UPSC Prelims 2020·CSAT·Quantitative Aptitude·Geometry and Mensuration

Consider the following statements: The minimum number of points of intersection of a square and a circle is 2. The maximum number of points of intersection of a square and a circle is 8. Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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  1. A1 only
  2. B2 onlyCorrect
  3. Cboth 1 and 2
  4. Dneither 1 and 2

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect. The minimum number of points of intersection of a square and a circle is 0. This occurs if the circle and square are completely separate (e.g., far apart) or if one is entirely contained within the other without touching. It is also possible to have 1 point of intersection if the circle is tangent to one side or a vertex of the square. Therefore, the minimum is not 2. Statement 2 is correct. A circle can intersect a straight line segment at a maximum of 2 points. A square has 4 sides, which are 4 distinct line segments. It is possible to draw a circle that intersects each of the four sides of the square at two distinct points. For example, a circle centered at the square's center with a radius that cuts through each side twice will result in 4 sides * 2 points/side = 8 points of intersection. This is the maximum possible.
Quantitative Aptitude: Consider the following statements: The minimum number of points of intersection of a square and a circle is 2. The maxim

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