Last visit was: 22 Dec 2024, 14:37 It is currently 22 Dec 2024, 14:37

Close

GRE Prep Club Daily Prep

Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GRE score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.

Close

Request Expert Reply

Confirm Cancel
Verbal Expert
Joined: 18 Apr 2015
Posts: 30472
Own Kudos [?]: 36818 [3]
Given Kudos: 26100
Send PM
Verbal Expert
Joined: 18 Apr 2015
Posts: 30472
Own Kudos [?]: 36818 [0]
Given Kudos: 26100
Send PM
Retired Moderator
Joined: 10 Apr 2015
Posts: 6218
Own Kudos [?]: 12234 [2]
Given Kudos: 136
Send PM
Manager
Manager
Joined: 01 Apr 2022
Posts: 65
Own Kudos [?]: 15 [0]
Given Kudos: 79
Send PM
Re: If n = 20! + 17, then n is divisible by which of the followi [#permalink]
GreenlightTestPrep wrote:
Carcass wrote:
If \(n = 20! + 17\), then n is divisible by which of the following?

I. 15
II. 17
III. 19

(A) None
(B) I only
(C) II only
(D) I and II
(E) II and III


Answer choice I: is 20! + 17 divisible by 15?
20! + 17 = (20)(19)(18)(17)(16)(15)(other stuff) + 15 + 2
= (15)(some number + 1) + 2
(15)(some number + 1) is a multiple of 15
So, (15)(some number + 1) + 2 is 2 greater than a multiple of 15
So, if we divide (15)(some number + 1) + 2 by 15, the remainder will be 2
So, 20! + 17 is NOT divisible by 15
ELIMINATE B and D

Answer choice II: is 20! + 17 divisible by 17?
20! + 17 = (20)(19)(18)(17)(other stuff) + 17
= (17)(some number + 1)
If we divide (17)(some number + 1) by 17, the remainder will be 0
So, 20! + 17 IS divisible by 17
ELIMINATE A

Answer choice III: is 20! + 17 divisible by 19?
20! + 17 = (20)(19)(other stuff) + 17
= (19)(some number) + 17
If we divide (19)(some number) + 17 by 19, the remainder will be 17
So, 20! + 17 is NOT divisible by 19
ELIMINATE E


Answer: C

Cheers,
Brent


How could we write (15)(some number + 1) + 2? Need an explanation on this.
Thank You!
Retired Moderator
Joined: 10 Apr 2015
Posts: 6218
Own Kudos [?]: 12234 [2]
Given Kudos: 136
Send PM
Re: If n = 20! + 17, then n is divisible by which of the followi [#permalink]
2
SivhHarish wrote:

How could we write (15)(some number + 1) + 2? Need an explanation on this.
Thank You!


We'll start with: 20! + 17

We want to determine whether this value is divisible by 15
So let's see if we can factor 15 out of 20! + 17

Since 20! = (20)(19)(18)(17)(16)(15)(more numbers), we can factor out 15 to write: 20! + 17 = 15[(20)(19)(18)(17)(16)(more numbers)]

Also recognize that 17 = 15 + 2

So.......

20! + 17 = (20)(19)(18)(17)(16)(15)(more numbers) + 15 + 2
20! + 17 = [(20)(19)(18)(17)(16)(15)(more numbers) + 15] + 2
20! + 17 = 15[(20)(19)(18)(17)(16)(more numbers) + 1] + 2

Since 15[(20)(19)(18)(17)(16)(more numbers) + 1] is clearly a multiple of 15, . . .
. . . it must be the case that 15[(20)(19)(18)(17)(16)(more numbers) + 1] + 2 is 2 greater than some multiple of 15, which means 17 is NOT divisible by 15

Does that help?
Intern
Intern
Joined: 21 Jan 2021
Posts: 23
Own Kudos [?]: 6 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: If n = 20! + 17, then n is divisible by which of the followi [#permalink]
20! is divisible by 15, 17, and 19, so 20! + 17 lands on a multiple of 17 but not 15 or 19:

Prep Club for GRE Bot
Re: If n = 20! + 17, then n is divisible by which of the followi [#permalink]
Moderators:
GRE Instructor
88 posts
GRE Forum Moderator
37 posts
Moderator
1115 posts
GRE Instructor
234 posts

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne