Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore

M.S (QMS):2015

Instructions

The test is divided into two sessions (i) Forenoon session and (ii) Afternoon session. Each
session is for two hours. For the forenoon session question paper, the test code is QMA
and for the afternoon session question paper, the test code is QMB. Candidates appear-
ing for MS(QMS) should verify and ensure that they are answering the right question paper.

The test QMA is multiple choice type. For each question, exactly one of the four choices is
correct. You get four marks for each correct answer, one mark for each unanswered ques-
tion, and zero mark for each incorrect answer.

The test QMB is of short answer type. It has altogether 10 questions. A candidate has to
answer minimum of 8 questions.

Questions will be set on the following and related topics.

Syllabus of QMA (Mathematics) and QMB (Mathematics)

Algebra: Binomial Theorem, AP, GP, HP, Exponential, Logarithmic Series, Sequence,
Permutations and Combinations, Theory of Equations.

Matrix Algebra: Vectors and Matrices, Matrix Operations, Determinants.

Calculus: Functions, Limits, Continuity, Differentiation of functions of one or more vari-

ables. Unconstrained Optimization, Definite and Indefinite Integrals: Integration by parts
and integration by substitution. Elements of Probability and Probability distributions.

Sample questions for QMA (Mathematics)(2015)

p q r
1. If x = (q−r) , y = (r−p) , z = (p−q) with p 6= q 6= r, then the value of yz + zx + xy is

(a) 1
(b) 0
(c) -1
(d) 2
∂2 u ∂2 u ∂2 u
2. The value of ∂ x2
+ ∂ y2
+ ∂ z2
, when u = tan−1 ( xy ) is

(a) -1
(b) 0
(c) 1
(d) -2
RR
3. The value of integral xy dx dy, over the region A, where A is the domain bounded
by x-axis, ordinate x = 2a and the curve x2 = 4ay is
a3
(a) 2

1
 a4
(b) 3
a2
(c) 4
(d) 1
1
R
4. x + xlogx dx equals to

(a) log|x + logx| + Constant

(b) log|1 + xlogx| + Constant
(c) log|logx| + Constant
(d) log|1 + logx| + Constant
2 4 6
5. The value of 3! + 5! + 7! + ... equals to

(a) e
1
(b) e2
1
(c) 1 − e
1
(d) e

6. The sales of a firm is promoted by advertisement campaign according to the rule

ds −0.25t where S denotes the sales (in millions of rupees) and t is the number
dt = 100e
of years since the close of campaign. The sales promoted during the fifth year equals
to

(a) 30.56 millions of rupees

(b) 31.44 millions of rupees
(c) 32.32 millions of rupees
(d) 32.56 millions of rupees

7. The Indian cricket team consists of 16 players. It includes 2 wicket keepers and 5
bowlers. In how many ways can a cricket team of eleven be selected if we have to
select 1 wicket keeper and at least 4 bowlers?

(a) 1200
(b) 1056
(c) 1072
(d) 1092
 a a2 a3 −1 
 
 
8. Let  b b2 b3 −1  = 0,in which a, b, c are all different. Then the value of abc is
 c c2 c3 −1 

(a) 10
(b) 1
(c) 0.1
(d) 0.01

9. The product of the first 100 positive integers ends with:

(a) 21 zeroes
(b) 22 zeroes
(c) 23 zeroes
(d) 24 zeroes

2
10. The function f (x) = |x| + sin x + cos3 x is:

(a) continuous but not differentiable at x = 0

(b) differentiable at x = 0
(c) a bounded function which is not continuous at x = 0
(d) a bounded function which is continuous at x = 0

11. Consider a cubical box of 1m side which has one corner placed at (0, 0, 0) and the
opposite corner placed at (1, 1, 1). The least distance that an ant crawling from the
point (0, 0, 0) to the point (1, 1, 1) must travel is:
√
(a) 6m
√
(b) 5m
√
(c) 2 3m
√
(d) (1 + 3)m

12. The roots of the equation x4 + x2 = 1 are

(a) all real and positive

(b) never real
(c) 2 positive and 2 negative
(d) 1 positive, 1 negative and 2 non-real

13. I sold 2 books for Rs.30 each. My profit on one was 25 percent and the loss on the
other was 25 percent. Then, on the whole, I

(a) lost Rs.5

(b) lost Rs.4
(c) gained Rs.5
(d) neither gained nor lost

14. If a, b, c are real numbers so that x3 + ax2 + bx + c = (x2 + 1)g(x) for some polynomial
g, then

(a) b = 1, a = c
(b) b = 0 = c
(c) a = 0
(d) none of the above

15. If E = 41 . 26 . 3
8 . 4
10 ... 30
62 . 31
64 = 8x then the value of x is

(a) -7
(b) -9
(c) -10
(d) -12

16. If A and B are two square matrices such that B = −A−1 BA, then (A + B)2 is equal
to

(a) 0
(b) A2 + B 2
(c) A2 + 2AB + B 2

3
 (d) A + B

17. In an examination of 9 papers, a candidate has to pass in more papers than the
number of papers in which he fails in order to be successful. Find how many ways he
can be successful.

(a) 256
(b) 216
(c) 220
(d) 272
x
18. If ee = a0 + a1 x + a2 x2 + ......, a power series, then

(a) a0 = 1
(b) a0 = e
(c) a0 = ee
(d) a0 = e2
sin(π cos2 x)
19. limx→0 x2
equals to

(a) −π
(b) π
π
(c) 2
(d) 1

20. If there are three children in a family, then probability that there is one girl child in
the family is
2
(a) 3
1
(b) 3
1
(c) 8
3
(d) 8

4
 Sample questions for QMB (Mathematics)(2015)

1. (a) A set contains (2n + 1) elements. Find the number of subsets of the set which
contain at most n elements.
   
cos α sin α n cos nα sin nα
(b) If A = then show that A =
− sin α cos α − sin nα cos nα

2. (a) Let f : R → R such that for x, y ∈ R, |f (x) − f (y)| ≤ (x − y)2 . Show that f is
constant.
(b) If α1 , α2 , ..., αn are the roots of the equation xn + nax − b = 0 then show that
(α1 − α2 )(α1 − α3 )...(α1 − αn ) = n(α1n−1 + a).

3. (a) Suppose integers are formed by taking one or more digits from the following:
2,2,3,3,4,5,5,6,7. For example, 355 is a possible choice while 44 is not. Fine the
number of distinct integers that can be formed in which
i. the digits are non-decreasing;
ii. the digits are strictly increasing.
 
 x l m 1 
 
 α x n 1 
(b) Show that   = (x − α)(x − β)(x − y).
 α β x 1 

 α β y 1 
R 1 R √2−x2 x
4. (a) Evaluate 0 x
√ dy dx.
x2 +y 2
(b) Let A = ((aij )) be an n x n matrix such that aij = 0 whenever i ≥ j. Prove that
An is a zero matrix.

5. (a) Two functions f and g are defined as follows for all non-negative real num-
bers. f (x) = exp(−x) and g is the piece-wise linear function defined by con-
necting f (0), f (1), f (2), ... That is, for any non-negative integer k, the function
g is obtained on the interval [k, k + 1) by connecting the points (k, f (k)) and
(k + 1, f (k + 1)) with a line segment. Find the total area of the region which lies
between the curves of f and g.
(b) For real numbers α and β, consider the function
2
f (x) = (α − |x|)2 e(β−|x|) , −∞ < x < ∞.
i. For what values of α and β is f continuous at all x?
ii. For what values of α and β is f differentiable at all x?
R∞
6. (a) Find the value of 0 βη ( x−µ
η )
β−1 exp [−( x−µ )β ]dx where β > 0, η > 0.
η
(b) Let g(x) = x6 − x5 + x2 − x + 3, −∞ < x < ∞. Show that g(x) > 0 for all x.
1 1.3 1.3.5
7. (a) Find the sum of the infinite series ( 1.2 + 1.2.3.4 + 1.2.3.4.5.6 + ...)
R 1 x2
(b) Show that 1 < 0 e dx < e

8. (a) Find two positive numbers such that their sum is equal to K and satisfy the
property that the product of cube of the first number and square of the second
number yields the maximum possible value.
(b) A cylindrical vessel of volume 25 17 cubic metre, which is open at the top is to be
manufactured from a sheet of metal. Find the dimensions of the vessel, so that
the amount of sheet used in manufacturing it, is the least possible.

9. (a) If a = 11111......1(63 digits), b = 1 + 10 + 102 + ...... + 106 and c = 1 + 107 +

1014 + ...... + 1056 , then show that a = bc.

5
 (b) Suppose a, b and c are distinct non-zero real numbers and the roots of the equa-
tion a(b − c)x2 + b(c − a)x + c(a − b) = 0 are equal, then show that a, b, c are in
Harmonic Progression.

10. (a) Find the number of 5 digit numbers greater than 40000 that can be formed from
the digits 0,1,2,3,4 and 5 when no repetitions are allowed.
(b) For a positive integer n, express the function g(x) = (3 + x)n as a polynomial:
g(x) = a0 + a1 x + a2 x2 + ...... + an xn . It is given that nj=0 aj = 4096.
P

i. Find the value of n.

ii. Find the largest coefficient aj .