ISI Entrance MOCK 1
Arnab Sanyal
18th March 2024
1 Instructions
• Each problem is worth 10 points, except for the last problem which is
worth 18 points.
• There are a total of 9 problems, out of which the first 8 of them are
compulsory.Hence a total of 80 points.
• If you haven’t solved a problem among the first 8 and have solved the last
problem, the points you get on that problem will be added to your final
score. However it is not possible to score more than 80.Exception only
when someone sweeps ;)
• Time alloted is 2.5hrs.
• Please do not cheat.(Tho idc)
• ATB!
1
Problem 1. Prove that the series
1/2 1/4 1/8 1/16
√ + √ + √ + √ + ···
1 + 2 1 + 4 2 1 + 8 2 1 + 16 2
exists and hence find the limit.
Problem 2. Solve the following:[3+7]
a) Let a, b, c, d ∈ N such that gcd(c, d) = 1. Prove that the system of
congruence
x ≡ a (mod c)
x≡b (mod d)
have a unique solution
x≡M (mod P )
where P = cd.
b) Using part (a) or otherwise prove that there exist infinitely many triples
(a, b, c) of positive integers such that:
43 × 139|2a + 2b + 2c + 1
Problem 3.After the Great War that occurred in 2019,Spider-Man has
nothing to do all day(Consider that he has broken up with his girlfriend). He
happens to see a large parabolic frame whose equation(consider the vertex as
origin) is y = x2 . He stands at the vertex and starts jumping to points on
the frame such that the area enclosed by the straight line joining the points
of two consecutive jumps, and the curve is equal. Let the nth point of jump
be (xn , x2n )(Assume that xn is a strictly increasing sequence of positive real
numbers). Consider x0 = 0.
For all n ∈ N , let rn denote the distance between (xn−1 , x2n−1 ) and (xn , x2n ).
Find Pn 2
k=1 rk
lim 3
n→∞ n
Problem 4. Let n be a positive integer. Prove that
m
X
n= (±k 2 )
k=1
for some m ∈ N and some suitable choice of signs.
Problem 5. Find number of sequences of integers {xn }n≥0 such that x0 = 0,
xn+1 − xn ∈ {1, 10} and no term in the sequence has the digit 5 except the last
term which must have the digit 5.
2
Problem 6.Let A1 A2 . . . A2n be a regular 2n-gon. Let T be any point on
the circumcircle of the polygon. Let H1 , H2 , . . . , Hn be orthocenters of trian-
gles T A1 A2 , T A3 A4 , . . . , T A2n−1 A2n respectively. Prove that H1 H2 . . . Hn is a
regular n-gon.
Problem 7.A sequence (an ) is defined as follows: (a0 , a1 ) ≡ (−1, 0), and
an+1 = a2n − (n + 1)2 an−1 − 1 for all positive integers n. Prove that an is a
polynomial in n(say = P (n)) and hence find the roots of P (x) = 0.
Problem 8. Let α ∈ C such that αm = 1 for some positive integer m. Find
all complex numbers z such that |z − αk | ≤ 1 for all k ∈ {1, 2, . . . , m}.
Bonus Problem. Suppose f : [0, 1] → R be a function which has a contin-
uous first derivative and f ′ (0) ̸= 0. For x ∈ (0, 1] define α(x) such that
Z x
f (t)dt = xf (α(x))
0
. Prove that
α(x) 1
lim =
x→0+ x 2
Note: You have to prove that such a function α exists and is well defined.
However you can still score some points assuming that.
−00000000−
