CAT 2000 — QA Question 61
Choose 1; if the question can be answered by using one of the statements alone, but cannot be answered using the other statement alone.
Choose 2; if the question can be answered by using either statement alone.
Choose 3; if the question can be answered by using both statements together, but cannot be answered using either statement alone.
Choose 4; if the question cannot be answered even by using both statements together.
There are two straight lines in the x-y plane with equations ax + by = c , dx + ey = f. Do the two straight lines intersect?
- a, b, c, d, e and f are distinct real numbers.
- c and f are non-zero.
Answer & solution
Correct answer: 4
- A
1
- B
2
- C
3
4
Statement A implies that a, b, c, d, e, f are distinct real numbers.
But if a/d = b/e = c/f then the lines may be parallel and might not intersect at all.
∴ Statement A alone is not sufficient.
Statement B implies that the equations are not homogenous equations.
∴ Statement B is also not sufficient.
The condition for intersecting lines is a/d ≠ b/e
Even after combining both the statements the above condition is not clear.
∴ We cannot be sure whether the lines are intersecting or parallel.
Hence, option (d).