System of Absolute Value Inequalities

CAT 2021 Slot 2 · QA · Easy · Inequalities

The number of integers nn that satisfy the inequalities n60<n100<n20|n - 60| < |n - 100| < |n - 20| is

  1. A.

    21

  2. B.

    18

  3. C.

    20

  4. D.

    19

Answer

D

Explanation

We have two inequalities:

  1. n60<n100|n - 60| < |n - 100| Squaring both sides: (n60)2<(n100)2    n2120n+3600<n2200n+10000(n - 60)^2 < (n - 100)^2 \implies n^2 - 120n + 3600 < n^2 - 200n + 10000 80n<6400    n<8080n < 6400 \implies n < 80

  2. n100<n20|n - 100| < |n - 20| Squaring both sides: (n100)2<(n20)2    n2200n+10000<n240n+400(n - 100)^2 < (n - 20)^2 \implies n^2 - 200n + 10000 < n^2 - 40n + 400 9600<160n    n>609600 < 160n \implies n > 60

Combining both inequalities gives 60<n<8060 < n < 80. The integer values of nn are 61,62,,7961, 62, \dots, 79. The total number of integers is 7961+1=1979 - 61 + 1 = 19.

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