Mathematics 2025 Paper I 50 marks Solve

Paper I — Q3

(a) Reduce the following matrix to echelon form: A = 2 & -2 & 2 & 1 -3 & 6 & 0 & -1 1 & -7 & 10 & 2 (15 marks) (b) Find the…

(a)

Reduce the following matrix to echelon form: A = 2 & -2 & 2 & 1 -3 & 6 & 0 & -1 1 & -7 & 10 & 2 15 marks

(b)

Find the equations of the spheres which pass through the circle x² + y² + z² - 2x + 2y + 4z - 3 = 0, 2x + y + z = 4and touch the plane3x + 4y = 14. 15 marks

(c)
(i)

Evaluate displaystyle∬limits_R y dx dy, where R is the region bounded by y = x and y = 4x - x². 10 marks

(ii)

If u(x,y) = x f(y/x) + g(y/x), where f and g are arbitrary functions, then show that I. x (∂ u)/(∂ x) + y (∂ u)/(∂ y) = x f(y/x), II. x² (∂² u)/(∂ x²) + 2xy (∂² u)/(∂ x ∂ y) + y² (∂² u)/(∂ y²) = 0. 10 marks

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें
(a)

निम्नलिखित आव्यूह को सोपानक (एशेलोन) रूप में समानीत कीजिए : A = 2 & -2 & 2 & 1 -3 & 6 & 0 & -1 1 & -7 & 10 & 2 (15 अंक)

(b)

उन गोलों के समीकरण ज्ञात कीजिए जो वृत्त x² + y² + z² - 2x + 2y + 4z - 3 = 0, 2x + y + z = 4से होकर गुजरते हैं और समतल3x + 4y = 14 को स्पर्श करते हैं। (15 अंक)

(c)
(i)

displaystyle∬limits_R y dx dy का मान ज्ञात कीजिए, जहाँ R, y = x तथा y = 4x - x² से परिवृत क्षेत्र है। (10 अंक)

(ii)

यदि u(x,y) = x f(y/x) + g(y/x) है, जहाँ f और g स्वेच्छ फलन हैं, तो दर्शाइए कि I. x (∂ u)/(∂ x) + y (∂ u)/(∂ y) = x f(y/x) है, II. x² (∂² u)/(∂ x²) + 2xy (∂² u)/(∂ x ∂ y) + y² (∂² u)/(∂ y²) = 0 है। (10 अंक)

Q3 of the 2025 UPSC Mains Mathematics Paper I, as printed
The question as printed in the 2025 Mathematics paper

Model answer

Written by UPSC Answer Check against this question's marking rubric, to the expected length. UPSC does not publish answers for Mains — this is one way to score well, not an official key.

(a) Use Gaussian elimination. Starting with A = [2 -2 2 1; -3 6 0 -1; 1 -7 10 2].

Interchange R1 and R3: [1 -7 10 2; -3 6 0 -1; 2 -2 2 1].

Apply R2 → R2 + 3R1 and R3 → R3 - 2R1: [1 -7 10 2; 0 -15 30 5; 0 12 -18 -3].

Apply R3 → R3 + (4/5)R2: [1 -7 10 2; 0 -15 30 5; 0 0 6 1].

Normalize the second and third rows: [1 -7 10 2; 0 1 -2 -1/3; 0 0 1 1/6] .

This is a row echelon form. The rank is 3, since there are three non-zero rows.

(b) Let S = x² + y² + z² - 2x + 2y + 4z - 3 = 0 and P = 2x + y + z - 4 = 0. By the theorem on spheres through a circle, every sphere through the given circle has equation S + λP = 0. Hence

x² + y² + z² + (-2 + 2λ)x + (2 + λ)y + (4 + λ)z - (3 + 4λ) = 0.

Its centre is C = (1 - λ, -(2 + λ)/2, -(4 + λ)/2).

The radius squared is r² = (1 - λ)² + ((2 + λ)/2)² + ((4 + λ)/2)² + 3 + 4λ = (3/2)λ² + 5λ + 9.

The plane is 3x + 4y - 14 = 0. Distance from C to this plane is d = |3(1 - λ) + 4 (-(2 + λ)/2) - 14| / √(3² + 4²) = | -15 - 5λ | / 5 = |λ + 3|.

Tangency requires d² = r². Thus (λ + 3)² = (3/2)λ² + 5λ + 9 ⇒ λ² + 6λ + 9 = (3/2)λ² + 5λ + 9 ⇒ λ(λ - 2) = 0, so λ = 0 or λ = 2.

Therefore the two spheres are λ = 0: x² + y² + z² - 2x + 2y + 4z - 3 = 0 , λ = 2: x² + y² + z² + 2x + 4y + 6z - 11 = 0 .

(c)(i) Use iterated integration. The curves y = x and y = 4x - x² meet where x = 4x - x² ⇒ x(x - 3) = 0, so x = 0, 3.

For 0 ≤ x ≤ 3, the lower curve is y = x and the upper curve is y = 4x - x². Hence

∬_R y dx dy = ∫₀³ ∫_x^4x - x² y dy dx = (1/2)∫₀³ [(4x - x²)² - x²] dx = (1/2)∫₀³ (15x² - 8x³ + x⁴) dx = (1/2)[5x³ - 2x⁴ + x⁵/5]₀³ = (1/2)(135 - 162 + 243/5) = (1/2)(108/5) = 54/5.

(c)(ii) Put t = y/x. Then u = x f(t) + g(t).

By the chain rule, ∂u/∂x = f(t) - t f′(t) - (t/x) g′(t), ∂u/∂y = f′(t) + (1/x) g′(t).

Therefore, for I, x ∂u/∂x + y ∂u/∂y = x[f - t f′ - (t/x)g′] + y[f′ + (1/x)g′] = x f(t) - y f′(t) - t g′(t) + y f′(t) + t g′(t) = x f(y/x).

For II, differentiating again, ∂²u/∂x² = (y²/x³) f″ + (2y/x³) g′ + (y²/x⁴) g″, ∂²u/∂x∂y = -(y/x²) f″ - (1/x²) g′ - (y/x³) g″, ∂²u/∂y² = (1/x) f″ + (1/x²) g″.

Hence x² ∂²u/∂x² = (y²/x) f″ + (2y/x) g′ + (y²/x²) g″, 2xy ∂²u/∂x∂y = -(2y²/x) f″ - (2y/x) g′ - (2y²/x²) g″, y² ∂²u/∂y² = (y²/x) f″ + (y²/x²) g″.

Adding the three lines, every term cancels. Thus x² ∂²u/∂x² + 2xy ∂²u/∂x∂y + y² ∂²u/∂y² = 0 .

What "Solve" is asking you to do

Choose the method, then carry it through to a final answer. Identifying what kind of problem this is and why that method applies is the first thing marked; a correct figure arrived at invisibly earns almost nothing.

Structure that answers it

Given data and what is required → method chosen, with the reason it applies → set-up (equation, circuit, free body, trial balance) → working, step by step → answer with units and any condition of validity

Where marks are lost

Doing the middle steps mentally and writing only the result. In mathematics papers, a further loss comes from giving a decimal where the exact value in surds or fractions was wanted, or from skipping the justification a part explicitly asks for.

All UPSC directive words, compared →

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

(a) calculate: given > formula > substitution > result with units > interpretation | (b) calculate: given > formula > substitution > result with units > interpretation | (c(i)) calculate: given > formula > substitution > result with units > interpretation | (c(ii)) derive: given > assumptions > stepwise derivation > result > check Full marks: Complete working with all steps shown, correct results, and verification

Key points expected

  • Apply elementary row operations (R_i -> R_i + kR_j) systematically
  • Show intermediate matrices after each operation
  • Achieve leading 1s in pivot positions
  • Ensure zeros below each pivot
  • Use family of spheres: S + λL = 0
  • Determine center and radius in terms of λ
  • Apply tangency condition: distance = radius
  • Solve for λ and write final equations

Evaluation rubric

Each sub-part is marked on its own, against the marks and word limit printed on the paper.

  1. (a) Row-reduce matrix A to echelon form using elementary row operations. 15 marks

    calculate— given → formula → substitution → result with units → interpretation

    Must cover

    • Apply elementary row operations (R_i -> R_i + kR_j) systematically
    • Show intermediate matrices after each operation
    • Achieve leading 1s in pivot positions
    • Ensure zeros below each pivot

    Loses marks

    • Skipping intermediate steps
    • Arithmetic errors in row operations
    • No justification for operations

    Earns more

    • State rank of the matrix
    • Verify row independence

    Extra mark

    • Check by back-substitution
  2. (b) Find equations of spheres passing through given circle and touching given plane. 15 marks

    calculate— given → formula → substitution → result with units → interpretation

    Must cover

    • Use family of spheres: S + λL = 0
    • Determine center and radius in terms of λ
    • Apply tangency condition: distance = radius
    • Solve for λ and write final equations

    Loses marks

    • Incorrect family of spheres
    • Algebraic errors in distance formula
    • Missing tangency condition

    Earns more

    • Verify tangency condition
    • Check circle lies on sphere

    Extra mark

    • Geometric interpretation of tangency
  3. (c(i)) Evaluate double integral ∬_R y dx dy over region bounded by y=x and y=4x-x². 10 marks

    calculate— given → formula → substitution → result with units → interpretation

    Must cover

    • Find intersection points of curves
    • Set up correct limits of integration
    • Integrate y with respect to x first
    • Compute final numerical value

    Loses marks

    • Incorrect intersection points
    • Wrong limits of integration
    • Integration errors

    Earns more

    • Sketch region R
    • Verify limits by substitution

    Extra mark

    • Alternative order of integration
  4. (c(ii)) Show that u(x,y) = xf(y/x) + g(y/x) satisfies given PDEs. 10 marks

    derive— given → assumptions → stepwise derivation → result → check

    Must cover

    • Compute ∂u/∂x and ∂u/∂y using chain rule
    • Substitute into first PDE and simplify
    • Compute second partial derivatives
    • Substitute into second PDE and show equals zero

    Loses marks

    • Incorrect chain rule application
    • Missing second derivative terms
    • Algebraic simplification errors

    Earns more

    • Define f' and g' notation clearly
    • Show intermediate derivative steps

    Extra mark

    • Note homogeneity of PDEs

Practice this exact question

Write your answer and it is marked point by point against the model answer above — what you covered, what you missed, what you got wrong.

Evaluate my answer →

More from Mathematics 2025 Paper I