Practise 49 Discrete Structures and Optimization questions asked in UGC NET Computer Science from 2020–2025. Questions cover Mathematical logic, Sets and relations, Counting, Group theory, Graph theory and Boolean algebra. Every question is shown with its options and the correct answer, free to read.
Practise Discrete Structures and Optimization as timed sets
Focused 10-question sets with instant scoring, explanations, and weak-area analysis.
Ordered newest exam first. Each question links back to the full paper it came from.
Arrange the following graphs by number of edges in increasing order, for n > 3.
A. Kₙ (complete graph)
B. Cₙ (cycle graph)
C. Wₙ (wheel graph)
D. Kₙ,ₙ (complete bipartite graph)
E. Qₙ (n-cube graph)
Answer: (B) B, A, C, D, E
Explanation
Which of the following is the complement of the Boolean function AB + CD′ + A′B + CD′?
Answer: (C) (A + B′)(C′ + D)
Explanation
Consider the LPP: maximise z = 30x − 18y subject to 3x + 4y ≤ 60, 5x − 3y ≥ 20, and x, y ≥ 0. Which listed point is the solution?
A. (4, 0)
B. (2, 0)
C. (7, 5)
D. (0, 15)
E. (8, 5)
Answer: (C) E only
Explanation
If x and y are elements of a group G, x⁵ = y³ = e, and e is the identity, then the inverse of x²yx⁴y² is
Answer: (B) yxy²x³
Explanation
Which statements about the sets are true?
A. ∅ ∈ ∅
B. ∅ ∈ {∅}
C. {∅} ⊂ {∅, {∅}}
D. {∅} ∈ {∅}
E. {∅} ⊂ (∅, {∅})
Answer: (D) C and E only
Explanation
Which one is not a basic solution of the system x₁ + 2x₂ + x₃ = 4 and 2x₁ + x₂ + 5x₃ = 5?
Answer: (A) x₁ = −1, x₂ = 2, x₃ = 1
Explanation
Match Boolean algebra laws with axioms.
| List-I | List-II |
|---|---|
| A. Absorption law B. Bounded law C. Identity law D. Distributive law | I. a + 1 = 1 II. a + 0 = a III. a(b + c) = ab + ac IV. a + ab = a |
Answer: (A) A-IV, B-I, C-II, D-III
Explanation
Which is the simplified form of the Boolean function with minterms Σm(0, 1, 3, 7) over variables A, B and C?
Answer: (C) A′B′ + BC
Explanation
The probability that A hits a target is 1/4 and the probability that B hits the target is 2/5. Both shoot. What is the probability that at least one hits the target?
Answer: (D) 11/20
Explanation
Match List-I with List-II: Match the logical equivalence propositions.
| List-I | List-II |
|---|---|
| A. p → q B. ¬(p ∨ (¬p ∧ q)) C. p ↔ q D. ¬(p ↔ q) | I. (p ∧ q) ∨ (¬p ∧ ¬q) II. ¬p ∨ q III. ¬(p ∨ q) IV. ¬p ↔ q |
Answer: (C) A-II, B-III, C-I, D-IV
Explanation
The mathematical notation to describe logical entailment of a sentence α entails another sentence β is
Answer: (A) α ⊨ β
Explanation
Which of the three displayed graphs is/are planar?

Graphs A, B and C for Question 133
Answer: (C) A only
Explanation
Consider the given number (45) y where y is the
base of the number. Some of the possible values
of y are given below.
A. 5
B. 6
C. 7
D. 8
Answer: (B) (B), (C) and (D) Only
Explanation
Let P be "It is hot day" and q be "The
temperature is 48°C". Write in simple sentences
the meaning of ¬p∧¬q.
Answer: (C) It is neither a hot day nor temperature is 48°C
Explanation
A graph G with number of vertices greater and
equal than three i.e. (n ≥ 3) is a Hamiltonian
graph, if the degree of each vertex is greater and
equal to . . . .
Answer: (C) Half of number of vertices
Explanation
A coin is tossed successively three times. Find the
Probability (P), Event (E), Sample space (S) of
getting exactly one head or two heads, where n
is number of occurrence.
A. n(S) = 8 and n(E) = 4
B. n(E) = 6 and n(S) = 8
C. P(E) = 3/4
D. P(E) = 1/2
Answer: (B) (B) and (C) Only
Explanation
Out of the following steps in the proper
sequence for simplifying a Boolean function
using a Karnaugh map (K-map).
A. Identify and group the largest possible
cluster of 1's
B. Draw the K-map for the given Boolean
function
C. Write the simplified Boolean expression from
the grouped clusters
D. Transfer the truth table values to the K-map
Answer: (A) (B), (D), (A), (C)
Explanation
Let L (x , y) be the statement "x loves y" where
the domain for both x and y consists of all people
in the world. Use quantifiers to express "Joy is
loved by everyone".
Answer: (A) ∀x L(x,Joy)
Explanation
Match List-I with List-II.
| List-I (Queries) | List-II (Probability) |
|---|---|
| (A) A bag contains 6 white and 4 red balls. Two balls are drawn at random. What is the chance they will be the same colour? | (I) 3/68 |
| (B) In a pack of 52 cards, one card is drawn at random. What is the probability that it is either a king or a queen? | (II) 14/68 |
| (C) A bag contains 6 red, 4 white and 8 blue balls. If three balls are drawn at random, find the probability of 1 red and 2 white balls. | (III) 2/13 |
| (D) A bag contains 6 red, 4 white and 8 blue balls. If three balls are drawn at random, find the probability of 2 blue and 1 red balls. | (IV) 7/15 |
Answer: (D) (A)-(IV), (B)-(III), (C)-(I), (D)-(II)
Explanation
Match List-I with List-II.
| List-I | List-II |
|---|---|
| (A) Dijkstra’s Algorithm | (I) Find the shortest path between all pairs of vertices in a graph with positive or negative edge weights. |
| (B) Floyd-Warshall Algorithm | (II) Finds the shortest path in a weighted graph with non-negative edge weights. |
| (C) Bellman-Ford Algorithm | (III) Finds single-source shortest paths with possible negative weights. |
| (D) Prim’s Algorithm | (IV) Finds the Minimum Spanning Tree (MST). |
Answer: (B) (A)-(II), (B)-(I), (C)-(III), (D)-(IV)
Explanation
An undirected graph has vertex set V and edge set E. If it has l edges, what is the sum of the degrees of all vertices?
Answer: (A) 2l
Explanation
40 software professionals were interviewed for a
job. 25 knew PYTHON 20 knew JAVA and 7 knew
neither language. How many knew both
languages ?
Answer: (A) 12
Explanation
Translate ∀x ∃y (x < y) into English. Consider the domain to be the real numbers for both variables.
Answer: (A) For all real numbers x, there exists a real number y such that x is less than y
Explanation
What is the probability that a positive integer selected at random from the set of positive integer not exceeding 100 is divisible by either 2 or 5 ?
Answer: (B) 3/5
Explanation
In a feed forward neural network with the following specifications : Input layer has 4 neurons, hidden layer has 3 neurons and output layer has 2 neurons using the sigmoid activation function for given input values [0.5, 0.8, 0.2, 0.6] as well as the initial weights for the connections. WI : (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.2] W2e [02,04 0.6,.0.2] Input layer to hidden layer weights W3 : [0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.2] W4 : (0.4, 0.1, 0.3] W5 : [0.5, 0.2, 0.4] Hidden layer to output layer weights What is the output of the output layer when the given input values are passed through neural network ? Round the answer to two decimal places :
Answer: (A) [0.62, 0.68]
Explanation
If universe of disclosure are all real numbers, then which of the following are true ?
A. 3x ¥y (&+y=y)
B. Wx Vy((K>0)\y<0)) xy) (©) 3x Sy (((X<0)(y<0))AGe—y>0))
D. Vx Vy((x#0)A(y#0)>(xy#0)) Choose the correct answer from the options given below :
Answer: (D) (A), (B), () and (D) Only
Explanation
If the universe of disclosure is set of integers, then which of the followings are TRUE ?
A. Vn 3m(n2< m)
B. 3n Vm(n < m2)
C. Jn Vm(nm=m)
D. Jn Sm(n?+m?=6)
E. Jn dm(n+m=4 \ n—-m=1) Choose the correct answer from the options given below :
Answer: (B) (B) and (C) Only
Explanation
Which of the following(s) are main memory ?
A. Virtual memory
B. Cache memory
C. RAM
D. SSD Choose the correct answer from the options given below :
Answer: (B) (B) and (C) Only
Explanation
The statement P(x) : "x=x?". If the universe of disclosure consists of integers, what are the following have truth values :
A. PC)
B. PC) () PQ)
D. Ax P(x) (BE) Vx P(x) Choose the correct answer from the options given below :
Answer: (C) (A), (B) and (D) Only
Explanation
Which of the following statement are truth statements if universe of disclosure is set of integers :
A. Vn(n?20)
B. An(n?=2)
C. Vn(n?>n)
D. n(n*<0) Choose the correct answer from the options given below :
Answer: (D) (A) and (C) Only
Explanation
Arrange the following encoding strategies used in Genetic Algorithms (GAs) in the correct sequence starting from the initial step and ending with the final representation of solutions :
A. Binary Encoding
B. Real valued Encoding
C. Permutation Encoding
D. Gray coding Choose the correct answer from the options given below :
Answer: (C) (©), ), (A), @)
Explanation
Arrange the following steps in the correct order for a DHCP Client to renew its IP lease with a DHCP server :
A. DHCP client sends a DHCPREQUEST message
B. DHCP server acknowledges the renewal with a DHCPACK message
C. DHCP client checks the local lease timer and initiates renewal
D. DHCP server updates its lease database Choose the correct answer from the options given below :
Answer: (D) (©, (A), (), (D)
Explanation
The minimum cost of food is :
Food X contains 6 units of Vitamin D per gram and 7 units of Vitamin E per gram and costs Rs. 12 per gram. Food Y contains 8 units of Vitamin D per gram and 12 units of Vitamin E per gram and costs Rs. 20 per gram. The daily minimum requirements of vitamin D and vitamin E are 100 units and 120 units respectively. Let x and y be the quantities in grams of Food X and Food Y.
Answer: (A) 205
Explanation
Number of tuples obtained by applying cartesian product over X and Y are :
| X (S, Si, C) | Y (S, P, D) |
|---|---|
(J, 1, M) (B, 2, N) (R, 3, H) (T, 4, G) | (J, S₁, CA) (B, P₁, AB) (R, D₁, DC) (A, H₁, MD) |
Answer: (A) 16
Explanation
Match List-I with List-II.
| Source matching prompt | Source values |
|---|---|
| See question stem | See answer choices |
Answer: (C) (A)-(), (8)-(), ©-€V), (D)-@)
Explanation
Match List-I with List-II.
| Source matching prompt | Source values |
|---|---|
| See question stem | See answer choices |
Answer: (B) (A)-CV), (B-(), (QC, (D)-(m)
Explanation
Match List-I with List-II.
| Source matching prompt | Source values |
|---|---|
| See question stem | See answer choices |
Answer: (B) (A), (B)-(), (CCD, (D)-(IV)
Explanation
The number of positive integers not exceeding 100 that are either odd or the square of an integer is ____.
Answer: (C) 55
Explanation
How many ways are there to pack six copies of the same book into four identical boxes, where a box can contain as many as six books?
Answer: (D) 9
Explanation
Which of the following pairs of propositions are not logically equivalent?
Answer: (D) ((p ∧ q) → r) and ((p → r) ∧ (q → r))
Explanation
Consider the linear programming problem:
Maximise Z = 2x₁ + 3x₂
Subject to 2x₁ + x₂ ≤ 4; x₁ + 2x₂ ≤ 5; x₁, x₂ ≥ 0.
The optimum value of the LP is
Answer: (D) 8
Explanation
What is the radix of the numbers if the solution to x² − 10x + 26 = 0 is x = 4 and x = 7?
Answer: (D) 11
Explanation
If f(x) means “x is my friend” and p(x) means “x is perfect”, translate: “Some of my friends are not perfect.”
Answer: (B) ∃x (f(x) ∧ ¬p(x))
Explanation
On A = {a,b,c,d,e,f,g}, R = {(a,a),(b,b),(c,d),(c,g),(d,g),(e,e),(f,f),(g,g)}. Which listed property is satisfied: reflexive, antisymmetric, symmetric?
Answer: (D) Antisymmetric but not reflexive
Explanation
For the premise ∀x(P(x) ∨ Q(x)), an argument tries to conclude (∀xP(x)) ∧ (∀xQ(x)) by instantiating P(c) ∨ Q(c) and then simplifying to P(c) and Q(c). Which assessment is correct?
Answer: (B) Steps deriving P(c) and Q(c) are not correct inferences.
Explanation
Which simplified expressions represent F(A,B,C,D) = Σ(0,1,2,3,6,12,13,14,15)?
A. A′B′ + AB + A′C′D′
B. A′B′ + AB + A′CD′
C. A′B′ + AB + BC′D′
D. A′B′ + AB + BCD′
Answer: (D) (B) and (D) only
Explanation
A radical person is electable if the person is conservative, and otherwise is not electable. Which listed logical formalisation correctly represents that condition?
Answer: (C) (A) and (C) only (4) (B) and (D) only
Explanation
Match List I with List II
Let R, = {(1,1), (2,2), (3,3)} and R2 = {(1,1), (1,2), (1,3), (1,4)}
List I List IT
A. R, UR: @ = {(1,1),.2).(1.3),2.4).(2.2).(3,3)}
B. Ry —R, aq) {aD}
C. RiARz MM) {(1.2),(2.3).(1.4}}
@) R:-R; QV) {(2.2),(8,3)}
| List I | List II |
|---|---|
| Items are listed in the question stem. | Match each item to its stated description or complexity. |
Answer: (A) ALT. B-Il. C-IV. D-III (2) AI, B-IV, C-II, D-II
Explanation
Given below are two statements:
Statement I: 5 divides n5 — n whenever n is a nonnegative integer.
Statement II: 6 divides n? — n whenever n is a nonnegative integer.
In the light of the above statements. choose the correct answer from the options given below
Answer: (A) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
Explanation
49 Discrete Structures and Optimization questions appear in the UGC NET Computer Science papers held between 2020–2025, and all of them are on this page with their answer key.
Yes. Every question, its options, and the correct answer are free to read with no account. Signing in additionally unlocks the detailed explanation under each question.
Discrete Structures and Optimization appears in every recent UGC NET Computer Science paper, across all 4 sittings covered here. Its share of the paper makes it worth revising thoroughly rather than sampling.
Attempt the Discrete Structures and Optimization topic-wise sets, which put the same questions into a timed interface with instant scoring and weak-area analysis afterwards.
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