Geometry - CAT 2010 Sample Questions

The question given below appeared in CAT 2008. You will be able crack this question if you know some
basics about properties of triangles including different ways to find the area of a triangle. If you have
not revised your formulae of finding area, perimeter of different geometric shapes, it is highly
recommended that you do that before attempting to solve this question. The beauty about CAT is that
the test contains quite a number of questions that will allow you to crack the question if you have done your
homework about basics right.

Question 1

In a triangle ABC, the lengths of the sides AB and AC equal 17.5 cm and 9 cm respectively. Let D be a point on the
line segment BC such that AD is perpendicular to BC. If AD = 3 cm, then what is the radius (in cm) of the circle
circumscribing the triangle ABC?

(1) 17.05
(2) 27.85
(3) 22.45
(4) 32.25
(5) 26.25

Correct Answer is 26.25 - Choice (5)

Explanation

Area of a triangle = , where a, b and c are lengths of the sides of the triangle and R is the radius of the circle
circumscribing the triangle

In this example, area of the triangle =

The area of any triangle can also be expressed as , as the altitude AD to the side BC is 3 cms.

Equating the two and solving for R, we get R = 26.25 cms

Coordinate Geometry - CAT 2010 Sample Questions
Question

From the following choices what is the equation of a line whose x intercept is half as that of the line 3x + 4y = 12 and
y intercept is twice as that of the same line.

1. 3x + 8y = 24

2. 8x + 3y = 24

3. 16x + 3y = 24

4. 3x + y = 6

Correct Choice is (4) and Correct Answer 3x + y = 6

Explanatory Answer

Note: To find x intercept in a given equation put y = 0 in that equation and find the value for x (i.e., x-intercept).

Put y = 0 to find the x-intercept in 3x + 4y = 12, i.e., 3x + 4(0) = 12, therefore, x-intercept = 12/3 = 4.

Similarly, to find y intercept in a given equation put x = 0 in that equation and find the value for y (i.e., y-intercept).

Substituting x = 0 to find the y-intercept in 3x + 4y = 12, i.e., 3(0) + 4y = 12, therefore, y-intercept = 12/4 = 3

For the equation under question, the x-intercept is half of the x-intercept of the line 3x + 4y = 12 and is equal to 2
And the y intercept of the new line is twice the y-intercept of 3x + 4y = 12 and is equal to 6.

Now the equation of a line whose x-intercept and y-intercept is given can be written as

Therefore, equation of the line whose x-intercept is 2 and y-intercept is 6 is .

It can be rewritten as 3x + y = 6.

Question

What is the equation of the line that is parallel to the line 3x + 7y = 10 and passes through the point (4, 8)?

1. 7x – 3y = 46

2. 3x + 7y = 44

3. 9x + 21y – 184 = 0

4. 3x + 7y = 68
Correct Choice is (4) and Correct Answer 3x + 7y = 68

Explanatory Answer

Note: If two lines are parallel, then their slopes will be the same.

Therefore, if two lines are parallel and the equation of one of the lines is a1x + b1y = c1, then the equation of the line
parallel to the line will be of the form a1x + b1y = c2

In this example, the equation of the first line is 3x + 7y = 10

So, the second line will have a generalized equation of the form 3x + 7y = k.

As, the second line passes through the point (4, 8), substituting x = 4 and y = 8 should satisfy the equation of the
line.

i.e. 3(4) + 7(8) = k

12 + 56 + = k 0

=> k = 68

Hence, the equation of the line 3x + 7y = 68