Prelims Solution

Q. Consider the following statements : 1. A is older than B. 2. C and D are of the same age. 3. E is the youngest. 4. F is younger than D. 5. F is older than A.

Q. Consider the following statements :
1. A is older than B.
2. C and D are of the same age.
3. E is the youngest.
4. F is younger than D.
5. F is older than A.

How many statements given above are required to the oldest determine person/persons?
(a) Only two
(b) Only three
(c) Only four
(d) All five
Correct Answer: (d) All five

Question from UPSC Prelims 2023 CSAT

Explanation : 

Oldest Person Determination A,B,C,D,E,F

To determine the oldest person, we need to consider all the statements.

From statement 1, we know A is older than B.

Statement 2 tells us that C and D are of the same age.

Statement 3 tells us that E is the youngest, so E cannot be the oldest.

Statement 4 tells us that F is younger than D, so D could potentially be the oldest.

However, statement 5 tells us that F is older than A, which means F is also older than B (since A is older than B).
Therefore, to determine the oldest person, we need all five statements.

Q. Consider the following statements : 1. A is older than B. 2. C and D are of the same age. 3. E is the youngest. 4. F is younger than D. 5. F is older than A. Read More »

Q. If ‘ZERO’ is written as ‘CHUR’, then how is ‘PLAYER’ written?

Q. If ‘ZERO’ is written as ‘CHUR’, then how is ‘PLAYER’ written?

(a) SOCAGT
(b) SODBGT
(c) SODBHT
(d) SODBHU
Correct Answer: (d) SODBHU

Question from UPSC Prelims 2023 CSAT

Explanation : 

Decoding ‘PLAYER’ based on pattern from ‘ZERO’ to ‘CHUR’

Each letter in the word “ZERO” is replaced by the letter that is three places ahead of it in the English alphabet.

Z -> C (Z is the 26th letter, C is the 3rd letter, 26+3 = 29, but since there are only 26 letters, we subtract 26 to get 3)
E -> H (E is the 5th letter, H is the 8th letter, 5+3 = 8)
R -> U (R is the 18th letter, U is the 21st letter, 18+3 = 21)
O -> R (O is the 15th letter, R is the 18th letter, 15+3 = 18)

So, using the same rule for “PLAYER”:

P -> S (P is the 16th letter, S is the 19th letter, 16+3 = 19)
L -> O (L is the 12th letter, O is the 15th letter, 12+3 = 15)
A -> D (A is the 1st letter, D is the 4th letter, 1+3 = 4)
Y -> B (Y is the 25th letter, B is the 2nd letter, 25+3 = 28, but since there are only 26 letters, we subtract 26 to get 2)
E -> H (E is the 5th letter, H is the 8th letter, 5+3 = 8)
R -> U (R is the 18th letter, U is the 21st letter, 18+3 = 21)

So “PLAYER” is written as “SODBHU”.

Q. If ‘ZERO’ is written as ‘CHUR’, then how is ‘PLAYER’ written? Read More »

Q. If 7@9@10=8, 9@11@30 =5, 11@17@21=13, what is the value of 23@4@15?

Q. If 7@9@10=8, 9@11@30 =5, 11@17@21=13, what is the value of 23@4@15?

(a) 6
(b) 8
(c) 13
(d) 15
Correct Answer: (a) 6

Question from UPSC Prelims 2023 CSAT

Explanation : 

Pattern Analysis

The pattern here is to add all the numbers and then add the digits of the resulting sum.

Let’s look at the examples:

  1. 7@9@10 = 8
    Add all numbers: 7 + 9 + 10 = 26
    Add all digits: 2 + 6 = 8
  2. 9@11@30 = 5
    Add all numbers: 9 + 11 + 30 = 50
    Add all digits: 5 + 0 = 5
  3. 11@17@21 = 13
    Add all numbers: 11 + 17 + 21 = 49
    Add all digits: 4 + 9 = 13

Now, let’s apply this pattern to find the value of 23@4@15:

Add all numbers: 23 + 4 + 15 = 42
Add all digits: 4 + 2 = 6

So, 23@4@15 = 6, which corresponds to option (a).

Q. If 7@9@10=8, 9@11@30 =5, 11@17@21=13, what is the value of 23@4@15? Read More »

Q. A, B, C working independently can do a piece of work in 8, 16 and 12 days respectively. A alone works on Monday, B alone works on Tuesday, C alone works on Wednesday; A alone, again works on Thursday and so on.

Q. A, B, C working independently can do a piece of work in 8, 16 and 12 days respectively. A alone works on Monday, B alone works on Tuesday, C alone works on Wednesday; A alone, again works on Thursday and so on.

Consider the following statements:
1. The work will be finished on Thursday.
2. The work will be finished in 10 days.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: (a) 1 only

Question from UPSC Prelims 2023 CSAT

Explanation : 

A, B, C work independently on alternate days

A, B, C working independently can do a piece of work in 8, 16, and 12 days respectively.

Let the total amount of work be LCM (8, 16, 12) = 48 units

So, Efficiency of A = 48/8 = 6 units/day
Efficiency of B = 48/16 = 3 units/day
Efficiency of C = 48/12 = 4 units/day

The amount of work done in 3 days (Monday + Tuesday + Wednesday) = 6 + 3 + 4 = 13 units
The cycle of work then repeats every 3 days.

To find out when the work will be finished, we need to find out how many full cycles of 3 days can be completed before the total work of 48 units is done.

48 units / 13 units per cycle = 3 cycles with a remainder of 9 units

This means that 3 full cycles of 3 days will be completed, which is 9 days, and 9 units of work will be remaining.

On the 10th day (Monday), A will work and do 6 units. This leaves 3 units of work remaining.
On the 11th day (Tuesday), B will work and do 3 units, completing the work.

So, the work will be finished on the 11th day, which is a Thursday.

Therefore, statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is incorrect.
Hence, the correct answer is option (a) 1 only.

Q. A, B, C working independently can do a piece of work in 8, 16 and 12 days respectively. A alone works on Monday, B alone works on Tuesday, C alone works on Wednesday; A alone, again works on Thursday and so on. Read More »

Q. If p, q, r and s are distinct single digit positive numbers, then what is the greatest value of (p + q)(r+s)?

Q. If p, q, r and s are distinct single digit positive numbers, then what is the greatest value of (p + q)(r+s)?

(a) 230
(b) 225
(c) 224
(d) 221
Correct Answer: (b) 225

Question from UPSC Prelims 2023 CSAT

Explanation : 

Greatest Value of Expression (p + q)(r+s)

The greatest value of (p + q)(r + s) will be achieved when p, q, r, and s are the largest distinct single digit positive numbers.

The largest distinct single digit positive numbers are 9, 8, 7 and 6.

So, the greatest value of (p + q)(r + s) is (9 + 8)(7 + 6) = 17 * 13 = 221.

However, if we rearrange the numbers as (9 + 7)(8 + 6), we get a larger value: 16 * 14 = 224.

But, the largest value is obtained when we rearrange the numbers as (9 + 6)(8 + 7) = 15 * 15 = 225.

So, the correct answer is (b) 225.

Q. If p, q, r and s are distinct single digit positive numbers, then what is the greatest value of (p + q)(r+s)? Read More »

Q. Let x be a positive integer such that 7x + 96 is divisible by x. How many values of x are possible?

Q. Let x be a positive integer such that 7x + 96 is divisible by x. How many values of x are possible?

(a) 10
(b) 11
(c) 12
(d) Infinitely many
Correct Answer: (c) 12

Question from UPSC Prelims 2023 CSAT

Explanation : 

7x + 96 is divisible by x

The statement “7x + 96 is divisible by x” implies that when you divide the expression “7x + 96” by “x”, you get a whole number (an integer) as a result. This means that “x” must be a factor of the constant term “96”, because the “7x” term will always be divisible by “x” (since it contains “x” as a factor).

To find all the possible values of “x”, we need to list all the factors of 96. The prime factorization of 96 is indeed (2^5 * 3). From this prime factorization, we can determine all the factors of 96 by taking various combinations of these prime factors.

Here are all the factors of 96:
1,2,4,8,16,32,3,6,12,24,48,96

These are the 12 factors of 96, which means that “x” can be any of these 12 values. If “x” is any of these values, then “7x + 96” will be divisible by “x”. Therefore, the statement is correct, and there are indeed 12 possible values for “x”.

Q. Let x be a positive integer such that 7x + 96 is divisible by x. How many values of x are possible? Read More »

Q. A 3-digit number ABC, on multiplication with D gives 37DD where A, B, C and D are different non-zero digits. What is the value of A+B+C?

Q. A 3-digit number ABC, on multiplication with D gives 37DD where A, B, C and D are different non-zero digits. What is the value of A+B+C?

(a) 18
(b) 16
(c) 15
(d) Cannot be determined due to insufficient data
Correct Answer: (a) 18

Question from UPSC Prelims 2023 CSAT

Explanation : 

3-digit number ABC

The problem states that when a 3-digit number ABC is multiplied by D, it gives 37DD. Here, A, B, C, and D are different non-zero digits.

To solve this, we need to find a value for D such that 37DD is a 4-digit number. The only possible values for D are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.

If D = 1, then 37DD is not a 4-digit number. If D = 2, then 37DD is not a 4-digit number. If D = 3, then 37DD is not a 4-digit number.

If D = 4, then 37DD = 3744, which is a 4-digit number. Therefore, D = 4.

Now, we need to find a 3-digit number ABC such that ABC * 4 = 3744.

The only 3-digit number that satisfies this equation is 936. Therefore, A = 9, B = 3, and C = 6.

Finally, we need to find the value of A + B + C.

A + B + C = 9 + 3 + 6 = 18.

Therefore, the correct answer is (a) 18.

Q. A 3-digit number ABC, on multiplication with D gives 37DD where A, B, C and D are different non-zero digits. What is the value of A+B+C? Read More »

Q. Three of the five positive integers p, q, r, s, t are even and two of them are odd (not necessarily in order).

Q. Three of the five positive integers p, q, r, s, t are even and two of them are odd (not necessarily in order).

Consider the following:
1. p+q+r-s-t is definitely even.
2. 2p+q+2r-2s+t is definitely odd.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: (a) 1 only

Question from UPSC Prelims 2023 CSAT

Explanation : 

Odd-even integers p, q, r, s, t

The sum or difference of two even numbers is always even, and the sum or difference of two odd numbers is always even. So, the sum or difference of any number of even numbers is always even.

For statement 1, since p, q, r, s, t are five integers where three are even and two are odd, we can group the even and odd numbers separately. The sum of three even numbers minus the sum of two odd numbers is even – even, which is definitely even.

For statement 2, the expression 2p + q + 2r – 2s + t can be rearranged as 2(p + r – s) + (q + t). The term 2(p + r – s) is definitely even as it is a product of 2 and some integer. However, (q + t) is the sum of two integers where one is even and the other is odd, which is definitely odd. Therefore, the sum of an even number and an odd number is odd. So, statement 2 is not definitely odd, it depends on the values of q and t.

Therefore, only statement 1 is correct.

Q. Three of the five positive integers p, q, r, s, t are even and two of them are odd (not necessarily in order). Read More »

Q. What is the remainder when 85 x 87 x 89 x 91 x 95 x 96 is divided by 100?

Q. What is the remainder when
85 x 87 x 89 x 91 x 95 x 96 is divided by 100?

(a) 0
(b) 1
(c) 2
(d) 4
Correct Answer: (a) 0

Question from UPSC Prelims 2023 CSAT

Explanation : 

Remainder Calculation

The factorization of 100 is 4 x 5^2.

If we look at the given numbers, we can see that 85, 95 each contain a factor of 5, and 96 contain a factor of 4.

Therefore, we can say that the product of these numbers contains at least 4 x 5^2 = 100 as a factor.

This means that when the product of these numbers is divided by 100, the remainder will be 0.

So, the correct answer is (a) 0.

Q. What is the remainder when 85 x 87 x 89 x 91 x 95 x 96 is divided by 100? Read More »

Q. There are four letters and four envelopes and exactly one letter is to be put in exactly one envelope with the correct address. If the letters are randomly inserted into the envelopes, then consider the following statements:

Q. There are four letters and four envelopes and exactly one letter is to be put in exactly one envelope with the correct address. If the letters are randomly inserted into the envelopes, then consider the following statements:

1. It is possible that exactly one letter goes into an incorrect envelope.
2. There are only six ways in which only two letters can go into the correct envelopes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: (b) 2 only

Question from UPSC Prelims 2023 CSAT

Explanation : 

The first statement is incorrect.

If we have four letters and four envelopes, and we place one letter correctly, then we have three letters and three envelopes left.

If we now place another letter correctly, we would have two letters and two envelopes left, which means either both of these would be correct or both would be incorrect. If we place one of these two letters incorrectly, the last letter would also have to go into the incorrect envelope because there’s only one choice left. Therefore, it’s not possible to have exactly one letter in an incorrect envelope. The possible scenarios are 0, 2, or 4 letters in the correct envelopes.

The second statement is correct.

There are indeed six ways in which only two letters can go into the correct envelopes.

This can be calculated using the combination formula 4C2 (which stands for “”4 choose 2″”), which gives us the number of ways to choose 2 items from a set of 4. The formula is 4! / (2!(4-2)!) = 6.
So, the correct answer is (b) 2 only.

Q. There are four letters and four envelopes and exactly one letter is to be put in exactly one envelope with the correct address. If the letters are randomly inserted into the envelopes, then consider the following statements: Read More »