Indian Statistical Institute, ISI MMATH 2021 PMA Solutions & Discussions
ISI MMATH 2021 Multiple Choice Questions PMA, Objectives: Solutions and Discussions
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Problem 1
Suppose
is a continuous function such that ![]()
for all
. Then the value of
is
(a)
;
(b)
;
(c)
;
(d)
.
Solution:
By continuity,
![]()
![]()
where the relation
was used.
Answer (a)
Problem 2
A person throws a pair of fair dice. If the sum of the numbers on the dice is a perfect square, then the probability that the number 3 appeared on at least one of the dice is
(a) ![]()
(b) ![]()
(c) ![]()
(d) ![]()
Solution:
The sum of the numbers on the dice takes values from
to
The only perfect squares that can appear are
and
The sum
appears in
cases:
![]()
The sum
appears in
cases:
![]()
So, the perfect square appears in
cases. Among them in
cases the number
appears on one of the dice. The conditional probability of interest is ![]()
Answer (b)
Problem 3
Consider the system of linear equations:
. Then
(a) the system is inconsistent
(b) the system has a unique solution
(c) the system has infinitely many solutions
(d) none of the above is true
Solution:
We find that
![]()
Then the equations take the form
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \[\begin{cases} x+y=5-z=11 \\ 2x+2y=4-3z=22 \end{cases}\]](https://fractionshub.com/wp-content/ql-cache/quicklatex.com-2fd875ea851a800004404268083c79b4_l3.png)
These two equations are identical. So, for any
we have a solution
![]()
Answer (c)
Problem 4
If
then
is given by
(a) ![]()
(b) ![]()
(c) ![]()
(d)Â ![]()
Solution:
We observe that
![]()
Hence,
![]()
integrate by parts
![]()
Answer (b)
Problem 5
If ![]()
then
is equal to
(a) ![]()
(b) ![]()
(c) ![]()
(d) ![]()
Solution:
For
we have the identity
![]()
![]()
Hence,
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \[\prod^{n-1}_{j=0}\left({}^nC_j+{}^nC_{j+1}\right)=\prod^{n-1}_{j=0}{}^{n+1}C_{j+1}=\frac{((n+1)!)^n}{(\prod^{n-1}_{j=0}(j+1)!)(\prod^{n-1}_{j=0}(n-j)!)}=\frac{((n+1)!)^n}{(\prod^n_{j=1}j!)^2}\]](https://fractionshub.com/wp-content/ql-cache/quicklatex.com-a611c0d70601902b6d521059b7ff22d6_l3.png)
On the other hand,
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \[\prod^{n-1}_{j=0} {}^nC_j=\frac{(n!)^n}{(\prod^{n-1}_{j=0} j!)(\prod^{n-1}_{j=0} (n-j)!)}=\frac{(n!)^{n+1}}{(\prod^n_{j=1}j!)^2}.\]](https://fractionshub.com/wp-content/ql-cache/quicklatex.com-9da864791ac6b18147ec8ac0326dcdf5_l3.png)
Hence,
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \[k=\frac{\prod^{n-1}_{j=0}\left({}^nC_j+{}^nC_{j+1}\right)}{\prod^{n-1}_{j=0} {}^nC_j}=\frac{((n+1)!)^n}{(n!)^{n+1}}=\frac{(n+1)^n}{n!}\]](https://fractionshub.com/wp-content/ql-cache/quicklatex.com-319ff0ec9a2c8eae6f59f6ce4ebc44c1_l3.png)
Answer (a)
Problem 6
Let
be a sequence of functions defined as follows:
![]()
Then
exists if and only if
belongs to the interval
(a) ![]()
(b) ![]()
(c) ![]()
(d) ![]()
Solution:
If
then
![]()
If
then
![]()
If
then
![]()
and this does not converge. The limit of
exists if and only if ![]()
Answer (d)
Problem 7
Let
be a set of
elements. The number of ways in which
distinct non-empty subsets
of
can be chosen such that ![]()
, is
(a) ![]()
(b) ![]()
(c) ![]()
(d) ![]()
Solution:
Denote
Each difference
contains at least one element. Denote this element by
If
then
so
All elements
are distinct. Hence,
is an ordering of the set
. There are
ways to order elements of the set
and every ordering
defines a sequence of non-empty distinct subsets by the rule
![]()
Answer (c)
Problem 8
Let
be a
matrix such that both
and
are non-null.
If
, then the rank of
is
(a)
;
(b)
;
(c)
;
(d)
.
Solution:
Elements of the adjugate matrix
are equal (up to signs) to cofactors of elements of the matrix
(i.e.
minors of
). Since
the rank of
is
Since
there exists at least one non-zero
minor of
and the rank of
is
We deduce that the rank of
is equal to
.
Answer (c)
Problem 9
The set of all
satisfying the inequality
![]()
is equal to the interval
(a) ![]()
(b) ![]()
(c) ![]()
(d) Â ![]()
Solution:
At first we observe that
Evaluate the integral:
![]()
The inequality transforms to
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Answer (d)
Problem 10
Let
be the set of all continuous functions
and
be the set of all differentiable functions
such that the derivative
is continuous. (Here, differentiability at 0 means right differentiability and differentiability at 1 means left differentiability.) If
is defined by
, then
(a)
is one-to-one and onto
(b)
is one-to-one but not onto
(c)
is onto but not one-to-one
(d)
is neither one-to-one nor onto.
Solution:
Consider a constant function
Then
Since
are distinct for different
, the mapping
is not one-to-one.
Given a continuous functions
consider
![]()
By the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus,
and
The mapping
is onto.
Answer (c)
Problem 11
Suppose
are in A.P. and
are in G.P. If
and
, then the value of
is
(a) ![]()
(b) ![]()
(c) ![]()
(d) ![]()
Solution:
Let
be the difference of the arithmetic progression. Then
and we find
![]()
Further,
![]()
and
![]()
Taking square roots we find
![]()
i.e. either
or
The case
is impossible, as
Also, the condition
implies that
and
Correspondingly, ![]()
Answer (d)
Problem 12
The number of distinct even divisors of
![]()
is
![]()
(a)
;
(b)
;
(c)
;
(d)
.
Solution:
We have
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \[\prod^5_{k=1} k!=2!3!4!5!=2\cdot (2\cdot 3) \cdot (2\cdot 3\cdot 4)\cdot (2\cdot 3\cdot 4\cdot 5)=2^8 3^35.\]](https://fractionshub.com/wp-content/ql-cache/quicklatex.com-b0a76a0c1e08ac2dbf771c346d256200_l3.png)
Every even divisor of
is of the type
with
There are
even divisors.
Answer (c)
Problem 13
Let
be the triangular region in the
-plane with vertices at
and
. Then the value of
![]()
is
(a) ![]()
(b) ![]()
(c)
;
(d) ![]()
Solution:
The region
is defined by inequalities
Hence
![]()
![]()
Answer (b)
Problem 14
Given a real number
, define a sequence
by the following recurrence relation:
![]()
If
then the value of
is
(a) ![]()
(b) ![]()
(c) ![]()
(d) ![]()
Solution:
Consider the characteristic equation of the recurrence:
![]()
Roots are
and
Hence,
![]()
Since
we find that
To find
we use first two values:
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \[\begin{cases} A+B=x_0 \\ A+B(\alpha-1)=x_1 \end{cases}\]](https://fractionshub.com/wp-content/ql-cache/quicklatex.com-81465c3f64a855424cfbc665029a6f2d_l3.png)
Then
So,
![]()
Answer (b)
Problem 15
A straight line passes through the intersection of the lines given by
and
and makes equal intercepts of the same sign on the coordinate axes. The equation of the straight line is
(a) ![]()
(b) ![]()
(c) ![]()
(d) ![]()
Solution:
We find the intersection of the lines:
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \[\begin{cases} 3x-4y=-1 \\ 5x+y=1 \end{cases} \Rightarrow x=\frac{3}{23}, y=\frac{8}{23}.\]](https://fractionshub.com/wp-content/ql-cache/quicklatex.com-103bbe81725d115b6f9623cf2b2ddf9c_l3.png)
The line we are looking for passes through the point
and makes equal (positive) intercepts with the coordinate axes. The slope of such line is
and its equation is of the form
![]()
We find ![]()
![]()
So, the equation of the line is
![]()
Equivalently,
![]()
Answer (d)
Problem 16
The series
![]()
(a) converges for
and diverges for ![]()
(b) converges for all ![]()
(c) converges for
and diverges for ![]()
(d) converges for
and diverges for
.
Solution:
Denote
Apply the ratio test:
![]()
Hence, the radius of convergence of the power series is equal to 1. The series is convergent for
and is divergent for ![]()
We study convergence at
Observe that
![]()
Hence, there exists
such that for all
we have
![]()
Equivalently,
![]()
Taking the sum from
to
we find
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \[Nc_N-(N+p)c_{N+p}>\frac{1}{4}\sum^{N+p}_{n=N+1}c_n.\]](https://fractionshub.com/wp-content/ql-cache/quicklatex.com-4cafc4093274d7311f6e17983bb62f5c_l3.png)
So,
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \[\sum^{N+p}_{n=N+1}c_n<4Nc_N.\]](https://fractionshub.com/wp-content/ql-cache/quicklatex.com-9d942e4774df556b03d7b319678d231d_l3.png)
The sequence of partial sums
is bounded and the series is convergent.
Answer (a)
Problem 17
Suppose
and
are two square matrices such that the largest eigenvalue of
is positive. Then the smallest eigen value of ![]()
(a) must be positive
(b) must be negative
(c) must be ![]()
(d) is none of the above
Solution:
We compute the trace of the matrix:
![]()
Since the trace is the sum of eigenvalues and the largest eigenvalue of
is positive, the smallest eigenvalue of
is negative.
Answer (b)
Problem 18
The number of saddle points of the function
is
(a)
;
(b)
;
(c)
;
(d) none of the above.
Solution:
To find stationary points we compute the gradient of ![]()
![]()
Stationary point
is found from the system
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \[\begin{cases} 8x^3-2x=0 \\ 6y=0 \end{cases}\]](https://fractionshub.com/wp-content/ql-cache/quicklatex.com-94966a5732339a83d282073618bb5869_l3.png)
There are three stationary points:
The matrix of second derivatives of
is
![]()
Eigenvalues are
and
The stationary point is a saddle point if the first eigenvalue is negative. It happens only for the point ![]()
Answer (a)
Problem 19
Suppose
is a cyclic group and
. There does not exist any
such that
Also, there does not exist an
such that
. Then,
(a) there exists an element
such that
.
(b) there exists an element
such that
.
(c) the smallest exponent
such that
for some
is ![]()
(d) none of the above is true.
Solution:
Let
be the generator of
Then
for some integer
Observe that
is odd. Similarly,
for some odd
. But then
where
is even. Define
Then ![]()
Answer (a)
Problem 20
The number of real roots of the polynomial
is
(a)
;
(b)
;
(c)
;
(d)
.
Solution:
Denote
The derivative of
is
![]()
The function
is increasing on
decreasing on
, increasing on ![]()
![]()
The only real zero of
is located in ![]()
Answer (b)
Problem 21
Suppose that a
matrix
has an eigen value
. If the matrix
is equal to
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \[\left[\begin{array}{ccc} 1 & 0 & -2 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 \\ 0 & 0 & 0 \end{array}\right]\]](https://fractionshub.com/wp-content/ql-cache/quicklatex.com-b58273a1cb62334378b57067934398f2_l3.png)
then the eigen vectors of
corresponding to the eigenvalue
are in
the form,
(a)
;
(b)
;
(c)
;
(d) ![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \left[\begin{array}{c} t \\ s \\ 2 t \end{array}\right], s, t \in \mathbb{R}](https://fractionshub.com/wp-content/ql-cache/quicklatex.com-4f3ad1babc4766a0d8139cca6926b9fb_l3.png)
Solution:
Let
be the eigenvector of
corresponding to the eigenvalue
Then
Denote 
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \[(A+I)v=\begin{bmatrix} x-2z \\ 0 \\ 0 \end{bmatrix}=0.\]](https://fractionshub.com/wp-content/ql-cache/quicklatex.com-3b9737f1f125eadce703837b96f5d06f_l3.png)
So,
Let
The vector
is of the form
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \[v=\begin{bmatrix} 2t \\ s \\ t \end{bmatrix}\]](https://fractionshub.com/wp-content/ql-cache/quicklatex.com-35529b9715c59b840291be2ac81b937c_l3.png)
Answer (b)
Problem 22
Consider the function
defined by
. For
and
, the value of the limit
![]()
is
(a) ![]()
(b) ![]()
(c) ![]()
(d) none of the above
Solution:
The gradient of
equals
![]()
Hence
![]()
Answer (c)
Problem 23
Suppose
is a solution of the differential equation
such that
and
. Then
(a)
as ![]()
(b)
as ![]()
(c)
as ![]()
(d)
as ![]()
Solution:
The characteristic equation is
Its roots are
and
The solution
is of the form
![]()
To find
and
we use initial conditions:
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \[\begin{cases} \phi(0)=A+B=1 \\ \phi'(0)=2A-B=5 \end{cases}\]](https://fractionshub.com/wp-content/ql-cache/quicklatex.com-a299d1e8b73db471aeaa0f1367e8799b_l3.png)
Hence,
and the solution is
In particular,
as ![]()
Answer (c)
Problem 24
A fair die is rolled five times. What is the probability that the largest
number rolled is
 ?
(a) ![]()
(b) ![]()
(c) ![]()
(d) ![]()
Solution:
Denote by
the event that all numbers rolled are
Then
The event of interest is
Its probability is
![]()
Answer (d)
Problem 25
Two rows of
chairs, facing each other, are laid out. The number of different ways that
couples can sit on these chairs such that each person sits directly opposite to his/her partner is
(a) ![]()
(b) ![]()
(c) ![]()
(d) ![]()
Solution:
There are
choices how each couple can choose its pair of opposite chairs. When a pair of chairs is chosen, there are
ways for each couple they can sit on these chairs, i.e.
choices for all couples. Totally there are
ways the couples can sit on the chairs.
Answer (c)
Problem 26
Consider the function
defined on the complex plane
by
. For a real number
, let
and
. Then
(a) both
and
are straight line segments
(b)
is a circle and
is a straight line segment
(c)
is a straight line segment and
is a circle
(d) both
and
are circles
Solution:
Let
Then
and the set
consists of points of the form
![]()
is a cricle of center
nd radius ![]()
Let
Then
and the set
consists of point of the form
![]()
is a straight line connecting
and ![]()
Answer (b)
Problem 27
Consider two real valued functions
and
given by
for
, and
for ![]()
Which of the following statements about inverse functions is true?
(a) Neither
nor
exists
(b)
exists, but not ![]()
(c)
does not exist, but
does
(d) Both
and
exist.
Solution:
The function
is strictly decreasing: ![]()
![]()
So,
is a bijection of the set
exists.
The function
is strictly decreasing: ![]()
![]()
So,
is a bijection of
exists.
Answer (d)
Problem 28
A circle is drawn with centre at
touching
externally. Then the circle touches
(a) both the axes
(b) only the
-axis
(c) none of the two axes
(d) only the
-axis
Solution:
Let
be the radius of the circle centered at
The equation of the second circle is
![]()
It is centered at
and of radius
The distance between centers of circles is
![]()
Hence,
and the first circle touches both axes (as
and
belong to the first circle).
Answer (a)
Problem 29
Let
for all
and
. Then the value of
is
(a) ![]()
(b) ![]()
(c) ![]()
(d) ![]()
Solution:
Observe that
By assumption,
![]()
Differentiate this equation in ![]()
![]()
Differentiate in
:
![]()
Then
![]()
Take
![]()
![]()
Answer (d)
Problem 30
Let
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \[A=\left[\begin{array}{lll} a & 1 & 1 \\ b & a & 1 \\ 1 & 1 & 1 \end{array}\right]\]](https://fractionshub.com/wp-content/ql-cache/quicklatex.com-104d05a4cb925ff5444f5f455ab3a74a_l3.png)
The number of elements in the set
![]()
is
(a) ![]()
(b) ![]()
(c) ![]()
(d) ![]()
Solution:
The determinant of
must be zero:
![]()
Hence,
and the matrix
is of the form
![Rendered by QuickLaTeX.com \[A=\begin{bmatrix} 1 & 1 & 1 \\ b & 1 & 1 \\ 1 & 1 & 1 \end{bmatrix}.\]](https://fractionshub.com/wp-content/ql-cache/quicklatex.com-03c8ddbaf819a99b1242653def40ad9d_l3.png)
The rank of
is
if and only if
So, there are
possible values for ![]()
Answer (a)
Sir, what will be the expected cutoff for mmath 2021?
Except cut off to go around 60 to 70 for PMA and 4 Questions for PMB.
Sir i got 77 marks in PMA and i solved 2 questions completely in PMB and just attempted another 3 questions in PMB.is there any possibility for getting inteview call
Are you selected for interview?