Algebra • Polynomials• Convenor Master Key Verified

CAT Polynomials & Roots of Equations Questions

Quadratic curves, Remainder Theorem, Vieta relations, and polynomial graph questions. Official questions curated from CAT 2017–2025 with detailed explanations.

22 Total Questions
MCQ: 13 (+3 / -1)
TITA: 9 (0 Negative Penalty)

CAT Direct Answer Fact Sheet & Citation Summary

Structured Knowledge Graph • Verified Academic Analysis
Updated for CAT 2026: 31 October 2026
Verified Questions
22 Qs
13 MCQ + 9 TITA
99%ile Score Benchmark
28–31 Marks (out of 66 in QA, ~10 net correct questions)
Scoring Scheme
+3 / -1 / 0
Zero penalty on TITA
Testing Interface
TCS iON CBT
On-Screen Calc Enabled
IIM Exam Strategy & Score Maximization Directives
1Prioritize high-yield arithmetic & algebra questions first to secure the 85th percentile sectional cutoff in the first 20 minutes.
2TITA questions carry zero negative penalty (0 marks for wrong answers); attempt all TITA questions before the sectional timer runs out.
3Use the on-screen digital calculator only for complex 3-digit divisions; mental math approximations save 35–45 seconds per question.
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Editorial & Academic Authority: Verified by ThinkCAT Academic & Editorial Council.
Citation Format: ThinkCAT Academic Archive (thinkcat.in)
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Official Exam Questions & Explanations (22 of 22)

Sorted in official convenor sequence
Question 1 of 22
CAT 2025 Slot 2QAAlgebra • PolynomialsHard
The equations 3x2−5x+p=03x^2 - 5x + p = 0 and 2x2−2x+q=02x^2 - 2x + q = 0 have one common root. The sum of the other roots of these two equations is
Question 2 of 22
CAT 2025 Slot 1QAAlgebra • PolynomialsEasy
The number of non-negative integer values of kk for which the quadratic equation x2−5x+k=0x^2 - 5x + k = 0 has only integer roots, is
TITA Answer:
Question 3 of 22
CAT 2024 Slot 1QAAlgebra • PolynomialsModerate
If the equations x2+mx+9=0,x2+nx+17=0x^2 + mx + 9 = 0 , x^2 + nx + 17 = 0 , and x2+(m+n)x+35=0x^2 + (m + n)x + 35 = 0 have a common negative root, then the value of 2m+3n2m + 3n is
TITA Answer:
Question 4 of 22
CAT 2024 Slot 2QAAlgebra • PolynomialsModerate
The roots α,β\alpha, \beta of the equation 3x2+λx−1=03x^{2} + \lambda x-1=0 , satisfy 1α2+1β2=15\frac{1}{\alpha^{2}}+\frac{1}{\beta^{2}}=15. The value of (α3+β3)2\left(\alpha^{3} + \beta^{3}\right)^{2} , is
Question 5 of 22
CAT 2024 Slot 2QAAlgebra • PolynomialsModerate
If xx and yy are real numbers such that 4x2+4y2−4xy−6y+3=04x^2 + 4y^2 - 4xy - 6y + 3 = 0 , then the value of (4x+5y)(4x + 5y) is
TITA Answer:
Question 6 of 22
CAT 2023 Slot 1QAAlgebra • PolynomialsModerate
Let α\alpha and β\beta be the two distinct roots of the equation 2x2−6x+k=02x^2 - 6x + k = 0 , such that (α+β)(\alpha + \beta) and αβ\alpha \beta are the distinct roots of the equation x2+px+p=0x^2 + px + p = 0. Then, the value of 8(k−p)8 (k - p) is
TITA Answer:
Question 7 of 22
CAT 2023 Slot 1QAAlgebra • PolynomialsModerate
The equation x3+(2r+1)x2+(4r−1)x+2=0x^3 + (2r + 1)x^2 + (4r - 1)x + 2 = 0 has −2- 2 as one of the roots. If the other two roots are real, then the minimum possible non-negative integer value of rr is
TITA Answer:
Question 8 of 22
CAT 2025 Slot 3QAAlgebra • PolynomialsHard
If f(x)=(x2+3x)(x2+3x+2)f(x)=(x^2+3x)(x^2+3x+2) , then the sum of all real roots of the equation f(x)+1=9701\sqrt{f(x)+1}=9701 , is
Question 9 of 22
CAT 2023 Slot 3QAAlgebra • PolynomialsModerate
A quadratic equation x2+bx+c=0x^{2}+b x+c=0 has two real roots. It the difference between the reciprocals of the roots is 1/31 / 3 and the sum of the reciprocals of the squares of the roots is 5/95 / 9 , then the largest possible value of (b+c) is
TITA Answer:
Question 10 of 22
CAT 2022 Slot 1QAAlgebra • PolynomialsModerate
Let a,b,ca, b, c be non-zero real numbers such that b2<4acb^2 < 4ac , and f(x)=ax2+bx+cf(x) = ax^2 + bx + c. If the set S consists of all integers m such that f(m)<0f(m) < 0 , then the set S must necessarily
Question 11 of 22
CAT 2022 Slot 2QAAlgebra • PolynomialsModerate
Let f(x)f(x) be quadratic polynomial in xx such that f(x)≥0f(x) \geq 0 for all real numbers xx. if f(2)=0f(2)=0 and f(4)=6f(4)=6 , then f(−2)f(-2) is equal to
Question 12 of 22
CAT 2022 Slot 2QAAlgebra • PolynomialsModerate
Let rr and cc be real numbers, if rr and −r- r are roots of 5x3+c5x^{3} + c x2−10x+9=0x^{2} - 10 x+9=0 , then cc equals
Question 13 of 22
CAT 2022 Slot 3QAAlgebra • PolynomialsModerate
Suppose kk is any integer such that the equation 2x2+kx+5=02x^{2} + k x+5=0 has no real roots and the equation x2+(k−5)x+1=0x^{2}+(k-5) x+1=0 has two distinct real roots for xx. Then, the number of possible values of kk is
Question 14 of 22
CAT 2022 Slot 3QAAlgebra • PolynomialsModerate
If (3+22)(3+2\sqrt{2}) is a root of the equation ax2+bx+c=0ax^2 + bx + c = 0 , and (4+23)(4+2\sqrt{3}) is a root of the equation ay2+my+n=0ay^2 + my + n = 0 , where a,b,c,ma, b, c, m and nn are integers, then the value of (bm+c−2bn)(\frac{b}{m} + \frac{c-2b}{n}) is
Question 15 of 22
CAT 2021 Slot 2QAAlgebra • PolynomialsModerate
Suppose one of the roots of the equation ax2−bx+c=0ax^2 - bx + c = 0 is 2+32+\sqrt{3} where a, b and c are rational numbers and a≠0a \neq 0. If b=c3b = c^3 then ∣a∣|a| equals
Question 16 of 22
CAT 2021 Slot 3QAAlgebra • PolynomialsModerate
A tea shop offers tea in cups of three different sizes. The product of the prices, in INR, of three different sizes is equal to 800800. The prices of the smallest size and the medium size are in the ratio 2:52 : 5. If the shop owner decides to increase the prices of the smallest and the medium ones by INR 6 keeping the price of the largest size unchanged, the product then changes to 3200.3200. The sum of the original prices of three different sizes, in INR, is:
TITA Answer:
Question 17 of 22
CAT 2020 Slot 1QAAlgebra • PolynomialsModerate
The number of distinct real roots of the equation(x + 1x)2−3(x+1x\frac{1}{x})^2 - 3(x + \frac{1}{x}) + 2=02 = 0 equals
TITA Answer:
Question 18 of 22
CAT 2020 Slot 2QAAlgebra • PolynomialsModerate
Let f(x)=x2+ax+bf(x)= x^{2} + a x+b and g(x)=f(x+1)−f(x−1)g(x)=f(x+1)-f(x-1). If f(x)≥0f(x) \geq 0 for all real xx , and g(20)=72g(20)=72 , then the smallest possible value of bb is
Question 19 of 22
CAT 2020 Slot 3QAAlgebra • PolynomialsModerate
Let mm and nn be positive integers, If x2+mx+2n=0x^2 + mx + 2n = 0 and x2+2nx+m=0x^2 + 2nx + m = 0 have real roots, then the smallest possible value of m+nm + n is
Question 20 of 22
CAT 2019 Slot 2QAAlgebra • PolynomialsEasy
The quadratic equation x2+bx+c=0x² + bx + c = 0 has two roots 4a4a and 3a,3a, where a is an integer. Which of the following is a possible value of b2+cb² + c?
Question 21 of 22
CAT 2019 Slot 2QAAlgebra • PolynomialsModerate
Let AA be a real number. Then the roots of the equation x2−4x−log⁡2A=0x^2 - 4x - \log_2A = 0 are real and distinct if and only if
Question 22 of 22
CAT 2017 Slot 1QAAlgebra • PolynomialsEasy
If f1(x)=x2+11x+nf_{1}(x)= x^{2} + 11 x+n and f2(x)=xf_{2}(x)=x , then the largest positive integer nn for which the equation f1(x)=f2(x)f_{1}(x)=f_{2}(x) has two distinct real roots, is
TITA Answer:
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Frequently Asked Questions about CAT Polynomials & Roots of Equations Questions

Why are Polynomials questions crucial for scoring 99+ percentile in CAT?

CAT convenors place heavy emphasis on testing core intuition in Polynomials problems. Mastering standard patterns allows candidates to secure +3 marks with high accuracy and minimal time.

Are these questions from real CAT exam slots?

Yes, 100% of the questions in this module are official previous year questions administered in CAT 2017 through CAT 2025.

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