View Single Post
Old 2005 October 10th, 08:39 PM   #88 (permalink)
christoph
Eager!
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 32
christoph just joined TestMagic.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rpms
What is your strategy for the divisibility problems ? Are there any specifc posts that deals with tough questions on divisibility

Lets say the question you posed.

A number when divided by a divisor leaves a remainder of 24. When twice the original number is divided by the same divisor, the remainder is 11. What is the value of the divisor?

My approach will be

y = x*q + 24

2*y = x*(2q) + 48 = x*2q + 37 + 11 => (11 is remainder as per problem)
=> 2*y = [x*2q + 37] + 11
Since 37 is a prime no. There are no common factors between 2q and 37
=> x must be 37 for
2*y = 37 (2q+1) + 11

I have to admit, I took long time to solve this. I won't have that luxury in test.

What is the quick approach.
here is the quick approach. you know 3 remainders. r1=r2=24 and r3=11. the formula is r1+r2-d=r3. 24+24-d=11 is d=37
christoph is offline