Questions on divisibility are presented along with and their detailed solutions. The division of integers by integers could be written in different forms. For example integer n divided by integer m yields a remainder r is written as:
Question 1:
If a positive integer n is divided by 5, the remainder is 3. Which of the numbers below yields a remainder of 0 when it is divided by 5?
A) n + 3 B) n + 2 C) n - 1 D) n - 2 E) n + 1
Solution
n divided by 5 yields a remainder equal to 3 is written as follows
n = 5 k + 3 , where k is an integer.
add 2 to both sides of the above equation to obtain
n + 2 = 5 k + 5 = 5(k + 1)
The above suggests that n + 2 divided by 5 yields a remainder equal to zero. The answer is B.
Answer: B
Question 2:
If an integer n is divisible by 3, 5 and 12, what is the next larger integer divisible by all these numbers?
A) n + 3 B) n + 5 C) n + 12 D) n + 60 E) n + 15
Solution
If n is divisible by 3, 5 and 12 it must a multiple of the lcm of 3, 5 and 12 which is 60.
n = 60 k
n + 60 is also divisible by 60 since
n + 60 = 60 k + 60 = 60(k + 1)
Answer: D
Question 3:
What is the smallest integer that is multiple of 5, 7 and 20?
A) 70 B) 35 C) 200 D) 280 E) 140
Solution
It is the lcm of 5, 7 and 20 which is 140.
Answer: E
Question 4:
When the integer n is divided by 8, the remainder is 3. What is the remainder if 6n is divided by 8?
A) 0 B) 1 C) 2 D) 3 E) 4
Solution
When n is divided by 8, the remainder is 3 may be written as
n = 8 k + 3
multiply all terms by 6
6 n = 6(8 k + 3) = 8(6k) + 18
Write 18 as 16 + 2 since 16 = 8 * 2.
= 8(6k) + 16 + 2
Factor 8 out.
= 8(6k + 2) + 2
The above indicates that if 6n is divided by 8, the remainder is 2.
Answer: C
Question 6:
What is the smallest positive 2-digit whole number divisible by 3 and such that the sum of its digits is 9?
A) 27 B) 33 C) 72 D) 18 E) 90
Solution
Let xy be the whole number with x and y the two digits that make up the number. The number is divisible by 3 may be written as follows
10 x + y = 3 k
The sum of x and y is equal to 9.
x + y = 9
Solve the above equation for y
y = 9 - x
Substitute y = 9 - x in the equation 10 x + y = 3 k to obtain.
10 x + 9 - x = 3 k
Solve for x
x = (k - 3) / 3
x is a positive integer smaller than 10
Let k = 1, 2, 3, ... and select the first value that gives x as an integer. k = 6 gives x = 1
Find y using the equation y = 9 - x = 8
The number we are looking for is 18 and the answer is D. It is divisible by 3 and the sum of its digits is equal to 9 and it is the smallest and positive whole number with such properties.
Answer: D
Question 7:
Which of these numbers is not divisible by 3?
A) 339 B) 342 C) 552 D) 1111 E) 672
Solution
One may answer this question using a calculator and test for divisibility by 3. However we can also test for divisibilty by adding the digits and if the result is divisible by3 then the number is divisible by 3.
3 + 3 + 9 = 15 , divisible by 3.
3 + 4 + 2 = 9 , divisible by 3.
5 + 5 + 2 = 12 , divisible by 3.
1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 4 , not divisible by 3.
The number 1111 is not divisible by 3 the answer is D.
Answer: D
