CAT 1995 — QA Question 39
Basics (Functions)Easy
Passage / Data
Directions for next 4 questions: Answer the questions based on the following information.
le(x, y) = Least of (x, y)
mo(x) = |x|
me(x, y) = Maximum of (x, y)
For what values of ‘a’ is me(a2 – 3a, a – 3) < 0?
Answer & solution
- A
a > 3
0 < a < 3
- C
a < 0
- D
a = 3
Solution
Let us verify by taking arbitrary values of a in the range specified.
(a) a > 3. Let a = 4.
So me(a2 – 3a, a – 3) = me(4, 1) = 4 > 0.
(b) 0 < a < 3. Let a = 2.
So me(a2 – 3a, a – 3) = me(–2, –1) = –1 < 0.
(c) a < 0. Let a = –1.
So me(a2 – 3a, a – 3) = me(4, –4) = 4 > 0.
(d) a = 3, me(a2 – 3a, a – 3) = me(0, 0) = 0.