Let p, q be non-negative integers. Consider the following statements: (A) There is an integer k ≥ 1 such that p + k = q. (B) There is an integer k ≥ 1 such that q + k = p. Which of the following statements is true?
CSIR NET June 2025 — Part B
All 40 Part B questions we have transcribed from this paper, of the 118 on the site for this sitting — every option and the answer key, with the reasoning for each one.
Part B
One correct option. 3 marks, −0.75 for a wrong answer.
Q1Boundary and endpointElements of set theory: operations, De Morgan and difference
- A.There exist non-negative integers p, q such that both (A) and (B) are true.
- B.Both (A) and (B) are false if and only if p = q.✓
- C.For all non-negative integers p and q, (A) or (B) is true.
- D.There exists p ≠ q such that both (A) and (B) are false.
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Q2Standard counterexampleElements of set theory: operations, De Morgan and difference
Let A = {p/q∈(0,1):p∈N,q=2n for some n∈N∪ {0}, gcd(p, q) = 1}, B = {p/q∈(0,1):p∈N,q=2n5m for some n,m∈N∪ {0}, gcd(p, q) = 1} and C = {p/q ∈ (0, 1) : p/q has terminating decimal expansion} be subsets of (0, 1). Which of the following statements is true?
- A.A ⊊ C and B ⊊ C
- B.A ⊊ C ⊊ B
- C.A ⊊ B ⊊ C
- D.A ⊊ B = C✓
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Q3Standard counterexampleElements of set theory: operations, De Morgan and difference
Let A, B be non-empty subsets of N with cardinality |A| ≥ 2. Let S1= {f : A → B | f is one-to-one} and S2= {g : B → A | g is onto}. Which of the following statements is true?
- A.If A ⊊ B and B is finite, then there is a one-to-one map from S2 to S1.
- B.If B=N, then there exists a one-to-one map from S2 to B.
- C.If B=N and A is finite, then there exists a one-to-one map from B to S1.✓
- D.If A is finite, then S2 is finite for any B.
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Q4Execution slipSequences: convergence, monotone, Bolzano–Weierstrass, Cauchy
Let f:R \ Q→R \ Q be the function defined as f(x) = (3x + 2)/(4x + 3). Let x1∈R \ Q. For n ≥ 1, define xn₊1=f(xn). Suppose that the sequence (xn)n≥1 converges to a real number ℓ. Which of the following statements is true?
- A.If ℓ is positive, then ℓ=3/2.
- B.If ℓ is positive, then ℓ=1/2.✓
- C.If ℓ is negative, then ℓ=−3/2.
- D.If ℓ is negative, then ℓ=−1/2.
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Q5Execution slipDifferentiability, mean value theorems, Taylor, L'Hôpital
Let f(x)=xloge(1+1/x) for x∈(0,∞). Which of the following statements is true?
- A.f is unbounded.
- B.f is increasing.✓
- C.limx→∞ f(x) = 2.
- D.f is decreasing.
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Q6Pointwise vs uniformPointwise vs uniform convergence, M-test, Dini
For each n ≥ 1, let fn:[0,1]→R be defined as fn(x)= nx if x∈[0,1/n],fn(x)=2− nx if x ∈ (1/n, 2/n), and fn(x)=0 if x ∈ [2/n, 1]. Which of the following statements is true?
- A.(fn)n≥1 converges uniformly on [0, 1] to a continuous function f.
- B.(fn)n≥1 converges pointwise on [0, 1] to a discontinuous function f.
- C.(fn)n≥1 converges pointwise on [0, 1] to a continuous function f.✓
- D.(fn)n≥1 does not converge pointwise on [0, 1].
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Q7Execution slipEigenvalues, characteristic & minimal polynomials, Cayley–Hamilton
Which of the following polynomials is the characteristic polynomial of a real 2 × 2 matrix A such that trace(A) = 7 and trace(A2)=29?
- A.t2+7t+10
- B.t2−7t+29
- C.t2−7t−10
- D.t2−7t+10✓
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Q8Standard counterexampleEigenvalues, characteristic & minimal polynomials, Cayley–Hamilton
Consider the real matrix A whose rows are (29, 0, 55, 17), (1, 28, 46, 26), (17, 13, 33, 38) and (21, 67, 0, 13). What is the largest real eigenvalue of A?
- A.101✓
- B.67
- C.103
- D.113
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Q9Boundary and endpointBases, dimension, rank–nullity
Let 𝔽5 denote the field with 5 elements. How many 2 × 2 matrices with entries in 𝔽5 have rank one?
- A.125
- B.144✓
- C.145
- D.480
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Q10Finite-dimensional intuitionBases, dimension, rank–nullity
Let X be the R−vector space of all twice differentiable real valued functions on [0, 1]. Consider the linear map φ:X→R3 defined by φ(f)=(f(1),f′(1),f′′(1)). Which of the following statements is true?
- A.The dimension of X/kerφ is 3.✓
- B.kerφ is finite dimensional.
- C.The dimension of X/kerφ is 1.
- D.X is finite dimensional.
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Q11Standard counterexampleGram–Schmidt, orthogonal/unitary/normal matrices, spectral theorem
Let C[0,π] be the real vector space of real-valued continuous functions on the closed interval [0,π]. For positive integers n, define fn∈C[0,π] by fn(x)=sin(nx)/sin x if x∈(0,π),fn(0)=n, and fn(π)=(−1)n⁻1n. Let V be the real subspace of C[0,π] spanned by {f1,f2,f3}. Consider the inner product on V given by ⟨f, g⟩ =(2/π)∫0πf(x)g(x)sin2x dx. Which of the following statements is true?
- A.f4∈V
- B.{f1,f2,f3} is an orthonormal basis of V.✓
- C.The dimension of V is 2.
- D.{f1,f2,f3} is an orthogonal set but not orthonormal.
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Q12Standard counterexampleQuadratic forms, positive definiteness, Sylvester's law
Let V = {ax3+ bx2+ cx | a,b,c∈R}. For f ∈ V, define Q(f)=∫₋11(f′(t))2 dt, where f′ denotes the derivative of f. Which of the following statements is FALSE?
- A.Q is a positive definite quadratic form on V.
- B.Q takes every positive real value.
- C.Q(x) = 2.
- D.For all f, g ∈ V, Q(f + g) = Q(f) + Q(g).✓
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Q13Boundary and endpointLiouville, Morera, maximum modulus principle
Let f:C→C be a polynomial map. For R > 0, let γR:[0,1]→C be the map t ↦ Re2πit. Suppose that there exists c∈R such that ∫01 |(f ∘ γR)(t)γR′(t)| dt → c as R→∞. Which of the following statements is FALSE?
- A.The function zf(1/z) → 0 as |z| →∞.
- B.The function f is constant.
- C.c = 0.
- D.c > 0.✓
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Q14Boundary and endpointLiouville, Morera, maximum modulus principle
Let f be an entire function such that f(C)⊂ {x + iy | y = x + 1}. Which of the following statements is true?
- A.|f(z)| →∞ as |z| →∞.
- B.f(z)/z → 0 as |z| →∞.✓
- C.zf(z) → 0 as |z| →∞.
- D.f(z) → 0 as |z| →∞.
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Q15Invariants don't determineConformal maps, Möbius transformations, Schwarz lemma
Let X be the image of the interval [0, 1] under the Möbius transformation f(z) = (z − i)/(z + i). Which of the following statements is true?
- A.X is the line segment joining −1 and −i.
- B.X = {eiθ | θ∈[π,3π/2]}.✓
- C.X is the line segment joining −1 to 1.
- D.X = {eiθ | θ∈[−π/2,π]}.
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Q16Execution slipPower series and analyticity
Which of the following statements is true?
- A.There exists an entire function f such that f⁽n⁾(0)=n!/nn for all positive integers n.✓
- B.There exists an entire function f such that f⁽n⁾(0)=n!nn for all positive integers n.
- C.There exists an entire function f such that f⁽n⁾(0) = (n − 1)! for all positive integers n.
- D.There exists an entire function f such that f⁽n⁾(0) = n!n for all positive integers n.
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Q17Hypothesis droppedSubgroups, cosets, Lagrange, cyclic groups
Which of the following statements is true?
- A.p ∤ 1 + (p − 1)! for some odd prime p.
- B.p | (1234)p−1 − 1 for all primes p > 700.✓
- C.There exist a∈Z and a prime p > 11 such that p ∤ aᵖ − a.
- D.p ∤ (p2)!/(p!)2 for some odd prime p.
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Q18Standard counterexampleIdeals, quotient rings, prime & maximal ideals, CRT
Let A be a subring of the field of rationals Q such that for any nonzero rational r∈Q,r∈A or 1/r ∈ A. Which of the following statements is FALSE?
- A.The set {a ∈ A : 1/a ∉ A} ∪ {0} is an additive subgroup of Q.
- B.A has at most one maximal ideal.
- C.If A=Q, then A has infinitely many prime ideals.✓
- D.For any nonzero a, b ∈ A, a divides b or b divides a in A.
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Q19Hypothesis droppedIdeals, quotient rings, prime & maximal ideals, CRT
Which of the following statements is true?
- A.The ideal 2Z[i] is maximal in Z[i].
- B.The ideal XC[X,Y] is maximal in C[X,Y].
- C.The set of all polynomials in C[X] whose coefficients add up to 0 is a maximal ideal in C[X].✓
- D.The ideal (2−1)Z[2] is maximal in Z[2].
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Q20Hypothesis droppedContinuity, homeomorphism, separation axioms
Let S = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} be equipped with the topology τ= {∅, {1}, S}. What is the number of homeomorphisms of S onto itself?
- A.25
- B.120
- C.24✓
- D.6
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Q21Execution slipLinear ODE, Wronskian, variation of parameters, systems
If φ(x)=x is a solution of the ordinary differential equation (ODE)d2y/dx2−(2/x2+1/x)(x dy/dx −y)=0,0<x<∞, then the general solution of the ODE is given by
- A.(a + be−2x)x, a,b∈R
- B.(a + be2x)x, a,b∈R
- C.ae^x + bx, a,b∈R
- D.(a + bex)x,a,b∈R✓
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Q22Execution slipSturm–Liouville problems and Green's functions
Let (λn)n∈N be the sequence of eigenvalues of the Sturm-Liouville problem (d/dx)(x dy/dx)+(λ/x)y=0,1<x< e2π, y(1) = 0, y(e2π) = 0. Then ∑n₌1∞1/λn is equal to
- A.π2/12
- B.2π2/3✓
- C.π2/4
- D.π2/16
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Q23Boundary and endpointFirst-order PDE: Lagrange, Charpit, characteristics
Let u = u(x, y) be the solution to the Cauchy problem (y+u)∂u/∂x+y∂u/∂y=x−y,x∈R,y>0,u(x,1)=1+x,x∈R. Then which of the following statements is true?
- A.u(1, 1) = 2✓
- B.u(2, 2) = 4
- C.u(3, 3) = 3/2
- D.u(4, 4) = 2/3
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Q24Execution slipLaplace, heat and wave equations: separation of variables
Let u = u(x, t) be the solution of ∂2u/∂t2−∂2u/∂x2=0,x∈R,t>0,u(x,0)=1+x2,x∈R,∂u/∂t(x,0)=x+1,x∈R. Then the value of u(1, 1) is
- A.2
- B.3
- C.4
- D.5✓
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Q25Execution slipInterpolation and numerical integration with error terms
If the function s:[0,4]→R defined by s(x)=a(x−2)2+b(x−1)2 for 0≤x≤1,s(x)=(x−2)2 for 1 < x ≤ 3, and s(x)=2c(x−2)2+(x−3)3 for 3 < x ≤ 4, is a cubic spline, then the value of 2a + b + 2c is
- A.2
- B.3✓
- C.4
- D.5
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Q26Execution slipEuler–Lagrange equation and standard functionals
Let y(x) be the extremal of the functional J[y]=∫0π/4 ((y′)2−4y2+2xy) dx subject to y(0)=0,y(π/4)=1. Then y(x) is equal to
- A.(1−π/4)sin(2x)+x
- B.(1−π/16)sin(2x)+x/4✓
- C.(1+π/4)sin(2x)−x
- D.(1+π/16)sin(2x)−x/4
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Q27Standard counterexampleSeparable kernels and resolvent kernels
If y(x) is the solution of the integral equation y(x)=x2+2∫01 xt y(t) dt, then which of the following statements is true?
- A.y(0) + y(1) = 1/2
- B.y(−1) + y(1) = 1
- C.y′(0) + y′(1) = 3/2
- D.y′(−1) + y′(1) = 3✓
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Q28Execution slipLagrangian formalism and generalised coordinates
Suppose a dynamical system has the Lagrangian L = (q̇1)2+(q̇2)2+(q1)2+q̇1q̇2. If p1 and p2 are momenta conjugate to q1 and q2 respectively, then which of the following statements is true?
- A.ṗ1=2q1, ṗ2=0✓
- B.ṗ1=−q1, ṗ2=0
- C.ṗ1=−q1/2,p2=q2
- D.ṗ1=q1,p2=−q2
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Q29Boundary and endpointRandom variables, distributions, moments, MGF
Suppose that we have a data set consisting of 2n + 1 observations for some n∈N. Value of each observation is either x or x + r, where x∈N,r≥0. Then, which of the following statements is always true?
- A.The mean and median of the data will be different if and only if r > 0
- B.Variance of the data is positive if and only if r > 0
- C.Mean and mode of the data will be same if and only if r = 0
- D.Median and mode of the data will be same for all values of r ≥ 0✓
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Q30Boundary and endpointAxioms, conditional probability, independence, Bayes
A biased six-faced die is tossed once. Suppose that the probability of any prime number showing up is twice that of any non-prime number showing up. Then, the probability that an odd number will show up is
- A.1/3
- B.2/3
- C.4/9
- D.5/9✓
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Q31Hypothesis droppedAxioms, conditional probability, independence, Bayes
Suppose the distribution of X given θ is normal with mean θ and variance 15. Further, let the prior (improper) distribution of θ be proportional to 1,−∞<θ<∞. If the observed value of X is 13, then which of the following statements is true?
- A.Posterior mean = Maximum likelihood estimate of θ, Posterior variance = Var(X|θ)✓
- B.Posterior mean = Maximum likelihood estimate of θ, Posterior variance < Var(X|θ)
- C.Posterior mean > Maximum likelihood estimate of θ, Posterior variance = Var(X|θ)
- D.Posterior mean > Maximum likelihood estimate of θ, Posterior variance < Var(X|θ)
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Q32Standard counterexampleMarkov chains: classification of states, stationary distributions
Let Z1,Z2,… be a sequence of independent and identically distributed random variables having discrete uniform distribution over {1, 2, …, 2024}. Let Yn=∑i₌1nZi,n≥2. Further, let Xn be the remainder when Yn is divided by 2025. Then, which of the following statements is true?
- A.limn→∞P(Xn=0)=1/2026
- B.limn→∞P(Xn=0)=1/2025✓
- C.limn→∞P(Xn=0)=1/2024
- D.limn→∞P(Xn=0)=1/2023
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Q33Moments and tailsStandard discrete and continuous distributions
A mobile manufacturing company uses two brands of batteries for its mobiles. The life (in years) of batteries of Brand I follows an exponential distribution with the probability density function f(x) = e−x if x > 0 and 0 otherwise, and that of Brand II follows a gamma distribution with the probability density function g(x) = (x/4)e−x/2 if x > 0 and 0 otherwise. The company uses the batteries of Brands I and II in proportion of 20% and 80% respectively, in its mobiles. The probability that a randomly selected mobile has the battery life more that 2 years is
- A.(13/5)e−2
- B.(1/5)(e−2 + 2e−1)
- C.(1/5)(e−2 + 8e−1)✓
- D.(1/5)(4e−2 + 2e−1)
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Q34Execution slipMLE and method of moments
Consider a discrete random variable X with the probability mass function P(X=0)=θ/3,P(X=1)=1−θ/2,P(X=2)=θ/6, where θ∈(0,1) is an unknown parameter. In a random sample of size 90 from this distribution, the observed counts for X = 0, 1 and 2 are 20, 60 and 10, respectively. Then, the maximum likelihood estimate of θ is
- A.1/3
- B.1/2
- C.2/3✓
- D.3/4
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Q35Execution slipJoint distributions, transformations, order statistics
Let X be a random sample of size 1 from the probability density function f(x|θ)=(3/θ3)(θ−x)2 if 0<x<θ, and 0 otherwise. If (X/(1−λ1),X/(1−λ2)) is a confidence interval for θ with confidence coefficient 1−α, where λi∈(0,1),i=1,2,λ1<λ2, and α∈(0,1), then which of the following statements is true?
- A.λ22−λ12=1−α
- B.λ23−λ13=1−α✓
- C.λ22−λ12=4(1−α)
- D.λ23−λ13=9(1−α)
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Q36What the inference meansNeyman–Pearson lemma and UMP tests
Let X1,X2,…,Xn be a random sample from a continuous distribution with the common probability density function f(x|θ)=2θθ/ xθ+1 if x > 2, and 0 otherwise, where θ(>0) is an unknown parameter. Suppose P(Y>χm,β2) =β, where Y ~ χm2. For testing H0:θ=1 against H1:θ>1,a uniformly most powerful test of size α,0<α<1, will reject H0 if
- A.∑i₌1nlnXi>(1/2)χ2n,α2 + n ln 2
- B.∑i₌1nlnXi<(1/2)χ2n,1−α2 + n ln 2✓
- C.∑i₌1nlnXi>χn,α2 + n ln 2
- D.∑i₌1nlnXi<χn,1−α2 + n ln 2
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Q37Execution slipGauss–Markov, regression, ANOVA basics
Consider the multiple linear regression model yi=β0+β1x1i+⋯+β8x8i+εi,i=1,2,…,29, where ε1,ε2,…,ε29 are independent and identically normal distributed with mean 0 and variance σ2. Suppose the model is fitted using the method of least squares. If the calculated value of the F-statistic for testing the significance of regression is 2.50, then the possible values of R2 and Adjusted R2 are respectively
- A.0.30 and 0.10
- B.0.50 and 0.30✓
- C.0.50 and 0.16
- D.0.30 and −0.10
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Q38Dependence misreadMultivariate normal distribution
Suppose (X1,X2,X3)T ~ N3(0,I3), where 0 is the zero mean vector and I3 is the 3 × 3 identity matrix, and (X,Y,Z)T=A(X1,X2,X3)T where A has rows (3, 0, 0), (2, 2, 0) and (4, 0, 4). Then the partial correlation coefficient ρYZ.X is
- A.1/2
- B.2/3
- C.3/4
- D.0✓
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Q39Hypothesis droppedSRS, stratified and systematic sampling
Suppose we want to estimate the population mean Ȳ of a variable for a finite population of size 85, with 34 Statisticians and 51 Biologists. We consider the following sampling scheme: a stratified random sample with 2 strata of Statisticians (Stratum-1) and Biologists (Stratum-2), where 12 Statisticians and 15 Biologists are drawn from Stratum-1 and Stratum-2, respectively, using SRSWOR scheme. Denote ȳ_S, ȳ_B, and ȳ as the mean of the variable among the Statistician sample, Biologist sample, and the combined sample, respectively. Which of the following is an unbiased estimator of Ȳ?
- A.ȳ
- B.(2ȳ_S + 3ȳ_B)/5✓
- C.(4ȳ_S + 5ȳ_B)/9
- D.(ȳ_S/12 + ȳ_B/15)/(1/12 + 1/15)
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Q40Execution slipLinear programming, simplex and duality
Solve the following linear programming problem: maximize z = x + y subject to 5x + 3y ≤ 30, 2x + 6y ≤ 25, 2x − y ≤ 8, x ≥ 0, y ≥ 0. Then the optimal value of the objective function is
- A.45/11
- B.74/11
- C.85/12✓
- D.25/6
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