CAT 1995QA Question 40

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 le(a2 – 3a, a – 3) < 0?

Answer & solution

  • A

    a > 3

  • B

    0 < a < 3

  • C

    a < 0

  • Both b and c

Solution

We can work this on the above lines. E.g.
(a) a > 3. Let a = 4. So le(a2 – 3a, a – 3) = le(4, 1) = 1 > 0.
(b) 0 < a < 3. Let a = 2. So le(a2 – 3a, a – 3) = le(–2, –1) = –2 < 0.
(c) a < 0. Let a = –1. So le(a2 – 3a, a – 3) = le(4, –4) = –4 < 0.

CAT 1995 QA Q40: For what values of &lsquo;a&rsquo; is le(a 2 &ndash; 3a, a &ndash; 3) < 0? — Solution | TheCATExam