Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Note. The actual selection paper will have 30 questions in S1A and about
10 questions in S1B. A candidate may answer as many as possible.
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2. The last digit of (2137)754 is
3. The sum of all distinct four digit numbers that can be formed using
the digits 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, each digit appearing at most once, is
(A) 410 , (B) 100, (C) log10 4, (D) none of the above.
7. Let C denote the set of all complex numbers and let a be a real number.
The number of points z in C satisfying
|z − i| = |z − 1 + i| = |z − a|
is
(A) equal to 0 (B) exactly equal to 1
(C) at most 1 (D) at least 1.
2
9. If positive numbers a, b, c, d are such that 1/a, 1/b, 1/c, 1/d are in arith-
metic progression then we always have
(A) a + d ≥ b + c, (B) a + b ≥ c + d,
(C) a + c ≥ b + d, (D) none of the above.
10. The set of all real numbers x satisfying the inequality x3 (x+1)(x−2) ≥
0 is
(A) the interval [2, ∞), (B) the interval [0, ∞),
(C) the interval [−1, ∞), (D) none of the above.
12. Let A be the fixed point (0, 4) and B be a moving point (2t, 0). Let
M be the mid-point of AB and let the perpendicular bisector of AB
meet the y-axis at R. The locus of the mid-point P of M R is
13. A circle of radius a, with both the coordinates of its centre positive,
touches the x-axis and the straight line 3y = 4x. Then its equation is
(A) x2 + y 2 − 2ax − 2ay + a2 = 0,
(B) x2 + y 2 − 6ax − 4ay + 12a2 = 0,
(C) x2 + y 2 − 4ax − 2ay + 4a2 = 0,
(D) x2 + y 2 − 2ax − 6ay + a2 = 0.
(A) the vertex A, the circumcentre, the centroid, and the orthocentre
of the triangle always lie on a straight line
(B) the vertex A, the circumcentre, and the centroid of the triangle
always lie on a straight line but the orthocentre of the triangle
need not be on the same straight line
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(C) the vertex A, the circumcentre, and the orthocentre of the triangle
always lie on a straight line but the centroid need not be on the
same straight line
(D) the vertex A, the centroid, and the orthocentre of the triangle
always lie on a straight line but the circumcentre need not be on
the same straight line.
15. The set of all solutions of the equation cos 2θ = sin θ +cos θ is given by
(A) θ = 0,
(B) θ = nπ + π2 , where n is any integer,
(C) θ = 2nπ or θ = 2nπ − π2 or θ = nπ − π4 , where n is any integer,
(D) θ = 2nπ or θ = nπ + π4 , where n is any integer.
17. Two poles, AB of length two metres and CD of length twenty metres
are erected vertically with bases at B and D. The two poles are at a
distance not less than twenty metres. It is observed that tan ∠ACB =
2/77. The distance between the two poles is
(A) 30◦ , (B) 90◦ , (C) 45◦ , (D) none of the above.
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19. In the interval (−2π, 0), the function f (x) = sin
x3
(A) never changes sign,
(B) changes sign only once,
(C) changes sign more than once, but finitely many times,
(D) changes sign infinitely many times.
(ex − 1) tan2 x
20. lim
x→0 x3
4
21. Let f1 (x) = ex , f2 (x) = ef1 (x) and generally fn+1 (x) = efn (x) for all
d
n ≥ 1. For any fixed n, the value of fn (x) is equal to
dx
is continuous at x = 0, then
24. A right circular cone is cut from a solid sphere of radius a, the vertex
and the circumference of the base being on the surface of the sphere.
The height of the cone, when its volume is maximum, is
4a 3a 6a
(A) , (B) , (C) a, (D) .
3 2 5
x2
25. Let f be the function f (x) = cos x − 1 + . Then
2
(A) f (x) is an increasing function on the real line,
(B) f (x) is a decreasing function on the real line,
(C) f (x) is an increasing function on the interval (−∞, 0] and decreas-
ing on the interval [0, ∞),
(D) f (x) is a decreasing function on the interval (−∞, 0] and increas-
ing on the interval [0, ∞).
26. The area of the region bounded by the straight lines x = 21 and x = 2,
and the curves given by the equations y = loge x and y = 2x is
5
1 √ 5 3
(A) (4 + 2) − loge 2 + ,
loge 2 2 2
1 √ 5
(B) (4 − 2) − loge 2,
loge 2 2
1 √ 5 3
(C) (4 − 2) − loge 2 + ,
loge 2 2 2
(D) none of the above.
Z 1 t Z a
e e−t
27. If b = dt then dt is
0 t+1 a−1 t − a − 1
29. Given that the real numbers a ≥ 0, b ≥ 0, c ≥ 0 are such that a+b+c =
4 and (a + b)(b + c)(c + a) = 24, which of the following statements is
true?
(A) More information is needed to find the values of a, b and c,
(B) Even when a is given to be 1, more information is needed to find
the values of b and c,
(C) The system of two equations is inconsistent,
(D) By suitably fixing the values of a and b, the value of c can be
determined.
30. In the triangle ABC, the angle ∠BAC is a root of the equation
√
3 cos x + sin x = 1/2.
31. The smallest positive integer n with 24 divisors, where 1 and n are also
considered as divisors of n, is equal to
6
(A) 240, (B) 360, (C) 420, (D) 480.
33. The number of maps f from the set {1, 2, 3} into the set {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}
such that f (i) ≤ f (j) whenever i < j is
x2 = y 2 , and (x − a)2 + y 2 = 1
(A) 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, (B) 0, 1 or 3,
(C) 0, 1, 2 or 4, (D) 0, 2, 3 or 4.
36. A lantern is placed on the ground 100 feet away from a wall. A man six
feet tall is walking at a speed of 10 feet/second from the lantern to the
nearest point on the wall. When he is midway between the lantern and
the wall, the rate of change (in ft./sec.) in the length of his shadow is
37. The locus of the foot of the perpendicular from any focus upon any
tangent to the ellipse x2 /a2 + y 2 /b2 = 1 is
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38. An isosceles triangle with base 6 cms. and base angles 30◦ each is
inscribed in a circle. A second circle touches the first circle and also
touches the base of the triangle at its midpoint. If the second circle is
situated outside the triangle, then its radius (in cms.) is
√ √ √ √
(A) 3 3/2, (B) 3/2, (C) 3, (D) 4/ 3.
12 + 22 + · · · + n2
41. Let α = lim ,
n→∞ n3
(13 − 12 ) + (23 − 22 ) + · · · + (n3 − n2 )
β = lim . Then
n→∞ n4
42. Consider the statement: x(α − x) < y(α − y) for all x, y with 0 < x <
y < 1. The statement is true
1000n
43. If an = , for n = 1, 2, 3, . . ., then the sequence {an }
n!
(A) does not have a maximum,
(B) attains maximum at exactly one value of n,
(C) attains maximum at exactly two values of n,
(D) attains maximum for infinitely many values of n.
44. Let S = {1, 2, . . . , n}. The number of possible pairs of the form (A, B)
with A ⊆ B for subsets A and B of S is
8
n
X n n
(A) 2n , (B) 3n , (C) , (D) n!.
k n−k
k=0
46. The maximum of the areas of the isosceles triangles with base on the
positive x-axis and which lie below the curve y = e−x is:
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Sample Questions for S1B
1. How many natural numbers less than 108 are there, with sum of digits
equal to 7?
5. Let f (u) be a continuous function and, for any real number u, let [u]
denote the greatest integer less than or equal to u. Show that for any
x > 1,
Z x [x] Z x
X
[u]([u] + 1)f (u)du = 2 i f (u)du.
1 i=1 i
6. Show that p
−2 ≤ (sin θ + sin2 θ + 3) cos θ ≤ 2
for all values of θ.
7. Find all positive integers x such that [x/5] − [x/7] = 1, where, for any
real number t, [t] is the greatest integer less than or equal to t.
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9. Show that there is exactly one value of x which satisfies the equation
10. An oil-pipe has to connect the oil-well O and the factory F , between
which there is a river whose banks are parallel. The pipe must cross
the river perpendicular to the banks. Find the position and nature of
the shortest such pipe and justify your answer.
12. For any positive integer n, let f (n) be the remainder obtained on
dividing n by 9. For example, f (263) = 2.
13. Show that it is not possible to have a triangle with sides a, b and c
whose medians have lengths 32 a, 23 b and 54 c.
T z+1
14. Sketch the set A B in the complex plane, where A = {z : | z−1 | ≤ 1},
B = {z : |z| − Re(z) ≤ 1} and Re(z) denote the real part of z.
and sketch the graph of the function for −2π ≤ x ≤ 2π. Show clearly
the locations of the maxima, minima and points of inflection in your
graph.
16. Let
P (x) = xn + an−1 xn−1 + an−2 xn−2 + · · · + a1 x + a0
be a polynomial with integer coefficients, such that P (0) and P (1) are
odd integers. Show that:
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17. Prove by induction or otherwise that for every integer n ≥ 0,
π/2
sin(2n + 1)x π
Z
dx = .
0 sin x 2
18. Consider the parabola y 2 = 4x. Let P = (ξ, η) be any point inside the
parabola, i.e., η 2 < 4ξ, and let F be the focus of the parabola. Find
the point Q on the parabola such that F Q + QP is minimum. Also,
show that the normal at Q to the parabola bisects the angle ∠F QP .
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Model Question Paper SIA
3. Suppose a, b and n are positive integers, all greater than one. If an +bn
is prime, what can you say about n?
5. The limit
3
8n sin π
1
lim 1 + 2 π 2n
n→∞ n
is
(A) ∞; (B) 1; (C) e4 ; (D) 4.
6. Water falls from a tap of circular cross section at the rate of 2 me-
tres/sec and fills up a hemispherical bowl of inner diameter 0.9 metres.
If the inner diameter of the tap is 0.01 metres, then the time needed
to fill the bowl is
(A) 40.5 minutes; (B) 81 minutes;
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7. Let AB be a fixed line segment. Let P be a moving point such that
∠AP B is equal to a constant ACUTE angle. Then, which of the fol-
lowing curves does the point P move along?
(A) (B)
(C) (D)
8. A circular pit of radius r metres and depth 2 metres is dug and the
removed soil is piled up as a cone with the bottom of the pit as its
base. What proportion of the volume of the cone is above the ground
level?
2 8 4r2 r3
(A) (B) (C) (D)
3 27 9 27
9. The algebraic sum of the perpendicular distances from A (x1 , y1 ),
B (x2 , y2 ), C (x3 , y3 ), to a line is zero. Then the line must pass through
the
dx
etan
−1 (sin x)
+ etan
−1 (cos x)
π/2
equals
(A) 1; (B) π; (C) e; (D) none of these.
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12. In how many ways can you choose three distinct numbers from the set
{1, 2, 3, . . . , 19, 20} such that their product is divisible by 4?
(A) 795 (B) 810 (C) 855 (D) 1665
(a) f (x) = 0 for some x < 0 but f (x) 6= 0 for every x > 0;
(b) f (x) = 0 for some x > 0 but f (x) 6= 0 for every x < 0;
(c) f (x1 ) = 0 for some x1 < 0 and f (x2 ) = 0 for some x2 > 0;
(d) f (x) 6= 0 for every x.
is
(A) 0; (B) π/6; (C) π/4; (D) π/2.
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(A) (B)
(C) (D)
19. Consider a triangle ABC with the sides a, b, c in A.P. Then the largest
possible value of the angle B is
◦ ◦
(A) 60◦ ; (B) 67 12 ; (C) 75◦ ; (D) 82 12 .
2 3 n
22 32 n2
1
20. If an = 1+ 2 1+ 2 1 + 2 · · · 1 + 2 , then
n n n n
2
lim a−1/n
n
n→∞
is
√
(A) 0; (B) 1; (C) e; (D) e/2.
d10
21. If f (x) = ex sin x, then f (x) equals
dx 10
x=0
(A) 1; (B) −1; (C) 10; (D) 32.
23. Consider a triangle ABC. The median AD meets the side BC at the
point D. A point E on AD is such that AE : DE = 1 : 3. The straight
line BE extended meets the side AC at a point F . Then AF : F C
equals
(A) 1:6; (B) 1:7; (C) 1:4; (D) 1:3.
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25. A box contains 10 red cards numbered 1, . . . , 10 and 10 black cards
numbered 1, . . . , 10. In how many ways can we choose 10 out of the
20 cards so that there are exactly 3 matches, where a match means a
red card and a black card with the same number?
10 7 4 10 7
(A) 2 (B)
3 4 3 4
10 7 10 14
(C) 2 (D)
3 3 4
26. Let P be a point on the ellipse x2 + 4y 2 = 4 which does not lie on the
axes. If the normal at the point P intersects the major and minor axes
at C and D respectively, then the ratio P C : P D equals
(A) 2; (B) 1/2; (C) 4; (D) 1/4.
27. Let α denote the absolute value of the difference between the lengths
of the two segments of a focal chord of a parabola. Let β denote the
length of a chord passing through the vertex and parallel to that focal
chord. Then which of the following is always true?
(A) α2 = 2β (B) α = 2β (C) α = β (D) β 2 = 2α
28. The directrix of the parabola traced out by the centre of a moving
circle, which touches both the straight line y = −x and the circle
(x − 3)2 + (y − 4)2 = 9, is
(A) y = −x + 3; (B) y = −x − 3;
√ √
(C) y = −x + 3 2; (D) y = x − 3 2.
29. For a real number x, let [x] denote the largest integer smaller than or
equal to x and (x) denote the smallest integer larger than or equal to
x. Let f (x) = min(x − [x], (x) − x) for 0 ≤ x ≤ 12. The volume of the
solid obtained by rotating the curve y = f (x) about the X-axis is
(A) π; (B) 4π; (C) π/2; (D) π/4.
30. For a real number x, let [x] denote the largest integer smaller than or
Z 100
equal to x. The value of [t3 ] dt is
−100
(A) 0; (B) 100; (C) −100; (D) −1003 .
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Model Question Paper SIB
1. If the normal to the curve x2/3 + y 2/3 = a2/3 at some point makes an
angle θ with the X-axis, show that the equation of the normal is
(a) If there is a real number b such that both (a+b) and ab are rational
numbers, show that a is a quadratic surd. (a is a quadratic surd
√ √
if it is of the form r + s or r − s for some rationals r and s,
where s is not the square of a rational number).
(b) Show that there are two real numbers b1 and b2 such that
i. a + b1 is rational but ab1 is irrational.
ii. a + b2 is irrational but ab2 is rational.
(Hint: Consider the two cases, where a is a quadratic surd
and a is not a quadratic surd, separately).
4. In the figure below, E is the midpoint of the arc ABEC and the
segment ED is perpendicular to the chord BC at D. If the length of
the chord AB is l1 , and that of the segment BD is l2 , determine the
length of DC in terms of l1 and l2 .
C
B
D
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5. Let A, B, and C be three points on a circle of radius 1.
(b) Suppose that the magnitude of ∠ABC is fixed. Then show that
the area of the triangle ABC is maximized when ∠BCA = ∠CAB.
(c) Hence or otherwise show that the area of the triangle ABC is
maximum when the triangle is equilateral.
2n
n 2n
2 < < n−1 .
n Y i
(1 − )
n
i=0
8. Show that there exists a positive real number x 6= 2 such that log2 x =
x
2 . Hence obtain the set of real numbers c such that
log2 x
=c
x
has only one real solution.
9. Find a four digit number M such that the number N = 4 × M has the
following properties.
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