factor problem

This topic has expert replies
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 32
Joined: Sat Jul 16, 2011 11:31 am

factor problem

by Md.Nazrul Islam » Tue Apr 03, 2012 8:13 pm
when positive integer x is divided by 5, the remainder is 3,and when x is divided by 7 the remainder is 4. when positive integer y is divided by 5,the remainder is 3,and when y is divided by 7 the remainder is 5.if x>y, what must be a factor of x-y ?

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 3835
Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:00 pm
Location: Milpitas, CA
Thanked: 1854 times
Followed by:523 members
GMAT Score:770

by Anurag@Gurome » Tue Apr 03, 2012 9:11 pm
Md.Nazrul Islam wrote:when positive integer x is divided by 5, the remainder is 3,and when x is divided by 7 the remainder is 4. when positive integer y is divided by 5,the remainder is 3,and when y is divided by 7 the remainder is 5.if x>y, what must be a factor of x-y ?
When a positive integer x is divided by 5, the remainder is 3 implies x = 5a + 3, here x can be 3, 8, 13, 18, 23, ...
When x is divided by 7 the remainder is 4 implies x = 7b + 4, here x can be 4, 11, 18, 25, ...
Now divisor will be the least common multiple (LCM) of above two divisors 5 and 7, which is 35.
Now 18 is the first common integer in the above two series, 3, 8, 13, 18, 23, ... and 4, 11, 18, 25, ...
So, x = 35c + 18
Similarly, y = 35d + 33

Then x - y = 35c + 18 - (35d + 33) = 35(c - d) - 15 = 5[7(c - d) - 3], which implies that x - y should be a multiple of 5.
Last edited by Anurag@Gurome on Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Anurag Mairal, Ph.D., MBA
GMAT Expert, Admissions and Career Guidance
Gurome, Inc.
1-800-566-4043 (USA)

Join Our Facebook Groups
GMAT with Gurome
https://www.facebook.com/groups/272466352793633/
Admissions with Gurome
https://www.facebook.com/groups/461459690536574/
Career Advising with Gurome
https://www.facebook.com/groups/360435787349781/

Legendary Member
Posts: 581
Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2011 7:53 am
Thanked: 52 times
Followed by:5 members

by killer1387 » Tue Apr 03, 2012 9:23 pm
Md.Nazrul Islam wrote:when positive integer x is divided by 5, the remainder is 3,and when x is divided by 7 the remainder is 4. when positive integer y is divided by 5,the remainder is 3,and when y is divided by 7 the remainder is 5.if x>y, what must be a factor of x-y ?
its 5

Legendary Member
Posts: 581
Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2011 7:53 am
Thanked: 52 times
Followed by:5 members

by killer1387 » Tue Apr 03, 2012 9:30 pm
Anurag@Gurome wrote:
Md.Nazrul Islam wrote:when positive integer x is divided by 5, the remainder is 3,and when x is divided by 7 the remainder is 4. when positive integer y is divided by 5,the remainder is 3,and when y is divided by 7 the remainder is 5.if x>y, what must be a factor of x-y ?
When a positive integer x is divided by 5, the remainder is 3 implies x = 5a + 3, here x can be 3, 8, 13, 18, 23, ...
When x is divided by 7 the remainder is 4 implies x = 7b + 4, here x can be 4, 11, 18, 25, ...
Now divisor will be the least common multiple (LCM) of above two divisors 5 and 7, which is 35.
Now 18 is the first common integer in the above two series, 3, 8, 13, 18, 23, ... and 4, 11, 18, 25, ...
So, x = 35c + 18
Similarly, y = 35d + 18, say.

Then x - y = 35c + 18 - (35d + 18) = 35(c - d), which implies that x - y should be a multiple of 35.
@Anurag
the bold face part above is wrong

it should be

y=35d + 33

x-y= 35(c-d)+ (18-33)=35(c-d)-15=5{7(c-d)-3}

it should be 5.

Also the example can be

x=53;y=33 where x>y
x-y=20 which is a multiple of 5 NOT 35.


Pls explain if i am going wrong somewhere.
Last edited by killer1387 on Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 61
Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2010 11:09 pm
Thanked: 8 times

by Pharo » Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:27 pm
killer1387 wrote: @Anurag
the bold face part above is wrong

it should be

y=35d + 33

x-y= 35(c-d)+ (18-33)=35(c-d)-15=5{c-d-3}

it should be 5.

Also the example can be

x=53;y=33 where x>y
x-y=20 which is a multiple of 5 NOT 35.


Pls explain if i am going wrong somewhere.
You are right man. Anurag made a mistake with 18 there. y = 35d + 33 is the correct formula. However, you made a factoring mistake as well :P

x-y = 35 (c-d) + 15;
x-y = 5 (7(c-d) - 3);

The answer remains unchanged though; it's still 5 :)

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 3835
Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:00 pm
Location: Milpitas, CA
Thanked: 1854 times
Followed by:523 members
GMAT Score:770

by Anurag@Gurome » Tue Apr 03, 2012 10:32 pm
Pharo wrote:You are right man. Anurag made a mistake with 18 there. y = 35d + 33 is the correct formula. However, you made a factoring mistake as well :P

x-y = 35 (c-d) + 15;
x-y = 5 (7(c-d) - 3);

The answer remains unchanged though; it's still 5 :)
Thanks for noticing guys! I have edited the previous reply.
Anurag Mairal, Ph.D., MBA
GMAT Expert, Admissions and Career Guidance
Gurome, Inc.
1-800-566-4043 (USA)

Join Our Facebook Groups
GMAT with Gurome
https://www.facebook.com/groups/272466352793633/
Admissions with Gurome
https://www.facebook.com/groups/461459690536574/
Career Advising with Gurome
https://www.facebook.com/groups/360435787349781/

Legendary Member
Posts: 581
Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2011 7:53 am
Thanked: 52 times
Followed by:5 members

by killer1387 » Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:19 pm
Pharo wrote:
killer1387 wrote: @Anurag
the bold face part above is wrong

it should be

y=35d + 33

x-y= 35(c-d)+ (18-33)=35(c-d)-15=5{c-d-3}

it should be 5.

Also the example can be

x=53;y=33 where x>y
x-y=20 which is a multiple of 5 NOT 35.


Pls explain if i am going wrong somewhere.
You are right man. Anurag made a mistake with 18 there. y = 35d + 33 is the correct formula. However, you made a factoring mistake as well :P

x-y = 35 (c-d) + 15;
x-y = 5 (7(c-d) - 3);

The answer remains unchanged though; it's still 5 :)
:) yeah man noticed on only common 5 left rest unnoticed.
have edited
:)

Legendary Member
Posts: 581
Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2011 7:53 am
Thanked: 52 times
Followed by:5 members

by killer1387 » Tue Apr 03, 2012 11:20 pm
repeat