CAT 2018 Question Paper | CAT Verbal Ability Slot 2
Question :

If the sum of squares of two numbers is 97, then which one of the following cannot be their product?

Started 2 weeks ago by Shashank in

Option A is the correct answer.

Explanatory Answer

Given that the sum of squares of two numbers is 97 i.e. a 2 + b 2 = 97 
From the given options we have to find which one cannot be their product i.e. ab 
A. 64 ⟹ 2ab = 128 
B. −32 ⟹ 2ab = -64 
C. 16 ⟹ 2ab = 32 
D. 48 ⟹ 2ab = 96 
2ab is found because we know that 
a 2 + b 2 + 2ab ≥ 0 
a 2 + b 2 - 2ab ≥ 0 
By this we can know that 97 + 128 works but 97 - 128 doesn’t works so we can understand option
A cannot be the product and the rest can be. 
a 2 + b 2 ≥ |2ab| 
a 2 + b 2 ≥ 2ab 
a 2 + b 2 ≥ -2ab 
⟹( a 2 + b 2 ) / 2 ≥ |ab| 
So here 2ab should lie between +97 and -97 or ab should be less than 97/2 or greater than −97/2,
so except option A all the other options works so option A 64 cannot be the product 

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