NinetynineRearrange into a sum of squares equal to zero, so each square is zero
CAT has tested this idea 4 times across 4 papers, from 2018 to 2024. Solve one, and the others are the same method with different numbers or wording, which is why repeated concepts are the most efficient thing to practise.
| Question | What it asks | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| CAT 2023 Slot 1 · QA Q2 near-repeat | x^2 + (x−2y−1)^2 = −4y(x+y); find x − 2y | B |
| CAT 2018 Slot 1 · QA Q16 near-repeat | same identity in u and v; find u + 3v | D |
| CAT 2024 Slot 2 · QA Q21 | 4x^2 + 4y^2 − 4xy − 6y + 3 = 0 | 7 |
| CAT 2024 Slot 1 · QA Q8 | two equations in x, y, z combine into squares | A |
Part of Equations (52 questions since 2017).