How many values can the positive integer x take if 4(xn + 1) is a perfect cube for every natural

number n?
OPTIONS

1) 0
2) 1
3) 2
4) More than 2

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Solution
Obviously x = 1 is a solution. We will prove that there is no other solution.

Lets assume we have a y such that for x ≠ 1, we have 4(xn + 1) = y3

Clearly y is even hence, x is odd. Let x = 2a + 1, y = 2b, then

4((2a + 1)n + 1)=(2b)3

∴(2(n-1) an + n.2(n-2) a(n-1) +…+an + 1) = b3

Clearly if n is odd, we will get a successive loop similar to above. Hence we cannot find an x ≠1
which will give an integral y.

Hence, there is only one value of x.

Hence, option 2.

2.

Danish randomly picks 3 distinct integers from the set {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7} and arranges them in
descending order to form a 3-digit number. Kavitha randomly picks 3 distinct integers from the
set {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6} and also arranges them in descending order to form a 3-digit number. What
is the probability that the number formed by Danish is greater than that of Kavitha?
OPTIONS

1)
 2)
3)

4)
5)

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Ans.4

• A certain number k has 8 factors. Which among the following cannot be the possible
number of factors of k3?
OPTIONS

1) 22
2) 27
3) 40
4) 64
5) None of these

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Solution
Let the number k have 8 factors.

If a number N = ambncp... where a,b,c... are prime numbers, then the number of factors of N = (m
+ 1)(n + 1)(p +1)...

Here, N = k and (m + 1)(n + 1)(p + 1) = 8

The number of ways in which 8 can be written as a product of two or more numbers is,

8=1×8
 =2×4

=2×2×2

Case 1: 8 = 1 × 8

To satisfy this case, k = a(8 − 1) b(1 − 1), where a and b are prime numbers.

∴ In this case k = a7, for some prime number a.

∴ k3 = a21 , for some prime number a.

∴ The number of factors of k3 in Case 1 = (21 + 1) = 22

Case 2: 8 = 2 × 4

To satisfy this case, k = a(2 − 1) b(4 − 1), where a and b are prime numbers.

∴ In this case k = a1b3 , for some prime numbers a and b.

∴ k3 = a3b9 , for some prime numbers a and b.

∴ The number of factors of k3 in case 2 = (3 + 1) × (9 + 1)

= 4 × 10

= 40

Case 3: 8 = 2 × 2 × 2

To satisfy this case, k = a(2 − 1) b(2 − 1) c(2 − 1) where a, b and c are prime numbers.

∴ In this case k = a1b1c1, for some prime numbers a, b and c.

∴ k3 = a3 b3 c3 , for some prime numbers a, b and c.

∴ The number of factors of k3 in case 3 = (3 + 1) × (3 + 1) × (3 + 1)

=4×4×4

= 64

There is no other way of expressing 8 as a product of positive integers.

∴ The total number of factors of k3 can be either 22, 40 or 64 but not 27.

Hence, option 2.

• Given below is the figure of a regular 7-pointed star. Determine the measure of the
angle(in radians) shown as a in the figure.

OPTIONS

1)

2)

3)

4)

Ans.2

• There are n new students in a class. Among any three of them, there exist two who know
each other and among any four of them, there exist two who do not know each other.
Find the greatest possible value of n.
OPTIONS

1) 8
1
2)
0
3) 9
 4) 7

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Solution
We can easily see that 8 is possible. For example if students are numbered 1 to 8, and student
i knows student j if and only if |i − j| ≢ 1, 4 (mod 8) meaning student 1, knows 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and
vice versa. Student 2 knows 4, 5, 7, 8 and vice versa and so on.

We will prove that no n > 8 is possible

Let us suppose n = 9 is possible. Then no student may know 6 others as among those 6, either 3
don’t know each other or 3 know each other. So together with the original student there exist 4
who know each other. Hence, this is not possible.

Similarly it is not possible that a student doesn’t know 4 others.

Hence, each student knows exactly 5 others. But this is not possible as 9 × 5 = 45 is odd.

Hence, required n = 8

Hence, option 1.

• Ajay purchased 2 kg apples, Bijay purchased 3kg mangoes and Celine purchased 12
dozens of bananas. The total cost of the purchase was exactly 180 rupees. If the prices of
1kg mango, 1 kg apple and 1 dozen bananas are all positive integer rupees, then how
many different combinations of prices can be there?
OPTIONS

43
1)
5
22
2)
5
19
3)
6
21
4)
0

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Solution
Let the price of 1 kg apples, 1 kg mangoes and 1 dozen bananas be x, y, z respectively.
Hence, 2x + 3y + 12z = 180

As all of them are positive integers, x has to be a multiple of 3 and y has to be even.

Hence, x = 3x', y = 2y'

And

x' + y' + 2z = 30

Maximum value of z = 14, gives one solution (x', y' ) = (1, 1)

For z = 13, we get 3 solutions (x', y' ) = (1, 3), (2, 2), (3, 1)
.
.
.

Similarly for z = 1 we get 27 solutions (x', y' )=(1, 27), (2, 26)…(27,1)

Hence a total of 1 + 3 + 5 +…+ 27 = 142 = 196 solutions.

Hence, option 3.
•