Algebra Questions for CMAT

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 Questions
Instructions
For the following questions answer them individually

Question 1
x2 3
What is the coefficient of x2 in the expansion of (5 − 3 ) ?

A -25

25
B − 3

C 25

5
D −3
Answer: A

Explanation:
x2 3 x2 x2 2
(5 − 3) = (5 − 3 ) (5 − 3)

x2 x4 10x2
= (5 − 3 ) (25 + 9 − 3 )

5x4 50x2 25x2 x6 10x4

= 125 + 9 − 3 − 3 − 27 + 9

x6 15x4 75x2
= − 27 + 9 − 3 + 125
6 4
x 5x
= − 27 + 3 − 25x2 + 125

The coefficient of x2 in the expansion = -25

Hence, the correct answer is Option A

Question 2

Given that x8 − 34x4 + 1 = 0, x > 0. What is the value of (x3 − x−3 )?

A 14

B 12

C 18

D 16

Answer: A

Explanation:
x8 − 34x4 + 1 = 0
x8 + 1 = 34x4
1
x4 + x4 = 34
1
x4 + x4 + 2 = 36
1 2
(x2 + x2 ) = 36
1
x2 + x2 =6
1
x2 + x2 −2=4
1 2
(x − x) =4
1
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 1
x− x = 2........(1)
1 3
(x − x ) = 8
1 1 1
x3 − x3 − 3.x. x (x − x ) = 8
1
x3 − x3 − 3 (2 ) = 8
1
x3 − x3 −6=8
1
x3 − x3 = 14
Hence, the correct answer is Option A

Question 3

If x4 − 62x2 + 1 = 0, where x > 0, then the value of x3 + x−3 is:

A 500

B 512

C 488

D 364

Answer: C

Explanation:
x4 − 62x2 + 1 = 0
x4 + 1 = 62x2
1
x2 + x2 = 62
1
x2 + x2 + 2 = 64
1 2
(x + x ) = 64
1
x+ x = 8.......(1)
1 3
(x + x ) = 512
1 1 1
x3 + x3 + 3.x. x (x + x ) = 512
1
x3 + x3 + 3 (8) = 512
1
x3 + x3 + 24 = 512
1
x3 + x3 = 488
Hence, the correct answer is Option C

Question 4
1 17 1
If x + x = 4 , x > 1, then what is the value of x − x ?

9
A 4

3
B 2

8
C 3

15
D 4

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 Answer: D

Explanation:
1 17
x+ x = 4
1 2 289
(x + x ) = 16
1 289
x2 + x2 +2= 16
1 289
x2 + x2 = 16 −2
1 257
x2 + x2 = 16
1 257
x2 + x2 −2= 16 −2
1 2 257−32
(x − x ) = 16
1 2 225
(x − x ) = 16
1 15
x− x = 4

Hence, the correct answer is Option D

Question 5
125
If 2x2 − 7x + 5 = 0, then what is the value of x3 + 8x3 ?

5
A 12 8
5
B 16 8
5
C 10 8
5
D 18 8
Answer: B

Explanation:
2x2 − 7x + 5 = 0
2x2 − 2x − 5x + 5 = 0
2x (x − 1) − 5 (x − 1) = 0
(x − 1) (2x − 5) = 0
x − 1 = 0 or 2x − 5 = 0
5
x = 1 or x = 2

When x = 1,
125 125 125 133 5
x3 + 8x3 = (1 )3 + 8 (1 )3 =1+ 8 = 8 = 16 8
Hence, the correct answer is Option B

Question 6
1 1
If x − x = 1, then what is the value of x8 + x8 ?

A 3

B 119

C 47

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D -1

Answer: C

Explanation:
1
x− x =1
Squaring on both sides,
1
x2 + x2 −2=1
1
x2 + x2 =3
Squaring on both sides,
1
x4 + x4 +2=9
1
x4 + x4 =7
Squaring on both sides,
1
x8 + x8 + 2 = 49
1
x8 + x8 = 47
Hence, the correct answer is Option C

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Question 7
1 1
If x4 + x4 = 727, x > 1, then what is the value of (x − x )?

A 6

B -6

C -5

D 5

Answer: D

Explanation:
1
x4 + x4 = 727
1
x4 + x4 + 2 = 729
1 2
(x2 + x2 ) = 729
1
x2 + x2 = 27
1
x2 + x2 − 2 = 25
1 2
(x − x ) = 25
Since x > 1,
1
x− x =5
Hence, the correct answer is Option D

Question 8
1
If 2x2 − 8x − 1 = 0, then what is the value of 8x3 − x3 ?

A 560

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B 540

C 524

D 464

Answer: A

Explanation:
2x2 − 8x − 1 = 0
2x2 − 1 = 8x
1
2x − x = 8........(1)
Cubing on both sides,
1 1 1
8x3 − x3 − 3.2x. x (2x − x ) = 512
1
8x3 − x3 − 6 (8) = 512 [From (1)]
1
8x3 − x3 − 48 = 512
1
8x3 − x3 = 560
Hence, the correct answer is Option A

Question 9

If y = 2x + 1, then what is the value of (8x3 − y3 + 6xy)?

A 1

B -1

C 15

D -15

Answer: B

Explanation:
y = 2x + 1
2x − y = −1.......(1)
Cubing on both sides, we get

8x3 − y3 − 3.2x.y (2x − y) = −1

8x3 − y3 − 6xy (−1) = −1 [From (1)]
8x3 − y3 + 6xy = −1
Hence, the correct answer is Option B

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Question 10
2 4
If x − x = 15, then what is the value of (x2 + x2 )?

A 229

B 227

C 221

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D 223

Answer: A

Explanation:
2
x− x = 15
Squaring on both sides,
4 2
x2 + x2 − 2.x. x = 225
4
x2 + x2 − 4 = 225
4
x2 + x2 = 229
Hence, the correct answer is Option A

Question 11

If 2x + 3y + 1 = 0, then what is the value of (8x3 + 8 + 27y3 − 18xy)?

A -7

B 7

C -9

D 9

Answer: B

Explanation:
2x + 3y + 1 = 0
2x + 3y = −1........(1)
Cubing on both sides,

8x3 + 27y3 + 3.2x.3y (2x + 3y) = −1

8x3 + 27y3 + 18xy (−1) = −1
8x3 + 27y3 − 18xy + 8 = −1 + 8
8x3 + 27y3 − 18xy + 8 = 7
Hence, the correct answer is Option B

Question 12
1 1
If x + x = 7, then x2 + x2 is equal to:

A 47

B 49

C 61

D 51

Answer: A

Explanation:
1
x+ x =7
Squaring on both sides,
1 1
x2 + x2 + 2.x. x = 49
1
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 1
x2 + x2 + 2 = 49
1
x2 + x2 = 47
Hence, the correct answer is Option A

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Question 13

If (2x + y)3 − (x − 2y)3 = (x + 3y)[Ax2 + By2 + Cxy], then what is the value of (A + 2B + C)?

A 13

B 14

C 7

D 10

Answer: D

Explanation:
(2x + y)3 − (x − 2y)3 = (x + 3y)[Ax2 + By2 + Cxy]

[2x + y − (x − 2y)] [(2x + y)2 + (2x + y) (x − 2y) + (x − 2y)2 ] = (x + 3y)[Ax2 + By2 + Cxy]

[x + 3y] [ 4x2 + y2 + 4xy + 2x2 − 3xy − 2y2 + x2 + 4y2 − 4xy] = (x + 3y)[Ax2 + By2 + Cxy]
(x + 3y) [ 7x2 + 3y2 − 3xy] = (x + 3y)[Ax2 + By2 + Cxy]
Comparing both sides,

A = 7, B = 3 and C = -3

A + 2B + C = 7 + 2 (3) − 3 = 10
Hence, the correct answer is Option D

Question 14

If 9(a 2 + b2 ) + c2 + 20 = 12(a + 2b), then the value of 6a + 9b + 2c is:

A 4

B 3

C 6

D 2

Answer: A

Explanation:
9(a 2 + b2 ) + c2 + 20 = 12(a + 2b)
9a 2 + 9b2 + c2 + 20 = 12a + 24b
9a 2 − 12a + 9b2 − 24b + c2 + 20 = 0
9a 2 − 12a + 4 − 4 + 9b2 − 24b + 16 − 16 + c2 + 20 = 0
(3a − 2)2 − 4 + (3b − 4)2 − 16 + c2 + 20 = 0
2 2
(3a − 2) + (3b − 4) + c2 = 0
3a − 2 = 0, 3b − 4 = 0, c = 0
2 4
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 2 4
a = 3, b = 3, c = 0
2 4
6a + 9b + 2c = 6 ( 3 ) + 9 ( 3 ) + 2 (0 )

= 4 + 12

= 16
=4

Hence, the correct answer is Option A

Question 15
1
1 (x4+ x2 )
If x + x = 2 5, then what is the value of x2 +1 ?

A 14

B 17

C 20

D 23

Answer: B

Explanation:
1
x+ x = 2 5...........(1)
3 1
(x + x ) = 40 5
1 1 1
x3 + x3 + 3.x. x (x + x ) = 40 5
1
x3 + x3 + 3 (2 5) = 40 5 [From (1)]
1
x3 + x3 + 6 5 = 40 5
1
x3 + x3 = 34 5.........(2)
1
1 x(x3 + x3 )
(x4+ x2 ) 1
x2 +1 = x(x+ x )

1
x3 + x3
1
= x+ x

34 5
= 2 5

= 17
Hence, the correct answer is Option B

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