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Q7. Consider two circles with radii a, and b and centers at (b, 0), (a, 0) respectively with b<a. Let the crescent shaped region M has a third circle which at any position is tangential to both the inner circle and the outer circle. Find the locus of center c of the third circle as it traverses through the region M (remaining tangential to both the circle.

Discussion:

Join AC and BC. AC passes through, $(T_1)$ the point of tangency of the smaller circle with the circle with center at (a, 0) and BC when extended touches $(T_2)$ which is the other point of the tangency.
Assume the radius of the moving (and growing circle) to be r at a particular instance. Then AC = a+r and BC = b-r.
Then AC+BC = a+b which is a constant for any position of C. Hence C is a point whose some of distances from two fixed points at any instant is a constant. This is the locus definition of an ellipse with foci at (a, 0) and (b, 0).

Q8. Let $S = {1, 2, ... , n}$. Let $(f_1 , f_2 , ... )$ be functions from S to S (one-one and onto). For any function f, call D, subset of S, to be invariant if for all x in D, f(x) is also in D. Note that for any function the null set and the entire set are ‘invariant’ sets. Let $\deg(f)$ be the number of invariant subsets for a function.
a) Prove that there exists a function with $\deg(f)=2$.
b) For a particular value of k prove that there exist a function with $\deg(f)$ = $(2^k)$

Discussion:

(a)

Consider the function defined piecewise as f(x) = x – 1 is $(x \ne 1)$ and f(x) = n if x = 1

Of course null set and the entire sets are invariant subsets. We prove that there are no other invariant subsets.

Suppose $D = {(a_1 , a_2 , ... , a_k )}$ be an invariant subset with at least one element.

Since we are working with natural numbers only, it is possible to arrange the elements in ascending order (there is a least element by well ordering principle).

Suppose after rearrangement $D = {(b_1 , b_2 , ... , b_k )}$ where $(b_1)$ is the least element of the set

If $(b_1 \ne 1)$ then $(f(b_1) = b_1 -1)$ is not inside D as $(b_1)$ is the smallest element in D. Hence D is no more an invariant subset which is contrary to our initial assumption.

This $(b_1)$ must equal to 1.

As D is invariant subset $(f(b_1) = n )$ must belong to D. Again f(n) = n-1 is also in D and so on. Thus all the elements from 1 to n are in D making D=S.

Hence we have proved that degree of this function is 2.

(b)

For a natural number ‘k’ to find a function with ${\deg(f)}$ = $(2^k)$ define the function piecewise as

f(x) = x for $(1\le x \le k-1)$
= n for x=k
= x-1 for the rest of elements in ‘n’

To construct an invariant subset the ‘k-1’ elements which are identically mapped, and the entirety of the ‘k to n’ elements considered as a unit must be considered. Thus there are total k-1 + 1 elements with which subsets are to be constructed. There are $(2^k)$ subsets possible.