Great Lakes - PGPM & PGDM 2025
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Extended Application Deadline: 10th Feb 2024
Based on the CAT syllabus 2024, we have created a study schedule to ace the CAT Exam. We discussed a plan for every day from Day 1 through Day 17 in advance.
On the basis of the CAT syllabus 2024, we discussed strategies on how to prepare for inequalities (Algebra), puzzles/problem-solving based on linear Arrangement , and vocabulary in the previous article - Day 17 of CAT preparation. We have brought you CAT problem-solving questions and answers for you to practice and learn the concepts for a better flow.
We're back with a strategy for the Day 18 of our preparation for the CAT 2024. In this article, we will be discussing strategies for the following topics and CAT problem-solving questions answers including function and graph CAT questions and CAT previous year questions on functions.
With the 60-day CAT exam preparation schedule we created for you, you can ace the CAT 2024 and get a flow, plan, and schedule for your preparation.
Definition: In a system, the output is a function of the input or, we can say function describes a relation between input and output.
For example: f(x) =x2, describes output (f(x)) varies as square of the input (x).
Functions can be well represented by graphs and with the help of graphs, solutions can be drawn effectively. The graph shows the variation of output with the inputs.
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Extended Application Deadline: 10th Feb 2024
Last Date of Applications- 28th January | 250+ Companies | Highest CTC 16 LPA | Average CTC 8 LPA | Ranked as Platinum Institute by AICTE for 6 years in a row | Awarded Best Business School of the Year
To solve the questions of function and graph for CAT, you have to learn some specific functions CAT questions and their graphs. A few of them are here with examples.
Odd Function: If f (– x) = – f (x)
For example: f (x) = x3 + sin x; 0 ≤ x ≤ 2π
f(–x) = (–x)3 + sin (-x) = – x3 – sin x = – f(x)
So, the given function is an odd function.
(Graph of odd functions are symmetrical about the origin)
Even function: If f (– x) = f (x)
For example: f (x) = x2 + cos x; 0 ≤ x ≤ 2π
f(–x) = (–x)2 + cos (–x) = x2 + cos x = f(x)
So, the given function is an even function.
(Graphs of even functions are symmetrical about the y-axis).
Functions can neither be odd nor even but can be expressed as the sum of even and odd functions.
Composite Functions: It is a function of some other function.
(g o f) (x) = g [f(x)]
(f o g) (x) = f [g(x)]
Understand the concept of Domain and Range:
Domain: Set of input values represented on the x-axis of the graph.
Range: Set of output values represented on the y-axis of the graph.
Learn the graphs of some functions as shown and that will be very helpful.
Q1. If f(x) = x2 − 7x and g(x) = x + 3, then the minimum value of f(g(x)) − 3x is: [CAT exam 2021, slot-3]
(a) – 20 (b) – 15 (c) – 12 (d) – 16
Ans: (d)
f (g(x)) – 3x
= (x + 3)2 – 7(x + 3) – 3x
= x2 + 9 + 6x – 7x – 21 – 3x
= x2– 4x – 12
= x2 – 4x + 4 – 4 – 12
= (x – 2)2 – 16
The minimum value of this function will be -16 for x =2.
Q2. If f(x + y) = f(x).f(y) and f(5) = 4, then f(10) – f(–10) is equal to [CAT exam 2024, slot-3]
(a) 3 (b) 0 (c) 14.0625 (d) 15.9375
Ans: (d)
It is given that f(x+y) = f(x) × f(y)
For y = 0, f(x) = f(x) × f(0) ⇒ f(0) = 1.
For, x = 5, f (5) = 4
Now, f(10) = f(5 + 5) = f(5) × f(5) = 4 × 4 = 16
⇒ f(10) = 16
We can write;
f(0) = f(10 - 10) = f(10 + (-10)) = f(10) × f(-10) = 1
f(-10) = 1/16
f(10) - f(-10) = 16 – 1/16 = 15.9375
Q3. For all real values of x, the range of the function f(x) = (x2 + 2x + 4)/(2x2 + 4x + 9) is:
(a) [4/9, 8/9] (b) [3/7, 8/9) (c) (3/7, 1/3) (d) [3/7, 1/2)
Ans: (d)
f(x) = (x2 + 2x + 4)/(2x2 + 4x + 9)
⇒ f(x) = (x2 + 2x + 4)/[2(x2 + 2x + 4) + 1]
Let x2 + 2x + 4 = (x + 1)2 + 3 = k
The minimum value of k is 3.
Now, f(x) = k/(2k + 1)
So, the minimum value of f(x) = 3/(2×3 + 1) = 3/7
For the maximum value of f(x), as the value of k increases, the value in the denominator also increases, which decreases the value of f(x). Thus, the fraction approaches 1/2 but never equals 1/2.
Hence, the correct answer is [3/7,1/2).
Q4. If f(x) = – 4x + 9 and g(x) = 2x – 7, then f(g(x)) = ?
(a) 6x – 16 (b) – 8x + 37 (c) 2x – 16 (d) – 2x + 2
Ans: (b)
Here f(x) = – 4x + 9 and g(x) = 2x – 7
So, f(g(x)) = f(2x – 7) = – 4(2x – 7) + 9 = – 8x + 28 + 9 = – 8x + 37
Hence, the correct answer is (b) – 8x + 37.
Polynomials Equations of Geometrical figures.
Functions and Graph (Arihant Publication)
How to prepare Quantitative aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma.
2IIM CAT Preparation
The Pearson Guide to Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT by Nishit Sinha (2020)
https://iim-cat-questions-answers.2iim.com
Previous Year's Question Papers
The topic covered for the day is given below: Students can refer to Linear Arrangement Part 1 for Day 16
In this section, we will discuss the strategies to solve Puzzle questions for CAT exam based on the linear arrangement with the help of examples:
Directions for Questions 1 to 4:
There are six friends (Andrew, Baithi, Charles, Duke, Elena, and Flora) seated in a row with numbered chairs from 1 to 6. They follow the following Seating Arrangement :
1. There are two places between Charles and Duke
2. There is one place between Andrew and Charles
3. There is one person between Flora and Elena
4. Elena is to be seated before Flora
5. Baithi is to be seated before Andrew, not necessarily immediately
6. The row does not start with Baithi
Q.1. The row would start with:
Andrew
Flora
Duke
Cannot be determined
Q.2. Elena will be seated on which seat number?
1
2
3
Cannot be determined
Q.3. Who is seated at place number 6?
Andrew
Flora
Duke
Cannot be determined
Q.4. Baithi’s position is
6
5
3
2
The solution strategy for the above problem will be:
While solving, use Initials for each Name, for example,
Write A for Andrew, B for Baithi etc.
Mark the 6 places and fill them according to the given instructions.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Given statements are
There are two places between Charles and Duke
C _____ _____ D or D ______ ______C
There is one place between Andrew and Charles
A _____ C or C _______ A
There is one person between Flora and Elena, Elena is to be seated before Flora
E _______ F
Baithi is to be seated before Andrew, not necessarily immediately
The row does not start with Baithi
Eliminate the wrong possibilities
Find the person in the first place.
From above, In the first place either A, C, D or E will come.
We cannot start with A since B should come before B. and B cannot be in the first place.
If we start with C
C ___ A D __ ___ (we cannot place E and F in this arrangement since E and F must have one person in between them)
If we start with D
D ___ ____ C __ A (we cannot place E and F in this arrangement since E and F must have one person in between them)
After placing E, F and B according to the given condition
D B E C F A
If we start with E
E ___ F ___ __ A (in this arrangement C must be just after F. So, we will not be able to place D. Therefore, this arrangement cannot be true)
The correct combination should be
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
D | B | E | C | F | A |
Answer: 1 (c), 2 (c), 3 (a), 4 (d)
Directions: Study the following information to answer the given questions:
Twelve people are sitting in two parallel rows containing six people each, in such a way that there is an equal distance between adjacent persons.
In row – 1, A, B, C, D, E and F are seated and all of them are facing south.
In row – 2, P, Q, R, S, T and V are seated and all of them are facing north.
Additional information is also given as
Each member seated in a row faces another member of the other row.
V sits third to the right of S.
S faces F and F does not sit at any of the extreme ends of the line.
D sits third to the right of C. R faces C.
The one facing E sits third to the right of P.
B and P do not sit at the extreme ends of the line.
T is not an immediate neighbour of V and A is not an immediate neighbour of F.
P sits to the left of S.
Q.1. If B and E interchange their places, who amongst the following faces B?
(a) T (b) P (c) Q (d) R (e) None of these
Ans: (c)
Q.2. Which of the following pairs must be at extreme ends but are not facing each other?
(a) R, F (b) T, A (c) D, R (d) C, Q (e) S, A
Ans: (b)
Q.3. If all the 12 persons are members of a family. Females are facing their husbands. All females are sitting at alternate places. If A is the husband of V. Then who is the husband of P?
(a) B (b) A (c) C (d) F (e) D
Ans: (a)
Solutions with Strategies:
Take two rows of six places. Consider the upper side of the paper as North and the downside as South.
Place the six people above facing downward (South) and six people in other row facing towards the North.
V sits third to the right of S.
S | V |
S faces F and F does not sit at any of the extreme ends of the line.
F | |||
S | V |
D sits third to the right of C. R faces C.
D | C | ||
R |
The one facing E sits third to the right of P, and P sits to the left of S. B and P do not sit at the extreme ends of the line, T is not an immediate neighbour of V and A is not an immediate neighbour of F.
E | |||
P | S |
Combining all the figures above
D | B | F | C | E | A |
T | P | S | R | Q | V |
Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by R S Agrawal
Cat preparation-iQuanta (YouTube Channel)
MBAP CAT EBook (Concept Theory)
LRDI for CAT and GMAT by Nishit K Sinha. (Advance)
MBAP CAT EBook (Practice Questions).
Previous Year's Question Papers
Conditionals and Rules, Tips to Prepare:
Conditionals are phrases used to explain the result of an event that might happen in the present or future or that could have happened in the past but didn’t.
Conditionals are divided into four parts:
Zero Conditionals: sentence formed two present simple verbs (one in the 'if clause' and one in the 'main clause'):
Rule: If + present simple, .... present simple.
Trick: Used when the result will always happen.
Examples:
If people eat too much, they get fat.
If you touch a fire, you get burned.
If babies are hungry, they cry.
First Conditional:
Rule: If + Present Simple, (If Clause) ... will + infinitive (main clause)
Trick: used to talk about things which might happen in the future.
Examples:
If it rains, I won't go to the park.
If I study today, I'll go to the party tonight.
If I see her, I'll tell her.
The Second Conditional: Uses the past simple after if, then 'would' and the infinitive:
Rule: if + past simple, ...would + infinitive
Tricks: We can use 'were' instead of 'was' with 'I' and 'he/she/it. This is mostly done in formal writing. We can use it to talk about things in the future that are probably not going to be true. Maybe I'm imagining some dream for example. We can use it to talk about something in the present which is impossible because it's not true.
Examples:
If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house.
If I met the Queen of England, I would say hello.
She would pass the exam if she ever studied. (She never studies, so this won't happen)
If I were you, I wouldn't go out with that man.
How is this different from the first conditional?
We can understand this with the following example:
For example (second conditional): If I had enough money, I would buy a house with twenty bedrooms and a swimming pool (I'm probably not going to have this much money, it's just a dream, not very real)
But (first conditional): If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes (It's much more likely that I'll have enough money to buy some shoes)
The Third Conditional: Use past perfect after 'if' and then 'would have' and the past participle in the second part of the sentence:
Rule: If + past perfect, ...would + have + past participle
Trick: It represents the incidents in Past. It's used to describe a situation that didn't happen and to imagine the result of this situation.
Examples:
If she had studied, she would have passed the exam (but, really, we know she didn't study and so she didn't pass)
If I hadn't eaten so much, I wouldn't have felt sick (but I did eat a lot, and so I did feel sick).
If we had taken a taxi, we wouldn't have missed the plane.
Differentiate between the use of first (for particular situations) vs zero conditional (for general activities).
Differentiate between the use of first (for situations likely to happen in future) vs second conditional (for general activities that I don't think will really happen).
Q1. What would you do differently if you _____ to do this again?
have
had
would have
None of these
Ans: (1) According to the third conditional.
Q2. The work _____ delayed if payment from the ministry don't credit on time.
is
will be
would be
None of these
Ans: (2); According to the first conditional.
Q3. When I watch TV for too long, I _____ a headache.
get
got
would get
None of these
Ans: (1); According to Zero Conditional
Parts of Speech
Tenses.
Word Power Made Easy.
CAT Edurav (YouTube Channel)
Wren and Martin
Practice Sample Question Papers.
Practice and remain focused; Day 19 will be posted tomorrow.
Hello there,
With a 53 percentile in CAT , the chances of receiving a call from XISS (Xavier Institute of Social Service) may be limited, as their typical cutoff for CAT is generally higher than this, especially for their flagship programs like MBA or PGDM .
However, admission depends on several factors such as:
Though the
CAT percentile
is a key factor, you might still be considered based on your overall profile if you apply to their
PGDM programs
. It's always worth checking with the college directly for the specific eligibility criteria and cutoffs for the year you're applying.
I would recommend you to use CAT College Predictor Tool by Careers360 to get the list of possible colleges you can get with your rank.
I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.
Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a highly competitive entrance exam in India for admission to prestigious management programs like the MBA, primarily at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top business schools. It tests a candidate's aptitude in areas such as quantitative ability, verbal ability, logical reasoning, and data interpretation. CAT is valuable for students aspiring to build a career in business, management, or entrepreneurship, as it opens doors to world-class education, exceptional networking opportunities, and lucrative career prospects. Excelling in CAT demonstrates analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, and leadership potential, essential qualities for success in the corporate world.
Hello there,
With a 77.38 percentile in CAT and sectionals of 61/89/67 , it may be challenging to secure admission to NIT Tiruchirappalli for an MBA, as their cutoff tends to be higher. However, there are still some possibilities, and you could consider these steps:
NIT Tiruchirappalli (MBA):
Generally, the cutoff for NIT Trichy’s MBA program is around 85-90 percentile, depending on the year and category. Your chances might be slim, but it’s always good to check with the college directly for their specific cutoff.
Other Colleges to Consider:
Other Entrance Exams: You could also look at other entrance exams like XAT, NMAT, or SNAP to apply to colleges like XLRI Jamshedpur, NMIMS Mumbai, or Symbiosis Institutes.
Additionally, considering your strong sectional score in DILR (89), you could focus on colleges with a more flexible approach to sectionals and percentile aggregation.
I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.
Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.
Hello there,
With a 65 percentile in CAT and belonging to the General category , getting admission to USMS (University School of Management Studies) can be challenging, as their cutoffs are generally higher, typically around 85-90 percentile or more. However, admission can depend on factors like:
Category-wise cutoff
: Sometimes, the cutoff for the General category can be higher, but you may still apply as there might be specific reservation relaxations or fluctuations based on the number of applicants.
Interviews and GD
: Even if you meet the minimum cutoff,
interviews and group discussions
are a mandatory part of the selection process. They assess your communication skills, leadership qualities, and overall fit for the program.
Recommendations:
Top MBA colleges based on CAT, XAT, SNAP, and NMAT scores include some of India’s best institutions. For CAT, the IIMs (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta) and FMS Delhi are highly regarded. XAT results in prestigious colleges like XLRI Jamshedpur and XIMB. SNAP is known for Symbiosis Institutes, such as SIBM Pune and SCMHRD. NMAT scores open doors to NMIMS Mumbai, SPJIMR Mumbai, and ISB Hyderabad. Each exam has unique eligibility requirements, and their cutoffs vary, so it's important to research the specific criteria and select based on your preferences and strengths.
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A BDE often collaborates with cross-functional teams, including marketing and product development, to align business objectives. Strong communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills are essential for success in this role. BDE strives to expand the company's customer base, drive sales, and contribute to overall organisational growth in a dynamic and competitive business environment.
Content Marketing Specialists are also known as Content Specialists. They are responsible for crafting content, editing and developing it to meet the requirements of digital marketing campaigns. To ensure that the material created is consistent with the overall aims of a digital marketing campaign, content marketing specialists work closely with SEO and digital marketing professionals.
A sales manager is a revenue-generating source for a company. Any organisation or company which sells a commodity or service requires sales to generate revenue. A Sales manager is a professional responsible for supervising the sales team. An Individual as a sales manager works closely with salespeople, assigns sales territories, sets quotas, mentors the members of the sales, assigns sales training, and builds a sales plan.
The Sales Manager work also includes hiring and laying off sales personnel after evaluating his or her work performance. In bigger entities, sales quotas and plans are usually set at the executive level. He or she is responsible for overseeing the set target or quotas met by salespeople or upholding any policy. He or she guides his or her fellow salespeople and allows them to sell.
Individuals who opt for a career as a business analyst look at how a company operates. He or she conducts research and analyses data to improve his or her knowledge about the company. This is required so that an individual can suggest the company strategies for improving their operations and processes.
In a business analyst job role a lot of analysis is done, things are learned from past mistakes and the successful strategies are enhanced further. A business analyst goes through real-world data in order to provide the most feasible solutions to an organisation. Students can pursue Business Analytics to become Business Analysts.
A marketing manager is a person who oversees a company or product marketing. He or she can be in charge of multiple programmes or goods or can be in charge of one product. He or she is enthusiastic, organised, and very diligent in meeting financial constraints. He or she works with other team members to produce advertising campaigns and decides if a new product or service is marketable.
A Marketing manager plans and executes marketing initiatives to create demand for goods and services and increase consumer awareness of them. A marketing manager prevents unauthorised statements and informs the public that the business is doing everything to investigate and fix the line of products. Students can pursue an MBA in Marketing Management courses to become marketing managers.
An SEO Analyst is a web professional who is proficient in the implementation of SEO strategies to target more keywords to improve the reach of the content on search engines. He or she provides support to acquire the goals and success of the client’s campaigns.
Digital marketing is growing, diverse, and is covering a wide variety of career paths. Each job function aids in the development of effective digital marketing strategies and techniques. The aims and objectives of the individuals who opt for a career as a digital marketing executive are similar to those of a marketing professional: to build brand awareness, promote company services or products, and increase conversions. Individuals who opt for a career as Digital Marketing Executives, unlike traditional marketing companies, communicate effectively through suitable technology platforms.
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