UPSC Prelims 2019 CSAT Paper II · Q19 of 79 Basic Numeracy easy

Rakesh and Rajesh together bought 10 balls and 10 rackets. Rakesh spent ₹ 1300 and Rajesh spent ₹ 1500. If each racket costs three times a ball does, then what is the price of a racket ?

  1. (a) ₹ 70
  2. (b) ₹ 90
  3. (c) ₹ 210 ✓ UPSC's answer
  4. (d) ₹ 240

Why the answer is (c)

• Total amount spent by Rakesh and Rajesh is ₹1300 + ₹1500 = ₹2800.

• They bought a total of 10 balls and 10 rackets.

• Let the price of one ball be x, so the price of one racket is 3x.

• The total cost equation is 10x + 10(3x) = 2800.

• Simplifying gives 10x + 30x = 2800, which means 40x = 2800.

• Solving for x gives x = 70, so the price of a ball is ₹70.

• The price of a racket is 3x = 3 * 70 = ₹210.

Why the other options are wrong

(a) ₹ 70
₹70 is the price of a ball, not a racket.
(b) ₹ 90
₹90 does not satisfy the total cost equation of ₹2800 for 10 balls and 10 rackets.
(d) ₹ 240
₹240 would imply a ball price of ₹80, leading to a total cost of ₹3200, which exceeds the actual expenditure.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2019, held on 2 June 2019. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

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