31 Functions PYQ (Solutions)
Master Functions for CAT 2026 with practice questions and detailed explanations
Functions (and Graphs) are an algebra topic involving definitions of ( f(x) ), compositions, inverses, and graph-based interpretation. In CAT QA, functions appear moderately often.
- CAT 2017 included a few function/graph questions under algebra (e.g., functional inequalities).
- CAT 2018 had several function-related questions (within its ~9 algebra questions).
- CAT 2020 featured 1–3 questions per slot from “Functions and Graphs” (Slot 1 had 2, Slot 3 had 3).
- CAT 2021 included roughly 1 function question per slot.
- CAT 2023–2024 continued to include function/graph questions—typically around 1 question in some slots.
Expected Weightage:
Almost every CAT paper includes 1–2 questions on functions. These may test:
- Understanding of function definitions
- Composition and inverses
- Graph interpretation
- Maxima/minima from graphs
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Weightage Over Past Years
| Year | Q.NONumber of questions | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | Hard |
| 2023 | 1 | Hard |
| 2022 | 4 | Hard |
| 2021 | 4 | Hard |
| 2020 | 6 | Medium |
| 2019 | 4 | Hard |
| 2018 | 4 | Hard |
| 2017 | 4 | Hard |
CAT 2024 Functions questions
Question 1
Slot-1
Let , and be real numbers satisfying Then equals
Let , and be real numbers satisfying Then equals
Question 2
Slot-1
Consider two sets and . Let be a function from to such that for every element in , there is at least one element in such that . Then, the total
number of such functions is
Consider two sets and . Let be a function from to such that for every element in , there is at least one element in such that . Then, the total number of such functions is
Question 3
Slot-2
A function maps the set of natural numbers to whole
numbers, such that for all and for every
prime number . Then, the value of is
A function maps the set of natural numbers to whole numbers, such that for all and for every prime number . Then, the value of is
Question 4
Slot-3
For any non-zero real number , let . Then, the sum of all possible values of for which , is
For any non-zero real number , let . Then, the sum of all possible values of for which , is
CAT 2023 Functions questions
Question 1
Slot-3
Suppose is a real-valued function such that , for all real numbers and . The value of for which , is
Suppose is a real-valued function such that , for all real numbers and . The value of for which , is
CAT 2022 Functions questions
Question 1
Slot-1
Let and . Then the maximum value of becomes 100 when is equal to
Let and . Then the maximum value of becomes 100 when is equal to
Question 2
Slot-2
Suppose for all integers , there are two functions and such that and . If , then the value of the sum is
Suppose for all integers , there are two functions and such that and . If , then the value of the sum is
Question 3
Slot-3
Find the minimum value of
for
Find the minimum value of for
Question 4
Slot-3
Let be a real number and . Then, the equation holds for all real values of where
Let be a real number and . Then, the equation holds for all real values of where
CAT 2021 Functions questions
Question 1
Slot-1
If x₀ = 1, x₁ = 2, and , , then is equal to?
If x₀ = 1, x₁ = 2, and , , then is equal to?
Question 2
Slot-1
f(x) = is negative if and only if
f(x) = is negative if and only if
Question 3
Slot-2
For all real values of x, the range of the function f(x) = is
For all real values of x, the range of the function f(x) = is
Question 4
Slot-3
If and , then the minimum value of is
If and , then the minimum value of is
CAT 2020 Functions questions
Question 1
Slot-1
The number of real-valued solutions of the equation is
The number of real-valued solutions of the equation is
Question 2
Slot-1
If f(5 + x) = f(5 - x) for every real x and f(x) = 0 has four distinct real roots, then the sum of the roots is
If f(5 + x) = f(5 - x) for every real x and f(x) = 0 has four distinct real roots, then the sum of the roots is
Question 3
Slot-2
For real , the maximum possible value of is
For real , the maximum possible value of is
Question 4
Slot-3
Let be a constant. The equations and have a unique solution if and only if
Let be a constant. The equations and have a unique solution if and only if
Question 5
Slot-3
If f(x+y) = f(x)f(y) and f(5) = 4, then f(10) - f(-10) is equal to
If f(x+y) = f(x)f(y) and f(5) = 4, then f(10) - f(-10) is equal to
Question 6
Slot-3
If x₁ = -1 and xₘ = xₘ₊₁ + (m + 1) for every positive integer m, then x₁₀₀ equals
If x₁ = -1 and xₘ = xₘ₊₁ + (m + 1) for every positive integer m, then x₁₀₀ equals
CAT 2019 Functions questions
Question 1
Slot-1
The number of the real roots of the equation 2cos(x(x + 1)) = 2 x + 2 -x is
The number of the real roots of the equation 2cos(x(x + 1)) = 2 x + 2 -x is
Question 2
Slot-1
Consider a function where , are positive integers, and . If then is equal to.
Consider a function where , are positive integers, and . If then is equal to.
Question 3
Slot-1
For any positive integer n, let f(n) = n(n + 1) if n is even, and f(n) = n + 3 if n is odd. If m is a positive integer such that 8f(m + 1) - f(m) = 2, then m equals [TITA]
For any positive integer n, let f(n) = n(n + 1) if n is even, and f(n) = n + 3 if n is odd. If m is a positive integer such that 8f(m + 1) - f(m) = 2, then m equals [TITA]
Question 4
Slot-2
Let f be a function such that f(mn) = f(m) f(n) for every positive integers m and n. If f(1), f(2) and f(3) are positive integers, f(1) < f(2), and f(24) = 54, then f(18) equals [TITA]
Let f be a function such that f(mn) = f(m) f(n) for every positive integers m and n. If f(1), f(2) and f(3) are positive integers, f(1) < f(2), and f(24) = 54, then f(18) equals [TITA]
CAT 2018 Functions questions
Question 1
Slot-1
Let where is a positive real number. Then maximum possible value of ?
Let where is a positive real number. Then maximum possible value of ?
Question 2
Slot-1
If f(x + 2) = f(x) + f(x + 1) for all positive integers x, and f(11) = 91, f(15) = 617, then f(10) equals. [TITA]
If f(x + 2) = f(x) + f(x + 1) for all positive integers x, and f(11) = 91, f(15) = 617, then f(10) equals. [TITA]
Question 3
Slot-1
Let f(x)=min{2x2, 52 - 5x}, where x is any positive real number. Then the maximum possible value of f(x) is [TITA]
Let f(x)=min{2x2, 52 - 5x}, where x is any positive real number. Then the maximum possible value of f(x) is [TITA]
Question 4
Slot-2
Let , where is any positive real number. Then the minimum possible value of is (TITA).
Let , where is any positive real number. Then the minimum possible value of is (TITA).
CAT 2017 Functions questions
Question 1
Slot-1
If and , then the value of is:
If and , then the value of is:
Question 2
Slot-2
If f(ab) = f(a)f(b) for all positive integers a and b, then the largest possible value of f(1) is [TITA]
If f(ab) = f(a)f(b) for all positive integers a and b, then the largest possible value of f(1) is [TITA]
Question 3
Slot-2
Let f(x) = 2x – 5 and g(x) = 7 – 2x. Then |f(x) + g(x)| = |f(x)| + |g(x)| if and only if
Let f(x) = 2x – 5 and g(x) = 7 – 2x. Then |f(x) + g(x)| = |f(x)| + |g(x)| if and only if
Question 4
Slot-2
Let and , for all real . Then the value of at is
Let and , for all real . Then the value of at is
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