 y z  x 3
1 1 1
  
 z x  y 4

5. There are n balls in a box, and the balls are numbered 1, 2, 3,... , n respectively. One of the balls is removed from
the box, and it turns out that the sum of the numbers on the remaining balls in the box is 5048. If the number on
the ball removed from the box is m, find the value of m.

6. Define a function on the positive integers recursively by f(1) = 2, f(n) = f(n – 1) + 1 if n is even, and f(n) = f(n – 2) +
2 if n is odd and greater than 1. What is f(2017) – 2000 ?

7. Suppose that f(x + 3) = 3x2 + 7x + 4 and f(x) = ax2 + bx + c. What is (a + b + c)4 ?

8. Let a, b, c, d, and e be distinct integers such that (6 – a)(6 – b)(6 – c)(6 – d)(6 – e) = 45. What is a + b + c + d + e?

9. It is known that there is only one pair of positive integers a and b such that a  b and a2 + b2 + 8ab = 2010. Find
the value of a + b.

x 2010
10. Let f(x) = 2010 . Find the value of
x  (1  x)2010

 1   2   3   2010 
f   f  2011   f  2011   ...  f  2011 
 2011       
15
11. If

1
x+ x2  1 + x  x 2  1 = 20

1
then if x2 + x4  1 + x 2  x 4  1 = k, find [k]

12. How many distinct ordered triples (x, y, z) satisfy the equations

x + 2y + 4z = 12

xy + 4yz + 2xz = 22

xyz = 6

13. On a 50-question multiple choice math contest, students receive 4 points for a correct answer, 0 points for an
answer left blank, and –1 point for an incorrect answer. Jasvinder’s total score on the contest was 99. What is the
maximum number of questions that Jasvinder could have answered correctly?

31
 IOQM/NMTC

1.5 Arithmetic ratios

A. Percentage

(i) If an object’s price is increased or decreased by x% and the other factor is increased or decreased by y%
then, the net effect is given by

 xy 
Net effect =  x + y + %
 100 

Remember that the percentages (x % and y %) are taken with positive or negative sign according as there

is increase or decrease in the factor.

100x
(ii) If the net effect is nil, i.e., there is no loss or no gain, then the above formula become y =
100 + x

Ex.1 If salary of a person is increased by 10% and 20% successively then, what is the change in his salary ?

Sol. Here x=10, y=20

 The net % change in the salary

 10× 20 
=  10+20+  %  32%
 100 

Ex.2 The price of a commodity first increased by 20% then decreased by 10% then what is the net change price of
commodity.
Sol. Here x=20, y=–10 then net percent change in price is

 20× (–10) 
=  20 – 10+  %  8%
 100 

Here sign is (+ve) hence the net is (+ve) increase in price.

Ex.3 If price of commodity decreased by 20% and then by 30% then find the net change in price ?
Sol. Here x=20, y= 30

 net % change is
 –20× –30 
=  –20 – 30+  %  44%
 100 

 100.x 
(iii) If A’s income is x% more than that of B, B’s Income is less than that of A by  %
 100 + x 

 100.x 
(iv) If A’s income is x% less than that of B, B’s income is more than that of A by  %
 100 - x 
Ex.4 If Shailendra’s Salary is 20% more than that of Surendra, then how much percent is salary of Surendra less than
that of Shailendra.

32
 Mathematics
Solution
Here x=20
 x 
 Required Answer=  × 100  %
 100+x 
20
=  100%  16.66%
120
Ex.5 If A’s income is 30% less than that of B’s income, then how much percent is B’s income more than A’s income.
Sol. Here x = 30
 x 
 Required Answer=  × 100  %
 100-x 
 30 
=   100  %  42.8%
 70 
(v) If A is x% of C and B is y% of C then
x
A= × 100 % of B
y
Ex.6 If A is 20% of C and B is 25% of C then what percentage is A of B

x 20
Sol. A= x100  x100=80% of B
y 25
(vi) If the price of a commodity increase by p%, then the reduction in consumption so as not ot i ncr e ase

 p 
the expenditure is  × 100  %
 100 + p 
(vii) If the price of a commodity decrease by p%, then the increase in consumption so as not to decrease

 p 
the expenditure is  × 100  %
 100 – p 
Ex.7 If the price of sugar increase by 25%. Find how much percent its consumption be reduced so as not to increase the
expenditure.

 p 
Sol.  × 100  %
 100+p 

25
=  100%  20%
125
Ex.8 If price of commodity decrease by 25%. Find how much percent its consumption be increase so as not decrease
expenditure.

 p  1
Sol.  × 100  % = 33 %
 100 – p  3
25
=  100%
100 – 25

(viii) If two numbers are, respectively, x% and y% more than a third number, then the first number. is

 100 + x   100 + y 
 × 100  % of the second and the second is  × 100  % of the first
 100 + y   100 +x 
(ix) If two numbers are, respectively, x% and y% less than a third number, then the first number is

33
IOQM/NMTC
 100 – x   100 – y 
 × 100  of the second and the second is  × 100  of the first
 100 – y   100 – x 
Ex.9 Two numbers are respectively 20% and 50% more than a third number. What percent is the first of the
second ?
Sol. Here x=20 and y= 50
 100  x 
First number =  100  y  × 100% of the second
 
 100  20 
=  × 100% of the second i.e., 80% of the second
 100  50 
Ex.10 Two numbers are, respectively, 32% and 20% less than a third number. What percent is the first of the second?
Sol. Here x= 32 and y = 20

 100 – x 
First number =   × 100% of the second
 100 – y 

 100 – 32 
=  × 100% of the second i.e., 85% of the second
 100 – 20 

(x) If the original (present) population of a town is P, then the population (P0) after n years at an annual increase
n
 r 
of r% is given by P0 = P  1 + 
 100 

(xi) If the present population is P, then the population n years ago at an annual increase of r% is given by

P
P0 = n
 r 
1 + 100 
 
(xii) If the population increases by x% during the first year, by y% during the second year, by z% during third
 x  y  z 
year, the population after three years will be P  1 +  1 +  1 + 
 100  100  100 

Ex.11 The populatin of a town increase 10% annually. If its present population is 120000, what will it be in 2 years time.
Sol. Here P= 120000, r=10, n=2.

 Population after 2 years

n 2
 r   10 
= P  1+   120000 1  
 100   100 

110 110
120000× × 145200
100 100

Ex.12 The population of a town increase at the rate of 20% annually due to excessive migration. If present population is
144000, find population two year ago.

34
 Mathematics

P 144000 144000
Sol. = n
 2
  100000
 r   20  120 120
x
 1+ 100   1  100  100 100
   

Ex.13 The income of Ramesh increase by 10%, 20% and 30% successively in three years. Find change in his income, if
present income is 150000 Rs. per annum.
Sol. Here x=10, y=20, z= 30.
A = 150000
So, percent change in income

 x  y  z 
A 1   1  100  1  100 
 100   

 10  20  30  
= 1500000 ×  1   1  100  1  100  
 100   

110 120 130

= 1500000 ×   = Rs. 257400
100 100 100
Ex.14 The population of a village is 5500. If the number of males increases by 11% and the number of females increases
by 20%, then the population becomes 6330. Find the population of females in the town.
Sol. Let x is population of male
(5500 – x) is female population
x  111 (550  x)  120
 = 6330
100 100
On calculating we get x = 3000
So female population = 2500
(xiii) If the present price an article is P, then price P0 after n years at an annual decrease of r% is given by
n
 r 
P0 = P 1 –
 100 
(xiv) If the present price is P, then the price n years ago (at an annual decrease of r %) is given by

P
P0 = n
 r 
 1 – 100 
 
Ex.15 The population of a city increases at the rate of 10% annually. Its present population is 90.51 lacs. The population
3 years ago was nearly.
Sol. We have, P=90.51, r= 10 and n=3
The population 3 years ago

P 90.51
= n
 3
 r   10 
 1  100   1  100 
   

9051 100 100 100

=    = 68 lacs
100 110 110 110
Ex.16 A building worth Rs. 133, 100 is constructed on land worth Rs. 72,900. After how many years will the value of
both be the same if land appreciates at 10% p.a. and building depreciates at 10% p.a.?

35
 IOQM/NMTC
n n
Sol.  10   10 
72900  1    133100   1 
 100   100 
n n
 11   10  133100 1331

10  x  9   72900  729
   

n 3
 11   11 
   9  n3
 9   
(xv) If the value of a number is first increased by x% and later decreased by x%, the net change is always a
x2
decrease which is equal to %
100
Ex.17 Michael sold two T.V. sets for Rs. 3600 each gaining 20% on one and loosing 20% on the other. Find the total
gain or loss percent.
Sol. Here x = 20
2 2
 x   20 
So, overall loss   %    %  4%
 10   10 

B. Ratio and Proportion

Ratio
A ratio is a comparison of two quantities by division. It is a relation that one quantity bears to another
with respect to magnitude. In other words, ratio means what part one quantity is of another. The quantities
may be of same kind or different kinds. For example, when we consider the ratio of the weight 45 kg of
a bag of rice to the weight 29 kg of a bag of sugar we are considering the quantities of same kind but
when we talk of allotting 2 cricket bats to 5 sportsmen, we are considering quantities of different kinds.
Normally, we consider the ratio between quantities of the same kind.
a
If a and b are two numbers, the ratio of a to b is or a  b and is denoted by a : b. The two quantities
b
that are being compared are called terms. The first is called antecedent and the second term is called
3
consequent. For example, the ratio 3 : 5 represents with antecedent 3 and consequent 5.
5
Notes:
1. A ratio is a number, so to find the ratio of two quantities, they must be expressed in the same units.
2. A ratio does not change if both of its terms are multiplied or divided by the same number. Thus,
2 4 6
= = etc.
3 6 9

Types of ratios
(i) Duplicate Ratio : The ratio of the squares of two numbers is called the duplicate ratio of the two numbers.

32 9 3
For example, 2
or is called the duplicate ratio of .
4 16 4

(ii) Triplicate Ratio : The ratio of the cubes of two numbers is called the triplicate ratio of the two numbers.
33 27 3
For example, 3 or is called the triplicate ratio of .
4 64 4
(iii) Sub–duplicate Ratio : The ratio of the square roots of two numbers is called the sub-duplicate ratio of two
numbers.

36
 Mathematics
3 9
For example, is the sub-duplicate ratio of .
4 16
(iv) Sub–triplicate Ratio : The ratio of the cube roots of two numbers is called the sub-triplicate ratio of two
numbers.

2 8
For example, is the sub-triplicate ratio of .
3 27
(v) Inverse Ratio or Reciprocal Ratio : If the antecedent and consequent of a ratio interchange their places, the
1 1
new ratio is called the inverse ratio of the first. Thus, if a : b be the given ratio, then : or b : a is its
a b
inverse ratio.
3 5
For example, is the inverse ratio of .
5 3
(vi) Compound Ratio : The ratio of the product of the antecedents to that of the consequents of two or more
given ratios is called the compound ratio. Thus, if a : b and c : d are two given ratios, then ac : bd is the
compound ratio of the given ratios.
3 4 5 3× 4× 5 3
For example, if , and be the given ratios, then their compound ratio is , that is , .
4 5 7 4× 5× 7 7
Proportion
The equality of two ratios is called proportion.
a c
If = , then a, b, c and d are said to be in proportion and we write a : b :: c : d. This is read as “a is to
b d
b as c is to d”.
3 6
For example, since = , we write 3 : 4 :: 6 : 8 and say 3, 4, 6 and 8 are in proportion.
4 8
a c
Each term of the ratio and is called a proportional. a, b, c and d are respectively, the first, second,
b d
third and fourth proportionals.
Here a, d are known as extremes and b, c are known as means.
If four quantities are in proportion, then
(i) Product of means = Product of extremes
For example, in the proportion a : b :: c : d, we have bc = ad.
Product of means

a : b : : c : d

Product of extremes
From this relation, we see that if any three of the four quantities are given, the fourth can be determined.
Fourth proportional
If a : b :: c : x, x is called the fourth proportional of a, b, c.
a c b× c
We have = or, x = .
b x a
b× c
Thus, fourth proportional of a, b, c is
a
Ex.1 Find a fourth proportional to the numbers 2, 5, 4.

37
IOQM/NMTC
Sol. Let x be the fourth proportional, then

2 4
2 : 5 :: 4 : x or  .
5 x

5 4
x= = 10.
2

Third proportional
If a : b:: b : x, x is called the third proportional of a, b.

a b b2
We have = or x = .
b x a

b2
Thus, third proportional of a, b is .
a
Ex.2 Find a third proportional to the numbers 2.5, 1.5.
Sol. Let x be the third proportional, then

2.5 1.5
25 : 1.5 :: 1.5 : x or = .
1.5 x

1.5  1.5
x= = 0.9
2.5

Mean proportional
If a : x :: x : b, x is called the mean or second proportional of a, b.

a x
We have = or x2 = ab or x = ab .
x b

 Mean proportional of a and b is ab .

We also say that a, x, b are in continued proportion.
Ex.3 Find the mean proportional between 48 and 12.
Sol. Let x be the mean proportional. Then,

48 x
48 : x : : x : 12 or 
x 12

or,x2 = 576 or, x = 24.

a c
If = , then
b d

a +b c +d
(i) = (Componendo)
b d

a–b c–d
(ii) = (Dividendo)
b d

a +b c +d
(iii) = (Componendo and dividendo) {a  b, c  d}
a–b c–d

38
 Mathematics
a a +c a –c
(iv) = = . {b  d}
b b +d b–d

p
Ex.4 The sum of two numbers is c and their quotient is . Find the numbers.
q

Sol. Let the numbers be x, y.

Given x + y = c ...(1)
x p
and,  ...(2)
y q

x p
 =
xy pq

x p
 = [Using (1)]
c p q

pc
 x= .
pq

pc qc
y=c–x =c– =
pq pq

ax
(i) If two numbers are in the ratio of a : b and the sum of these numbers is x, then these numbers will be
a +b

bx
and , respectively. OR
a +b
If in a mixture of x litres. two liquids A and B are in the ratio of a : b, then the quantities of liquids A and
ax bx
B in the mixture will be litres and litres, respectively.
a +b a +b
(ii) If three numbers are in the ratio of a : b : c and the sum of these numbers is x, then these numbers will be

ax bx cx
, and , respectively.
a +b +c a +b +c a +b +c
Ex.5 Two numbers are in the ratio of 4 : 5 and the sum of these numbers is 27. Find the two numbers.
Sol. Here a = 4, b = 5 and x = 27.
ax 4  27
 The first number = = = 12
a b 4 5

bx 5  27
and, the second number = = = 15.
ab 4 5
Ex.6 Three numbers are in the ratio of 3 : 4 : 8 and the sum of these numbers is 975. Find the three numbers.
Sol. Here a = 3, b = 4, c = 8 and x = 975.
ax 3  975
 The first number = = = 195.
abc 3 4 8
bx 4  975
The second number = = = 260.
a  b c 3 4 8
cx 8  975
and, the third number = = = 520.
abc 3 4 8

39
 IOQM/NMTC
If two numbers are in the ratio of a : b and difference between these numbers is x, then these numbers will
be

ax bx
(i) and , respectively (where a > b )
a–b a–b

ax bx
(ii) and , respectively (where a < b).
b–a b–a
Ex.7 Two numbers are in the ratio of 4 : 5. If the difference between these numbers is 24, then find the numbers.
Sol. Here a = 4, b = 5 and x = 24.
ax 4  24
 The first number = = = 96.
ba 54

bx 5  24
and the second number = = = 120.
ba 5 4
(i) If a : b = n1 : d1 and b : c = n2 : d2, then
a : b : c = (n1  n2) : (d1  n2) : (d1  d2)
(ii) If a : b = n1:d1, b : c = n2 : d2
and c : d = n3 : d3, then
a : b : c : d = (n1  n2  n3) : (d1  n2  n3) : (d1  d2  n3) : (d1  d2  d3).
Ex.8 If A : B = 3 : 4 and B : C = 8 : 9, find A : B : C.
Sol. Here n1 = 3, n2 = 8, d1 = 4 and d2 = 9.
A : B : C = (n1  n2) : (d1  n2) : (d1  d2)
= (3  8) : (4  8) : (4  9)
= 24 : 32 : 36 or 6 : 8 : 9.
Ex.9 If A : B = 2 : 3, B : C = 4 : 5 and C : D = 6:7, find A : D.
Sol. Here n1 = 2, n2 = 4, n3 = 6, d1 = 3, d2 = 5 and d3 = 7.
 A : B : C : D = (n1  n2  n3) : (d1  n2  n3) : (d1  d2  n3) : (d1  d2  d3)
= (2  4  6) : (3  4  6) : (3  5  6) : (3  5  7)
= 48 : 72 : 90 : 105 or 16 : 24 : 30 : 35.
Thus, A : D = 16 : 35.
The ratio between two numbers is a:b, If x is added to each of these numbers, the ratio becomes
c : d. The two numbers are given as:
ax(c – d) bx(c – d)
and
ad – bc ad – bc
Explanation :
Let two numbers be ak and bk.
ak  x c
Given 
bk  x d
 akd + dx = bkc + cx
 k(ad – bc) = x(c – d)
x(c  d)
 k=
ad  bc

ax (c  d) bx(c  d)
Therefore, the two numbers are and
ad  bc ad  bc
The ratio between two numbers is a : b. If x is subtracted from each of these numbers, the ratio becomes c
: d. The two numbers are given as :

ax(d – c) bx(d – c)
and
ad – bc ad – bc

40
 Mathematics
Explanation :
Let the two numbers be ak and bk.

ak  x c
Given   akd – xd = bck – xc
bk  x d
 k(ad – bc) = x(d – c)

x(d  c)
k= .
ad  bc

ax(d  c) bx(d  c)
Therefore, the two number are and
ad  bc ad  bc
Ex.10 Given two numbers which are in the ratio of 3 : 4. If 8 is added to each of them, their ratio is changed to 5 : 6. Find
the two numbers.
Sol. We have
a : b = 3 : 4, c : d = 5 : 6 and x = 8.
ax(c  d)
 The first number =
ad  bc

3  8  (5  6)
= = 12
(3  6  4  5)

bx(c  d)
and, the second number =
ad  bc

4  8  (5  6)
= = 16 .
(3  6  4  5)
Ex.11 The ratio of two numbers is 5 :9. If each number is decreased by 5, the ratio becomes 5 : 11. Find the numbers.
Sol. We have a : b = 5 : 9, c : d = 5 : 11 and x = 5.
ax(d  c)
 The first number =
ad  bc

5  5  (11  5)
= = 15
(5  11  9  5)

bx(d  c)
and the second number =
ad  bc

9  5  (11  5)
= = 27.
(5  11  9  5)
If the ratio of two numbers is a : b, then the numbers that should be added to each of the numbers in order
ad – bc
to make this ratio c : d is given by .
c–d
Explanation:
Let the required number be x.
a x c
Given   ad + xd = bc + xc
b x d
 x(d – c) = bc – ad
ad  bc
or x = .
cd

41
IOQM/NMTC
If the ratio of two number is a : b, then the number that should be subtracted from each of the numbers in
order to make this ratio c : d is given by
bc – ad
.
c–d
Explanation:
Let the required number be x.
ax c
Given   ad – xd = bc – xc
bx d
 x(c – d) = bc – ad
bc  ad
or x= .
cd
Ex.12 Find the number that must be subtracted from the terms of the ratio 5 : 6 to make it equal to 2 : 3.
Sol. We have a : b = 5 : 6 and c : d = 2 : 3.
 The required number
bc  ad 6 2  5 3
= = = 3.
cd 23
Ex.13 Find the number that must be added to the terms of the ratio 11 : 29 to make it equal to 11 : 20.
Sol. We have a : b = 11 : 29 and c : d = 11 : 20.
 The required number
ad  bc 11  20  29  11
= = = 11.
cd 11  20
There are four number a, b, c and d.
The number that should be subtracted from each of these number so that the remaining numbers may be
proportional is given by
ad – bc
.
(a + d) – (b + c)
Explanation:
Let x be the subtracted from each of the numbers.
The remainders are a – x, b – x, c – x and d – x.

ax cx
Given 
bx dx
 (a – x) (d – x) = (b – x) (c – x)
 ad – x(a + d) + x2 = bc – x(b+c) + x2
 (b + c)x – (a + d)x = bc – ad
bc  ad ad  bc
 x= =
(b  c)  (a  d) (a  d)  (b  c)
The number that should be added to each of these numbers so that the new numbers may be proportional
is given by
bc – ad
.
(a + d) – (b + c)
Explanation
Let x be added to each of the numbers.
The new numbers are a + x, b + x, c + x and d + x.

ax cx
Given  .
bx dx

42
 Mathematics
 (a + x) (d + x) = (b + x) (c + x)
 ad + x (a + d) + x2 = bc + x (b + c) + x2
 (a + d) x – (b + c) x = bc – ad.

bc  ad
x=
(a  d)  (b  c)
Ex.14 Find the number substracted from each of the numbers 54, 71, 75 and 99 leaves the remainders which are
proportional.
Sol. We have a = 54, b = 71, c = 75 and d = 99.
ad  bc 54  99  71  75
The required number = = = 3.
(a  d)  (b  c) (54  99)  (71  75)

C. Unitary method, Time and Work

th
1
(i) If ‘A’ can do a piece of work in n days, then at a uniform rate of working ‘A’ will finish   work in
n
one day.

1
(ii) If of a work is done by ‘A’ in one day, then ‘A’ will take n days to complete the full work.
n
th
1
(iii) If ‘A’ does   of a work in one hour then to complete the full work, ‘A’ will take n hrs.
n
(iv) If ‘A’ does three times faster work than ‘B’, then ratio of work done by A and B is 3 : 1 and ratio of time
taken by A and B is 1 : 3.
(v) A, B and C can do a piece of work in T1, T2 and T3 days, respectively. If they have worked for D1, D2 and
D3 days, respectively, then

D1
Amount of work done by A =
T1

D2
Amount of work done by B =
T2

D3
and, Amount of work done by C =
T3
Also, the amount of work done by A, B and C together

D1 D 2 D 3
= + + .
T1 T2 T3
which will be equal to 1, if the work is complete.

If A can do a piece of work in X days and B can do the same work in Y days, then both of them working
XY
together will do the same work in days.
X+Y
Ex.1 A can finish a piece of work by working alone in 6 days and B, while working alone, can finish the same work in 12
days. If both of them work together, then in how many days, the work will be finished ?

43
IOQM/NMTC
Sol. Here X = 6 and Y = 12.
 Working together, A and B will complete the work in

XY 6  12
= days = days, i.e., 4 days.
XY 6  12

If A, B, and C, while working alone, can complete a work in X, Y and Z days, respectively, then they will
XYZ
together complete the work in days.
XY + YZ + ZX
Ex.2 A, B and C can complete a piece of work in 10, 15 and 18 days, respectively. In how many days would all of them
complete the same work working together?
Sol. Here X = 10, Y = 15 and Z = 18.
Therefore, the work will be completed in
XYZ
= days
XY  YZ  ZX
10  15  18
= days
10  15  15  18  18  10
2700 1
i.e., or, 4 days,
600 2
Two persons A and B, working together, can complete a piece of work in X days. If A, working alone, can
XY
complete the work in Y days, then B, working alone, will complete the work in days.
Y–X
Ex.3 A and B working together take 15 days to complete a piece of work. If A alone can do this work in 20 days, how
long would B take to complete the same work?
Sol. Here X = 15 and Y = 20.
XY 15  20
Therefore B alone will complete the work in days = = 60 days.
YX 20  15
If A and B, working together, can finish a piece of work in X days, B and C in Y days, C and A in Z days,
then

 2XYZ 
(i) A, B and C working together, will finish the job in   days.
 XY + YZ + ZX 

 2XYZ 
(ii) A alone will finish the job in   days.
 XY + YZ – ZX 

 2XYZ 
(iii) B alone will finish the job in   days.
 YZ + ZX – XY 
(iv) C alone will finish the job in  2XYZ  days.
 ZX + XY – YZ 
 
Ex.4 A and B can do a piece of work in 12 days. B and C in 15 days, C and A in 20 days. How long would each take
separately to do the same work?
Sol. Here X = 12, Y = 15 and Z = 20.

2XYZ
 A alone can do the work in =
XY  YZ  ZX

44
 Mathematics
2  12  15  20
 days
12  15  15  20  20  12

7200
or , i.e., 30 days.
240

2XYZ
B alone can do the work in = days
YZ  ZX  XY

2  12  15  20
 days
15  20  20  12  12  15

7200
or , i.e., 20 days.
360

2XYZ
C alone can do the work in = days
ZX  XY  YZ

2  12  15  20
 days
20  12  12  15  15  20

7200
or , i.e., 60 days.
120

If A can finish a work in X days and B is k times efficient than A, then the time taken by both A and B

X
working together to complete the work is .
1+k

If A and B working together can finish a work in X days and B is k times efficient than A, then the time
taken by

(a) A, working alone, to complete the work is (k + 1) X.

 k +1 
(b) B, working alone, to complete the work is   X.
 k 
Ex.5 Harbans Lal can do a piece of work in 24 days. If Bansi Lal works twice as fast as Harbans Lal, how long would
they take to finish the work working together?
Sol. Here X = 24 and k = 2.
 Time taken by harbans Lal and Bansi Lal, working together to complete the work

 X 
=  days.
 1 k 

 24 
=  days, i.e., 8 days.
 1 2
Ex.6 A and B together can do a piece of work in 3 days. If A does thrice as much work as B in given time, find how long
A along would take to do the work?
Sol. Here X = 3 and k = 3.
 Time taken by A, working alone, to complete the work

45
IOQM/NMTC
 k  1  3  1
=  X =   3 = 4 days.
 k   3 
If A working alone takes ‘a’ days more than A and B together. B working alone takes ‘b’ days more than A and B
together, then the number of days taken by A and B, working together, to finish a job is given by ab .

Ex.7 A alone would take 8 hrs more to complete the job than if both A and B worked together. If B worked alone, he
1
took 4 hrs more to complete the job than A and B worked together. What time would they take if both A and
2
B worked together ?
9
Sol. Here a = 8 and b = .
2
 Time taken by A and B, working together, to complete the job.
9
= ab days = 8or 6 days.
2
If A is k times more efficient than B and is therefore able to finish a work in  days less than B, then
k
(i) A and B, working together, can finish the work in 2 days.
k –1

(ii) A, working alone, can finish the work in days.
k –1
k
(iii) B, working alone, can finish the work in days.
k –1
Ex.8 A is thrice as good a workman as B and takes 10 days less to do a piece of work than B takes. Find the time in
which B alone can complete the work.
Sol. Here k = 3 and  = 10.
 Time taken by B, working alone, to complete the work
k
= days
k 1

3  10
= days
3 1
i.e., 15 days.
a c b× c× X
If A can complete part of work in X days, then part of the work will be done in days.
b d a× d
Ex.9 A can do three-fourth of a work in 12 days. In how many days can he finish one-eighth of the work?
Sol. Here a = 3, b = 4, X = 12, c = 1 and d = 8.
Therefore, number of days required to finish one-eighth of the work

b  c  X 4  1 12
= = = 2 days.
a d 3 8
There are two groups of people with same efficiency. In one M1 persons can do W1 works in D1 time and
in the other M2 persons can do W2 works in D2 time. The relationship between the two groups is given
by
M1D1W2 = M2D2W1
There are two groups of people with same efficiency. In one M1 persons can do W1 works in D1 time
working t1 hrs a day and M2 persons can do W2 works D2 time working t2 hrs a day. The relationship
between the two groups is given by
M1D1t1W2 = M2D2t2W1.
Ex.10 If 10 persons can complete two-fifths of work in 8 days, then find the number of persons required to complete the
46
 Mathematics
remaining work in 12 days.

2
Sol. We haveM1 = 10, W2 = , D1 = 8
5

3
M2 = ?, W2 = , D2 = 12.
5
 M1D1W2 = M2D2W1

3 2
 10  8  = M2  12 
5 5
 M2 = 10.
Ex.11 If 10 persons can cut 20 trees in 3 days working 12 hrs a day. Then, in how many days can 24 persons cut
32 trees working 4 hrs a day?
Sol. We have, M1 = 10, W1 = 20, D1 = 3, t1 = 12
M2 = 24, W2 = 32, D2 = ?, t2 = 4
 M1D1t1W2 = M2D2t2W1
 10  3  12  32 = 24  D2  4  20
 D2 = 6 days.
If a men and b women can do a piece of work in n days, then c men and d women can do the work in
 nab 
 bc + ad  days.
 

Ex.12 12 men or 15 women can do a work in 14 days. In how many days, 7 men and 5 women would complete the
work?
Sol. Here a = 12, b = 15, n = 14, c = 7 and d = 5.

nab  14  12  15 
Required number of days = =   days
bc  ad  15  7  12  5 

168 3
= days or 15 days.
11 11

Solved Examples 1.5

Ex.1 If 40% of the numbers exceeds the 25% of it by 54. Find the number.

any value
Sol. = number (i.e, base number)
its rate % of number
Here, 54 stands for the difference of (40% and 25% of number)

54
 = number
(40  25)%

54
  100 = 300
40  25

Ex.2 P1% of number N1 is equal to P2% of number N2. Find what percent of N1 is N2 ?

47
IOQM/NMTC
N2
Sol. Required percentage =  100%
N1

P1 P  N2 P1 
It is given that  N1  2  N 2   
100 100  N1 P2 

N2  P1 
Putting the value of , we find the required percentage =  P  100  %
N1  2 

 P1 
N2 is equal to  P  100  % of N1
 2 

1 1
Ex.3 The ratio of salary of a worker in July to that in June was 2 : 2 . By what % was the salary of July more than
2 4
Salary of June ? Also find by what %, Salary of June was less than of July.

5
Sol. Let Salary of July  x
2

9
and Salary of June = x
4
Here the basis of comparison is either the salary of June or the Salary of July.
Difference
Salary of July more than that of June by percent.   100
Salary of June

5 9
2  4x
   100  11 1 %
9 9
x
4
Salary of June Less than that of July by percent

5 9
2  4 x

Difference
 100    100  10%
Salary of July 5
x
2

Ex.4 The side of a square increases by p%, then find by what% does its area increase ?

Sol. Suppose, side of a square= b

Original area of the square= b2, i.e., result = A x B Here, both sides are increased by p%

xy
Net % change in area = x + y + , where, x = y = + p
100

Net % change in area =

p2 p2
p+p+ = 2p +
100 100

 p2 
Hence area increase by  2p  %
 100 

48 Note: This formula is also applicable when the radius of circle is increased by p% then its area
 Mathematics
  p2  
increased by  2p     %

  100  

Ex.5 The daily wage is increased by 15%, and a person now gets Rs. 23 per day. What was his daily wage before the
increase ?

Increased daily wage 23

Sol. Original Daily wage = × 100 = × 100 = 20
100  % increase 115

Note : In case of decrease use (-) ve sign, before % value.

Ex.6 A student X passes his examination with 515 marks, having scored 3% above the minimum. If Y had obtained 710
marks, what % would he have been above the minimum ?

Marks of Y 100  % above minimum of Y

Sol. 
Marks of X 100  % above minimum of X

710 100  Y
  Y   42 %
515 100  3

Hence Y gets 42% above minimum

Note:- Similarly, if the % marks is below minimum, formula would have been.

Marks of Y 100  % below minimum of Y

 Remember,
Marks of X 100  % above minimum of X

Marks of Y 100  % above/below minimum of Y


Marks of X 100  % above/above minimum of X

Ex.7 The ratio of number of boys and girls in a school is 3 : 2, if 20% of boys and 25% of the girls are
holding scholarship, find the % of school students who
(a) hold scholarship
(b) do not hold scholarship
Sol. Percentage of scholarship holders
= (Boys × % boys who are scholarship holders) + (Girls × % Girls who are scholarship holders)

 3   3 
 2  3  20    3  2  25   22 %
   

Similarly, percentage of non scholarship holders

 3   3 
=   80     75   78
2 3  23 

(Since 100 – 20 = 80, 100 – 25 = 75)

Ex.8 A reduction of Rs 2 per kg enables a man to purchase 4 kg more sugar for Rs. 16, Find the original price of Sugar.
Sol. Here expenditure is fixed (=Rs.16), but as rate reduces (by Rs. 2/kg), so, the quantity of sugar available increases (by
4 kg.) Let original price be Rs x/kg.

Expenditure + change in quantity available

x
49
IOQM/NMTC
Expenditure
=
New rate
16 16
 4  x2 – 2x – 8 = 0
x x 2
(x – 4) (x – 2) = 0 x = 4 or –2
Considering the +ve value original price = Rs 4 per kg.

Ex.9 If 10% of an electricity bill is deducted. Rs 45 is still to be paid. How much was the bill ?

45
Sol. Here Rs 45 refers to (100-10) % of the bill Since 90% of bill = 45  100% of bill = x100  50
90
Hence the bill was 50.

Ex.10 The weight of a sand bag is 40 kg. In a hurry, it was weighed as 40.8 kg. Find the error percentage.

False weight  Actual weight

Sol. % Error = × 100
Actual weight
40.8  40
= × 100 = 2%
40
The error is 2%

Ex.11 The ratio of number of boys and girls in a school is 4 : 3. If there are 480 boys in the school, find the number of girls
in the school.
Sol. 4 : 3 = 480 : x
3  480
x= = 360 girls.
4
Ex.12 The ratio between two numbers is 3 : 5. If each number is increased by 4, the ratio becomes 2 : 3. Find the number.
Sol. Let the numbers be 3x and 5x,
3x  4 2
 =
5x  4 3
 x = 4  Numbers are 12 and 20.
Ex.13 The ratio of number of ladies to gents at a party was 1 : 2, but when 2 ladies and 2 gents left, the ratio becomes 1
: 3. How many people were originally present at the party?
Sol. Let the number of ladies = x, then
the number of gents = 2x
x2 1
As per question, =  x = 4
2x  2 3
 Total number of people originally present = x + 2x = 3 × 4 = 12.
Ex.14 A bag contains an equal number of one rupee, 50 paise and 25 paise coins respectively. If the total value is Rs 35,
how many coins of each type are there ?
Sol. Here number of each type of coin is same. Hence, we may write,
Number of each type of coin
Total amount
=
Sum of value of each coin
35
 Number of each type of coin =
1  0.5  0.25
= 20 coins of each type.
Ex.15 The sum of the present age of A , B and C is 90 years . Six years ago, their ages were in the ratio 1 : 2 : 3. What
is the present age of C ?
Sol. (A + B + C)’s age 6 years ago = 90 – 6  3 = 72
50
 Mathematics
3
 C’s age 6 years ago =  72 = 36
(1  2  3)
C’s present age = 36 + 6 = 42 years.
Ex.16 The sum of the squares of three numbers is 532 and the ratio of the first to the second as also of the second to the
third is 3 : 2. What is the second number?
First number 3 3 9
Sol. =  
Second number 2 3 6
Second number 3 2 6
[Make the second number same in both the ratio, i.e. 6] and =  
Third number 2 2 4
 First : Second : Third = 9 : 6 : 4
 (9x)2 + (6x)2 + (4x)2 = 532 ( given )
133x2 = 532  x = 2
Second Number is 6x = 12.
Ex.17 A bag contains 1 rupee, fifty paise, twenty five paise and ten paise coins in the proportion 1 : 3 : 5 : 7. If the total
amount is Rs 22.25, find the number of coins of each kind.
Sol. Let the number of coins be x, 3x, 5x, 7x respectively as 1 rupee, fifty paise, twenty five paise and ten paise. Since
Number of coin  Value of coin in rupee = Amount in rupees
1 1
Now, value of 50 paise coin in rupee = value of 25 paise coin in rupee =
2 4
1
value of 10 paise coin in rupee =
10
  1  1  1 
  (x  1)   3x  2    5x  4    7x  10  
      
89x
= 22.25  = 22.25 x = 5
20
 Number of rupee = 5  1 = 5
Number of 50 paise coin = 3x = 15
Number of 25 paise coin = 5x = 25
Number of 10 paise coin = 7x = 35.
1 1 1 1
Ex.18 A person distributes his pens among four friends A, B, C and D in the ratio : : : . What is the minimum
3 4 5 6
number of pens that the person should have?
1 1 1 1
Sol. Ratio of pens = A : B : C : D = : : :
3 4 5 6
= 20 : 15 : 12 : 10
Let number of pens given to A, B, C, D are 20 x, 15x, 12x, 10x
So, minimum number of pens (for x = 1)
= 20 +15 +1 2 + 10 = 57

Ex.19 A is twice as efficient as B, and finish the task 20 days earlier than B. Find number of days required to finish the task
by A.
(1) 20 days (2) 40 days (3) 10 days (4) 30 days
Sol. Let A can complete the work in x days, then B requires 2x days to finish the same work. According to given
condition A finish the task 20 days earlier than B i.e. 2x – x = x = 20 days.
So, A can finish the task in 20 days and B can finish the same task in 40 days.

Ex.20 A is three times as efficient as B and finish the task 32 days ahead of B. Find the number of days
required to finish the task if both are working simultaneously.
(1) 11 days (2) 12 days (3) 13 days (4) 14 days

51
IOQM/NMTC
Sol. Let A requires x days then
B requires 3x days
3x – x = 32
 2x = 32
x = 16 days
So, 3x = 48 days
 Together they can finish
1 1 4 1
  = part = part
16 48 48 12
Thus 12 days are required by them to finish the task.
21. Vinod can do 25% of a piece of work in 5 days. How many days will he take to complete the work ten times?
(1) 150 days (2) 250 days (3) 200 days (4) 180 days
1
Sol. 25% part or part in 5 days
4
5
then 1 part in = 20 days
1/ 4
 days required to complete ten times work
= 20  10 = 200 days
22. 6 men can do piece of work in 12 days. How many men are needed to do the work in 18 days?
(1) 3 men (2) 6 men (3) 4 men (4) 2 men
Sol. Here Man × Day = 6  12 = 72
72
m  18 = 72, m = =4
18
23. 4 men and 3 women finish a job in 6 days. And 5 men and 7 women can do the same job in 4 days. How long will
1 man and 1 women take to do the work?

2 1  1 7
(1) 22   days (2) 25   days (3) 5   (4) 12   days
 7 2  7  22 
Sol. Let man completes m part in a day and women completes w part in a day then
1
4m + 3w = .... (i)
6
1
5m + 7w = ....(ii)
4
after simplifying we get
5
20m + 15w =
6
20m + 28w = 1
1
So 13w =
6
1
w= ....(iii)
78

5
from (i) & (iii) we get, m =
156
5 1 7
m+w=  
156 78 156

52
 Mathematics
156 2
So it require days = 22
7 7

Ex.24 If 8 boys and 12 women can do a piece of work in 25 days. In how many days can the work be done by 6 boys and
11 women working together?
(1) 15 days (2) 10 days (3) 12 days (4) Cannot be deteremined

1
Sol. 8B + 12w = ....(i)
25
now to calculate
6B + 11w = ?
It because we have 1 equation in two variables.

Ex.25 A can do a piece of work in 10 days and B can do the same work in 20 days. With the help of C, they finish the work
in 5 days. How long will it take for C alone to finish the work?
(1) 20 days (2) 10 days (3) 35 days (4) 15 days

1 1 1 1
Sol. Work done by C in 1 day =   
5 10 20 20
This is C’s one day work so 20 days are required for C alone to finish task

Ex.26 A can do a piece of work in 20 days. He work at it for 5 days and then B finishes it in 10 more days. In how many
days will A and B together finish the work?
(1) 8 days (2) 10 days (3) 12 days (4) 6 days
1
Sol. A’s one day work =
20
1 1
In 5 day A can complete  5 = part
20 4

3
remaining work = part
4

3
B finish part in 10 days
4

10 40
B finish 1 part in = days
3/4 3

together they can finish it in

1 1
1 3 = 1 = 8 days

20 40 8

Ex.27 Shashi can do a piece of work in 25 days and Rishi can do it in 20 days. They work for 5 days and then Shashi goes
away. In how many more days will Rishi finish the work?
(1) 10 days (2) 12 days (3) 14 days (4) None of these

1
Sol. Shashi’s days work =
25

53
IOQM/NMTC
1
Rishi days work =
20

1 1 9
together they can finish + = part in a day
25 20 100

9 45
 Work in 5 days 5= part
100 100

55
part is remaining. Rishi can finish it in
100

 55 
 
 100 
 1  = 11 days
 
 20 

Ex.28 Manoj takes twice as much time as Ajay and thrice as much as Vijay to finish a piece of work. Together they finish the
work in 1 day. What is the time taken by Manoj to finish the work?
(1) 6 days (2) 3 days (3) 2 days (4) None of these
Sol. M:A:V
= 2 : 1 : 2/3 or 6:3:2
1 1 1
Let Manoj takes 6x days, Ajay takes 3x days and Vijay 2x days then   1
6x 3x 2x
1  1 1 1
  1
x  6 3 2 

1
=1, So x =1
x

Manoj will take 6 days

Ex.29 In a fort there was sufficient food for 200 soldiers for 31 day. After 27 days 120 soldiers left the fort. For how many
extra days will the rest of the food last for the remaining soldiers?
(1) 12 days (2) 10 days (3) 8 days (4) 6 days

Sol. Man  Day = Man × Day

200  31 = 6200

After 27 days

200  27 = 5400 Man.

Day is finished

remaining = 800

Man × Day = 800

80 × Day = 800

Day = 10

54
 Mathematics
Ex.30 Suppose there are a total of 2011 participants in a mathematics competition, and at least 1000 of them are female.
Moreover, given any 1011 participants, at least 11 of them are male. If the number of male participants in this
x
competition is x, then find the value of to the nearest integer?
100
Sol. 10

It is given that there are at least 1000 female participants. Suppose there are more than 1000 female participants.
Then we take a group of 1001 female participants, and add any 10 participants to this group of female participants.
This will result in a group of 1011 participants with at most 10 male participants, which contradicts the assumption.
Therefore, there are exactly 1000 female participants. Hence, the number of male participants is 2011 — 1000
= 1011.

EXERCISE - 1.5

1. Driving at a constant speed, Kavita usually takes 180 minutes to drive from her house to her mother’s house. One

day Kavita begins the drive at her usual speed, but after driving of the way, she hits a bad snowstorm and reduces
3
her speed by 20 km per hour. This time the trip takes her a total of 276 minutes. Kavita is now H kms far from her
H
mother’s house. What is ?
5

2. In the five-sided star shown, the letters A, B, C, D and E are replaced by the numbers 3, 5, 6, 7, and 9 although not

necessarily in this order. The sums of the numbers at the ends of the line segments AB , BC , CD , DE and EA
form an arithmetic sequence, although not necessarily in this order. What is the middle term of the arithmetic
sequence?

C D

E B

3. Each valve A, B, and C, when open, releases water into a tank as it own constant rate. With all three valves open, the
tank fills in 1 hour, with only valves A and C open it takes 1.5 hour, and with only valves B and C open it takes 2
hours. The number of minutes required with only valves A and B open is

4. Mohit has a collection of 23 coins, consisting of 5-paise coins, 10-paise coins, and 25-paise coins. He has 3 more
10-paise coins than 5-paise coins, and the total value of his collection is 320 paise. How many more 25-paise coins
does Mohit have than 5-paise coins?

5. Every week Ramesh pays for a movie ticket and a soda out of his allowance. Last week, Ramesh’s allowance was A
Rupees. The cost of his movie ticket was 20% of the difference between A and the cost of his soda, while the cost
of his soda was 5% of the difference between A and the cost of his movie ticket. To the nearest whole percent, what
fraction of A did Ramesh pay for his movie ticket and soda?

55
IOQM/NMTC
6. A rug is made with three different colors as shown. The areas of the three differently colored regions form an
arithmetic progression. The inner rectangle is one foot wide, and each of the two shaded regions is 1 foot wide on
all four sides. What is the length in feet of the inner rectangle?

1 1 1

x
7. Consider the set of all fractions , where x and y are relatively prime positive integers. How many of these fractions
y
have the property that if both numerator and denominator are increased by 1, the value of the fraction is increased
by 10%?

8. Divya drove her new car on a trip for a whole number of hours, averaging 55 km per hour. At the beginning of the
trip, abc km were displayed on the odometer, where abc is a 3-digit number with a  1 and a + b + c  7. At the end
of the trip, where the odometer showed cba km. What is a2 + b2 + c2?

9. It takes yuvi 60 seconds to walk down an escalator when it is not operating and only 24 seconds to walk down the
escalator when it is operating. How many seconds does it take yuvi to ride down the operating escalator when she
just stands on it?

10. Kareena walks once around a track at exactly the same constant speed every day. The sides of the track are straight,
and the ends are semicircles. The track has width 6 meters, and it takes her 36 seconds longer to walk around the

outside edge of the track than around the inside edge. If Kareena’s speed in meters per second is , find k.
k

1.6 Logarithms
Definitions and Results
DEFINITION 1 If a  1 and x are positive real numbers, then we say that y is the logarithm of x to the base a, written
y = loga x, when x is the value of a raised to the power y. That is,
y = loga x x = ay.
Because of the relationship of the logarithm function to an exponential function, we have some immediate results.
RESULT 1 For any positive number a  1, we have

1
loga 1 = 0, loga a = 1, and loga = – 1.
a

RESULT 2 If a  1 and x and y are positive real numbers with loga x = loga y, then x = y.
RESULT 3 If a  1, b  1, x and y are positive real numbers and r is any real number, then

• a loga x  x • loga a r  r

• loga(xy) = loga x + loga y • loga xr = r loga x

56
 Mathematics

x
• loga   = loga x – loga y.
y
Suppose that a  1. The first property in Result 3 states that

x = a loga x .
If, in addition, b  1, then we can take the base b logarithm of this expression to produce

logb x = logb a loga x = loga x logb a.

Dividing both sides by logab gives the following.

RESULT 4 For any positive a  1 and b  1, and any positive number x we have
log b x
log a x  .
log b a
This result means that all logarithm functions have the same form; any one of them is simply a multiple of any other.
This relationship between logarithm functions gives the following particularly useful formula when x = b, since in this
case logb x = logb b = 1.
RESULT 5 For any positive a  1 and and b  1, we have
1
loga b = log a
b

Another result concerning logarithms that is occasionally needed concerns the occurrences when the logarithm to a
certain base results in a rational number.
RESULT 6 Suppose that a  1 is a positive number. Then loga b results in an integer (respectively, a rational
number), if and only if b = ar, where r is an integer (respectively, where r is a rational number).
Another important feature of logarithms in mathematics in general is that they are each inverse functions for a
specific exponential function.
Solved Examples 1.6
Ex.1 Suppose that 3 = k 2 and that 15 = k 4r. What is r?
r

(1) – log2 5 (2) log5 2 (3) log10 5 (4) log2 5

Sol. (4)
If we solve for k in the equation 3 = k 2r and substitute this value into the equation 15 = k  4r, we have

3 3
k= , so 15 = 4r = 3 2r.
2r 2r
Therefore 2r = 15/3 = 5, and r = log2 5.
Ex.2 Suppose that log xy3 = 1 and log x2y = 1. What is log xy?
1 1 3
(1)  (2) 0 (3) (4)
2 2 5
Sol. (4)
The basic logarithm properties give
1 = log xy3 = log x + 3 log y and 1 = log x2y = 2 log x + log y.
Multiply the first equation by 2 and subtract the corresponding terms of the second equation to produce 1 = 5 log
y. Then
1 2
,
log y = log x = 1 – 3 log y = ,
5 5
3
and log xy = log x + log y = .
5
Ex.3 For all integers n greater than 1, define

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1
an = log 2002 .
n

Let b = a2 + a3 + a4 + a5 and c = a10 + a11 + a12 + a13 + a14. What is b – c?

1 1
(1) –2 (2) –1 (3) (4)
2002 1001
Sol. (2)
we can re-express an as

1
an = log 2002 = log2002 n.
n

So
b – c = a2 + a3 + a4 + a5 – a10 – a11 – a12 – a13 – a14
= log2002 2 + log2002 3 + log2002 4 + log2002 5 – log2002 10
– log2002 11 – log2002 12 – log2002 13 – log2002 14

2345
= log2002 .
10  11  12  13  14
So
1 1
b – c = log2002 = log2002 = – log2002 2002,
11  13  14 2002
and b – c = –1.
Ex.4 It is given that x and y are two real numbers such that x > 1 and y > 1. Find the smallest possible value of
logx 2011+logy 2011
logxy 2011
Sol. 04
logx 2011  logy 2011  log 2011 log2011   log xy 
=    
log xy 2011  log x log y   log2011 
 1 1 
=    (log x + log y)
 log x log y
log x log y
=2+ 
log y log x
4 (using AM GM),
and the equality is attained when log x = log y, or equivalently, x = y.

Ex.5 Suppose x = 3 2 log3 x

is an integer. Determine the value of x2.
Sol. 81

Taking logarithm, we get log3 x = 2  log3 x Let y = log3x. The only possible solution for y = 2  y is 2.
Therefore x = 32 = 9 and x2 = 81

EXERCISE - 1.6
1. Let f (n) = log2002 n2 for all positive integers n. Define
N = f (11) + f (13) + f (14).
Which of the following relations is true?
2. What is the value of the expression

1 1 1 1
N= + + +. . .+ ?
log2 100! log 3 100! log 4 100! log100 100!
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(1) 0.01 (2) 0.1 (3) 1 (4) 2
3. What is the value of the sum
S = log10(tan 1°) + log10(tan 2°) +...+ log10(tan 88°) + log10(tan 89°)?

1 1  1 1
(1) 0 (2) log10  3 (3) log10 2 (4) log10 3
2  2  2 2

4. The set of all real numbers x for which log2004(log2003(log2002(log2001 x))) is defined is {x|x > c}. If value of c is in the
form (200x)200y, then the value of xy

a
5. If log (xy3) = 1 and log(x2y) = 1, If log (xy) = then a + b = ?
b

6. Evaluate

1 1 1 1 1
    .
log2 12 5 log 3 12 5 log 4 12 5 log 5 12 5 log6 12 5

7. There are q values of x which satisfy log10(x – 40) + log10(60 – x) < 2. What is the value of q ?

8. x = abc (a 3-digit number) satisfy the equation

log 2
x  log2 x  log4 (x2 ) + log8(x3) + log16(x4) = 40. What is ab (a 2 digit number)?

9. There are t distinct four-tuples (a, b, c, d) of rational numbers with

alog102 + blog103 + clog105 + dlog107 = 2005. What is 25 × t ?

10. Suppose that a, b and c are real numbers greater than 1. Find the value of

1 1 1
  .
c a b
1  log a2b   1  log b2c   1  log c2a  
a  b c

10 xy
11. If x, y > 0, logy x + logx y = and xy = 144, then is
3 2 3

1.7 Sequence and series

Definitions
By a sequence of numbers we simply mean an ordered way of writing the numbers. To be more precise, we use the
notion of a function.
DEFINITION 1 A sequence of numbers is a function that assigns to each positive integer a distinct number. The
number assigned by the sequence to the integer n is commonly denoted using a subscript, such as a n. These
numbers are called the terms of the sequence.
DEFINITION 2 A series of numbers is a sequence that is formed by adding the terms of another sequence.
As an example of this definition, consider the sequence of numbers 1, 4, 7, . . . , where the . . . (called ellipsis)
is used to indicate that this sequence continues in the manner described by the first few terms of the sequence. If we
denote the first term by a1, that is, a1 = 1, then a2 = 4, a3 = 7, and if the pattern continues, it is not difficult to
believe that an = 3n – 2.
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IOQM/NMTC
The series associated with the sequence {an} has its first terms
S1 = a1 = 1,
S2 = a1 + a2 = 1 + 4 = 5,
and
S3 = a1 + a2 + a3 = 5 + 7 = 12.
If our pattern for an is correct, we will show later in this section that the series associated with this sequence has
3n2 n
Sn =  .
2 2
DEFINITION 3 An arithmetic sequence (also called an arithmetic progression) {a n} is defined by
an = a + (n – 1)d for some constants a and d  0 and each positive integer n. The number d is called the common
difference.
The sequence that we considered prior to this definition is an arithmetic sequence with first term a = 1 and common
difference d = 3. The sum of the first n terms of an arithmetic sequence are found using the fact, that
1
1 + 2 + + n = n(n + 1).
2
For an arithmetic sequence with an = a + (n – 1)d we have
a1 + a2 + a3 ++ an
= a + (a + d) + (a + 2d)++(a + (n – 1)d)
= n a + d(1 + 2 +  +(n – 1))
d
= na + (n – 1)n.
2
This gives the following result.
RESULT 1 If {an} is an arithmetic sequence with first term a and common difference d, then
n
a1 + a2 + a3 ++ an = (2a + (n – 1)d).
2
Since 2a + (n – 1)d = a + (a + (n – 1)d) = a1 + an, this result also implies that the sum of the first n terms of an
arithmetic sequence is n times the average of the first and last terms.
RESULT 2 If {an} is an arithmetic sequence with first term a and common difference d, then
n
a1 + a2 + a3 ++an = (a + an).
2 1
A special case of this result occurs when the common difference is 1. In this case we have a1 = k for some integer
n
k, an = k + n – 1, and a1 + a2 ++ an = k + (k + 1) + +(k + n – 1) = (2k + n – 1).
2
The other special type of sequence that frequently occurs is the geometric sequence.
DEFINITION 4 A geometric sequence {an} is defined for each positive integer n by an = a  rn – 1, where a is a
constant and r is a constant that is neither 0 nor 1. The number r is called the common ratio.
The sum of the first n terms of a geometric sequence has a nice form but we need to work a bit harder to show
it than in the case of arithmetic sequences. Let Sn denote the sum of the first n terms of a geometric sequence {an}
that has first term a and common ratio r , that is,
Sn = a + ar + ar2 + + arn – 1.
If we multiply each side of this equation by r and subtract the resulting equation from the preceding equation we
obtain
Sn – r Sn = (a + ar + ar2 ++ arn – 1) – r (a + ar ++ arn – 1)
= (a + ar + ar2 ++ arn – 1) – (ar + ar2 ++arn)
= a + (ar – ar) + (ar2 – ar2) + + (arn – 1 – arn – 1) + arn
= a – arn.
So

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n n
(1 – r )Sn = Sn – r Sn = a – ar = a(1 – r ).
This gives us a sum formula for a geometric series.
RESULT 3 If {an} is a geometric sequence with first term a and common ratio r , then

1  rn
a1 + a2 + +an = a .
1 r
This formula has a particularly important application when we have |r| < 1. In this case, rn approaches 0 as n
becomes increasingly large, and
10 a
a + ar + ar2 + ar3  = a  .
a r 1r
For example, we have
2 3
1 1 1 1 1 3
1        ...    .
3 3 3 1  1/ 3 2 / 3 2

Solved Examples 1.7

Ex.1 The sum of 18 consecutive positive integers is a perfect square. What is the smallest possible value of this sum?
(1) 169 (2) 225 (3) 289 (4) 361
Sol. (2)
If the first term of the sequence is denoted a, then this arithmetic sequence with common difference d = 1 has the
sum
a + (a + 1) + +(a + 17) = 18a + (1 + 2 + + 17)
1
= 18a + (17  18) = 9(2a + 17).
2
For the sum to be a perfect square, the term 2a + 17 must be a perfect square. By inspection, we can see that this
first occurs when a = 4. This gives the minimal sum, which is 9  25 = 225.
Ex.2 In a geometric sequence of real numbers, the sum of the first two terms is 7 and the sum of the first six terms is 91.
What is the sum of the first four terms?
(1) 28 (2) 32 (3) 35 (4) 49
Sol. (1)
Let a denote the first term of the geometric sequence and r denote the common ratio. The stated conditions imply
that
7 = a + ar
and that
91 = a + ar + ar2 + ar3 + ar4 + ar5
= (a + ar)(1 + r2 + r4) = 7(1 + r2 + r4).
As a consequence,
13 = 1 + r2 + r4
and
0 = r4 + r2 – 12 = (r2 + 4) (r2 – 3).
Hence r2 = 3, and the sum of the first four terms of the sequence is
a + ar + ar2 + ar3 = (a + ar) (1 + r2) = 7(1 + 3) = 28.
Ex.3 Let a1, a2, . . . , be a sequence with the following properties.
(i) a1 = 1, and

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IOQM/NMTC
(ii) a2n = n  an for any positive integer n.
What is the value of a2100?
(1) 1 (2) 299 (3) 2100 (4) 24950
Sol. (4)
Computing a few of the initial terms gives
a2 = a2 1 = 1  a1 = 1 = 20,
a22 = a4 = a22 = 2  a2 = 2 = 21,
a23 = a8 = a24 = 4  a4 = 8 = 21 + 2,
and
a24 = a16 = a28 = 8  a8 = 64 = 21 + 2 + 3.
It appears from this sample that for each positive integer n we have
a2n = 21 + 2 ++ (n – 1) = 2(n – 1)n/2.
An induction argument confirms that this formula holds for all positive integers. To see this, first note that the
pattern holds when n is one of the first few positive integers. Suppose that it is true for a given positive integer n,
then
a2n + 1 = a22n = 2n  a2n = 2n  2(n – 1)n/2 = 2n + (n – 1)n/2 = 2n(n + 1)/2,
so it is also true for the next integer. As a consequence, the formula must be true for all positive integers. This is the
essence of a proof by mathematical induction. Hence
a2100 = 2(99 100)/2 = 24950.
3a n  1
Ex.4 Let a1 = 3, and define an + 1 = for all positive integers n. Find a2011·
an  3
Sol. 03
3x  1
3 1
3x  1 x 3 3x  3  x  3 x 3
Let f(x) = . Then f(f(x)) =   .
x 3 3x  1 3x  1  3x  3 3x  1
 3
x 3
3x  1
 3
x 3 3x  1  3x  3 1
f ( f ( f (x))) =   . So f (f (f (f (f (f(x) ) ) ) ) ) = x.
3x  1 3x  3  x  3 x
3 1
x 3

Since 2010 = 6 × 335, a2011 = f(f(f    f(f (3)))) = 3.

 
2010 copics

Ex.5 A real-valued function f satisfies the relation

f(x2 + x) + 2f(x2 – 3x + 2) = 9x2 – 15x
for all real values of x. Find f(5).
Sol. 11
Given the original equation
f(x2 + x) + 2f(x2 – 3x + 2) = 9x2 –15x,
we replace x by 1 – x and obtain
f(x2 – 3x + 2) + 2f(x2 + x) = 9 (1 – x)2 – 15 (1 – x) = 9x2 – 3x – 6.
Eliminating f(x2 – 3x + 2) from the two equations, we obtain
3f(x2 + x) = 9x2 + 9x – 12,

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2 2 2
thereby f(x + x) = 3x + 3x – 4 = 3(x + x) – 4,
hence f(5) = 3(5) – 4 = 11
Ex.6 What are the last 2 digits of the sum 1 + 11 + 111 + … + 111...111 ?

2014 digits

Sol. 44
Last digit: 2014  4
Second last digit: 2013 + 201 = 2214  4
the last 2 digits are 44.

EXERCISE - 1.7
1. A grocer makes a display of cans in which the top row has one can and each lower row has two more cans than the
row above it. If the display contains 100 cans, how many rows are there?
(1) 5 (2) 8 (3) 9 (4) 10
2. The second and fourth terms of a geometric sequence are 2 and 6. Which of the following is a possible first term?

2 3 3
(1)  3 (2)  (3)  (4) 3
3 3
3. Figures 0, 1, 2, and 3 consists of 1, 5, 13, and 25 nonoverlapping unit squares, respectively. If the pattern were
continued, how many non-overlapping unit squares would there be in Figure 100?

Figure 0
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
(1) 10,401 (2) 19,801 (3) 20,201 (4) 39,801
4. Let a1, a2, . . . , ak be a finite arithmetic sequence with
a4 + a7 + a10 = 17,
a4 + a5 + a6 + a7 + a8 + a9 + a10 + a11 + a12 + a13 + a14 = 77,
and ak = 13. What is k?
(1) 16 (2) 18 (3) 20 (4) 22 (5) 24
5. Suppose that the sequence {an} is defined by
a1 = 2, and an + 1 = an + 2n, when n  1.
What is a100?
(1) 9900 (2) 9902 (3) 9904 (4) 10100
6. The increasing sequence of positive integers a1, a2, a3, . . . has the property that an + 2 = an + an + 1, for all n  1.
Suppose that a7 = 120. What is a8?
(1) 128 (2) 168 (3) 193 (4) 194
7. In the sequence 2001, 2002, 2003, . . ., each term after the third is found by subtracting the previous term from
the sum of the two terms t hat precede that term. For example, the fourth t erm is
2001 + 2002–2003 = 2000. What is the 2004th term in this sequence?

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IOQM/NMTC
8. Find the value of the positive integer n if
1 1 1 1
   ...   5.
4 5 5 6 6 7 n  n 1
x
9. The sequence log12162, 1og12x, log12y, log12z, log121250 is an arithmetic progression. What is ?
10
10. The first four terms of an arithmetic sequence are p, 9, 3p – q, and 3p + q. What is the sum of digits of the 2010th
term of the sequence?

11. Let a + ar1 + ar12 + ar13 ....... and a + ar2 + ar22 + ar23 + ..... be two different infinite geometric series of positive
numbers with the same first term. The sum of the first series is r1, and the sum of the second series is r2. What is
31(r1 + r2) ?

12. The geometric series a + ar + ar2 + .... has a sum of 7, and the terms involving odd powers of r have a sum of 3.
What is 10(a + r)?

13. Let a1, a2, .........ak be a finite arithemetic sequence with

a4 + a7 + a10 = 17 and a4 + a5 + a6 + ......+ a12 + a13 + a14 = 77.

If ak = 13, the k =

1.8 Exponentials and radicals

Exponents and Bases

The first step is to develop working definitions of exponentials.

• If n is a positive integer and a is a real number, then the symbol

  
n  times
an =
a  a  a

represents the product of n factors of a. In the expression an, the number a is called the base and n is called the
exponent or power.

• If n is a positive integer, then the principal nth root of the real number a, written a1/n = n
a, is the largest real

number b such that a = bn, provided such a number exists. Such a number exists for all positive integers n when
a  0. But when a < 0, it exists only for odd positive integers n.

The symbol n
a is called a radical with the index n and radicand a. If the index n = 2 we write 2
a simply as

a , the square root of a. If the index n = 3, we call 3

a the cube root of a.
• If p and q are positive integers with no common factors and n = p/q, then we define
p
an = ap/q =  a
q
. provided that q
a is defined.
• When n is a positive rational number, and an is defined and nonzero, we define
1
a–n = n .
a
Exponential Functions
To define an exponential function we need to extend the exponent concept to permit the exponent to take on any
real number value. A complete discussion of this extension requires calculus to do completely, so we will simply
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assume that it can be satisfactorily completed in a manner that is consistent with the definitions we have already
given. Because there is difficulty with taking roots of negative numbers, the base a of an exponential function is
always assumed to be positive, and to simplify matters we also specify that a  1.
This produces exponential functions that have graphs similar to those shown below. On the left we have the
situation when a > 1, the graph of f (x) = 2x , and on the right when a < 1, the graph of f (x) = 3–x = (1/3)x .
y y

f(x) = 2
x
3
2 x
f(x) = (1/3)

1 x 1 x
Basic Rules of Exponents
RESULT 1 Suppose that a > 0 and b > 0, then for every pair of real numbers x and y:
1
• a0 = 1 • a– x =
ax
• ax  ay = ax + y • (a ) = axy
x y

x
ax a ax
• =a x–y
•   
ay  b bx
The following properties of radicals follow directly from the exponential properties.
RESULT 2 If a > 0 and b > 0, then for each positive integer n we have

n
a a
• n
ab  n a n b • n 
b n
b

• m n
a  mn a • n am  am / n
There are certain special situations that require care when working with exponentials and radicals.
• When a = 0 and x > 0 we define ax = 0. However, when a and x are both 0, we do not define ax. The reasons
for this will be discussed in calculus, but you can see that there must be a difficulty by noting that for every
positive real number x we have both 0x = 0 but x0 = 1.
• When a < 0 we can sometimes define ax as a real number, but not always. If x is an integer, ax is always a real
number. For rational values of x, whether ax is a real number depends on the value of the denominator of x.
Specifically, if x = p/q, where p and q are nonzero integers with no common factors, then
 q a p  ( q a )p , if q is odd;
a p/q
= 
undefined, if q is even.
2
So, for example, (– 8)2/3 =  3
( 8)  = (– 2)2 = 4, but (– 8)3/2 is not defined as a real number because it would
require taking the square root of a negative number.
The Binomial Theorem
Result 1 The Binomial Theorem: For each pair of real numbers a and b and each positive integer n we have

n n n n

(a + b)n =   anb0 +   an – 1b1 ++   an – kbk ++   a0bn,
0 1 k
  n

n n!
where  
k
  k!(n  k)!
is called a binomial coefficient. It describes the number of distinct ways to choose k objects from a collection of n
objects. Expanding and simplifying gives

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IOQM/NMTC
n(n  1) n – 2 2 n!
(a + b)n = an + nan – 1 b + a b ++ an – kbk ++ bn.
2 k!(n  k)!

For example, when n = 3 the Binomial Theorem implies that

3 3 3 2 3 2 3 3
(a + b)3 =   a    a b    ab    b
0 1 2 3
3! 3 3! 2 3! 3! 3
= a  a b ab2  b
3!  0! 2! 1! 1! 2! 0!  3!
6 3 6 2 6 6 3
= a  a b ab2  b
61 21 1 2 1 6
= a3 + 3a2b + 3ab2 + b3.
It is interesting to see why the Binomial Theorem is true, since it forms a basis for the binomial notation. Suppose
that we write n products of (a + b) in factored form as
 
n  times

(a + b)n =
(a  b)(a  b)(a  b)    (a  b).
The multiplication will eventually result in a summation with a term for each possible way that we can choose an a or
b from each of the terms in the factored form. For example, if we choose a from each factor (so we choose 0 of the
b’s) then we have the term an. If we choose 1 of the b’s from a single factor and a’s from the rest, then we will have
n terms in the summation of the form an – 1 b. In a similar manner, the number of terms of the form an – kbk is the
number of ways to choose precisely k of the b’fs from n of the factors. The binomial notation gives the quantities of
these terms.
The binomial coefficients satisfy a number of interesting relationships. From the definition we can see that
n n!  n 
   .
 k  k !(n  k)!  n  k 
Also, when k < n we have
 n   n   n  1
   .
 k   k  1  k  1
This result follows from the fact that
n  n  n! n!
   
 k   k  1 k !(n  k)! (k  1)!(n  k  1)!
n!((k  1)  (n  k))
=
(k  1)!(n  k)!
n!(n  1)
=
(k  1)!((n  1)  (k  1))!
(n  1)!  n  1
=  .
(k  1)!((n  1)  (k  1))!  k  1 
This relationship gives us the familiar Pascal’s triangle. The kth line in the triangle give us the coefficients of a
and b in the expansion of (a + b)k :
(a + b)0 : 1
(a + b)1 : 1 1
2
(a + b) : 1 2 1
(a + b)3 : 1 3 3 1
4
(a + b) : 1 4 6 4 1

A special case that is sometimes useful, but not likely worth memorizing, is that

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 2n  n (2n  1)(2n  3)    3  1
 2
 n  n!

Solved Examples 1.8

Ex.1 Suppose that N > 1. What is the value of 3

N3 N3 N ?

(1) N1/27 (2) N1/9 (3) N1/3 (4) N13/27

Sol. (4)
We first rewrite the expression using exponential notation.
Then
1/ 3 1/ 3
3
 
N 3 N 3 N  N N  N1 / 3  
= N 1/3N (1/3)(1/3) N (1/3)(1/3)(1/3)
= N1/3  N1/9  N1/27 = N1/3+1/9+1/27.

1 1 1 13
Since    we have 3
N3 N3 N = N
13/27
.
3 9 27 27

Ex.2 What is the coefficient of x7 in the polynomial expansion of

(1 + 2x – x2)4?
(1) –12 (2) –8 (3) 6 (4) 8
Sol. (2)
First write
(1 + 2x – x2)4 = (1 + 2x – x2)  (1 + 2x – x2)  (1 + 2x – x2)  (1 + 2x . x2). The highest power of x is x8, which occurs
by choosing –x2 from each of the four factors. To obtain the term x7, we need to choose –x2 from three of the factors
and 2x for the fourth. There are four distinct ways to make this choice, one for each factor, so the x7 term in the
expansion is
4  (2x)  (–x2)3 = – 8x7.
OR
Although this is not a direct application of the Binomial Theorem, the theorem gives
(1 + 2x – x2)4 = ((1 + 2x) + (– x2))4
= (1 + 2x)4 + 4(1 + 2x)3 (–x2) + 6(1 + 2x)2(–x2)2
+ 4(1 + 2x) (–x2)3 + (–x2)4.
Only 4(1 + 2x) (–x2)3 = 4x6 – 8x7 has a term involving x7, so the answer is – 8.
OR
By the Zero-Coefficient Relationship for General Polynomials, the coefficient of x7 in this polynomial of degree 8 is
the negative of the sum of the zeros of P(x) = (1 + 2x – x2)4 = (x2 – 2x – 1)4. Applying this same result to the
polynomial x2 – 2x – 1 implies that the sum of the zeros of this polynomial is the negative of the linear term, so the
sum of the zeros of x2 – 2x – 1 is 2. Hence the sum of the zeros of P(x) is
– 4(2) = – 8 and the coefficient of x7 is – 8.
Ex.3 Suppose that a and b are positive numbers satisfying ab = ba and that b = 9a. What is a?
1
(1) (2) 9
9 (3) 3
9 (4) 4
3
9
Sol. (4)

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IOQM/NMTC
Since we need to determine a, we first rewrite the expression ab = ba as a = ba/b. Now substitute b = 9a to give
a = ba/b = (9a)a/(9a) = (9a)1/9, so a9 = 9a.
Hence
a8 = 9 and a = 91/8 = (32)1/8 = 32/8 = 31/4 = 4
3.

EXERCISE - 1.8

1. What is the value of k if 22007 – 22006 – 22005 + 22004 = k22004 ?

(1) 1 (2) 2 (3) 3 (4) 4
y x
x y
2. Suppose that x > y > 0. Which of the following is the same as ?
yy x x
xy y x
x x
y/x
(1) (x – y) (2)   (3) 1 (4)  
y y
810  410
3. What is the value of ?
8 4  411
(1) 2 (2) 16 (3) 32 (4) 122/3
4. Suppose that a > 0 and b > 0. Define r to be the number that results when both the base and the exponent of ab are
tripled. Suppose now that we write r = ab  xb. Which of the following expressions represents x?
(1) 3 (2) 3a2 (3) 27a2 (4) 2a3b
5. Let a1, a2,. . . be a sequence of rational numbers such that a1 = 2 and for n  1
1  an
a n 1  .
1  an
Determine 30 × a2008.

m
6. If x is real, such that (2x – 4)3 + (4x – 2)3 = (4x + 2x – 6)3 , if sum of all real x is , where m and n co-prime, find
n
m+n

1.9 Basics of statistics

Definitions
Suppose that we are given a collection of numbers, {a1, a2, . . . , an}. There are various ways to describe the way in
which these numbers are distributed.
DEFINITION 1 The Arithmetic Mean of a collection of n numbers a1, a2, . . . , an is th average of these numbers
a1  a 2      a n
Arithmetic Mean = .
n
Often this is simply called the mean or average of the numbers.
Although the arithmetic mean tells the average of the numbers, it may not sufficiently describe how the numbers
are distributed. For example, the mean of the numbers 0, 0, 0, and 100 is 25, but none of the numbers is close to
the mean.
DEFINITION 2 Consider the collection of numbers {a1, a2, . . . , an}, with a1  a2    an.
• The median of the collection is the middle term of the collection when n is odd, and is the average of the two
middle terms when n is even.
• The mode of the collection is the term(s) that occur most frequently.
In addition, we have a definition that is occasionally used in statisticoriented problems.
DEFINITION 3 The range of a collection of integers {a1, a2, . . . , an} is defined to be the length of the smallest

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closed interval that contains all the integers in the collection. Hence the range is the difference between the largest
and smallest integers.
Looking again at our collection a1 = 0, a2 = 0, a3 = 0, and a4 = 100, we see that the median is 0, the average
of a2 and a3. The mode is also 0, and the range is 100 – 0 = 100.
For a more illustrative example, consider the set of integers {2, 3, 3, 7, 8, 11}. This set has
2 + 3 + 3 + 7 + 8 + 11 34 17 3+7
Mean =   , Median =  5,
6 6 3 2
Mode = 3, and Range = 11 – 2 = 9.
Results
One of the most frequently used results concerns the connection between the mean and the sum of a collection of
numbers.
RESULT 1 For the collection of the n numbers a1, a2, . . . , an we have
a1 + a2 +  + an = n  Mean.
In the previous chapter we saw some interesting results about arithmetic and geometric sequences. We can use these
results to determine the values of the various statistical concepts in the case when the collection of numbers happens
to come from one of these types of sequences.
First consider the arithmetic sequences.
RESULT 2 Consider the collection of n numbers, the arithmetic sequence with first term a, and common
difference d.
1
• The mean and median are both a + (n – 1)d.
2
• The mode consists of all the terms in the collection.
To show the first of these results, recall that
a + (a + d) ++ (a + (n – 1) d) = na + d(1 + 2 + +(n – 1))
d
= na + (n – 1)n.
2
1
Dividing by n gives the mean, a + (n – 1)d. When n is odd this will be the middle term of the sequence. When n
2
is even, it will be the average of the two middle terms. In either case it is also the mode.
The case for geometric sequences is not as concise, nor as frequently used.
RESULT 3 Consider the n numbers in the geometric sequence with first term a and common ratio r, where
|r|  1.

a 1  rn
• The mean is  .
n 1r

a(1+ r) (n – 2)/2
• The median is ar(n – 1)/2 if n is odd, and is r if n is even.
2
• The mode consists of all the terms in the collection.
To show the first result, recall that in the previous chapter we found that the sum of the terms in the
sequence is
1 – rn a 1  rn
a + ar + + ar(n – 1) = a  , so, Mean =  .
1 r n 1r
The values for the median and mode depend on the sign of the ratio r as well as its magnitude. The cases are too
specialized to be of general use.

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IOQM/NMTC
Solved Examples 1.9
Ex.1 The sum of 49 consecutive integers is 75. What is their median?
(1) 7 (2) 72 (3) 73 (4) 74
Sol. (3)
Let a denote the smallest integer. Since the integers are consecutive, they form an arithmetic sequence with common
difference d = 1. Hence the mean and median are the same with value
75 75
Median = Mean =   73.
49 72
Ex.2 Mrs. RAJE gave an exam in a mathematics class of five students. She entered the scores in random order into a
spreadsheet, which recalculated the class average after each score was entered. Mrs. RAJE noticed that after each
score was entered, the average was always an integer. The scores (listed in ascending order) were 71, 76, 80, 82,
and 91. What was the last score Mrs. RAJE entered?
(1) 71 (2) 76 (3) 80 (4) 82
Sol. (3)
Since the average of the first two scores entered is an integer, these scores must both be even or both be odd.
If they were the two odd scores, then they would add to 71 + 91 = 162. Since 162 is divisible by 3, the third score
added would also have to be divisible by 3. Otherwise the average of the first three scores would not be an integer.
But none of the remaining scores, 76, 80, and 82 is divisible by 3. As a consequence, the first two scores could not
have been the odd scores.
Hence the first two scores added must both be even. Since 76 + 80 = 156, and 80+82 = 162 are both divisible
by 3, but none of the 71, 91 and 82 is divisible by 3, the first pair chosen could not have been either 76 and 80 or
80 and 82. So the first two integers chosen must have been 76 and 82, and 76 + 82 = 158 has a remainder of 2
when divided by 3. Consequently, the third integer chosen must have a remainder of 1 when divided by 3, and of
those remaining, only 91 has this property. So the first scores selected must have been 76, 82, and 91. Since this
sum is odd, the fourth number chosen must be the remaining odd number 71. Note that 76 + 82 + 91 + 71 =
320 is divisible by 4. Hence the last score chosen must have been 80.

EXERCISE - 1.9

1. Consider the sequence

1, – 2, 3, – 4, 5, – 6, . . . ,
whose nth term is (– 1)n+1  n. What is the average of the first 200 terms of the sequence?
(1) – 1 (2) – 0.5 (3) 0 (4) 0.5
2. In the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth basketball games of the season, a player scored 23, 14, 11, and 20 points,
respectively. Her pointsper-game average was higher after nine games than it was after the first five games. Her
average after ten games was greater than 18. What is the least number of points she could have scored in the tenth
game?
(1) 26 (2) 27 (3) 28 (4) 29
3. A, B, C are three piles of rocks. The mean weight of the rocks in A is 40 kg, the mean weight of the rocks in B is
50 kg, the mean weight of the rocks in the combined piles A and B is 43 kg, and the mean weight of the rocks in
the combined piles A and C is 44 kg. What is the greatest possible integer value for the mean in kg of the rocks in
the combined piles B and C?
4. On a certain math exam, 10% of the students got 70 points, 25% got 80 points, 20% got 85 points, 15% got 90
points, and the rest got 95 points. What is the difference between the mean and the median score on this exam?
5. The mean, median, and mode of the 7 data values 60, 100, x, 40, 50, 200, 90 are all equal to x. What is the value
of x?
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 Mathematics
ANSWER KEY

EXERCISE - 1.1

1 5 1275 1009
1. 2. 3. 4. 2222222175 5. 9 6. 
15 34 2551 2020

7. 24

EXERCISE - 1.2

1  ( 1) n 1,n  even

1. 99 2. 3 3.  4. n = 10
2 0,n  odd

5. 53 6. 2(x2 + y2 + xy)2 7. f(x) = x2 – 3x + 1 9. g(x) = x2 + x + 1, h(x) = x + 1

10. 10 11. 02 12. 51 13. 00 14. 08 15. 20 16. 81
17. 78 18. 05 19. 70 20. 01 21. 06 22. 02 23. 27
24. 27 25. 05 26. 10 27. 24 28. 02 29. 12 30. 00

EXERCISE - 1.3

5 1 403  85 17
1. b =  10879 2. m – 3. a = 1 , b =  4. 5. 01
4 2 8

6. 03 7. 56 8. 90 9. 06 10. 39 11. 05 12. 01

13. 15 14. 51 15. 09 16. 08 17. 01 18. 01 19. 03
20. 16

EXERCISE - 1.4

2008
1. 2. x = 7, y = 5, z = –3 3. x = 0, y = 6, z = 7, u = 3, v = –1
2009

23 23 23
4. x = ,y= ,z= 5. 02 6. 18 7. 16 8. 25 9. 42
10 6 2

10. 67 11. 51 12. 06 13. 29

EXERCISE - 1.5
1. 27 2. 12 3. 72 4. 02 5. 23 6. 02 7. 01
8. 37 9. 40 10. 03

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IOQM/NMTC

EXERCISE - 1.6

Que. 1 2 3
Ans. 4 3 1

4. 12 5. 08 6. 02 7. 18 8. 25 9. 25 10. 03
11. 13

EXERCISE - 1.7

Que. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Ans. 4 2 3 2 2 4

7. 00 8. 48 9. 27 10. 13 11. 31 12. 25 13. 18

EXERCISE - 1.8

Que. 1 2 3 4
Ans. 3 4 2 3

5. 10 6. 09

EXERCISE - 1.9

Que. 1 2
Ans. 2 3

3. 59 4. 01 5. 90

72