Where Exploration Meets Excellence

Mastering Fractions for IIT JEE

Welcome to the Fractions for IIT JEE practice quiz. This set of 25 moderate-level questions is designed to test your understanding of rational numbers, partial fractions, and recurring decimals as they apply to competitive mathematics.

Key concepts covered:

  • Summation of telescoping series and infinite geometric progressions.
  • Properties of the fractional part function {x}.
  • Partial fraction decomposition techniques.
  • Operations with recurring decimals and continued fractions.
  • Rationalizing complex denominators and comparing rational exponents.

Note: All mathematical expressions are provided in standard notation. Ensure you understand the properties of LCM and HCF for fractions before starting.

Q1. Find the sum of the series ##\sum_{r=1}^{n} \frac{1}{r(r+1)}##.

The series is a telescoping sum: ##\sum (\frac{1}{r} - \frac{1}{r+1}) = (1 - 1/2) + (1/2 - 1/3) + \dots + (1/n - 1/(n+1)) = 1 - 1/(n+1) = n/(n+1)##.

Q2. Express the recurring decimal ##0.1\bar{2}## as a fraction in its simplest form.

Let ##x = 0.1222...## then ##10x = 1.222...## and ##100x = 12.222...##. Subtracting gives ##90x = 11##, so ##x = 11/90##.

Q3. Solve the inequality ##\frac{x-1}{x+1} \geq 0##.

The critical points are 1 and -1. Testing intervals shows the expression is positive for ##x > 1## and ##x < -1##. Since the denominator cannot be zero, ##x \neq -1##, but ##x=1## is included.

Q4. Solve for ##x## if the fractional part ##\{x\} = 0.7## and ##x \in [0, 2]##.

The fractional part function is periodic with period 1. If ##\{x\} = 0.7##, then ##x = n + 0.7## where ##n## is an integer. For the range ##[0, 2]##, ##n## can be 0 or 1, giving ##0.7## and ##1.7##.

Q5. What is the Least Common Multiple (LCM) of the fractions ##\frac{2}{3}##, ##\frac{4}{9}##, and ##\frac{8}{27}##?

LCM of fractions = (LCM of numerators) / (HCF of denominators). LCM(2, 4, 8) = 8. HCF(3, 9, 27) = 3. Result = 8/3.

Q6. What is the Highest Common Factor (HCF) of the fractions ##\frac{3}{5}##, ##\frac{6}{25}##, and ##\frac{9}{20}##?

HCF of fractions = (HCF of numerators) / (LCM of denominators). HCF(3, 6, 9) = 3. LCM(5, 25, 20) = 100. Result = 3/100.

Q7. If ##\frac{1}{a}##, ##\frac{1}{b}##, and ##\frac{1}{c}## are in Arithmetic Progression (AP), then ##a, b, c## are in:

By definition, if the reciprocals of a sequence form an Arithmetic Progression, the original sequence is in Harmonic Progression.

Q8. In the partial fraction decomposition ##\frac{3x+2}{(x-1)(x+2)} = \frac{A}{x-1} + \frac{B}{x+2}##, find the value of ##A##.

Multiply by ##(x-1)## and set ##x=1##: ##A = \frac{3(1)+2}{1+2} = 5/3##.

Q9. Simplify the sum: ##\frac{1}{1+\sqrt{2}} + \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}+\sqrt{3}} + \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}+\sqrt{4}}##.

Rationalizing each term: ##(\sqrt{2}-1) + (\sqrt{3}-\sqrt{2}) + (\sqrt{4}-\sqrt{3}) = \sqrt{4} - 1 = 2 - 1 = 1##.

Q10. If ##x = 1 + \frac{1}{1 + \frac{1}{1 + \dots}}## (infinite continued fraction), find the value of ##x## for ##x > 0##.

The expression can be written as ##x = 1 + 1/x##, which leads to ##x^2 - x - 1 = 0##. Solving for ##x > 0## gives the golden ratio ##(1+\sqrt{5})/2##.

Q11. How many positive proper fractions ##\frac{p}{q}## in simplest form exist such that ##q = 12##?

The number of irreducible fractions with denominator ##q## is given by Euler's totient function ##\phi(12)##. ##\phi(12) = 12(1 - 1/2)(1 - 1/3) = 12(1/2)(2/3) = 4##. The fractions are 1/12, 5/12, 7/12, and 11/12.

Q12. What is the length of the period of the decimal expansion of ##\frac{1}{13}##?

##1/13 = 0.\overline{076923}##. The repeating block contains 6 digits.

Q13. The value of the recurring decimal ##0.999...## is exactly equal to:

Let ##x = 0.999...## then ##10x = 9.999...##. Subtracting gives ##9x = 9##, so ##x = 1##.

Q14. Find the sum of the infinite geometric series ##\frac{1}{3} + \frac{1}{9} + \frac{1}{27} + \dots##.

Sum ##S = \frac{a}{1-r}## where ##a = 1/3## and ##r = 1/3##. ##S = (1/3) / (1 - 1/3) = (1/3) / (2/3) = 1/2##.

Q15. Which of the following is true regarding the comparison of ##2^{1/2}## and ##3^{1/3}##?

Raising both to the 6th power: ##(2^{1/2})^6 = 2^3 = 8## and ##(3^{1/3})^6 = 3^2 = 9##. Since ##9 > 8##, ##3^{1/3} > 2^{1/2}##.

Q16. Find the value of ##x## that satisfies the equation ##\frac{2}{x} - \frac{3}{2x} = \frac{1}{4}##.

Simplify the left side: ##\frac{4-3}{2x} = \frac{1}{2x}##. Then ##\frac{1}{2x} = \frac{1}{4} \Rightarrow 2x = 4 \Rightarrow x = 2##.

Q17. The function ##f(x) = \frac{x^2-1}{x-1}## is defined for which set of values?

The function is undefined when the denominator is zero, i.e., ##x - 1 = 0 \Rightarrow x = 1##. For all other real values, it is defined.

Q18. Rationalize the denominator of ##\frac{1}{\sqrt[3]{2}-1}##.

Use the identity ##a^3 - b^3 = (a-b)(a^2 + ab + b^2)##. Let ##a = 2^{1/3}## and ##b = 1##. Multiplying numerator and denominator by ##(2^{1/3})^2 + 2^{1/3}(1) + 1^2## gives the result.

Q19. Find the sum of the first 5 terms of the sequence ##\frac{1}{2}, \frac{1}{4}, \frac{1}{8}, \dots##.

This is a GP with ##a = 1/2, r = 1/2, n = 5##. Sum ##S = \frac{1/2(1-(1/2)^5)}{1-1/2} = 1 - 1/32 = 31/32##.

Q20. The partial fraction decomposition of ##\frac{1}{x^2-1}## is:

##\frac{1}{(x-1)(x+1)} = \frac{A}{x-1} + \frac{B}{x+1}##. Using the cover-up method, ##A = 1/(1+1) = 1/2## and ##B = 1/(-1-1) = -1/2##.

Q21. How many rational numbers of the form ##\frac{k}{12}## (where ##k## is an integer) lie strictly between ##\frac{1}{3}## and ##\frac{1}{2}##?

Convert to denominator 12: ##1/3 = 4/12## and ##1/2 = 6/12##. The only integer ##k## such that ##4 < k < 6## is ##k = 5##. Thus, there is 1 such number.

Q22. If ##\frac{a}{b} = \frac{c}{d}##, then according to the property of Componendo and Dividendo, ##\frac{a+b}{a-b}## is equal to:

The property states that if ##a/b = c/d##, then ##(a+b)/(a-b) = (c+d)/(c-d)## provided the denominators are non-zero.

Q23. Find the fractional part of ##-\pi##, denoted by ##\{-\pi\}##.

The fractional part ##\{x\} = x - \lfloor x \rfloor##. Since ##\pi \approx 3.14159##, ##-\pi \approx -3.14159##. Thus ##\lfloor -\pi \rfloor = -4##. Therefore, ##\{-\pi\} = -\pi - (-4) = 4 - \pi##.

Q24. Calculate the sum of the infinite Arithmetico-Geometric Progression: ##\sum_{k=1}^{\infty} \frac{k}{3^k}##.

Using the formula for ##\sum n r^n = \frac{r}{(1-r)^2}## with ##r = 1/3##, we get ##(1/3) / (1 - 1/3)^2 = (1/3) / (4/9) = 3/4##.

Q25. Simplify the fraction ##\frac{0.5}{0.125}## to its simplest integer or fractional form.

##0.5 = 1/2## and ##0.125 = 1/8##. Thus, ##(1/2) / (1/8) = 8/2 = 4##.

In case you have any questions or  doubts or suggestions, please use the comment form below to reach out to us. You comment will be visible to public if found appropriate and relevant.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *