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Linear Equations CAT Previous Year Questions with Answer PDF

2024

Q1: A shop wants to sell a certain quantity (in kg) of grains. It sells half the quantity and an additional 3 kg of these grains to the first customer. Then, it sells half of the remaining quantity and an additional 3 kg of these grains to the second customer. Finally, when the shop sells half of the remaining quantity and an additional 3 kg of these grains to the third customer, there are no grains left. The initial quantity, in kg, of grains is
(a) 42
(b) 18
(c) 36
(d) 50

Ans: 
Sol: Let the initial quantity of grains be x. The first customer buys half of x plus 3 kg, leaving (x/2) - 3 kg. The second customer then buys half of the remaining grains plus 3 kg, leaving (x/2) - 3 kg. The third customer buys half of what is left plus 3 kg, leaving 0 grains. Thus, we have the equation:

Linear Equations CAT Previous Year Questions with Answer PDF

Q2: If x and y satisfy the equations |x| + x + y = 15 and x + |y| = 20, then (x - y) equals
(a) 5
(b) 10
(c) 20
(d) 15

Ans: (b)
Sol: 
We are given the following two equations:
|x| + x + y = 15 (Equation 1)
x + |y| = 20 (Equation 2)
We need to consider different cases based on the values of x and y.

Case 1: x ≥ 0
If x ≥ 0, then |x| = x. Substituting this into Equation 1:
x + x + y = 15
2x + y = 15 (Equation 3)
From Equation 2, since x ≥ 0, we have |y| = y (assuming y ≥ 0):
x + y = 20 (Equation 4)
Now, we have the system of two equations:
1. 2x + y = 15
2. x + y = 20
Step 1: Solve the system of equations
Subtract Equation 2 from Equation 1:
(2x + y) - (x + y) = 15 - 20
x = -5
Substitute x = -5 into Equation 2:
-5 + y = 20
y = 25
Thus, for x = -5 and y = 25, we have:
x - y = -5 - 25 = -30
Case 2: x < 0
If x < 0, then |x| = -x. Substituting this into Equation 1:
−x + x + y = 15
y = 15  (Equation 5)
Now substitute y = 15 into Equation 2:
x + |y| = 20
Since y = 15, we have |y| = 15. Thus:
x + 15 = 20
x = 5
Thus, for x = 5 and y = 15, we have:
x - y = 5 - 15 = -10
Final Answer: Based on these calculations, the correct answer is 10.

Q3: For some constant real numbers p, k and a, consider the following system of linear equations in x and y:
px - 4y = 2  (1)
3x + ky = a  (2)
A necessary condition for the system to have no solution for (x, y) is:
(a) p - 6 = 0
(b) kp + 12 ≠ 0
(c) p + 6 = 0
(d) 2a + k ≠ 0

Ans: (d) 2a + k ≠ 0
Sol: For the system of linear equations to have no solution, the lines represented by the equations must be parallel but not coincident. This can be determined using the condition for parallelism of two lines:

For the system:
px - 4y = 2 (Equation 1)
3x + ky = a (Equation 2)
A necessary condition for parallelism that the coefficients of x and y in both equations must be proportional:
Linear Equations CAT Previous Year Questions with Answer PDF

This simplifies to:
p - k = -12 (Equation 1)
For the system to have no solution, the constant terms must not be in the same proportion. Therefore, we have the condition:

Linear Equations CAT Previous Year Questions with Answer PDF

This gives the relationship:

2023

Q1: For some real numbers a and b, the system of equations x + y = 4 and (a + 5) x + (b2 - 15) y = 8b has infinitely many solutions for x and y. Then, the maximum possible value of ab is 
(a) 33
(b) 25
(c) 15
(d) 55

Ans: a
Sol: It is given that for some real numbers a and b, the system of equations x + y = 4 and (a+5)x + (b2 - 15)y = 8b has infinitely many solutions for x and y.
Hence, we can say that
Linear Equations CAT Previous Year Questions with Answer PDF
This equation can be used to find the value of a, and b.

Firstly, we will determine the value of b. 
Linear Equations CAT Previous Year Questions with Answer PDF
Hence, the values of b are 5, and -3, respectively. 
Linear Equations CAT Previous Year Questions with Answer PDF

Q2: A fruit seller has a stock of mangoes, bananas and apples with at least one fruit of each type. At the beginning of a day, the number of mangoes make up 40% of his stock. That day, he sells half of the mangoes, 96 bananas and 40% of the apples. At the end of the day, he ends up selling 50% of the fruits. The smallest possible total number of fruits in the stock at the beginning of the day is 

Ans: 340
Sol: Let us assume the initial stock of all the fruits is S.
Let us take we have 'b' and 'a' mangoes initially.
Stock of Mangoes = 40% of S = 2S/5
The total number of fruits sold are Mangoes Sold + Apples Sold + Bananas Sold
= 2S/10 + 96 + 4a/10 = S/2 (Given)
=> S/5 + 96 + 2a/5 = S/2
Linear Equations CAT Previous Year Questions with Answer PDF
'a' has to be a multiple of 3 for the above term to be an integer.
But 'a' has to be a multiple of 5 for 4a/10 to be an integer.
=> The smallest value of 'a' satisfying both conditions is 15.
Linear Equations CAT Previous Year Questions with Answer PDF

2022

Q1: If Linear Equations CAT Previous Year Questions with Answer PDFfor some non-zero real numbers x and y, then c cannot take the value
(a) 60
(b) -50
(c) -70
(d) -60

Ans: b

Sol: 

Linear Equations CAT Previous Year Questions with Answer PDF

As -50 is not in the range of b so it is the answer

2019

Q1: Let A be a real number. Then the roots of the equation x2 - 4x - log2A = 0 are real and distinct if and only if [2019]
(a) A < 1/16
(b) A > 1/8
(c) A > 1/16
(d) A < 1/8

Ans: C
Sol: For roots of any quadratic equation to be real and distinct, D > 0. 
So, for x2 − 4x − log₂A = 0, 
D = (−4)2 − 4 × 1 × (−log2A) > 0 
16 + 4 log2A > 0 
4 + log2A > 0 
log2A > −4 
A > 1/24
A > 1/16

Q2: The quadratic equation x2 + bx + c = 0 has two roots 4a and 3a, where a is an integer. Which of the following is a possible value of b² + c?
(a) 3721
(b) 549
(c) 361
(d) 427

Ans: B
Sol: Given quadratic equation is x2 + bx + c = 0
Sum of roots = -b → -b = 4a + 3a = 7a
Product of roots = c → c = 4a × 3a = 12a²
b2 = 49a2 and c = 12a2
b2 + c = 49a² + 12a2 = 61a2
Our answer must be a multiple of 61 and a perfect square
549 = 61 × 9 = 61 × 32
Thus, possible value of b2 + c = 549

Q3: What is the largest positive integer Linear Equations CAT Previous Year Questions with Answer PDF such that is also positive integer?
(a) 6
(b) 8
(c) 16
(d) 12

Ans: D

Sol:

Linear Equations CAT Previous Year Questions with Answer PDF

n cannot be -3

Linear Equations CAT Previous Year Questions with Answer PDF has to be an integer

The value has to be equal to 1 for n to be high

Linear Equations CAT Previous Year Questions with Answer PDF

n = 12

if we put n=16

then 8/(n-4) won’t be a integer

The document Linear Equations CAT Previous Year Questions with Answer PDF is a part of the CAT Course CAT Mock Test Series and 500+ Practice Tests 2025.
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FAQs on Linear Equations CAT Previous Year Questions with Answer PDF

1. What are linear equations?
Ans. Linear equations are algebraic equations that involve only first-degree terms (terms raised to the power of 1) and have the highest power of the variable as 1.
2. How do you solve a system of linear equations?
Ans. A system of linear equations can be solved using methods such as substitution, elimination, or graphing to find the values of the variables that satisfy all the equations simultaneously.
3. What is the importance of linear equations in real life?
Ans. Linear equations are used in various real-life scenarios such as budgeting, business planning, engineering, and physics to model and solve problems involving relationships between different variables.
4. Can a linear equation have multiple solutions?
Ans. Yes, a linear equation can have infinitely many solutions, especially if the equations are dependent on each other or represent the same line on a graph.
5. How do you know if a system of linear equations has no solution?
Ans. A system of linear equations has no solution if the equations are inconsistent, meaning they do not intersect at any point and represent parallel lines on a graph.
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