JEE PYQ: Permutation And Combination Question 35
Question 35 - 2019 (09 Apr Shift 2)
Some identical balls are arranged in rows to form an equilateral triangle. The first row consists of one ball, the second row consists of two balls and so on. If 99 more identical balls are added to the total number of balls used in forming the equilateral triangle, then all these balls can be arranged in a square whose each side contains exactly 2 balls less than the number of balls each side of the triangle contains. Then the number of balls used to form the equilateral triangle is:
(1) 157
(2) 262
(3) 225
(4) 190
Show Answer
Answer: (4)
Solution
Balls in triangle $= \frac{n(n+1)}{2}$. Side of square $= n - 2$. $\frac{n(n+1)}{2} + 99 = (n-2)^2$. $n^2 + n + 198 = 2n^2 - 8n + 8 \Rightarrow n^2 - 9n - 190 = 0 \Rightarrow (n-19)(n+10) = 0 \Rightarrow n = 19$. Balls $= \frac{19 \times 20}{2} = 190$.
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