Integer Pairs Satisfying System of Inequalities

CAT 2025 Slot 1 · Quantitative Ability · Medium · Inequalities

This is a medium Quantitative Ability question from the CAT 2025 Slot 1 paper. It tests Inequalities. The full answer key and a step-by-step explanation are below — try it yourself first, then reveal the solution.

The number of distinct pairs of integers (x,y)(x, y) satisfying the inequalities x>y3x > y \ge 3 and x+y<14x + y < 14 is

Answer

12

Explanation

We have y3y \ge 3 and xy+1x \ge y+1. Also x+y13x + y \le 13.

  • For y=3y = 3: x>3    x4x > 3 \implies x \ge 4. x+313    x10x + 3 \le 13 \implies x \le 10. Possible xx: 4,5,6,7,8,9,104, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (7 values).
  • For y=4y = 4: x>4    x5x > 4 \implies x \ge 5. x+413    x9x + 4 \le 13 \implies x \le 9. Possible xx: 5,6,7,8,95, 6, 7, 8, 9 (5 values).
  • For y=5y = 5: x>5    x6x > 5 \implies x \ge 6. x+513    x8x + 5 \le 13 \implies x \le 8. Possible xx: 6,7,86, 7, 8 (3 values).
  • For y=6y = 6: x>6    x7x > 6 \implies x \ge 7. x+613    x7x + 6 \le 13 \implies x \le 7. Possible xx: 77 (1 value).
  • For y7y \ge 7: x8    x+y15>13x \ge 8 \implies x+y \ge 15 > 13, no solution. Total number of pairs = 7+5+3+1=167 + 5 + 3 + 1 = 16. Wait, let's re-count carefully: for y=3y=3, x[4,10]x \in [4, 10] gives 7 pairs. For y=4y=4, x[5,9]x \in [5, 9] gives 5 pairs. For y=5y=5, x[6,8]x \in [6, 8] gives 3 pairs. For y=6y=6, x=7x=7 gives 1 pair. Total = 16.

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