BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Divisors/Factors

Problem Solving — algebra and arithmetic (GMAT Focus Edition)
This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 68
Joined: Mon May 04, 2009 10:01 pm

Divisors/Factors

by DCJ » Sun Jul 26, 2009 1:00 pm
I've always thought of a factor as an integer that divides evenly into another integer

I read a definition that stated that for an integer N, a divisor is a POSITIVE integer that can divide N into another integer.

Divisors of 100: 100, 50, 25...

Why can't divisors be negative? (since 100 can be divided by -25 to yield -4)
Top
Source: — Quantitative Reasoning |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2623
Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2008 3:17 am
Location: Montreal
Thanked: 1090 times
Followed by:355 members
GMAT Score:780

by Ian Stewart » Sun Jul 26, 2009 4:48 pm
Divisors can certainly be negative. On the GMAT, however, every divisibility question I've ever seen is restricted to positive integers only (the question will say 'positive divisors'), so it's very unlikely you'll need to be concerned about negative divisors on test day.

Out of curiosity, where did you read that definition of a divisor? It isn't correct.
For online GMAT math tutoring, or to buy my higher-level Quant books and problem sets, contact me at ianstewartgmat at gmail.com

ianstewartgmat.com
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1