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Question 131

Combined Defence Services (CDS) 2025• Elementary Mathematics

If sin α + cos α =2\sqrt{2}, where 0 < α < π2\frac{\pi}{2}​, then what is sin3α − cos3α equal to?

  1. AOption (a)

    1

  2. BOption (b)

    1/2

  3. COption (c)

    1/4

  4. DOption (d)

    0

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (d)D.

0

Why this answer is correct

Shortcut Trick

sin α + cos α = 2\sqrt{2}

It is valid when α = π/4

As, sin π/4 + cos π/4 = 1/2\sqrt{2} + 1/2\sqrt{2} = 2/2\sqrt{2} = 2\sqrt{2}

So, sin α - cos α = sin π/4 - cos π/4 = 1/2\sqrt{2} - 1/2\sqrt{2} = 0

So, sin3α − cos3α

⇒ (sin α - cos α) (sin2 α + cos2α - sinα cosα)

⇒ 0 (sin2 α + cos2α - sinα cosα)

⇒ 0

Hence, the correct answer is 0.

Alternate Method

Given:

sin α + cos α = √2, where 0 < α < π/2

Formula used:

sin3α - cos3α = (sin α - cos α)(sin2α + sin α cos α + cos2α)

Calculation:

sin α + cos α = √2

⇒ (sin α + cos α)2 = (√2)2

⇒ sin2α + cos2α + 2sin α cos α = 2

⇒ 1 + 2sin α cos α = 2

⇒ 2sin α cos α = 1

⇒ sin α cos α = 1/2

Now, sin α - cos α = √(sin2α + cos2α - 2sin α cos α)

⇒ sin α - cos α = √(1 - 1)

⇒ sin α - cos α = 0

Plugging into the formula:

sin3α - cos3α = (sin α - cos α)(sin2α + sin α cos α + cos2α)

⇒ sin3α - cos3α = 0 × (1 + 1/2)

⇒ sin3α - cos3α = 0

∴ The correct answer is option (4).

Question 132

Combined Defence Services (CDS) 2025• Elementary Mathematics

What is (1 + cot α−cosec α)(1 + tan α + sec α) equal to?

  1. AOption (a)

    1/2

  2. BOption (b)

    1

  3. COption (c)

    2

  4. DOption (d)

    4

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

2

Why this answer is correct

Given:

Expression: (1 + cot α − cosec α)(1 + tan α + sec α)

Formula used:

cot α = cos α / sin α

cosec α = 1 / sin α

tan α = sin α / cos α

sec α = 1 / cos α

(x − 1)(x + 1) = x2 − 1

sin2α + cos2α = 1

Calculations:

(1 + cot α − cosec α)(1 + tan α + sec α)

⇒ (1 + cos α / sin α − 1 / sin α)(1 + sin α / cos α + 1 / cos α)

⇒ ((sin α + cos α − 1) / sin α) × ((cos α + sin α + 1) / cos α)

Multiply numerators:

⇒ ((sin α + cos α − 1)(sin α + cos α + 1)) / (sin α × cos α)

Use difference of squares:

⇒ ((sin α + cos α)2 − 1) / (sin α × cos α)

Expand and apply identity:

⇒ (sin2α + cos2α + 2 sin α cos α − 1) / (sin α × cos α)

⇒ (1 + 2 sin α cos α − 1) / (sin α × cos α)

⇒ 2 sin α cos α / (sin α × cos α)

⇒ 2

∴ (1 + cot α − cosec α)(1 + tan α + sec α) = 2

Question 133

Combined Defence Services (CDS) 2025• Elementary Mathematics

If tan θ = sinα−cosαsinα+cosα\frac{sin\alpha - cos\alpha}{sin\alpha + cos\alpha} where θ and α are (α≠π4)\left( \alpha \neq \frac{\pi}{4} \right) acute angles, then what is 2\sqrt{2} sin θ equal to ?

  1. AOption (a)

    sin α − cos α

  2. BOption (b)

    sin α + cos α

  3. COption (c)

    cos α − sin α

  4. DOption (d)

    ± (sin α − cos α)

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

sin α − cos α

Why this answer is correct

Given:

tan θ = (sin α - cos α) / (sin α + cos α)

θ and α are acute angles, α ≠ π/4.

Formula used:

√(2)sin θ = ?

Calculation:

tan θ = (sin α - cos α) / (sin α + cos α)

⇒ θ = tan-1[(sin α - cos α) / (sin α + cos α)]

Using trigonometric identity: sin θ = tan θ / √(1 + tan2θ)

⇒ sin θ = [(sin α - cos α) / (sin α + cos α)] / √(1 + [(sin α - cos α) / (sin α + cos α)]2)

Let k = sin α - cos α and m = sin α + cos α.

⇒ sin θ = k / m / √[1 + (k / m)2]

⇒ sin θ = k / √(m2 + k2)

⇒ √(2)sin θ = √(2) × (sin α - cos α) / √[(sin α + cos α)2 + (sin α - cos α)2]

⇒ √(2)sin θ = √(2) × (sin α - cos α) / √[2(sin2α + cos2α)]

⇒ √(2)sin θ = √(2) × (sin α - cos α) / √(2)

⇒ √(2)sin θ = sin α - cos α

∴ The correct answer is option (1).

Question 134

Combined Defence Services (CDS) 2025• Elementary Mathematics

For how many values of α does the expression (sin α + 2)(sin α + 4)(sin α − 2)(sin α − 4) become zero?

  1. AOption (a)

    No value

  2. BOption (b)

    One

  3. COption (c)

    Two

  4. DOption (d)

    Four

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

No value

Why this answer is correct

Given:

(sin α + 2)(sin α + 4)(sin α − 2)(sin α − 4) = 0

Formula used:

Expression = 0 ⇔ at least one factor = 0. But sin α ∈ [−1, 1]

Calculations:

⇒ sin α + 2 = 0 ⇒ sin α = −2 (not possible)

⇒ sin α + 4 = 0 ⇒ sin α = −4 (not possible)

⇒ sin α − 2 = 0 ⇒ sin α = 2 (not possible)

⇒ sin α − 4 = 0 ⇒ sin α = 4 (not possible)

Number of real values of α = 0.

∴ The correct answer is option 1.

Question 135

Combined Defence Services (CDS) 2025• Elementary Mathematics

What is the value of x, where 0 ≤ x ≤ 30∘, satisfying tan3x tan 6x = 1 ?

  1. AOption (a)

    0∘

  2. BOption (b)

    10∘

  3. COption (c)

    12∘

  4. DOption (d)

    15∘

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

10∘

Why this answer is correct

Given:

tan3x × tan6x = 1, 0 ≤ x ≤ 30°

Formula used:

tanA × tanB = 1 ⇒ tanA = cotB = tan(90° − B + k × 180°)

Calculations:

⇒ tan3x = tan(90° − 6x + n × 180°)

⇒ 3x = 90° − 6x + n × 180°

⇒ 9x = 90° + n × 180°

⇒ x = 10° + n × 20°

Check n values for 0 ≤ x ≤ 30°:

n = 0 → x = 10° (valid)

n = 1 → x = 30° (but 3x = 90° → tan3x undefined → reject)

n = −1 → x = −10° (out of range)

∴ x = 10°.

Question 136

Combined Defence Services (CDS) 2025• Elementary Mathematics

What is (a−b)2(b−c)(c−a)+(b−c)2(c−a)(a−b)+(c−a)2(a−b)(b−c)\frac{(a-b)^2}{(b-c)(c-a)} + \frac{(b-c)^2}{(c-a)(a-b)} + \frac{(c-a)^2}{(a-b)(b-c)} - 3 equal to, where a ≠\neq b ≠\neq c?

  1. AOption (a)

    0

  2. BOption (b)

    3

  3. COption (c)

    a + b + c

  4. DOption (d)

    3 (a−b) (b−c) (c−a)

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (a)A.

0

Why this answer is correct

Given:

Expression to evaluate:

(a−b)2(b−c)(c−a)+(b−c)2(c−a)(a−b)+(c−a)2(a−b)(b−c)−3\frac{(a - b)^2}{(b - c)(c - a)} + \frac{(b - c)^2}{(c - a)(a - b)} + \frac{(c - a)^2}{(a - b)(b - c)} - 3

Step 1: Let

x = (a−b)2(b−c)(c−a)\frac{(a - b)^2}{(b - c)(c - a)}

y = (b−c)2(c−a)(a−b)\frac{(b - c)^2}{(c - a)(a - b)}

z = (c−a)2(a−b)(b−c)\frac{(c - a)^2}{(a - b)(b - c)}

So expression becomes: x + y + z − 3

Step 2: Take LCM of all 3 terms:

LCM = (a − b)(b − c)(c − a)

Write all terms with common denominator:

x = (a−b)2(b−c)(c−a)=(a−b)3(a−b)(b−c)(c−a)\frac{(a - b)^2}{(b - c)(c - a)} = \frac{(a - b)^3}{(a - b)(b - c)(c - a)}

y = (b−c)2(c−a)(a−b)=(b−c)3(b−c)(c−a)(a−b)\frac{(b - c)^2}{(c - a)(a - b)} = \frac{(b - c)^3}{(b - c)(c - a)(a - b)}

z = (c−a)2(a−b)(b−c)=(c−a)3(c−a)(a−b)(b−c)\frac{(c - a)^2}{(a - b)(b - c)} = \frac{(c - a)^3}{(c - a)(a - b)(b - c)}

Numerators:

⇒ x + y + z = (a−b)3+(b−c)3+(c−a)3(a−b)(b−c)(c−a)\frac{(a - b)^3 + (b - c)^3 + (c - a)^3}{(a - b)(b - c)(c - a)}

Use identity:

If x + y + z = 0 ⇒ x3 + y3 + z3 = 3xyz

Here, let: u = (a − b), v = (b − c), w = (c − a)

Then: u + v + w = 0

So: u3 + v3 + w3 = 3uvw

Apply:

Numerator = (a − b)3 + (b − c)3 + (c − a)3 = 3(a − b)(b − c)(c − a)

Denominator = (a − b)(b − c)(c − a)

So: x + y + z = 3(a−b)(b−c)(c−a)(a−b)(b−c)(c−a)=3\frac{3(a - b)(b - c)(c - a)}{(a - b)(b - c)(c - a)} = 3

Final Expression = x + y + z − 3 = 3 − 3 = 0

∴ The correct answer is: 0

Question 137

Combined Defence Services (CDS) 2025• Elementary Mathematics

Given that 100×99×98×…×3×2×1100n\frac{100 \times 99 \times 98 \times \ldots \times 3 \times 2 \times 1}{100^n}  is an integer. What is the largest value of n for which this is true?

  1. AOption (a)

    20

  2. BOption (b)

    21

  3. COption (c)

    24

  4. DOption (d)

    None of these

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (d)D.

None of these

Why this answer is correct

Given:

Expression: 100!100n\dfrac{100!}{100^n} is an integer

Formula used:

We need to find the largest n such that 100n divides 100!

100 = 22 × 52 ⇒ 100n = 22n × 52n

So, we must find maximum n such that both 22n and 52n divide 100!

Calculations:

Powers of 2 in 100!

⇒ [100/2] + [100/4] + [100/8] + [100/16] + [100/32] + [100/64]

⇒ 50 + 25 + 12 + 6 + 3 + 1 = 97

Powers of 5 in 100!

⇒ [100/5] + [100/25] + [100/125]

⇒ 20 + 4 + 0 = 24

Now: 22n must ≤ 297 ⇒ 2n ≤ 97 ⇒ n ≤ 48.5

And: 52n must ≤ 524 ⇒ 2n ≤ 24 ⇒ n ≤ 12

So, the limiting factor is powers of 5 ⇒ n ≤ 12

The largest value of n is 12.

∴ The correct answer is option 4.

Question 138

Combined Defence Services (CDS) 2025• Elementary Mathematics

A man starting from a place P went x metre (x > 120 m) East before turning South. He went 40 m straight before turning to West. He went 60 m to reach a place Q. From Q he went 200 m North and reached a place R. If PR = 200 m, then what is x equal to?

  1. AOption (a)

    150 m

  2. BOption (b)

    180 m

  3. COption (c)

    200 m

  4. DOption (d)

    240 m

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

180 m

Why this answer is correct

Given:

Distance traveled East = x meters

Distance traveled South = 40 meters

Distance traveled West = 60 meters

Distance traveled North = 200 meters

PR = 200 meters

Formula used:

Pythagoras theorem: In a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides.

Calculation:

PR = 200 meters

Horizontal distance between P and R = x - 60

Vertical distance between P and R = 200 - 40 = 160

Using Pythagoras theorem:

⇒ (PR)2 = (Horizontal distance)2 + (Vertical distance)2

⇒ 2002 = (x - 60)2 + 1602

⇒ 40000 = (x - 60)2 + 25600

⇒ (x - 60)2 = 40000 - 25600

⇒ (x - 60)2 = 14400

⇒ x - 60 = √14400

⇒ x - 60 = 120

⇒ x = 120 + 60

⇒ x = 180

∴ The correct answer is option (2).

Question 139

Combined Defence Services (CDS) 2025• Elementary Mathematics

If x2 + y2 + z2 = 3, where x, y and z are integers, then how many values can (xy + yz + zx) have?

  1. AOption (a)

    One

  2. BOption (b)

    Two

  3. COption (c)

    Three

  4. DOption (d)

    Four

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (b)B.

Two

Why this answer is correct

Given:

Equation: x2 + y2 + z2 = 3

x, y, and z are integers.

Formula used:

The algebraic identity: (x + y + z)2 = x2 + y2 + z2 + 2(xy + yz + zx)

Calculations:

We are given x2 + y2 + z2 = 3, where x, y, and z are integers.

Since x, y, and z are integers, their squares (x2, y2, z2) must be non-negative integers (0, 1, 4, 9, ...).

The only way to sum three non-negative integer squares to get 3 is if each square is 1

⇒ x2 = 1, y2 = 1, z2 = 1

This implies that x, y, and z can only be either 1 or -1.

Now, let P = (xy + yz + zx) and S = (x + y + z).

Using the algebraic identity:

(x + y + z)2 = x2 + y2 + z2 + 2(xy + yz + zx)

⇒ S2 = 3 + 2P

Rearrange the equation to solve for P:

⇒ 2P = S2 − 3

⇒ P = (S2−32)(\dfrac{S^2 - 3}{2})

Now, we will consider all possible combinations of x, y, and z from {1, -1} and calculate S and P for each case:

Case 1: All three integers are 1.

(x, y, z) = (1, 1, 1)

S = 1 + 1 + 1 = 3

P = (32−32)(\dfrac{3^2 - 3}{2}) = (9−32)(\dfrac{9 - 3}{2}) = (62)(\dfrac{6}{2}) = 3

Case 2: Two integers are 1, and one is -1.

Possible combinations: (1, 1, -1), (1, -1, 1), (-1, 1, 1)

For any of these combinations, S = 1 + 1 − 1 = 1

P = (12−32)(\dfrac{1^2 - 3}{2}) = (1−32)(\dfrac{1 - 3}{2}) = (−22)(\dfrac{-2}{2}) = -1

Case 3: One integer is 1, and two are -1.

Possible combinations: (1, -1, -1), (-1, 1, -1), (-1, -1, 1)

For any of these combinations, S = 1 − 1 − 1 = -1

P = ((−1)2−32)(\dfrac{(-1)^2 - 3}{2}) = (1−32)(\dfrac{1 - 3}{2}) = (−22)(\dfrac{-2}{2}) = -1

Case 4: All three integers are -1.

(x, y, z) = (-1, -1, -1)

S = -1 − 1 − 1 = -3

P = ((−3)2−32)(\dfrac{(-3)^2 - 3}{2}) = (9−32)(\dfrac{9 - 3}{2}) = (62)(\dfrac{6}{2}) = 3

The distinct values that (xy + yz + zx) can have are 3 and -1.

Therefore, there are 2 possible values for (xy + yz + zx).

Question 140

Combined Defence Services (CDS) 2025• Elementary Mathematics

If x, y, z are real numbers such that x + y + z=10 and xy + yz + zx = 18, then what is the value of x3+y3+z3− 3xyz?

  1. AOption (a)

    400

  2. BOption (b)

    440

  3. COption (c)

    460

  4. DOption (d)

    500

View answer & explanation

Correct answer

Answer: (c)C.

460

Why this answer is correct

Given:

x + y + z = 10

xy + yz + zx = 18

Formula used:

The expression for the sum of cubes of three numbers can be expressed as:

x3 + y3 + z3 - 3xyz = (x + y + z) [(x + y + z)2 - 3(xy + yz + zx)]

Calculation:

Substituting the given values:

x3 + y3 + z3 - 3xyz = (10) [(10)2 - 3(18)]

⇒ x3 + y3 + z3 - 3xyz = 10 [100 - 54]

⇒ x3 + y3 + z3 - 3xyz = 10 × 46

⇒ x3 + y3 + z3 - 3xyz = 460

∴ The correct answer is option (3).