Problems on Numbers Questions

FACTS  AND  FORMULAE  FOR  PROBLEMS  ON  NUMBERS

 

 

I. Numeral : In Hindu Arabic system, we use ten symbols 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 called digits to represent any number. A group of digits, denoting a number is called a numeral.

We represent a number, say 689745132 as shown below :

Ten-CroresCroresTen-LacsLacsTen-ThousandsThousands689745HundredsTensUnits132

We read it as : 'Sixty-eight crores, ninety-seven lacs, forty-five thousand, one hundred and thirty-two'.

 

II. PlaceValue or Local Value of a Digit in a Numeral: In the above numeral : Place value of 2 is (2 x 1) = 2 Place value of 3 is (3 x 10) = 30 Place value of 1 is (1 x 100) = 100 and so on. Place value of 6 is 6×108 = 600000000

 

III. Face Value : The face value of a digit in a numeral is the value of the digit itself at whatever place it may be. In the above numeral, the face value of 2 is 2; the face value of 3 is 3 and so on.

 

IV.TYPES OF NUMBERS

1. Natural Numbers : Counting numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,..... are called natural numbers.

 

2. Whole Numbers : All counting numbers together with zero form the set of whole numbers. Thus,

(i) 0 is the only whole number which is not a natural number.

(ii) Every natural number is a whole number. 

 

3. Integers : All natural numbers, 0 and negatives of counting numbers i.e., {…, -3,-2,-1, 0, 1, 2, 3,…..} together form the set of integers.

(i) Positive Integers : {1, 2, 3, 4, …..} is the set of all positive integers.

(ii) Negative Integers : {- 1, - 2, - 3,…..} is the set of all negative integers.

(iii) Non-Positive and Non-Negative Integers : 0 is neither positive nor negative. So, {0, 1, 2, 3,….} represents the set of non-negative integers, while{0, -1,-2,-3,…..} represents the set of non-positive integers.

 

4. Even Numbers : A number divisible by 2 is called an even number, e.g., 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, etc.

 

5. Odd Numbers : A number not divisible by 2 is called an odd number. e.g., 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, etc.

 

6. Prime Numbers : - A number greater than 1 is called a prime number, if it has exactly two factors, namely 1 and the number itself. - Prime numbers upto 100 are : 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43,47, 53, 59, 61, 67, 71, 73, 79, 83, 89, 97. - Prime numbers Greater than 100 : Let p be a given number greater than 100. To find out whether it is prime or not, we use the following method : Find a whole number nearly greater than the square root of p. Let k > sqrt{p}. Test whether p is divisible by any prime number less than k. If yes, then p is not prime. Otherwise, p is prime. e.g., We have to find whether 191 is a prime number or not. Now, 14 > sqrt{191}.Prime numbers less than 14 are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13. 191 is not divisible by any of them. So, 191 is a prime number.

 

7. Composite Numbers : Numbers greater than 1 which are not prime, are known as composite numbers, e.g., 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12.

Note :

(i) 1 is neither prime nor composite.

(ii) 2 is the only even number which is prime.

(iii) There are 25 prime numbers between 1 and 100.

 

8. Co-primes :Two numbers a and b are said to be co-primes, if their H.C.F. is 1. e.g., (2, 3), (4, 5), (7, 9), (8, 11), etc. are co-primes

 

V. TESTS OF DIVISIBILITY

1. Divisibility By 2 : A number is divisible by 2, if its unit's digit is any of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8.

Ex. 84932 is divisible by 2, while 65935 is not.

 

2. Divisibility By 3 :A number is divisible by 3, if the sum of its digits is divisible by 3.

Ex.592482 is divisible by 3, since sum of its digits = (5 + 9 + 2 + 4 + 8 + 2) = 30, which is divisible by 3. But, 864329 is not divisible by 3, since sum of its digits =(8 + 6 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 9) = 32, which is not divisible by 3.

 

3. Divisibility By 4 : A number is divisible by 4, if the number formed by the last two digits is divisible by 4.

Ex. 892648 is divisible by 4, since the number formed by the last two digits is 48, which is divisible by 4. But, 749282 is not divisible by 4, since the number formed by the last tv/o digits is 82, which is not divisible by 4.

 

4. Divisibility By 5 : A number is divisible by 5, if its unit's digit is either 0 or 5.

Thus, 20820 and 50345 are divisible by 5, while 30934 and 40946 are not.

 

5. Divisibility By 6 : A number is divisible by 6, if it is divisible by both 2 and 3.

Ex. The number 35256 is clearly divisible by 2. Sum of its digits = (3 + 5 + 2 + 5 + 6) = 21, which is divisible by 3. Thus, 35256 is divisible by 2 as well as 3. Hence, 35256 is divisible by 6.

 

6. Divisibility By 8 : A number is divisible by 8, if the number formed by the last three digits of the given number is divisible by 8.

Ex. 953360 is divisible by 8, since the number formed by last three digits is 360, which is divisible by 8. But, 529418 is not divisible by 8, since the number formed by last three digits is 418, which is not divisible by 8.

 

7. Divisibility By 9 : A number is divisible by 9, if the sum of its digits is divisible by 9.

Ex. 60732 is divisible by 9, since sum of digits * (6 + 0 + 7 + 3 + 2) = 18, which is divisible by 9. But, 68956 is not divisible by 9, since sum of digits = (6 + 8 + 9 + 5 + 6) = 34, which is not divisible by 9.

 

8. Divisibility By 10 : A number is divisible by 10, if it ends with 0. Ex. 96410, 10480 are divisible by 10, while 96375 is not.

 

9. Divisibility By 11 : A number is divisible by 11, if the difference of the sum of its digits at odd places and the sum of its digits at even places, is either 0 or a number divisible by 11.

Ex. The number 4832718 is divisible by 11, since : (sum of digits at odd places) - (sum of digits at even places) (8 + 7 + 3 + 4) - (1 + 2 + 8) = 11, which is divisible by 11.

 

10. Divisibility By 12 : A number is divisible by 12, if it is divisible by both 4 and 3.

Ex. Consider the number 34632.

(i) The number formed by last two digits is 32, which is divisible by 4

(ii) Sum of digits = (3 + 4 + 6 + 3 + 2) = 18, which is divisible by 3. Thus, 34632 is divisible by 4 as well as 3.

Hence, 34632 is divisible by 12.

 

11. Divisibility By 14 : A number is divisible by 14, if it is divisible by 2 as well as 7.

 

12. Divisibility By 15 : A number is divisible by 15, if it is divisible by both 3 and 5.

 

13. Divisibility By 16 : A number is divisible by 16, if the number formed by the last4 digits is divisible by 16.

Ex.7957536 is divisible by 16, since the number formed by the last four digits is 7536, which is divisible by 16.

 

14. Divisibility By 24 : A given number is divisible by 24, if it is divisible by both3 and 8.

 

15. Divisibility By 40 : A given number is divisible by 40, if it is divisible by both 5 and 8.

 

16. Divisibility By 80 : A given number is divisible by 80, if it is divisible by both 5 and 16.

Note : If a number is divisible by p as well as q, where p and q are co-primes, then the given number is divisible by pq. If p and q are not co-primes, then the given number need not be divisible by pq, even when it is divisible by both p and q.

Ex. 36 is divisible by both 4 and 6, but it is not divisible by (4x6) = 24, since 4 and 6 are not co-primes.

 

VI . MULTIPLICATION BY SHORT CUT METHODS

1. Multiplication By Distributive Law :

(i) a x (b + c) = a x b + a x c      (ii) a x (b-c) = a x b-a x c.

 

Ex.

(i) 567958 x 99999 = 567958 x (100000 - 1) = 567958 x 100000 - 567958 x 1 = (56795800000 - 567958) = 56795232042.  

 

(ii) 978 x 184 + 978 x 816 = 978 x (184 + 816) = 978 x 1000 = 978000.

 

2. Multiplication of a Number By 5n : Put n zeros to the right of the multiplicand and divide the number so formed by2n

Ex. 975436 x 625 = 975436×54 = 975436000024  = 609647600 

 

 

VII. DIVISION ALGORITHM OR EUCLIDEAN ALGORITHM :  If we divide a given number by another number, then:Dividend = (Divisor x Quotient) + Remainder

 

VIII.

(i). xn-an is divisible by (x - a) for all values of n

(ii). xn-anis divisible by (x + a) for all even values of n.    

(iii). xn+anis divisible by (x + a) for all odd values of n.

 

IX. PROGRESSION A succession of numbers formed and arranged in a definite order according to certain definite rule, is called a progression.

 

1. Arithmetic Progression (A.P) : If each term of a progression differs from its preceding term by a constant, then such a progression is called an arithmetical progression. This constant difference is called the common difference of the A.P.

An A.P. with first term 'a' and common difference 'd' is given by a, (a + d), (a + 2d),(a + 3d),.....

1. nth term = a + (n - 1)d

2. Sum of n terms = n22a+n-1d = n2[a+l] , Where l is the last term.

SOME IMPORTANT RESULTS : 

1. 1+2+3+...+n=12nn+1

2. 12+22+32+...+n2=16n(n+1)(2n+1)

3. 13+23+33+...+n3=14n2n+1 2

 

2. Geometrical Progression (G.P) : A progression of numbers in which every term bears a constant ratio with its preceding term, is called a geometrical progression. The constant ratio is called the common ratio of the G.P.

A G.P. with first term 'a' and common ratio 'r' is : a,ar,ar2,ar3,... In this G.P.

I. nth term = arn-1

 

II. Sum of n terms=a1-rn1-rwhere r<1arn-1r-1where r>1

Q:

The product of three consecutive even numbers when divided by 8 is 720. The product of their square roots is :

A) 12 sqrt(10) B) 24 sqrt(10)
C) 120 D) none of these
 
Answer & Explanation Answer: B) 24 sqrt(10)

Explanation:

Let the numbers be x, x + 2 and X + 4.

Then, x(x + 2)(x +4) / 8 = 720 => x(x + 2)(x +4) = 5760.

√x  *  √(x + 2) * √(x +4) = √x(x +2)(x + 4 ) = √5760  =  24√10.

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19 14651
Q:

The sum of a proper fraction and its reciprocal is 61/30. Find the fraction.

 

A) 1/3 B) 5/6
C) 3/10 D) 3/5
 
Answer & Explanation Answer: B) 5/6

Explanation:
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0 14568
Q:

The sum of the squares of two numbers is 3341 and the diference of their squares is 891. The numbers are :

A) 35 and 46 B) 35 and 50
C) 40 and 55 D) 45 and 60
 
Answer & Explanation Answer: A) 35 and 46

Explanation:

Let the numbers be x and y. Then,

 

x^2+y^2=3341......(1)

 

x^2-y^2=891......(2)

 

Adding (i) and (ii), we get : 2x^2=4232 or x^2= 2116 or x =46

 

Subtracting (ii) from (i), we get : 2y^2= 2450 or y^2 = 1225 or y = 35

 

So, the numbers are 35 and 46

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14 14380
Q:

The difference between a two-digit number and the number obtained by interchanging the two digits is 63. Which is the smaller of the two numbers ?

A) 12 B) 15
C) 17 D) none of these answers can be determined
 
Answer & Explanation Answer: D) none of these answers can be determined

Explanation:

Let the ten's digit be x and unit's digit be y.

Then, (10x + y) - (10y + x) = 63  

=>  9 (x - y) = 63

=> x - y = 7.

Thus, none of the numbers can be deermined..

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5 13462
Q:

There are four prime numbers written in ascending order of magnitude. The product of the first three is 385 and of the last three is 1001. Find the fourth number ?

A) 17 B) 19
C) 13 D) 11
 
Answer & Explanation Answer: C) 13

Explanation:

(385/1001) = 5/13

First Number is 5

=> Fourth number is 13 

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14 13391
Q:

Which of the given options is the pattern of the sequence 1, 5, 11, 19, 29?

 

A) x2 + x - 1 B) x2 + x + 1
C) x2 + x - 2 D) x2 - x - 1
 
Answer & Explanation Answer: A) x2 + x - 1

Explanation:
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1 13384
Q:

On multiplying a number by 7, the product is a number each of whose digits is 3. The smallest such number is  ?

A) 476190476 B) 48617
C) 47619 D) 4587962
 
Answer & Explanation Answer: C) 47619

Explanation:

By hit and trail, we find that

47619 x 7 = 333333.

7) 333333 (47619
    333333
----------------
        0

And 476190476 x 7 = 3333333333 but smallest number is 47619.

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16 12842
Q:

If a number 72k23l is divisible by 88. Then find value of k and l ?

A) k=8 & l=2 B) k=7 & l=2
C) k=8 & l=3 D) k=7 & l=1
 
Answer & Explanation Answer: B) k=7 & l=2

Explanation:

If a number to be divisile by 88, it should be divisible by both "8" and "11"

Check for '8' :
For a number to be divisible by "8", the last 3-digit should be divisible by "8"
Here 72x23y --> last 3-digit is '23y'
So y=2 [ (i.e) 232 is absolutely divisible by "8"]

Chech for '11' :
For a number to be divisible by "11" , sum of odd digits - sum of even digits should be divisible by "11"
(7 + x + 3) - (2 + 2 + y)
(7 + x + 3) - (2 + 2 + 2)
(10 + x) - 6 should be divisible by "11"
for x = 7
=> 17 - 6 = 11 [ which is absolutely divisible by "11"]

So x = 7 , y= 2.

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10 12603