Prelims Solution

Q. If in a particular year 12th January is a Sunday, then which one of the following is correct? 

Q. If in a particular year 12th January is a Sunday, then which one of the following is correct?

(a) 15th July is a Sunday if the year is a leap year.
(b) 15th July is a Sunday if the year is not a leap year.
(c) 12th July is a Sunday if the year is a leap year.
(d) 12th July is not a Sunday if the year is a leap year.
Correct Answer: (c) 12th July is a Sunday if the year is a leap year.

Question from UPSC Prelims 2020 CSAT Paper

Explanation : 

Problem: Finding the day of week in July if 12th January is a Sunday

Given:
– 12th January is a Sunday
– Need to determine if 12th July is a Sunday in a leap year

Solution:
1. Count days from 12th January to 12th July:
– Remaining days in January = 31 – 12 = 19 days
– February (leap year) = 29 days
– March = 31 days
– April = 30 days
– May = 31 days
– June = 30 days
– July (till 12th) = 12 days

2. Total days = 19 + 29 + 31 + 30 + 31 + 30 + 12 = 182 days

3. Calculate odd days:
– 182 ÷ 7 = 26 weeks + 0 days
– 0 odd days means same day as start

4. Since 12th January was Sunday:
– 0 odd days means 12th July will also be Sunday

Therefore, in a leap year, 12th July will be a Sunday.

Q. If in a particular year 12th January is a Sunday, then which one of the following is correct?  Read More »

Q. A frog tries to come out of a dried well 4.5 m deep with slippery walls. Every time the frog jumps 30 cm, slides down 15 cm. what is the number of jumps required for the frog to come out of the well? 

Q. A frog tries to come out of a dried well 4.5 m deep with slippery walls. Every time the frog jumps 30 cm, slides down 15 cm. what is the number of jumps required for the frog to come out of the well?

(a) 28
(b) 29
(c) 30
(d) 31
Correct Answer: (b) 29

Question from UPSC Prelims 2020 CSAT Paper

Explanation :

Frog tries to come out of well

Given:
– Well depth = 4.5 meters = 450 cm
– Each jump up = 30 cm
– Each slide down = 15 cm
– Net progress per jump = 30 cm – 15 cm = 15 cm

Solution:
1. Initial calculation:
– Distance to cover = 450 cm
– Net progress per jump = 15 cm
– Number of jumps = 450 ÷ 15 = 30 jumps

2. Important consideration:
– When frog reaches the top, it won’t slide down
– Last jump will give full 30 cm progress, not 15 cm
– This saves one jump

3. Final calculation:
– First 28 jumps: 28 × 15 cm = 420 cm
– Last jump: 30 cm
– Total distance = 420 + 30 = 450 cm
– Total jumps needed = 29

Therefore, the frog needs 29 jumps to come out of the well.

Q. A frog tries to come out of a dried well 4.5 m deep with slippery walls. Every time the frog jumps 30 cm, slides down 15 cm. what is the number of jumps required for the frog to come out of the well?  Read More »

Q. A person can complete 20% of work in 8 days and another person y can complete 25% of the same work in 6 days. If they work together, in how many days will 40% of the work be completed? 

Q. A person X can complete 20% of work in 8 days and another person Y can complete 25% of the same work in 6 days. If they work together, in how many days will 40% of the work be completed?

(a) 6
(b) 8
(c) 10
(d) 12
Correct Answer: (a) 6

Question from UPSC Prelims 2020 CSAT Paper

Explanation :

Let’s solve how long it takes two people to complete 40% of work together.

Given:
Person 1:
– Can do 20% (W/5) of work in 8 days
– Rate = (W/5)/8 = W/40 per day

Person 2:
– Can do 25% (W/4) of work in 6 days
– Rate = (W/4)/6 = W/24 per day

Step by step calculations:
1. Combined rate of work = Rate of Person 1 + Rate of Person 2
= W/40 + W/24
= (24W + 40W)/(40 × 24)
= 64W/960
= W/15 per day

2. Time to complete 40% work:
Work = Rate × Time
0.4W = (W/15) × Time
Time = (0.4W) ÷ (W/15)
= 0.4W × (15/W)
= 0.4 × 15
= 6 days

Therefore, working together, they will complete 40% of the work in 6 days.

Q. A person can complete 20% of work in 8 days and another person y can complete 25% of the same work in 6 days. If they work together, in how many days will 40% of the work be completed?  Read More »

Q. In a class, there are three groups A, B and C. If one student from group A and two students from group B are shifted to group C, then what happens to the average weight of the students of the class? 

Q. In a class, there are three groups A, B and C. If one student from group A and two students from group B are shifted to group C, then what happens to the average weight of the students of the class?

(a) It increases.
(b) It decreases.
(c) It remains the same.
(d) No conclusion can be drawn due to insufficient data.
Correct Answer: (c) It remains the same.

Question from UPSC Prelims 2020 CSAT Paper

Explanation :

In a class there are three groups a b and c ….

1. Average weight = Total weight ÷ Number of students

2. When students are shifted between groups:
– Total weight of all students remains the same
– Total number of students remains the same
– Students are just reorganized within the same class

Example:
Let’s say in a class of 40 students:
– Total weight = 2000 kg
– Average weight = 2000 ÷ 40 = 50 kg

If students are divided into 2 groups:
– Whether 20-20 students
– Or 15-25 students
– Or any other combination
The class average will still be 50 kg because:
– Total weight is still 2000 kg
– Number of students is still 40

Therefore, shifting students between groups within the same class doesn’t affect the overall average weight.

Q. In a class, there are three groups A, B and C. If one student from group A and two students from group B are shifted to group C, then what happens to the average weight of the students of the class?  Read More »

Q. The average age of a teacher and three students is 20 years. If all the three students are of same age and the difference between the age of the teacher and each student is 20 years, then what is the age of the teacher?

Q. The average age of a teacher and three students is 20 years. If all the three students are of same age and the difference between the age of the teacher and each student is 20 years, then what is the age of the teacher?

(a) 25 years
(b) 30 years
(c) 35 years
(d) 45 years
Correct Answer: (c) 35 years

Question from UPSC Prelims 2020 CSAT Paper

Explanation :

Average age of a teacher and 3 students is 20

Given information:
– Average age of teacher and 3 students = 20 years
– All students are of same age
– Difference between teacher’s age and each student’s age = 20 years

Solution:
1. Sum of ages = Average age × Number of people
= 20 × 4 = 80 years

2. Let student’s age = x
Then, teacher’s age = x + 20

3. Equation:
3x + (x + 20) = 80
4x + 20 = 80
4x = 60
x = 15

Therefore:
– Each student’s age = 15 years
– Teacher’s age = 15 + 20 = 35 years

Q. The average age of a teacher and three students is 20 years. If all the three students are of same age and the difference between the age of the teacher and each student is 20 years, then what is the age of the teacher? Read More »

Q. The average score of a batsman after his 50th innings was 46.4. After 60th innings, his average Score increases by 2.6. What was his average score in the last ten innings?

Q. The average score of a batsman after his 50th innings was 46.4. After 60th innings, his average Score increases by 2.6. What was his average score in the last ten innings?

(a) 122
(b) 91
(c) 62
(d) 49
Correct Answer: (c) 62

Question from UPSC Prelims 2020 CSAT Paper

Explanation : 

The average score of a batsman ?

The batsman’s performance analysis:

After 50 innings:
– Average score = 46.4
– Total score = 50 × 46.4 = 2320 runs

After 60 innings:
– Average score increased to 49
– Total score = 60 × 49 = 2940 runs

Last 10 innings analysis:
1. Total runs in last 10 innings = Total after 60 innings – Total after 50 innings
= 2940 – 2320 = 620 runs

2. Average score in last 10 innings = Total runs in last 10 innings ÷ Number of innings
= 620 ÷ 10 = 62 runs

Therefore, the batsman’s average score in his last 10 innings was 62 runs.

Q. The average score of a batsman after his 50th innings was 46.4. After 60th innings, his average Score increases by 2.6. What was his average score in the last ten innings? Read More »

Q. How many different 5-letter words (with or without meaning) can be constructed using all the letters of the word ‘DELHI’ so that each word has to start with D and end with I?

Q. How many different 5-letter words (with or without meaning) can be constructed using all the letters of the word ‘DELHI’ so that each word has to start with D and end with I?

(a) 24
(b) 18
(c) 12
(d) 6
Correct Answer: (d) 6

Question from UPSC Prelims 2020 CSAT Paper

How many different 5 letter words from DELHI ?

Solution:
1. Since D and I are fixed at the start and end positions, we only need to arrange the remaining three letters (E, L, H) in the middle positions.

2. Formula for arranging n distinct objects = n!
In this case, n = 3 (for letters E, L, H)

3. Calculation:
3! = 3 × 2 × 1 = 6

Therefore, there are 6 different possible arrangements.

Possible words:
– DELHI
– DEHLI
– DHELII
– DHELI
– DLHEI
– DLEHI

Q. How many different 5-letter words (with or without meaning) can be constructed using all the letters of the word ‘DELHI’ so that each word has to start with D and end with I? Read More »

Q. How many different sums can be formed with the denominations Rs. 50, Rs. 100, Rs. 200, Rs. 500 and Rs. 2,000 taking at least three denominations at a time? 

Q. How many different sums can be formed with the denominations Rs. 50, Rs. 100, Rs. 200, Rs. 500 and Rs. 2,000 taking at least three denominations at a time?

(a) 16
(b) 15
(c) 14
(d) 10
Correct Answer: (a) 16

Question from UPSC Prelims 2020 CSAT Paper

Explanation :

Different sums that can be formed with different denominations

There are five denominations in total and we need to choose at least three of them to form a sum. We can use the formula for combinations to calculate the number of ways to choose k items from n items:

Formula: C(n,k) = n! / (k!(n-k)!)
where n is the total number of items and k is the number of items being chosen.

Calculations:
1. Choosing three denominations from five:
C(5,3) = 5! / (3!(5-3)!) = 10

2. Choosing four denominations from five:
C(5,4) = 5! / (4!(5-4)!) = 5

3. Choosing all five denominations:
Only one way possible = 1

Total number of different sums = 10 + 5 + 1 = 16

Q. How many different sums can be formed with the denominations Rs. 50, Rs. 100, Rs. 200, Rs. 500 and Rs. 2,000 taking at least three denominations at a time?  Read More »

Q. For what value of it, the sum of digits in the number (10^n + 1) is 2? 

Q. For what value of it, the sum of digits in the number (10^n + 1) is 2?

(a) For n= 0 only
(b) For any whole number n
(c) For any positive integer n only
(d) For any real number n
Correct Answer: (b) For any whole number n

Question from UPSC Prelims 2020 CSAT Paper

Explanation :

For what value of n the sum of digits in the number (10^n+1) is 2 ?

Let’s solve step by step.

1) The question asks for what value(s) of n, sum of digits in (10^n + 1) is 2.

2) Testing values systematically:

For n = 0:
10^0 + 1 = 1 + 1 = 2
Sum of digits = 2

For n = 1:
10^1 + 1 = 10 + 1 = 11
Sum of digits = 1 + 1 = 2

For n = 2:
10^2 + 1 = 100 + 1 = 101
Sum of digits = 1 + 0 + 1 = 2

For n = 3:
10^3 + 1 = 1000 + 1 = 1001
Sum of digits = 1 + 0 + 0 + 1 = 2

3) Key observations:
– For n = 0, sum is 2
– For positive integers, number is always in form 1(n zeros)1, so sum is always 2
– For negative integers, not applicable
– For non-integer values, not applicable

4) Checking options:
(a) For n = 0 only – False as works for other values too
(b) For any whole number n – True as works for n = 0 and all positive integers
(c) For any positive integer n only – False as also works for n = 0
(d) For any real number n – False as not applicable for non-integers

The answer is (b).

Note: Whole numbers are non-negative integers, including zero (0, 1, 2, 3, …). They represent whole things without fractions or decimals. Real numbers include all the numbers on the number line: rational numbers (fractions, integers) and irrational numbers (numbers that cannot be expressed as fractions, like √2). They encompass all possible magnitudes and their opposites, describing quantities in the real world.

Q. For what value of it, the sum of digits in the number (10^n + 1) is 2?  Read More »

Q. Let p, q, r and s be natural numbers such that p – 2016 = q + 2017 = r-2018 = s + 2019 

Q. Let p, q, r and s be natural numbers such that p – 2016 = q + 2017 = r-2018 = s + 2019

which one of the following is the largest natural number?
(a) P
(b) Q
(c) R
(d) S
Correct Answer: (c) R

Question from UPSC Prelims 2020 CSAT Paper

Explanation :

p-2016=q+2017=r-2018=s+2019

Let’s solve this step by step:

1) From the given equation:
p – 2016 = q + 2017 = r – 2018 = s + 2019

Let this common value be k. Then:

2) The equations can be written as:
p – 2016 = k
q + 2017 = k
r – 2018 = k
s + 2019 = k

3) Solving for each variable:
p = k + 2016
q = k – 2017
r = k + 2018
s = k – 2019

4) Comparing these expressions:
p = k + 2016
q = k – 2017 (less than p)
r = k + 2018 (larger than p)
s = k – 2019 (less than q)

5) Arranging in descending order:
r = k + 2018
p = k + 2016
q = k – 2017
s = k – 2019

For any value of k, r will be the largest as it has the largest constant (2018) being added to k.

Therefore, r is the largest number. The answer is (c) R.

Q. Let p, q, r and s be natural numbers such that p – 2016 = q + 2017 = r-2018 = s + 2019  Read More »