Q. The difference between a 2-digit number and the number obtained by interchanging the positions of the digits is 54.
1. The sum of the two digits of a number can be determined only if the product of the two digits is known. 2. The difference between the two digits of the number can be determined.
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: (b) 2 only
Question from UPSC Prelims 2021 CSAT Paper
Explanation :
The difference between 2 digit number and the number obtained is 54
Given: – Original number = 10x + y (where x is tens digit, y is units digit) – New number after interchanging = 10y + x – Difference between these numbers = 54
Step 1: Write equation for the difference (10x + y) – (10y + x) = 54
Step 2: Simplify left side 10x + y – 10y – x = 54 9x – 9y = 54
Step 3: Further simplify 9(x – y) = 54 x – y = 6
Step 4: Analyze what we know – Difference between tens and units digit is 6 – Since it’s a 2-digit number: * x must be from 1 to 9 * y must be from 0 to 9 * x must be greater than y by 6
Step 5: Find possible digit pairs Since x – y = 6: – If y = 0, x = 6 – If y = 1, x = 7 – If y = 2, x = 8 – If y = 3, x = 9
Analysis:
1. Statement 1 (about sum of digits) is incorrect – Multiple pairs of digits satisfy x – y = 6 – Each pair would give different sums – Examples: 6+0=6, 7+1=8, 8+2=10, 9+3=12
2. Statement 2 (about difference of digits) is correct – We proved x – y = 6 – This is a definite value
Answer: Statement 1 is incorrect and Statement 2 is correct.
Q. A pie diagram shows the percentage distribution of proteins, water and on the dry elements in the human body.
Given that proteins correspond to 16% and water corresponds to 70%. If both proteins and the other dry elements correspond to p%, then what is the central angle of the sector representing p on the pie diagram?
A pie chart represents 100% of the data as a full circle with 360 degrees. In this case, proteins correspond to 16% and water corresponds to 70%, so the other dry elements correspond to 100% – 16% – 70% = 14%. Since p represents the sum of proteins and other dry elements, p = 16% + 14% = 30%.
Since p represents 30% of the data, the central angle of the sector representing p on the pie diagram is (30/100) * 360 = 108 degrees.
Q. A biology class at high school predicted that a local population of animals will double in size every 12 years.
The population at the beginning of the year 2021 was estimated to be 50 animals. If P represents the population after n years, then which one of the following equations represents the model of the class for the population? (a) P = 12 + 50n (b) P = 50 + 12n (c) P = 50(2)^12n (d) P = 50 (2)^(n/12) Correct Answer: (d) P = 50 (2)^(n/12)
Question from UPSC Prelims 2021 CSAT Paper
Explanation :
Biology Class at High School Population Growth Model
Given: – Initial population (2021) = 50 animals – Population doubles every 12 years – Need formula for population P after n years
Step 1: Identify Growth Type – Not linear growth (population doesn’t increase by fixed amount) – Population multiplies by 2 at fixed intervals – This indicates exponential growth
Step 2: Basic Exponential Growth Formula P = Initial Value × (growth factor)^(time/interval)
Step 3: Identify Components – Initial Value = 50 – Growth factor = 2 (doubles) – Time = n years – Interval = 12 years
Step 4: Analyze Options a) P = 12 + 50n Incorrect: Shows linear growth
b) P = 50 + 12n Incorrect: Shows linear growth
c) P = 50(2)^12n Incorrect: Time interval ratio is wrong
d) P = 50(2)^(n/12) Correct: Shows proper exponential growth
Step 5: Verify Option D After 0 years: P = 50(2)^0 = 50 (correct initial population) After 12 years: P = 50(2)^1 = 100 (population doubles) After 24 years: P = 50(2)^2 = 200 (doubles again)
Answer: The correct formula is P = 50(2)^(n/12) This formula accurately represents population doubling every 12 years from an initial value of 50 animals.
Q. From January 1, 2021, the price of petrol (in Rupees per litre) on mth day of the year is 80 + 0.1m, where m = 1, 2, 3, …, 100 and thereafter remains constant. On the other hand, the price of diesel (in Rupees per litre) on nth day of 2021 is 69 + 0.15n for any n. On which date in the year 2021 are the prices of these two fuels equal?
(a) 21st May (b) 20th May (c) 19th May (d) 18th May Correct Answer: (b) 20th May
Question from UPSC Prelims 2021 CSAT Paper
Explanation :
Problem: Finding when petrol and diesel prices are equal ?
Given: – 2021 is non leap year – Petrol price formula: 80 + 0.1m (where m = 1 to 100, constant thereafter) – Diesel price formula: 69 + 0.15n (for any value of n)
Step 1: Set up equation for equal prices 80 + 0.1m = 69 + 0.15n
Step 2: Solve for n in terms of m 80 + 0.1m = 69 + 0.15n 0.1m – 0.15n = -11 -0.15n = -11 – 0.1m n = (2m + 220)/3
Step 3: Find n when m = 100 n = (2(100) + 220)/3 n = (200 + 220)/3 n = 420/3 n = 140
Answer: The prices of petrol and diesel are equal on the 140th day of 2021, which is May 20th.
Q. The number 3798125P369 is divisible by 7. What is the value of the digit P?
(a) 1 (b) 6 (c) 7 (d) 9 Correct Answer: (b) 6
Question from UPSC Prelims 2021 CSAT Paper
Explanation :
Problem: Find the digit P in 3798125P369 so that the number is divisible by 7
Step 1: Divide into Three-Digit Blocks (from right to left) – Write as: 037, 981, 25P, 369 – This splits the number into blocks of three: 037|981|25P|369
Step 2: Apply Alternating Addition and Subtraction Rule – Start from rightmost block: 369 – Then alternate: 369 – 25P + 981 – 037 – Note: This is based on the divisibility rule of 7 where we alternate adding and subtracting blocks of 3 digits
Step 3: Simplify the Expression 369 – (250 + P) + 981 – 37 = 369 – 250 – P + 981 – 37 = 1063 – P
Step 4: Solve for P Using Modulo 7 – For the number to be divisible by 7: – 1063 – P must be divisible by 7 – 1063 ÷ 7 = 151 remainder 6 – So, 1063 ≡ 6 (mod 7) – Therefore: 6 – P ≡ 0 (mod 7) – This means P = 6
Q. Integers are listed from 700 to 1000. In how many integers is the sum of the digits 10?
(a) 6 (b) 7 (c) 8 (d) 9 Correct Answer: (d) 9
Question from UPSC Prelims 2021 CSAT Paper
Explanation :
Integers are listed from 700 to 1000
The sum of the digits of an integer is 10 if the digits add up to 10. For example, the number 703 has a digit sum of 7 + 0 + 3 = 10. We can find all integers between 700 and 1000 that have a digit sum of 10 by listing them out:
703, 712, 721, 730, 802, 811, 820, 901, 910.
There are 9 integers between 700 and 1000 that have a digit sum of 10. So the correct answer is (d) 9.
Q. A boy plays with a ball, and he drops if from a height of 1.5 m.
Every time the ball hits the ground, it bounces back to attain a height 4/5th of the previous height. The ball does not bounce further if the previous height is less than 50 cm. What is the number of times the ball hits the ground before the ball stops bouncing?
Q. A student appeared in 6 papers. The maximum marks are the same for each paper. His marks in these papers are in the proportion 5 : 6 : 7 : 8 : 9 : 10. Overall he scored 60%. In how many number of papers did he score less than 60% of the maximum marks?
(a) 2 (b) 3 (c) 4 (d) 5 Correct Answer: (b) 3
Question from UPSC Prelims 2021 CSAT Paper
Explanation :
A student appeared in 6 papers
– Total marks per subject = 100 – Total subjects = 6 – Total possible marks = 600 – Overall score = 60% = 360 marks – Marks distribution pattern: 5x, 6x, 7x, 8x, 9x, 10x
Q. There are two Classes A and B having 25 and 30 students respectively. In Class-A the highest score is 21 and lowest score is 17. In Class-B the highest score is 30 and lowest score is 22. Four students are shifted from Class-A to Class-B.
Consider the following statements: 1. The average score of Class-B will definitely decrease. 2. The average score of Class-A will definitely increase. 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 2021 CSAT Paper
Explanation :
There are two classes a and b
Class A (Initial): – Total students: 25 – Highest score: 21 – Lowest score: 17 – Four students will be shifted out
Class B (Initial): – Total students: 30 – Highest score: 30 – Lowest score: 22 – Will receive four students from Class A
Analysis:
1. Effect on Class B’s Average: – Initial students: 30 – New total: 34 students – All incoming students have scores ≤ 21 – All original students have scores ≥ 22 – Therefore, adding any four students from Class A will definitely lower Class B’s average
2. Effect on Class A’s Average: – Initial students: 25 – New total: 21 students – Cannot determine if average will increase because:
If highest scoring students (around 21) are shifted out → average will decrease
If lowest scoring students (around 17) are shifted out → average will increase
Without knowing which students are shifted, change in average is uncertain
Conclusion: – Class B’s average will definitely decrease – Class A’s average could increase or decrease depending on which students are shifted