Mathematics 2026 Paper I 50 marks Prove

Paper I — Q3

(a) Given P₃[x] = a₀ + a₁x + a₂x² + a₃x³ | a₀, a₁, a₂, a₃ ∈ ℝ as a vector space over the field ℝ. (i) Let H = p(x) ∈ P₃[x] |…

(a)

Given P₃[x] = a₀ + a₁x + a₂x² + a₃x³ | a₀, a₁, a₂, a₃ ∈ ℝ as a vector space over the field ℝ.

(i)

Let H = p(x) ∈ P₃[x] | ∫₋₁¹ p(x) dx = 0 . Prove that H is a subspace of P₃[x] and find a basis of H.

(ii)

Find a subspace K of P₃[x] such that P₃[x] = H ⊕ K. 15 marks

(b)
(i)

Evaluate the double integral ∫₀² ∫ₓ²+1^2x+1 x²y dy dx by reversing the order of integration. 10 marks

(ii)

Find the volume of the solid, which is formed from the intersection of the coordinate planes x = 0, y = 0, z = 0 and the plane x/a + y/b + z/c = 1. 10 marks

(c)

If x/1 = y/2 = z/3 represents one of a set of three mutually perpendicular generators of the cone 5yz – 8zx – 3xy = 0, then find the equations of the other two. 15 marks

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें
(a)

क्षेत्र ℝ पर एक सदिश समष्टि के रूप में P₃[x] = a₀ + a₁x + a₂x² + a₃x³ | a₀, a₁, a₂, a₃ ∈ ℝ दिया गया है।

(i)

माना H = p(x) ∈ P₃[x] | ∫₋₁¹ p(x) dx = 0 है। सिद्ध कीजिए कि H, P₃[x] की एक उपसमष्टि है तथा H का एक आधार ज्ञात कीजिए।

(ii)

P₃[x] की एक उपसमष्टि K ज्ञात कीजिए, जिसके लिए P₃[x] = H ⊕ K है। (15 अंक)

(b)
(i)

समाकलन के क्रम को उलटकर द्विशः समाकल ∫₀² ∫ₓ²+1^2x+1 x²y dy dx का मान ज्ञात कीजिए। (10 अंक)

(ii)

उस ठोस का आयतन ज्ञात कीजिए, जो निर्देशांक समतलों x = 0, y = 0, z = 0 तथा समतल x/a + y/b + z/c = 1 के प्रतिच्छेदन से बनता है। (10 अंक)

(c)

यदि x/1 = y/2 = z/3, शंकु 5yz – 8zx – 3xy = 0 के तीन परस्पर लंबवत् जनकों के समुच्चय में से किसी एक को निरूपित करता है, तब अन्य दो के समीकरण ज्ञात कीजिए। (15 अंक)

Q3 of the 2026 UPSC Mains Mathematics Paper I, as printed
The question as printed in the 2026 Mathematics paper

Model answer

Drafted with AI 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. How we build rubrics and answers.

(a) Subspace H, its basis, and a complement K (i) Define L : P₃[x] → ℝ by L(p) = ∫₋₁¹ p(x) dx. For p, q ∈ P₃[x] and α, β ∈ ℝ, L(αp + βq) = αL(p) + βL(q) by linearity of the integral, so L is a linear functional and H = ker L = p : L(p) = 0. Subspace: 0 ∈ H since L(0) = 0; if p, q ∈ H then L(αp + βq) = α·0 + β·0 = 0, so αp + βq ∈ H. Hence H is a subspace of P₃[x]. Basis: for p = a₀ + a₁x + a₂x² + a₃x³, the odd terms integrate to zero on [−1, 1], so L(p) = 2a₀ + (2/3)a₂. L(p) = 0 ⇔ a₂ = −3a₀, so p = a₀(1 − 3x²) + a₁x + a₃x³. Thus 1 − 3x², x, x³ spans H; it is linearly independent (distinct highest powers x², x, x³), so it is a basis of H and dim H = 3. (ii) Take K = span1. Since L(1) = 2 ≠ 0, 1 ∉ H, so H ∩ K = 0. Also dim H + dim K = 3 + 1 = 4 = dim P₃[x], so H + K = P₃[x]. Hence P₃[x] = H ⊕ K. (Explicitly, p = (p − c) + c with c = ½∫₋₁¹ p dx.)

(b)(i) Reversing the order of integration Region: 0 ≤ x ≤ 2, x² + 1 ≤ y ≤ 2x + 1. The curves y = x² + 1 and y = 2x + 1 meet where x² = 2x, i.e. at (0, 1) and (2, 5). For fixed y ∈ [1, 5], x runs from the line x = (y − 1)/2 to the parabola x = √(y − 1). I = ∫₁⁵ ∫_(y−1)/2^√(y−1) x² y dx dy = ∫₁⁵ (y/3)[(y − 1)³/2 − (y − 1)³/8] dy. Put u = y − 1 (u from 0 to 4): I = (1/3)∫₀⁴ (u + 1)(u³/2 − u³/8) du = (1/3)[(2/7)u⁷/2 + (2/5)u⁵/2 − u⁵/40 − u⁴/32]₀⁴ = (1/3)(256/7 + 64/5 − 128/5 − 8) = (1/3)(552/35) = 184/35 ≈ 5.257.

(b)(ii) Volume of the tetrahedron The plane x/a + y/b + z/c = 1 (a, b, c > 0) meets the axes at (a, 0, 0), (0, b, 0), (0, 0, c); with the coordinate planes it bounds a tetrahedron in the first octant. V = ∫₀^a ∫₀^b(1 − x/a) ∫₀^c(1 − x/a − y/b) dz dy dx. Integrating in z: c(1 − x/a − y/b). Integrating in y from 0 to b(1 − x/a): (bc/2)(1 − x/a)². V = (bc/2)∫₀^a (1 − x/a)² dx = (bc/2)(a/3) = abc/6.

(c) The other two generators The cone 5yz − 8zx − 3xy = 0 has vertex at the origin, and (1, 2, 3) lies on it: 30 − 24 − 6 = 0. (Also the coefficients of x², y², z² sum to 0, the condition for the cone to have sets of three mutually perpendicular generators.) The other two generators are perpendicular to (1, 2, 3), so they lie in the plane x + 2y + 3z = 0 through the vertex. Put x = −2y − 3z in the cone: 5yz − 8z(−2y − 3z) − 3(−2y − 3z)y = 0 ⇒ 5yz + 16yz + 24z² + 6y² + 9yz = 0 ⇒ 6y² + 30yz + 24z² = 0 ⇒ y² + 5yz + 4z² = 0 ⇒ (y + z)(y + 4z) = 0. y = −z: x = 2z − 3z = −z, direction ratios (1, 1, −1): x/1 = y/1 = z/(−1). y = −4z: x = 8z − 3z = 5z, direction ratios (5, −4, 1): x/5 = y/(−4) = z/1. Check: (1, 2, 3)·(1, 1, −1) = 0, (1, 2, 3)·(5, −4, 1) = 0, (1, 1, −1)·(5, −4, 1) = 0, so the three generators are mutually perpendicular.

How this answer will be evaluated

Evaluation rubric

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

  1. (a) Two parts on the vector space P3[x] over R: (i) prove that H = {p : integral from -1 to 1 of p(x) dx = 0} is a subspace and exhibit a basis of H; (ii) produce a subspace K with P3[x] = H (direct sum) K, i.e. a complement of H. 15 marks

    Must cover

    • H = ker L for the linear functional L(p) = ∫₋₁¹ p dx (or direct closure check), so H is a subspace
    • L(p) = 2a₀ + (2/3)a₂ = 0 ⇔ a₂ = −3a₀; basis {1 − 3x², x, x³}, dim H = 3
    • K = span{1} (any polynomial with non-zero integral): H ∩ K = {0} and dim H + dim K = 4 ⇒ P₃[x] = H ⊕ K

    Loses marks

    • Keeping the a₁ and a₃ terms (which vanish by oddness), giving a wrong condition
    • Basis such as {x, x², x³} or {1, x, x³} whose elements do not all lie in H
    • Checking only closure under addition
    • Choosing K inside H (e.g. span{x³}), so the sum is not direct

    Earns more

    • Explicit decomposition p = (p − c) + c with c = ½∫₋₁¹ p dx
  2. (b)(i) Evaluate the double integral of x^2 y over the region 0 <= x <= 2, x^2 + 1 <= y <= 2x + 1 by the prescribed method of reversing the order of integration (dy dx to dx dy), and give the numerical value. 10 marks

    Must cover

    • Curves meet at (0, 1) and (2, 5); reversed limits 1 ≤ y ≤ 5, (y − 1)/2 ≤ x ≤ √(y − 1)
    • Inner integral (y/3)[(y − 1)^{3/2} − (y − 1)³/8]
    • I = 184/35 ≈ 5.257

    Loses marks

    • Reversed x-limits √(y − 1) to (y − 1)/2, giving −184/35
    • Wrong y-range such as 0 to 5
    • Inverting y = 2x + 1 as x = 2(y − 1) or x = (y + 1)/2
    • Not reversing the order as prescribed (method marks lost even if 184/35 is obtained)

    Earns more

    • Outer integration via u = y − 1: (1/3)(256/7 + 64/5 − 128/5 − 8) = (1/3)(552/35) = 184/35
  3. (b)(ii) Find, by triple (or double) integration, the volume of the tetrahedron cut off from the first octant by the plane x/a + y/b + z/c = 1 together with the three coordinate planes. 10 marks

    Must cover

    • Intercepts (a, 0, 0), (0, b, 0), (0, 0, c); limits 0 ≤ z ≤ c(1 − x/a − y/b), 0 ≤ y ≤ b(1 − x/a), 0 ≤ x ≤ a
    • After z and y integration: (bc/2)(1 − x/a)²
    • V = abc/6

    Loses marks

    • Answer abc/3 or abc/2 from wrong limits
    • Integrating over the rectangle 0 ≤ x ≤ a, 0 ≤ y ≤ b instead of the triangle
    • Only quoting the geometric formula with no integration (answer marks only)

    Earns more

    • Check by the geometric formula V = (1/3)(ab/2)c = abc/6
  4. (c) Given that the line x/1 = y/2 = z/3 is one of a set of three mutually perpendicular generators of the cone 5yz - 8zx - 3xy = 0, find the equations of the other two generators. 15 marks

    Must cover

    • The other two generators lie in the plane x + 2y + 3z = 0 through the vertex, perpendicular to (1, 2, 3)
    • Substitution gives y² + 5yz + 4z² = 0, i.e. (y + z)(y + 4z) = 0
    • Generators x/1 = y/1 = z/(−1) and x/5 = y/(−4) = z/1

    Loses marks

    • Using a plane x + 2y + 3z = k with k ≠ 0, not through the vertex
    • Sign slip in substituting x = −2y − 3z, giving a quadratic that does not factorise
    • Reporting only one of the two generators

    Earns more

    • Verifies (1, 2, 3) lies on the cone and notes the coefficients of x², y², z² sum to 0 (condition for three mutually perpendicular generators)
    • Verifies the three directions are mutually perpendicular and lie on the cone
What "Prove" is asking you to do

Establish that the statement holds for every case it claims, not for one representative case. The argument must be closed: each line follows from a definition, a hypothesis, or a named theorem you are entitled to use.

Structure that answers it

Given and to prove, restated → theorem or construction to be used, named → the argument line by line → conclusion stated as proved

Where marks are lost

Testing one example, which illustrates but proves nothing. On an if and only if claim, proving one direction and stopping forfeits that half outright, and degenerate cases — zero, the empty set, the equality case — have to be disposed of rather than assumed away.

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