For PT Faculty use only

Pinnacle Regular
Maths - Faculty Support Booklet (2008-09)
Linear and Quadratic Equations and Inequalities
(Chapter 4)

Linear Equations
DIRECTIONS: Refer to the following information and answer the questions that follow.

A pack of 52 cards is cut into three separate piles. In the first pile, there are three times as
many blacks as reds. In the second pile, there are three times as many reds as blacks. In the
third pile, there are twice as many blacks as reds (There are equal number of black and red
cards in the pack and no card is of any other colour).

Ø How many red cards are there in the first pile?

(1) 4 (2) 5 (3) 6 (4) Data insufficient

Sol. Let the situation be like this.

1st pile 2nd pile 3rd pile
B R B R B R
3x x y 3y 2z z
Since, there are 26 cards of each type
3x + y + 2z = 26 ....(1)
x + 3y + z = 26 ....(2)
(2) × 2 – (1) will give
5y – x = 26 ....(3)
The only possible positive integral solution for (3) under the given conditions is x = 4, y = 6, Replacing in
(1), z = 4. Ans.(1)

Ø Rs.960 is formed with denominations of Rs.5, Rs.2 & Re.1 coins. If the number of coins Rs.2 and
Re.1 are interchanged then the amount decreases by Rs.40. If the total number of coins are
300, find the number of coins of Rs.5.
(1) 110 (2) 120 (3) 130 (4) 140

Sol. Let number of five rupees coin be X, two rupees coin be Y and one rupee coin be Z
So, x + y + z = 300 ....(1)
5x + y + 2Z = 920 ....(2)
5x + 2y + z = 960 ....(3)
Solving these three equation x = 140. Ans.(4)

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Ø A Telecom service provider engages male and female operators for answering 1000 calls per
day. A male operator can handle 40 calls per day whereas a female operator can handle 50 calls
per day. The male and the female operators get a fixed wage of Rs.250 and Rs.300 per day
respectively. In addition, a male operator gets Rs.15 per call he answers and a female operator
gets Rs.10 per call she answers. To minimize the total cost, how many male operators should
the service provider employ assuming he has to employ more than 7 of the 12 female operators
available for the job?
(1) 15 (2) 14 (3) 12 (4) 10

Sol. By the condition given in question.

Each male operator get Rs.250/40 = Rs.6.25 for one call and
each female operator get Rs.300/50 = Rs.6 for one call.
So, female operator is cheaper than man to minimize one should use the maximum possible number of
female operators. The telecom service provider engages maximum 12 female operator, which will answer
12 × 50 = 600 calls. The remaining 400 calls will be answered by 10 male operators. Ans.(4)

Ø If x +
1 = 1 and y + 1 = 1 , find the value of z + 1 .
y z x
(1) 2 (2) 1 (3) 0 (4) 3

1 1 y −1 1 y 1 1 1
Sol. x + =1⇒ x =1− = ⇒ = and y + = 1 ⇒ = 1 − y ⇒ z =
y y y x y −1 z z 1− y

1 1 y 1 y 1− y
∴ z+ = + = − = = 1 . Ans.(2)
x 1 − y y −1 1 − y 1 − y 1− y

Ø From a number of mangoes, a man sells half the number of existing mangoes plus 1 to the first
customer, then sells 1/3 rd of the remaining of mangoes plus 1 to the second customer, then
1/4th of the remaining number of mangoes plus 1 to the third customer and 1/5th of the remaining
number of mangoes plus 1 to the fourth customer. He then finds that he does not have any
mango left. How many mangoes did he have originally?
(1) 12 (2) 14 (3) 15 (4) 13

Sol. Let the number of mangoes that the man had originally = x
Number of mangoes sold to Balance

x x −2
1st customer = + 1 , remaining mangoes =
2 2

x −2 x −5
2nd customer = + 1 , remaining mangoes =
6 3

x −5 x−9
3rd customer = + 1 , remaining mangoes =
12 4

x−9
4th customer = + 1 , remaining mangoes = 0
20

x−9 x−9
∴ + 1= . x = 14. Ans.(2)
20 4
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Ø A rectangular floor is fully covered with square tiles of identical size. The tiles on the edges are
white and the tiles in the interior are red. The number of white tiles is the same as the number
of red tiles. A possible value of the number of tiles along one edge of the floor is
(1) 10 (2) 12 (3) 14 (4) 16

Sol. Let, the rectangular floor has breadth x and length y.

Then by the condition given in question

2x
2x + 2 (y – 2) = (x – 2) (y – 2) ⇒ y = +2
x−4
We know, x is greater than or equal to 5.
x = 5 y = 12. Ans.(2)

Ø If a, b and c are three positive real numbers. Then the minimum value of the expression
b+c c+a a+b
+ + is
a b c

Sol. We have
FG
1 b a
+ ≥
IJ FG b × a IJ = 1 (Q AM ≥ GM)
H
2 a b K H a bK
1 F c aI F c aI 1 Fb cI b c
Again = G + J ≥ G × J = 1 and G + J ≥ × =1
2 H a cK H a cK H
2 c b K c b

1 F b a c a b cI b+c c+a a+b

Adding the above inequalities we get G + + + + + J ≥ 3 ⇒ + + ≥6
2 H a b a c c bK a b c
Thus minimum value of the given expression cannot be less than 6.

b+c c+a a+b

Also for a = b = c = 1. So + + =6.
a b c

Ø What are the number of integer solutions of the equation 7x + 3y = 123 for x, y > 0?
(1) 3 (2) 5 (3) 12 (4) Infinite

Sol. 7x + 3y = 123. y = 34 and x = 3 is an obvious solution. For ever y decrease of 7 in the value of y an increase
of 3 in the value of x would compensate. Number of such decrease possible is 4. Hence the number of
solution is 5. The solution of (x, y) are (3, 34), (6, 27), (9, 20), (12, 13) and (15, 6). Ans.(2)

Ø The number of integral solutions for xyz = 24 will be

(1) 24 (2) 30 (3) 90 (4) 120

Sol. xyz = 24. The possible combinations are (1, 3, 8) gives 6 sets; (1, 2, 12) gives 6 sets; (1, 4, 6) gives 6 sets;
(2, 3, 4) gives 6 sets; (1, 1, 24) gives 3 sets; (2, 2, 6) gives 3 sets. So total 30 sets. But if we also consider
negatives then we can also have (–,–,+), (–, +, –) and (+, –, –) combinations so the final answer will be
30 + 3 × 30 = 120. Ans.(4)

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Ø If x and y are integers and (x – 8) (x – 10) = 2 y , then the number of solution pairs (x, y) are
(1) 2 (2) 4 (3) 8 (4) Infinite

Sol. As 2 y is +ve, (x – 8) (x – 10) > 0 or x < 8 and x > 10. Since 2 y is a power of 2, (x – 8) and (x – 10) both
should be powers of 2. So x = 6 or x = 12 are the only two possibilities. (12, 3), (6, 3) are the only 2
solutions. Ans.(1)

Ø If x and y are positive and 3x + 4y = 5, find the maximum value of x 2 y 3 .

Sol. Assume 3x = a and 4y = b. Then we are given a + b = 5 and we are supposed to find the greatest value of
2 3
a b 1 a b
x2y3 =     = a2b3 . So for greatest value of a 2 b 3 when a + b is constant, we will have = = or
3 4 64 × 9 2 3

1 3
a = 2, b = 3, putting back the values, we get × 4 × 27 = .
64 × 9 16
Remember : If a + b + c ... = constant, then the maximum value of a m × b n × c p ... will occur when a/m
= b/n = c/p ... .

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Quadratic Equations
Ø If a, b, c are real and a ≠ b, then the roots of the equation
2(a – b)x 2 – 11 (a + b + c) x – 3(a – b) = 0 are
(1) real and equal (2) real and unequal (3) purely imaginary (4) None of these

Sol. The discriminant D of the quadratic equation (1) is given by

D = 121(a + b + c) 2 + 24(a – b) 2
As a, b, c are real, 121 (a + b + c) 2 ≥ 0
Also, as a ≠ b, (a – b) 2 > 0
Thus, d > 0.
Therefore, the equation (1) has real and unequal roots. Ans.(2)

Ø If a, b, c are real, then both the roots of the equation

(x – b) (x – c) + (x – c) (x – a) + (x – a) (x – b) = 0 are always
(1) positive (2) negative (3) real (4) None of these

Sol. (x – b) (x – c) + (x – c) (x – a) + (x – a) (x – b) = 0 ....(1)
2
3x – 2(a + b + c)x + bc + ca + ab = 0 ....(2)
The discriminant D of (2) is given by
D = 4(a + b + c) 2 – 4 × 3 (bc + ca + ab)
= 4[a 2 + b 2 + c 2 + 2bc + 2ca + 2ab – 3bc – 3ca – 3ab]
= 4[a 2 + b 2 + c 2 – bc – ca – ab]
= 2[(b 2 + c 2 – 2bc) + (c 2 + a 2 – 2ca) + (a 2 + b 2 – 2ab)]
= 2[(b – c) 2 + (c – a) 2 + (a – b) 2 ]
As a, b, c are real, we get D ≥ 0. Thus, roots of (1) are real. Ans.(3)

Ø If the equation x 4 – 4x 3 + ax 2 + bx + 1 has 4 positive roots, the value of a + b will be

(1) 0 (2) 2 (3) 4 (4) None of these

Sol. Sum of roots = 4, product of roots = 1, so AM = 1 = GM, means all roots are equal = 1, so the given
equation is (x – 1) 4 and a = 6, b = –4 on expansion and hence a + b = 2. Ans.(2)

Ø The equations ax 2 + bx + c = 0 and x 2 + 2x + 3 = 0 have one root in common, then a : b : c = ?

Sol. As the given equation has imaginary roots, both roots will be common or a/1 = b/2 = c/3.
Hence a : b : c = 1 : 2 : 3.

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The number of real roots of the equation ( 6 – x ) + ( 8 – x ) = 16 will be
4 4
Ø

(1) 1 (2) 2 (3) 4 (4) Infinite

( 6 − x ) + ( 8 − x ) = 7 − x , so the equation is
( y − 1) + ( y + 1) = 16 or y + 6y − 7 = 0 or y 2 = 1 and y 2 = –7
4 4
Sol. Let y = 4 2
2
(not possible) or y 2 = 1 or 7 – x = ± 1 or x = 6 or 8. Ans.(2)

Ø If a, b, c ∈ {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}, then the number of equations of the form ax 2 + bx + c = 0 having real
roots will be
(1) 1 (2) 8 (3) 18 (4) 24

b2 b2 b2
Sol. ac ≤ or we can have ac from 1 to 6 as will vary from 1 to 6.25. When b = 2, =1 and (a, c) can be
4 4 4

b2
only (1, 1). When b = 3, =2.25 and ac can be 1 or 2 so the values (a, c) are (1, 1), (1, 2), (2, 1). When
4

b2
b = 4, = 4 and ac can be from 1 to 4 so (a, c) can be (1, 1), (1, 2), (2, 1), (1, 3), (3, 1), (1, 4), (4, 1),
4
b2
(2, 2). When b = 5, we have = 6.25 and ac can be from 1 to 6 so the possible pairs of ac will be (1, 1),
4
(1, 2), (2, 1), (1, 3), (3, 1), (1, 4), (4, 1), (2, 2), (1, 5), (5, 1), (2, 3), (3, 2). Total 24 pairs. Ans.(4)

Ø If 6 x + 6 x + 1 = 2 x + 2 x + 1 + 2 x + 2 , then the number of solutions for x is

(1) 0 (2) 1 (3) 2 (4) 4

Sol. 6 x (1 + 6) = 2 x (1 + 2 + 4) or 6 x = 2 x or x = 0 is the only solution. Hence 1 solution only. Ans.(2)

Ø Ujakar and Keshab attempted to solve an equation. Ujakar made a mistake in writing down the
constant term. He ended up with the roots (4, 3). Keshab made a mistake in writing down the
coefficient of x. He got the roots as (3, 2). What will be the exact roots of the original quadratic
equation?
(1) (6, 1) (2) (–2, –3) (3) (–3, –4) (4) (2, 3)

Sol. Quadratic equation is ax 2 + bx + c = 0, ⇒ x 2 – (α + β)x + αβ = 0, Where α and β are roots of equation.

Roots = (4,3), Sum of the roots = 7
Product of the roots = 12.
∴ Equation formed: x 2 – 7x + 12 = 0 ....(1)
Another boy gets the wrong roots (3, 2)
∴ Sum of the roots = 5
Product of the roots = 6
Equation formed: x 2 – 5x + 6 = 0 ....(2)
But in equation (1) constant term is wrong and in equation (2) coefficient of x is wrong.
Hence, x 2 – 7x + 6 = 0 ⇒ x 2 – 6x – x + 6 = 0
⇒ x(x – 6) – 1(x – 6) = 0 ⇒ (x – 6)(x – 1) = 0 ∴ x = 6, 1. Hence, the actual roots = (6, 1). Ans.(1)

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x 3 (2x − 3)2 (x − 4)6
Ø The number of positive integral solutions of ≤ 0 is
(x − 3)3 (3x − 8)4
(1) 1 (2) 2 (3) 3 (4) 4

x
Sol. Omitting even powers (which are positive), ≤ 0.
x−3
+ – +
0 3
The critical points are 0, 3
Hence the inequality is true in (0, 3) The positive integral solutions are 1 and 2. Further x = 4 also satisfies
the inequality. So, the number of positive integral solution = 3. Ans.(3)

Ø If x1 , x2 , x3 , x4 are the roots of the equation ax 4 + bx 3 + cx 2 + dx + e = 0, find the value of

(1 – x 1 ) (1 – x 2 ) (1 – x 3 ) (1 – x 4 ).
(1) (a + b + c + d + e) (2) 2(a + b + c + d + e)
(3) abcde (4) None of these

Sol. Since x 1 , x 2 , x 3 , x 4 are the roots of ax 4 + bx 3 + cx 2 + dx + e

We have (x – x 1 ) (x – x 2 ) (x – x 3 ) (x – x 4 ) = ax 4 + bx 3 + cx 2 + dx + e
Putting x = 1 we have (1 – x 1 ) (1 – x 2 ) (1 – x 3 ) (1 – x 4 ) = a + b + c + d + e. Ans.(1)

x 2 − 6x − 4
Ø What are the maximum and minimum values of the expression for real values of x?
x2 + 6x + 4

x 2 − 6x − 4
Sol. Let = m , then x 2 (m – 1) + x(6m + 6) (4m + 4) = 0
x 2 + 6x + 4
Since roots are real we have b 2 – 4ac ≥ 0 ⇒ 36(m + 1) 2 – 16(m – 1) (m + 1) ≥ 0
⇒ 9(m + 1) 2 – 4(m – 1) (m + 1) ≥ 0 ⇒ (m + 1) (9m +9 – 4m + 4) ≥ 0

−13
⇒ (m + 1) (5m + 13) ≥ 0 ⇒ m ≤ or m ≥ –1.
5
So the minimum value of the expression is – ∞ and the maximum value is +∞.

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(x − a)(x − c)
Ø For real x, the function will assume all real values provided
x−b
(1) a < b < c (2) b < c < a (3) c < a < b (4) None of these

( x − a)( x − c) x 2 − (a + c)x + ac
Sol. Let y = =
x −b x −b
⇒ y(x – b) = x 2 – (a + c) x + ac
⇒ x 2 – (a + c + y) x + ac + by = 0 .....(1)
Since x is real discriminant of (1)
(a + c + y) 2 – 4(ac + by) ≥ 0
⇒ y 2 + 2(a + c)y + (a + c) 2 – 4ac – 4by ≥ 0
⇒ y 2 + 2(a + c – 2b)y + (a – c) 2 ≥ 0 ....(2)
Since y takes all real values, (2) is possible if and only if
4(a + c – 2b) 2 – 4(a – c) 2 < 0 [Q coefficient of y 2 = 1 > 0]
⇔ (a + c – 2b + a – c) (a + c – 2b – a + c) < 0
⇔ (2a – 2b) (2c – 2b) < 0
⇔ (a – b) (c – b) < 0
⇔ b lies between a and c. Thus, one of the possibilities a < b < c. Ans.(1)

Ø Find the maximum volume of a right circular cylinder if the sum of radius and height = 18.

Sol. r + h = 18.
V = πr 2 h

r
For maximum volume =h
2
∴ r = 12 and h = 6.
∴ Volume = 864π.

Ø x 9 + 7x 8 – 5x 7 – 6x 4 + 8x 3 – 4x + 7 = 0. Find the positive, negative and imaginary roots of the

above equation.

Sol. The coefficient of x changes sign 4 times.

∴ positive roots = 4
On replacing x by (–x) in the above equation the coefficient changes sign 3 times.
∴ negative roots = 3.
Imaginary roots = 9 – 7 = 2.

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Inequalities
Ø Solve for x : If x 2 – 3x – 40 ≤ 0, x 2 ≥ 25, |x| > 2.

Sol. (i) (x – 8) (x +5) ≤ 0 Hence –5 ≤ x ≤ 8

(ii) 2
x ≥ 25 Hence x ≥ 5 or x ≤ –5
(iii) |x| > 2 Hence x > 2 or x < – 2
The solution set for x satisfying all the above conditions is 5 ≤ x ≤ 8 or x = – 5.

Ø Solve for x, y if |x| + 3y = 7, 2x + |y – 10| = 3.

Sol. |x| + 3y = 7 2x + |y – 10| = 3

(a) When x > 0 and y > 10, x + 3y = 7 and 2x + y = 13 ⇒ y = 1/5.
Hence no solution possible.
(b) When x > 0 and y < 10, x + 3y = 7 and 2x + 10 – y = 3 ⇒ y = 3 and x = –2.
Again , no solution possible.

6
(c) When x < 0 y > 10, –2x + 6y = 14 and 2x + y = 13 ⇒ y = 3 . No solution possible.
7
(d) When x < 0 and y < 10, –2x + 6y = 14 and 2x – y = –7
⇒ y = 1.4 and x = –2.8.
∴ the unique values of x and y are –2.8 and 1.4.

Ø Solve for x if |x –2| < 2 and |x + 3| > 4.

Sol. –2 < x – 2 < 2

⇒ 0<x<4 ...(1)
x + 3 > 4 or x + 3 < –4
⇒ x > 1 or x < –7 ... (2)
From (1) and (2)
1 < x < 4.

Ø The set of all values of x satisfying the inequality | x2 + x - 6|<6 is

(1) (–4, 3) (2) (–3, 2) (3) ( –4, 3 ) ∪ (2, 3 ) (4) ( –4, –1 ) ∪ ( 0, 3 )

Sol. This gives –6 < x 2 + x – 6 < 6 so it gives two inequalities. x 2 + x – 12 < 0 gives –4 < x < 3. The other gives
x 2 + x > 0 so it gives either x < –1 or x > 0. Ans.(4)

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Ø The solutions of the equation (3|x| – 3) 2 = |x | + 7 which belongs to the domain of definition of

the function y = nxbx − 3gs are given by

(1) ±1/9, ±2 (2) –1/9, 2 (3) 1/9, –2 (4) –1/9, –2

Sol. Domain of definition of the function

y = √[x(x – 3)] is x(x – 3) ≥ 0
i.e. x ≤ 0 or x ≥ 3 ..... (1)
Given equation can be rewritten as
9|x| 2 – 19|x| + 2 = 0
i.e. (9|x| – 1) (|x| – 2) = 0
i.e. |x| = 2 or |x| = 1/9.
∴ Solution of the given equation are
±2, ±1/9. ..... (2)
In the domain (1), the required solutions are –2, –1/9. Ans.(4)

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