Number System

Divisibility, remainders, unit digits, factors and types of numbers.

47 solved questions · 18 easy · 20 medium · 9 hard

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Shortcuts & formulas

  • Divisibility: 3 and 9 by digit sum; 4 by last two digits; 8 by last three; 11 by (sum of odd-place digits - sum of even-place digits) being 0 or a multiple of 11.
  • Unit digits repeat in cycles of length 4 (0, 1, 5, 6 never change): take the power mod 4 and use 4 when the remainder is 0.
  • If N = p^a x q^b x r^c, the number of factors = (a+1)(b+1)(c+1) and the sum of factors = product of (p^(a+1) - 1)/(p - 1).
  • Trailing zeros in n! = floor(n/5) + floor(n/25) + floor(n/125) + ...
  • Dividend = Divisor x Quotient + Remainder; a number leaving remainder r when divided by d is of the form dq + r.
  • Sum of first n natural numbers = n(n+1)/2; first n odd numbers = n^2; first n even numbers = n(n+1).
  • Multiples of k up to N = floor(N/k); use inclusion-exclusion for 'divisible by a or b'.

Solved examples

Try each one first, then open the answer and the step-by-step solution.

Easy questions

Q1.

What is the unit digit of 7^75?

  1. A3
  2. B4
  3. C5
  4. D7
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. 3

Solution

Unit digits of powers of 7: 7, 9, 3, 1 (cycle of 4). 75 mod 4 = 3, so we take position 3 of the cycle. Unit digit = 3. Answer: 3

Shortcut: Divide the power by 4 and use the remainder (4 if it is 0) as the new power.

Q2.

What is the unit digit of 3^50?

  1. A0
  2. B1
  3. C9
  4. D3
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. 9

Solution

Unit digits of powers of 3: 3, 9, 7, 1 (cycle of 4). 50 mod 4 = 2, so we take position 2 of the cycle. Unit digit = 9. Answer: 9

Shortcut: Divide the power by 4 and use the remainder (4 if it is 0) as the new power.

Q3.

What is the unit digit of 2^43?

  1. A9
  2. B8
  3. C0
  4. D2
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. 8

Solution

Unit digits of powers of 2: 2, 4, 8, 6 (cycle of 4). 43 mod 4 = 3, so we take position 3 of the cycle. Unit digit = 8. Answer: 8

Shortcut: Divide the power by 4 and use the remainder (4 if it is 0) as the new power.

Q4.

What is the unit digit of 8^102?

  1. A5
  2. B6
  3. C8
  4. D4
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. 4

Solution

Unit digits of powers of 8: 8, 4, 2, 6 (cycle of 4). 102 mod 4 = 2, so we take position 2 of the cycle. Unit digit = 4. Answer: 4

Shortcut: Divide the power by 4 and use the remainder (4 if it is 0) as the new power.

Q5.

What is the unit digit of 9^25?

  1. A0
  2. B1
  3. C3
  4. D9
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. 9

Solution

Unit digits of powers of 9: 9, 1, 9, 1 (cycle of 4). 25 mod 4 = 1, so we take position 1 of the cycle. Unit digit = 9. Answer: 9

Shortcut: Divide the power by 4 and use the remainder (4 if it is 0) as the new power.

Q6.

Which of the following numbers is divisible by 11?

  1. A5556
  2. B5555
  3. C5565
  4. D5552
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. 5555

Solution

Rule: (sum of digits at odd places) - (sum at even places) must be 0 or a multiple of 11. For 5555: difference = 0. 5555 / 11 = 505. Answer: 5555

Q7.

How many factors does 72 have?

  1. A12
  2. B8
  3. C10
  4. D14
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. 12

Solution

72 = 2^3 x 3^2 Factors = (3+1)(2+1) = 12 Answer: 12

Q8.

How many factors does 180 have?

  1. A12
  2. B16
  3. C18
  4. D20
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. 18

Solution

180 = 2^2 x 3^2 x 5 Factors = (2+1)(2+1)(1+1) = 18 Answer: 18

Q9.

What is the sum of the first 25 odd natural numbers?

  1. A650
  2. B325
  3. C625
  4. D576
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. 625

Solution

Sum of first n odd numbers = n^2 = 25^2 = 625. Answer: 625

Shortcut: Sum of the first n odd numbers is n squared.

Q10.

What is the remainder when 748653 is divided by 9?

  1. A6
  2. B1
  3. C2
  4. D4
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. 6

Solution

A number leaves the same remainder mod 9 as its digit sum. Digit sum = 7+4+8+6+5+3 = 33 33 mod 9 = 6 Answer: 6

Q11.

What is the smallest prime number greater than 90?

  1. A91
  2. B93
  3. C99
  4. D97
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. 97

Solution

91 = 7 x 13, 92 is even, 93 = 3 x 31, 94 is even, 95 = 5 x 19, 96 is even, so all are composite. 97 is not divisible by 2, 3, 5 or 7, so it is prime. Answer: 97

Q12.

What is the largest 3-digit number divisible by 13?

  1. A975
  2. B988
  3. C987
  4. D962
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. 988

Solution

999 / 13 = 76 remainder 11. Largest multiple = 999 - 11 = 988. Answer: 988

Shortcut: Divide 999 by the number and subtract the remainder.

Q13.

How many prime numbers are there from 1 to 50?

  1. A15
  2. B14
  3. C16
  4. D17
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. 15

Solution

Primes up to 50: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47. Count = 15. Answer: 15

Q14.

If the 5-digit number 4x521 is divisible by 3, which of the following can be the value of x?

  1. A1
  2. B2
  3. C6
  4. D4
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. 6

Solution

Digit sum = 4 + x + 5 + 2 + 1 = 12 + x. 12 + x must be a multiple of 3, so x is 0, 3, 6 or 9. From the options only 6 works (12 + 6 = 18). Answer: 6

Q15.

How many multiples of 7 are there from 1 to 200?

  1. A29
  2. B28
  3. C27
  4. D30
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. 28

Solution

Count = floor(200/7) = 28. Answer: 28

Q16.

Which of the following numbers is divisible by 8?

  1. A7412
  2. B7418
  3. C7414
  4. D7416
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. 7416

Solution

A number is divisible by 8 if its last three digits are divisible by 8. 416 / 8 = 52, so 7416 is divisible by 8. The others end in 412, 418, 414: 412/8 = 51.5, 418/8 = 52.25, 414/8 = 51.75, none is a whole number. Answer: 7416

Q17.

What is the sum of the first 20 even natural numbers?

  1. A400
  2. B210
  3. C380
  4. D420
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. 420

Solution

Sum of first n even numbers = n(n+1) = 20 x 21 = 420. Answer: 420

Shortcut: n(n+1) for the first n even numbers.

Q18.

Which of the following is a prime number?

  1. A91
  2. B83
  3. C87
  4. D93
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. 83

Solution

91 = 7 x 13, 87 = 3 x 29, 93 = 3 x 31, 51 = 3 x 17. 83 is not divisible by 2, 3, 5 or 7, so it is prime. Answer: 83

Medium questions

Q19.

What is the unit digit of 123 x 457 x 789?

  1. A9
  2. B1
  3. C3
  4. D7
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. 9

Solution

Only unit digits matter: 3 x 7 x 9. 3 x 7 = 21, unit digit 1 1 x 9 = 9 Answer: 9

Q20.

What is the remainder when 7^100 is divided by 5?

  1. A2
  2. B3
  3. C1
  4. D4
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. 1

Solution

Remainders of 7^k mod 5 for k = 1, 2, ...: 2, 4, 3, 1 and then repeat (cycle length 4). 100 mod 4 = 0, so remainder = 7^0 mod 5 = 1. Answer: 1

Q21.

What is the remainder when 3^81 is divided by 7?

  1. A0
  2. B1
  3. C6
  4. D2
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. 6

Solution

Remainders of 3^k mod 7 for k = 1, 2, ...: 3, 2, 6, 4, 5, 1 and then repeat (cycle length 6). 81 mod 6 = 3, so remainder = 3^3 mod 7 = 6. Answer: 6

Q22.

What is the remainder when 2^50 is divided by 9?

  1. A4
  2. B5
  3. C6
  4. D7
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. 4

Solution

Remainders of 2^k mod 9 for k = 1, 2, ...: 2, 4, 8, 7, 5, 1 and then repeat (cycle length 6). 50 mod 6 = 2, so remainder = 2^2 mod 9 = 4. Answer: 4

Q23.

Find the smallest positive number which leaves remainder 3 when divided by 5 and remainder 4 when divided by 7.

  1. A11
  2. B23
  3. C28
  4. D18
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. 18

Solution

Numbers leaving remainder 3 on division by 5: 3, 8, 13, 18, 23, ... Check which leaves 4 on division by 7: 3 (3), 8 (1), 13 (6), 18 (4). Yes. Answer: 18

Q24.

How many zeros are there at the end of 100!?

  1. A25
  2. B24
  3. C23
  4. D21
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. 24

Solution

Zeros = number of 5s in the prime factorisation = floor(100/5) + floor(100/25) + floor(100/125) = 20 + 4 + 0 = 24. Answer: 24

Shortcut: Keep dividing by 5 and add the quotients.

Q25.

How many zeros are there at the end of 60!?

  1. A14
  2. B15
  3. C13
  4. D6
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. 14

Solution

Zeros = number of 5s in the prime factorisation = floor(60/5) + floor(60/25) + floor(60/125) = 12 + 2 + 0 = 14. Answer: 14

Shortcut: Keep dividing by 5 and add the quotients.

Q26.

How many factors of 2^4 x 3^3 x 5^2 are perfect squares?

  1. A6
  2. B24
  3. C12
  4. D60
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. 12

Solution

A perfect-square factor has even powers. 2 can have power 0, 2, 4 (3 choices); 3 can have 0, 2 (2 choices); 5 can have 0, 2 (2 choices). Count = 3 x 2 x 2 = 12. Answer: 12

Q27.

How many even factors does 360 have?

  1. A24
  2. B18
  3. C6
  4. D20
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. 18

Solution

360 = 2^3 x 3^2 x 5. Total factors = 4 x 3 x 2 = 24. Odd factors = factors of 3^2 x 5 = 3 x 2 = 6. Even factors = 24 - 6 = 18. Answer: 18

Shortcut: Even factors = 3 (powers 1 to 3 of 2) x 3 x 2 = 18.

Q28.

What is the sum of all factors of 180?

  1. A545
  2. B540
  3. C504
  4. D546
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. 546

Solution

180 = 2^2 x 3^2 x 5. Sum = (1+2+4)(1+3+9)(1+5) = 7 x 13 x 6 = 546. Answer: 546

Q29.

A number when divided by 357 leaves remainder 39. What is the remainder when the same number is divided by 17?

  1. A2
  2. B3
  3. C4
  4. D5
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. 5

Solution

Number = 357q + 39. Since 357 = 17 x 21, the first term is a multiple of 17. Remainder = 39 mod 17 = 5. Answer: 5

Q30.

How many numbers from 1 to 500 are divisible by 3 or 5?

  1. A266
  2. B233
  3. C200
  4. D234
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. 233

Solution

Divisible by 3: floor(500/3) = 166 Divisible by 5: 100 Divisible by both (15): floor(500/15) = 33 Inclusion-exclusion: 166 + 100 - 33 = 233. Answer: 233

Q31.

If the number 37x2 is divisible by 9, what is the value of x?

  1. A6
  2. B1
  3. C3
  4. D5
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. 6

Solution

Digit sum = 3 + 7 + x + 2 = 12 + x. For divisibility by 9, 12 + x must be 18 (the only multiple of 9 reachable by a single digit), so x = 6. Answer: 6

Q32.

What is the least number that must be added to 7,586 so that the sum is exactly divisible by 13?

  1. A7
  2. B19
  3. C6
  4. D8
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. 6

Solution

7,586 / 13 leaves remainder 7. Number to add = 13 - 7 = 6. Check: 7586 + 6 = 7592 = 13 x 584. Answer: 6

Q33.

What is the least number that must be added to 9,500 so that the sum is exactly divisible by 17?

  1. A14
  2. B20
  3. C3
  4. D4
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. 3

Solution

9,500 / 17 leaves remainder 14. Number to add = 17 - 14 = 3. Check: 9500 + 3 = 9503 = 17 x 559. Answer: 3

Q34.

What is the least number that must be subtracted from 5000 so that the result is divisible by 24?

  1. A8
  2. B16
  3. C9
  4. D7
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. 8

Solution

5000 / 24 = 208 remainder 8. Subtract the remainder: 8. Answer: 8

Q35.

How many 2-digit numbers are divisible by 4?

  1. A23
  2. B21
  3. C25
  4. D22
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. 22

Solution

2-digit multiples of 4: 12, 16, ..., 96. Count = (96 - 12)/4 + 1 = 22. Answer: 22

Q36.

What are the last two digits of 7^100?

  1. A07
  2. B01
  3. C49
  4. D43
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. 01

Solution

7^2 = 49, 7^4 = 49 x 49 = 2401, whose last two digits are 01. 7^100 = (7^4)^25, and 01 raised to any power ends in 01. Answer: 01

Q37.

What is the remainder when 1! + 2! + 3! + ... + 30! is divided by 5?

  1. A3
  2. B0
  3. C1
  4. D2
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. 3

Solution

From 5! onwards every factorial is divisible by 5, so only 1! + 2! + 3! + 4! matters. 1 + 2 + 6 + 24 = 33. 33 mod 5 = 3. Answer: 3

Q38.

What is the remainder when 2^10 is divided by 11?

  1. A0
  2. B2
  3. C1
  4. D10
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. 1

Solution

2^5 = 32 = 2 x 11 + 10, so 2^5 is -1 mod 11. 2^10 = (2^5)^2 = (-1)^2 = 1 mod 11. Answer: 1

Shortcut: Fermat: 2^10 mod 11 = 1 since 11 is prime.

Hard questions

Q39.

What are the last two digits of 13^50?

  1. A09
  2. B49
  3. C69
  4. D29
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. 49

Solution

13^2 = 169 -> 69 13^4 = 69^2 = 4761 -> 61 13^5 = 61 x 13 = 793 -> 93 13^10 = 93^2 = 8649 -> 49 13^20 = 49^2 = 2401 -> 01 13^50 = 13^20 x 13^20 x 13^10 -> 01 x 01 x 49 = 49. Answer: 49

Q40.

How many numbers from 1 to 1000 are divisible by none of 2, 3 and 5?

  1. A267
  2. B334
  3. C333
  4. D266
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. 266

Solution

Inclusion-exclusion on numbers divisible by 2, 3 or 5. By 2: 500, by 3: 333, by 5: 200. By 6: 166, by 10: 100, by 15: 66. By 30: 33. Union = 500 + 333 + 200 - 166 - 100 - 66 + 33 = 734. None = 1000 - 734 = 266. Answer: 266

Q41.

What is the sum of all 3-digit numbers divisible by 7?

  1. A70,329
  2. B70,441
  3. C70,238
  4. D70,336
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. 70,336

Solution

Smallest = 105 (7 x 15), largest = 994 (7 x 142). Number of terms = 142 - 15 + 1 = 128. Sum = 128 x (105 + 994)/2 = 64 x 1099 = 70,336. Answer: 70,336

Q42.

What is the smallest natural number having exactly 15 factors?

  1. A96
  2. B144
  3. C162
  4. D196
Show answer & solution

Answer: B. 144

Solution

15 = 15 x 1 or 5 x 3, so N = p^14 or p^4 x q^2. Smallest: 2^4 x 3^2 = 16 x 9 = 144 (2^14 = 16384 is much larger). Answer: 144

Q43.

What is the remainder when 1! + 2! + 3! + ... + 50! is divided by 7?

  1. A5
  2. B1
  3. C2
  4. D3
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. 5

Solution

From 7! onwards every term is divisible by 7. 1! + 2! + 3! + 4! + 5! + 6! = 1 + 2 + 6 + 24 + 120 + 720 = 873. 873 = 7 x 124 + 5. Answer: 5

Q44.

What is the remainder when 3^100 is divided by 13?

  1. A1
  2. B2
  3. C3
  4. D9
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. 3

Solution

3^3 = 27 = 2 x 13 + 1, so 3^3 leaves remainder 1. 3^100 = (3^3)^33 x 3 leaves 1^33 x 3 = 3. Answer: 3

Q45.

In how many ways can 360 be written as a product of two coprime factors (order does not matter; 1 x 360 counts)?

  1. A3
  2. B6
  3. C4
  4. D8
Show answer & solution

Answer: C. 4

Solution

360 = 2^3 x 3^2 x 5 has 3 distinct prime factors. Unordered coprime pairs = 2^(3-1) = 4. They are 1 x 360, 8 x 45, 9 x 40, 5 x 72. Answer: 4

Q46.

For how many positive integers n is n^2 + 100 a perfect square?

  1. A1
  2. B0
  3. C2
  4. D3
Show answer & solution

Answer: A. 1

Solution

Let n^2 + 100 = m^2, so (m - n)(m + n) = 100. Both factors must have the same parity, hence both even: 2 x 50 or 10 x 10. 2 x 50 gives m = 26, n = 24. 10 x 10 gives n = 0, which is not positive. So exactly 1 value (n = 24). Answer: 1

Q47.

How many numbers from 1 to 1000 leave remainder 3 when divided by 4, remainder 5 when divided by 6 and remainder 8 when divided by 9?

  1. A26
  2. B28
  3. C25
  4. D27
Show answer & solution

Answer: D. 27

Solution

Each remainder is 1 less than the divisor, so N + 1 is a multiple of LCM(4, 6, 9) = 36. N = 36k - 1, and N <= 1000 means 36k <= 1001, so k <= 27.8. k = 1 to 27 gives 27 numbers (35, 71, ..., 971). Answer: 27

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