LEVEL 1

IDENTITIES
1
1. If a   5 ,the find
a
1 1 1
i  a 2   ii  a 3   iii  a 5 
a2 a3 a5
1 1
Sol: a 2  2
 23 & a 3  3  110
a a
1
a5   23  10  5  2530  5  2525
a5
2. If a 2  b 2  c 2  10 and a + b + c = 4 , find ab + bc + ca.

a  b  c  a 2  b 2  c 2  2  ab  bc  ac 
2
Sol:

16  10  2x
x=3
3. If 4x + 3y = 4 & xy = 2 then find 64x 3  27y3 .

Sol: 64x 3  27y3   4x  3y  16x 2  9y 2  12xy 


 4   4x  3y   36xy
2

 4  16  72   224

4. If a + b + c = 6 and ab + bc + ac = 12 find the value of a 3  b3  c3  3abc

a  b  c  a 2  b 2  c 2  2  ab  bc  ca 
2
Sol:

36  a 2  b 2  c 2  24
a 2  b 2  c 2  12
a 3  b 3  c3  3abc   a  b  c 12  12   0

a  b2    b2  c2    c2  a 2 
2 3 3 3

5. Simplify: .
a  b   b  c  c  a 
3 3 3

3  a 2  b 2  b 2  c 2  c 2  a 2 
Sol:   a  b  b  c  c  a 
3  a  b  b  c  c  a 

1 1 1 1 1 1
6. If    3 , find the value of  
a b bc ca a  b b  c c  a 
2 2 2
 2
 1 1 1  1 1 1
Sol:        09
 a  b b  c c  a   a  b  b  c c  a 
2 2 2

5 13
7. Given x  y  , x 2  y 2  , find the value of x 5  y5 .
2 4

 x  y
2
Sol:  x 2  y 2  2xy

25 13 3
  2xy  xy 
4 4 2
3
5  3  5 
x  y     3   
3 3

2  2  2 
125 45 35
 
8 4 8
x 5  y 5   x 3  y3  x 2  y 2   x 2 y 2  x  y 
2
 35   13   3   5 
       
 8  4   2   2 
455  45  4 455  180 275
 
32 32 32
8. The square root of (3a + 2b + 3c)2 – (2a + 3b + 2c)2 + 5b2 is
(a) 5 a  b  c (b) 5 a  b

(c) 5  a  c (d) 5 a  c  b

Ans: (c)

 3a  2b  3c    2a  3b  2c 
2 2
Sol:  5b 2

  3a  2b  3c  2a  3b  2c  3a  2b  3c  2a  3b  2c   5b 2

  5a  5b  5c  a  b  c   5b 2

 5  a  c  b  a  c  b   5b 2

 5  a  c   b2   5b 2
2
 

 5a  c
2

5a  c  5 a  c
2
 square root of given expression is

9. Find the square root of (x + 1) (x + 2) (x + 3) (x + 4) + 1.

(a) x2 + 5x + 5 (b) x2 + 3x + 2
(c) x2 + x + 5 (d) x2 + 4x + 1
Ans: (a)
Sol: (x + 1) (x + 2) (x + 3) (x + 4) + 1 = (x2 + 5x + 4)( x2 + 5x + 6) + 1
(x2 + 5x + 5 – 1)( x2 + 5x + 5 + 1) + 1
(x2 + 5x + 5)2
Therefore square root of (x + 1) (x + 2) (x + 3) (x + 4) + 1 = x2 + 5x + 5
10. If a  b  c  0 , then what is the value of a 4  b 4  c 4  2a 2 b 2  2b 2 c 2  2c 2 a 2 ?
(a) 0 (b) 1 (c) -1 (d) 2
Ans: (a)
Sol: a  b  c  0

  a 2  b 2  c 2   4a 2 b 2  4b 2 c 2  4c 2a 2
2

2
  a  b  c   2ab  2bc  2ca   4a 2 b 2  4b 2c 2  4c 2a 2
2
 
2
 02  2ab  2abc  2ca   4a 2 b2  4b 2c 2  4c2 a 2
 4a 2 b 2  4b 2c 2  4c 2 a 2  8ab 2 c  8abc 2  8a 2 bc  4a 2 b 2  4b 2 c 2  4c2 a 2
 8ab 2c  8abc 2  8a 2 bc  8abc(b  c a)
 8abc  0
0
1
11. If y  x  , then x 4  x 3  4x 2  x  1  0 Can be reduced to which one of the following ?
x
(a) y 2  y  2  0 (b) y 2  y  4  0

(c) y 2  y  6  0 (d) y 2  y  6  0
Ans: (c)
Sol: x 4  x 3  4x 2  x  1  0
1 1
 x2  x  4  0
x x2
1 1
 x2  2  x   4  0
x x
2
 1  1
 x   2x  4  0
 x  x
 y  y6  0
2

1
where x  y
x
2p 2  q  r   2q 2  p  r   2r 2  p  q 
12. If p  q  r  0 then the value of
pqr
 1
(a) 3pqr (b) (c) 6 (d) 6
pqr
Ans: (d)
2p 2  q  r   2q 2  p  r   2r 2  p  q 
Sol: We have,
pqr

2p 2   p   2q 2  q   2r 2  r 
  p  q  r  0 
pqr
2  p 3  q 3  r 3  2  3pqr 
  ( p  q  r  0  p3  q3  r 3  3pqr)
pqr pqr
 6
1
13. If x   5 3  2 then the value of x 3  6x 2  12x  10 is

(a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 1 (d) 3

Ans: (d)
1
Sol: We have, x   5 3  2
1
  x  2  5 3

Cubing both sides, we get

3
 13 
   5   x 3  8  6x  x  2   5
3
x  2 
 
 x 3  8  6x 2  12x  5
 x 3  6x 2  12x  13 …(i)
Now, x 3  6x 2  12x  10  13  10  3
14. If n+1=20002+20012 then (2n+1)1/2
Sol: 2n  1  2  2000 2  20012   1

 2   2000   20012   2000  2002 

2

= 20012  20002  2  2000  2001

=  4001
2

15. If a, b, c, d > 0 and a 4  b 4  c4  d 4  4abcd, prove that a = b = c = d.

Sol: We rewrite the given equality in the form a 4  b 4  c 4  d 4  4abcd  0 , and use the technique
for completing squares, then
0  a 4  b 4  c4  d 4  4abcd
  a 4
 2a 2 b 2  b 4    c 4  2c 2 d 2  d 4    2a 2 b 2  2c 2 d 2  4abcd 

  a 2  b 2    c 2  d 2   2  ab  cd 
2 2 2

Therefore a 2  b2  0, c 2  d 2  0 , ab  cd  0. Since a, b, c, d > 0, so a = b, c = d, and

a 2  c 2 ,i.e. a = c. Thus a = b = c = d.
2 1
16. If x  2  2 3  2 3 then x 3  6x 2  6x  ?
(a) 3 (b) 2 (c) 1 (d) None
Sol: (b)
Cubing both sides
3 3 3
 23 1
  2  1 2  1  2 1

   x  8  6x  x  2    2 3    2 3   3  2  3  2 3  2 3  2 3 
3
x  2  2  2 3

3

        
x 3  8  6x 2  12x  4  2  3  2  x  2 

x 3  6x 2  12x  8  6  6x  12
x 3  6x 2  6x  8  6  12
x 3  6x 2  6x  2
17. Suppose a, b are two number such that a 2  b 2  8a  14b  65  0 . Find the value of
a 2  ab  b 2

 a  4   b  7
2 2
Sol: 0

a = -4, b = 7
a 2  ab  b 2  16  28  49  37
18. Given a – b = 2, b – c = 4, find the value of a 2  b 2  c 2  ab  bc  ca .
Sol: a  c  2  4  6

a 2  b 2  c 2  ab  bc  ac 
1
2

a  b   b  c  c  a 
2 2 2

1
  4  16  36   28
2
19. For integers a, b, c and d, rewrite the expression  a 2  b 2  c 2  d 2  as a sum of squares of

two integers.
Sol: a 2 c 2  a 2 d 2  b 2 c 2  b 2 d 2  2abcd  2abcd

 ac  bd    ad  bc 
2 2
 x x2
20. Given  a  a  0  , find the value of .
x 2  3x  1 x 4  3x 2  1
1 1
Sol:  x 3
a x
1 1 1
 
1  1
2
1 
2
x2  3 
x2  x   1   3 1
 x a 
1 
21. Given x   a , find the value of x 6  6 in terms of a.
x x
1
Sol: x 3   a 3  3a
x3
1
  a 3  3a   2
2
x6  6
x
22. Given a + b + c + d = 0, prove that a3 + b3 + c3 + d3 = 3 (abc + bcd + cda + dab) .

a  b   c  d 
3 3
Sol:

a 3  b3  c3  d 3  3ab  a  b   3cd  c  d 

 3  ab  c  d   cd  a  b   

 3  abc  abd  acd  bcd 

FACTORIZATION
23. The factors of (x4 + 625) are
(a) (x2 – 25), (x2 + 25) (b) (x2 + 25), (x2 + 25)
(c) (x2 – 10x + 25), (x2 + 5x + 25) (d) does not exist
Ans: (d)
Sol: Put, x4 + 625 = 0
x4 = -625, which is not possible.
It does not have any root.
24. If a 2  b  c   b2  c  a   c 2  a  b   k  a  b  b  c  c  a  then which of the following is

true?
(a) k  1 (b) k  1 (c) k  2 (d) k  2
Ans: (c)
Sol: a 2  b  c   b2  c  a   c 2  a  b   k  a  b  b  c  c  a 

a 2  b  c   b2 c  b 2a  c2 a  c2 b  k  a  b  b  c  c  a 
 a 2  b  c   bc(b  c)  a(c2  b2 )  k  a  b  b  c  c  a 

(b  c)(a 2  bc  ac  ab)  k  a  b  b  c  c  a 

(b  c)(a  b)(a  c)  k  a  b  b  c  c  a 

k  1
y 4  x 4 y3

x  x  y x
25. The simplified form of the expression 2 is
y  xy  x 2
(a) 1 (b) 0 (c) 1 (d) 2
Ans: (c)
y 4  x 4 y3

x  x  y x
Sol:
y 2  xy  x 2

y 2
 x 2   y  x  y  x 

y3  y  x   y2  x 2  y3
x  x  y x 
  x x
y 2  xy  x 2 y 2  xy  x 2

 y  x   y 2  x 2   y3   x 3  xy2  yx 2 
   1
x  y 2  xy  x 2  x 3
 xy 2  x 2 y 

26. Factorize (a + 1) (a + 2) (a + 3) (a + 4) – 120

Sol:  a  1 a  2 a  3 a  4   120
  a  1 a  4   a  2  a  3  120

  a 2  5a  4  a 2  5a  6   120

  a 2  5a  5   1  a 2  5a  5   1  120

  a 2  5a  5   121   a 2  5a  5   112
2 2

  a 2  5a  6  a 2  5a  16    a  1 a  6   a 2  5a  16 

27. One of the factors of 81a 4   x  2a  x  5a  x  8a  x  11a  is

(a) x 2  13ax  31a 2 (b) x 2  13a  31a 2

(c) x 2  18a  31a 2 (d) x 2  18a  31a 2
Ans: (a)
Sol: 81a 4   x  2a  x  5a  x  8a  x  11a 
  81a 4   x  2a  x  11a  x  5a  x  8a 
 81a 4   x 2  13ax  22a 2  x 2  13ax  40a 2 
 81a 4   x 2  13ax  31a 2  9a 2  x 2  13ax  31a 2  9a 2 
 81a 4   y  22a 2  y  40a 2  where y  x 2  13ax
 81a 4  y 2  62a 2 y  880a 4
 961a 4  62a 2  x 2  13ax    x 2  13ax 
2

  31a 2  x 2  13ax    31a 2  x 2  13ax   31a 2  x 2  13ax 

2

28. The factors of x 9  y9 will be

(a)  x  y   x 2  y 2  xy  x 6  y 6  x 3 y3  (b)  x  y   x 2  y 2  xy  x 6  y 6  x 3 y3 

(c)  x  y   x 2  y 2  xy  x 6  y 6  x 3 y3  (d) None of these

Ans: (a)

Sol: We have, x 9  y9   x 3    y3 
3 3


  x 3  y3   x 3    y3    x 3  y3 
2 2

  x 3  y3  x 6  y 6  x 3 y3    x  y   x 2  y 2  xy  x 6  y 6  x 3 y3 

 x 9  y 9   x  y   x 2  y 2  xy  x 6  y 6  x 3 y 3 

29. Factorize a 3  b 3  3ab  1

(a)  a  b  1  a 2  b 2  a  b  1  ab  (b)  a  b  1  a 2  b 2  a  b  1  ab 

(c)  a  b  1  a 2  b 2  a  b  1  ab  (d) None of these

Ans: (a)
Sol: a 3  b 3  3ab  1

 a 3  b3   1  3  a  b  1
3

  a  b  1  a 2  b 2  1  ab  b  a 

7x 2  2 14x  2
30. Square root of
1 1
x2  x 
2 16

(a)
7x  2
(b)
4  7x  2 
4x  1 4x  1
7x  2
(c) (d) None of these
2x  1
Ans: (b)

 
2
7x 2  2 14x  2 7x  2
Sol: 
1 1  1
2
x  x
2

2 16 x 
 4


7x  2 4

 7x  2 
4x  1 4x  1
4
 17  3  4 11 
31. The square root of  2x 2  x  1  x 2  4x  2   x 2  x  2 
 6  2  3 3 
1 1
(a)  x  2  x  3 x  4  (b)  4x  3 3x  2  x  1
3 11
1 1
(c)  4x  3 3x  2  x  2  (d)  x  1 2x  1 3x  1
6 3
Ans: (c)
 2 17  3 2   4 2 11 
Sol:  2x  x  1  x  4x  2   x  x  2 
 6  2  3 3 

 12x 2  17x  6   3x 2  8x  4   4x 2  11x  6 

   
 6  2  3 
1
 12x 2  17x  6  3x 2  8x  4  4x 2  11x  6 
36
1
  4x  3 3x  2  3x  2  x  2  x  2  4x  3
36
1
 square root   4x  3 3x  2  x  2 
6

Given that  a  2    b  2    c  2   0, a 2  b 2  c 2  14, a  b  c  6 , prove that at least

3 3 3
32.

one of a, b, c is 2.
Sol:  a  2   b  2   c  2  0
 a  2    b  2   c  2  3  a  2  b  2  c  2   0
3 3 3

Factorize  d 2  c 2  a 2  b 2   4  bc  da 
2 2
33.

d  c2  a 2  b2   4  bc  da    d 2  c 2  a 2  b 2    2bc  2da 
2 2 2 2 2
Sol:

  d 2  c 2  a 2  b 2  2bc  2da  d 2  c 2  a 2  b 2  2bc  2da 

  d  a    b  c     d  a    b  c  
2 2 2 2
  
   d  a  b  c  d  a  b  c  d  b  a  c  d  c  a  b 

34. Factorize 64x 6  729y12

Sol: 64x 6  729y12   2x    3y 2    2x    3y 2    2x    3y 2  

6 6 3 3 3 3

   

  2x  3y 2   2x 2    2x   3y 2    3y 2    2x  3y 2   2x    2x   3y 2    3y 2  
2 2 2

   

  2x  3y 2  2x  3y 2  4x 2  6xy 2  9y 4  4x 2  6xy 2  9y 4 

INEQUALITIES
35. Solve the inequality  2  x  x  5 x  1  0

Sol:
x   2, 1   5,  

36. Solve the inequality x 2  x 2  4   0

Sol:
x   2, 2   0

37. Solve the inequality x 3  6x  x 2

Sol: x 3  x 2  6x  0
x  x  3 x  2   0

x   , 3   0, 2

38. Solve the inequality x  1   x  1 x  2 

Sol:  x  1 x  2    x  1  0
 x  1 x  1  0
x   1,1

2x  4 x  2
39. Solve the inequality 
x  3 2x  6
2x  4 x2
Sol:  0
x  3 2  x  3
 3x  10
0
2  x  3

 10 
x   , 3    ,  
 3 
2x 1
40. Find the solution set of the inequality 
x 3 x
2x 1
Sol:  0
x3 x
2x 3  x  3
0
x  x  3

 2x  3 x  1  0
x  x  3

3 
x   , 3  [ 1, 0)   ,  
2 

x  2x  1
2

41. Find the solution set of the inequality 0

 x  1  x  2 
3

Sol:
x   1, 0    2,  

2x 2
42. Find the solution set of the inequality x
x 1
2x 2  x 2  x
Sol: 0
x 1
x  x  1
0
x 1

x  (1, 0]  [1,  )

 2  x   x  21
101 10

43. Solve for x : 0

 2x  3
22

 x  2   x  21
101 10

Sol: 0
 2x  3
22
  3 3 
x   ,    , 2   21
 2 2 
5

 x  2   x  1  x    x  8 
10 3 1 2

 2
44. Solve the inequliaty if f  x   0
x  x  3  x  2 
24 3 5

Sol:
 1
x   , 8    8, 2    1, 0    0,    3,  
 2
4x x 3 2  3x
45. Given m  ,n  ,p  , and m > n > p. Find the range of x.
3 4 5
4  x x  3 x  3 2  3x
Sol:  & 
3 4 4 5
7x  7 &17x  7
7
x 1 & x  
17
 7 
x   ,1
 17 
x a
46. Given that x, y, a, b are all positive numbers and a  b,  If x + y = c, then the larger
y b
one of x and y is
ab ab ac bc
(a) (b) (c) (d)
ab bc ab ab
a x
Sol: 1 1
b y
bx
x>y and y 
a
 bx 
x   c
 a 
ac
x
ab
47. Given that the solution set of x for the inequality (2a – b) x + a – 5b > 0 is x >10/7 find the
solution set of x for the inequality ax> b
Sol:  2a  b  x  5b  a
 5b  a
x if 2a  b  0
2b  5
10 5b  a

7 2a  b
27a  45b
3a  5b
2a  b  0
 b  0&a  0
ax > b
3a
ax 
5
3
x
5
48. Given that a, b are two integers such that the integer solutions of the system of inequalities
9x – a ≥ 0, and 8x – b < 0 Are 1,2,3. Find the number of the ordered paris (a, b)
a b
Sol: x  &x 
9 8
a b 
x , 
9 8 
a b
0  1 & 3  4
9 8
0  a  9 & 24  b  32
a = 1,2,3,……,9
b = 25,26,…..,32
No of pairs 9 x 8 = 72
5
49. Given that the solution set of the inequality (2a-b) x > a – 2b for x is x  , find the solution
2
set of the inequality ax + b < 0
a b
Sol: x  &x 
9 8
a b 
x , 
9 8 
a b
0  1 & 3  4
9 8
0  a  9 & 24  b  32
a = 1,2,3,……,9
 b = 25,26,…..,32
No of pairs 9 x 8 = 72

LEVEL 2
1 1 1 9
1. If a, b, c Ꜫ R+ such that a   3 , b   4 and c   . Find abc.
b c a 11
 1  1  1 1 1 1 1
Sol:  a    b    c    abc  abc  
 b  c  a abc a b c
108 1 86
 abc  
11 abc 11
1
 abc  2
abc
abc  1
2. If x 2  4y 2  3x  9  6y  2xy then the value of x + 2y

 x  2y    2y  3   x  3
2 2 2
Sol: 0

x  2y  3
x  2y  6

3. Factorize: x11  x10  ...  x 2  x  1

Sol: x11  x10  ...  x 2  x  1

x12  1  x  1 x  1  x  1 x  1 x  1

6 6 3 3 6

 
x 1  x  1 x 1

 x  1  x 2  x  1  x  1  x 2  x  1 x 6  1
=
x 1
=  x  1  x 2  x  1 x 2  x  1 x 6  1

  x  1  x 2  x  1 x 2  x  1 x 2  1 (x 4  x 2  1)

4. Find the minimum value of M  3x 2  8xy  9y 2  4x  6y  15 (where x, y are real

numbers).
(a) 0 (b) 1 (c) 2 (d) 15
Ans. (c)
Sol: M  2  x 2  4xy  4y 2   x 2  4x  4  y 2  6y  9  2

 2  x  2y    x  2    y  3   2  0
2 2 2

5. Given a + b = c + d and a2 + b2 = c2 + d2. Prove that a 2009  b 2009  c 2009  d 2009 .

Sol: a  b  c  d … (1)
 a 2  b 2  2ab  c 2  d 2  2cd
ab  cd (2)
a 2  b 2  2ab  c 2  d 2  2cd
a  b   c  d (3)

From 1 and 3
2a  2c
a=c
b=d
or 2a = 2d
a=d
b=c

   
2
6. If a + b + c = 0, prove that 2 a 4  b 4  c 4  a 2  b 2  c 2 .

Sol: a + b = -c
a 2  b 2  2ab  c 2
a 2  b 2  c2  2ab
a 4  b 4  c 4  2a 2 b 2  2b 2 c 2  2a 2 c 2  4a 2 b 2
a 4  b 4  c 2  2a 2 b 2  2b 2 c 2  2a 2c 2
2  a 4  b 4  c 4   a 4  b 4  c 4  2  a 2 b 2  b 2 c2  a 2 c2 

  a 2  b 2  c2 
2

7. If a + b = 1, a2 + b2 = 2, find the value of a7 + b7.

Sol: 2ab  1  2  1

a 4  b 4   a 2  b 2   2a 2 b 2
2

1 7
 4  2 
4 2
 1 5
a 3  b 3  1  3    1 
 2 2

a 7  b 7   a 4  b 4  a 3  b3   a 3 b3  a  b 
3
7 5 1 35 1 71
     1   
2 2 2 4 8 8
8. Given that the real number a, b satisfy a3 + b3 + 3ab = 1, find a +b.

a  b  3ab  a  b   a 3  b3
3
Sol:
 a  b  3ab  a  b   1  3ab
3

x 3  3abx  1  3ab
x 3  3abx  3ab  1  0

x 3
 1  3ab  x  1  0

 x  1  x 2  x  1  3ab   0
x  1  a  b  1

OR x  x  1  3ab  0
2

a 2  b 2  ab  a  b  1  0

 a  1   b  1   a  b 
2 2 2
0

a  b 1
ab2
9. Given that a3 + b3 + c3 = (a+ b + c)3, prove that for any natural number n

a 2n 1  b 2n 1  c 2n 1   a  b  c 
2n 1
.

a  b  c  a 3  b3  c3  3  a  b  b  c  c  a   0
3
Sol:

b  a or b  c or c  a

 a 2n 1  b 2n 1  c 2n 1   a  b  c 
2n 1

for all three cases.

10. The polynomial: x6 + 18x3 + 125, admits
(a) No factor of degree between 2 and 5
(b) x2 – 3x + 5 as a factor
(c) x + 1 as a factor
(d) x – 125 as a factor
Ans: (b)
Sol: Putting,
x6 + 18x3 + 125 = x6 + 125 – 27x3 + 45x3
(x2)3 + 53 – (3x)3 – 3 × 5 × (- 3x) × x2
Clearly (x2 + 5 – 3x) is one of the factor.
11. Given 14 (a2 + b2 +c2) = (a + 2b + 3c)2, find the ratio a : b : c.

Sol: 14  a 2  b 2  c 2    a  2b  3c 
2

13a 2  10b 2  5c 2  4ab  6ac  12bc  0

  2a  b    3a  c    3b  2c 
2 2 2
0

2a  b ;3a  c;3b  2c
a : b : c  a : 2a : 3a  1: 2 : 3
x2 y2 z2 c b a
12. If    2, then value of   is
by  cz cz  ax ax  by 2c  z 2b  y 2a  x
1 1
(a) 2 (b) (c) 4 (d)
2 4
Ans: (b)
x2 y2 z2
Sol: we have,    2,
by  cz cz  ax ax  by

x2 ax 2 ax 2a
Consider, 2  2a   ,
by  cz by  cz by  cz x
by  cz x by  cz x
   1   1
ax 2a ax 2a
by  cz  ax x  2a ax 2a
   
ax 2a by  cz  ax x  2a
ax
2 a
  ...(i)
by  cz  ax x  2a

by
2 b
similarly,  …(iv)
by  cz  ax x  2b
cz
2 c
and ,  …(iii)
by  cz  ax z  2c
adding (i), (ii), and (iii) we get
a b c 1  ax  by  cz  1
   
x  2a y  2b z  2c 2  ax  by  cz  2

 1 1 1 
13. If xy  yz  zx  0 , then the value of  2  2  2  is
 x  yz y  zx z  xy 
(a) 3 (b) 0 (c) 1 (d) x  y  z
Ans: (b)
Sol: We have, xy  yz  zx  0

 x 2  yz  x  x  y  z 

Similarly, y 2  zx  y  x  y  z 
 and z 2  xy  z  x  y  z 

1 1 1
  2  2
x  yz y  zx z  xy
2

1 1 1
  
x x  y  z y x  y  z z x  y  z
1  1 1 1   yz  zx  xy 
    0  xy  yz  zx  0
 x  y  z   x y z   xyz 
1 1 1
  2  2 0
x  yz y  zx z  xy
2

14. Factorize (i) x 4  2x 3  7x 2  6x  7 (ii) x 3  9x 2  23x  15

Sol: Let y = x2 + x. Then
(i) x 4  2x 3  7x 2  6x  7  x 2  x 2  x   x  x 2  x   6  x 2  x   7

  x 2  x  6  x 2  x   7  y 2  6y  7   y  4  y  1

  x 2  x  7  x 2  x  1

(ii) x 3  9x 2  23x  15  x 2  x  1  8x  x  1  15  x  1

  x  1  x 2  8x  15    x  1 x  3 x  5 

c
15. Given a + b + c = 0, a > b > c. Find the range of .
a
c b
Sol:  1 
a a
a  0 &c  0
a>b>c
b c
1 
a a
b c
1  
a a
b c
2  1   1 
a a
c c
2   1 
a a
c c c
2  &  1 
a a a
c 1
2  
a 2
16. Given 0  a  b  1,1  a  b  4 . Find the value of 8a + 2002b when the value of a – 2b is
maximum.
Sol: It is needed to represent a – 2b in terms of a – b and a + b. Since
1
a [(a-b) + (a+b)], –2b = (a-b) – (a+b)
2
1 3
So a – 2b = (a+b) + (a-b), a – 2b will take its maximum value if a + b = 1, a – b = 1,
2 2
i.e a = 1, b = 0. Thus, 8a + 2002b = 8a = 8.
17. Find all the positive integer valued solutions (x, y, z) of the system of inequalities
3x  2y  z 4

2x  y  2z  6,
x  y  z  7,

Sol: Label the equation
3x + 2y – z = 4 (1)
2x – y + 2z = 6 (2)
x+y+z<7 (3)
By (1)+2x(2),
7x+3z=16
x=1,z=3
From (2), y = 2x + 2z –6 = 2. Since x = 1, y = 2, z = 3 satisfy the inequality (3) the
solution is x = 1, y = 2, z = 3
18. If x >z, y> z, then which is always true in the following inequalities ?
(a) x + y > 4z (b) x + y > 3z
(c) x + y > 2z, (d) x + y > z.
Sol: By adding up the given two inequalities (c) is obtained.
When x = y = 2, z= 1, then (A) is not true. When x = y = 1, z= 0.7
Then (B) is not true. When x = y = -1, z = -1. 5, then (D) is not true. Thus only (C) is always
true.
19. Given that the integer solutions of the inequality 0  ax  5  4 for x are 1,2,3,4. Find the
range of the constant a.
Sol: 5  ax  1
a must be –ve
1 5
x
a a
 1 5
0   1 &4  5
a a
 5 
a  1 &  a  1& a  
 4 

 5 
a   , 1
4 
a 8 a 9
20. a, b are positive integers. Find the fraction satisfying   and such that b is
b 9 b 10
minimum.
8 a 9
Sol:  
9 b 10
9a 10a
b &b 
8 9
 10a 9a 
b  , 
 9 8 
 a a
b  a  ,a  
 9 8
As b is integer
a a
n & n
8 9
A < 8n & a < 9n
For n = 2  a > 16 & a < 18
a = 17
b = 19
c a b
21. If a, b, c> 0 and   , arrange a, b, c in ascending order
a b bc a c
c a b
Sol:  
a b bc a c
a b bc a c
   a, b, c  0
c a b
ab bc ac
 1  1  1
c a b
abc bca acb 1 1 1
     
c a b c a b
c<a<b
 a b c
22. Given a < b < c < 0, arrange the size of , , in descending order.
bc ca ab
Sol: a < b < c<0
1 1 1
 
a b c
abc abc abc
 
a b c
bc ac ab
1  1  1
a b c
bc ac ab
 
a b c
a b c
 
bc ac ab
23. Solve the inequality in x : ax  4  x  b , where a, b are two constants.
Sol: ax – x < b –4
(a-1)x < b-4
Case I
a–1>0
b4
x
a 1
 b4
x   , 
 a 1 
Case II
a – 1 <0
b4
x
a 1
b4 
x  ,
 a 1 
Case III
a – 1 = 0 & b –4 >0
0<b–4
x
Case IV
a–1=0&b–4≤0
0<b–4
No solution