It is given that the question paper consists of 12 questions divided into two parts - Part I and Part II, containing 5 and 7 questions, respectively.
A student has to attempt 8 questions, selecting at least 3 from each part.
This can be done as follows.
(a) 3 questions from part I and 5 questions from part II
(b) 4 questions from part I and 4 questions from part II
(c) 5 questions from part I and 3 questions from part II
3 questions from part I and 5 questions from part II can be selected in \(^5C_3\times\space^7C_5\) ways.
4 questions from part I and 4 questions from part II can be selected in \(^5C_4 \times\space^7C_4\) ways.
4 questions from part I and 4 questions from part II can be selected in \(^5C_5\times\space^7C_3\) ways.
Thus, required number of ways of selecting questions
\(=\)\(^5C_3\times\space^7C_5+^5C_4\times\space^7C_4+^5C_5\times\space^7C_3\)
\(=\)\(\frac{5!}{2!3!}\times\frac{7!}{2!5!}+\frac{5!}{4!1!}\times\frac{7!}{4!3!}+\frac{5!}{5!0!}\times\frac{7!}{3!4!}\)
\(=210+175+35=420\)