QUESTION

CSAT

Easy

Reasoning

Prelims 2024

Let pp and qq be positive integers satisfying p<qp<q and p+q=kp+q=k. What is the smallest value of kk that does not determine pp and qq uniquely?

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Explanation

For k = 3: The only valid pair satisfying p<qp < q is p=1p = 1 and q=2q = 2. Thus, k=3k = 3 uniquely determines pp and qq.

For k = 4: The possible pairs are (1,3)(1, 3) and (2,2)(2, 2). However, since p<qp < q is required, only the pair (1,3)(1, 3) is valid. Hence, k=4k = 4 also uniquely determines pp and qq.

For k = 5: The valid pairs satisfying p<qp < q are (1,4)(1, 4) and (2,3)(2, 3). Here, k=5k = 5 does not uniquely determine pp and qq, because there are two possible pairs.

The smallest value of k that does not determine pp and qq uniquely is k=5k = 5.

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