Live GMAT classes with Target Test Prep start Nov 21 and Nov 22. First class free.
See classesLearn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.
Target Test Prep was voted #1 Best Test Prep in the 2026 Newsweek Readers’ Choice™ Awards.
with Josh Braslow, 20+ years in test prep
Self-paced EA prep. Study on your schedule.
with
Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.
Hello M7MBA.M7MBA wrote:How many prime numbers exist between 200 and 220?
(A) None
(B) One
(C) Two
(D) Three
(E) Four
The OA is B.
Experts, what is the best approach that I could use to solve this PS question? May you give me some help?
Vincen has an excellent explanation here. The one thing I'll add is that if you find it difficult to see that 209 is divisible by 11, you can start with a number in the neighborhood that we know is divisible by 11, such as 220, and extrapolate. If 220 = 11*20, then 209, or 220 - 11, would contain one fewer 11.Vincen wrote:Hello M7MBA.M7MBA wrote:How many prime numbers exist between 200 and 220?
(A) None
(B) One
(C) Two
(D) Three
(E) Four
The OA is B.
Experts, what is the best approach that I could use to solve this PS question? May you give me some help?
I would solve it like this:
We don't have to check the even numbers.
Now, from the odd numbers:
201, 207, 210, 213, 219 are divisible by 3 (because the sum of their digits is divisible by 3).
205, 215 are divisible by 5.
Hence, we have to check just the following numbers: 203, 209, 211 and 217. Now,
203 = 7*29 (NOT PRIME).
209 = 11*19 (NOT PRIME).
211 = PRIME.
217 = 7*31 (NOT PRIME).
Hence the correct answer is the option B.
One rule that can be useful is: if we want to know if x is a prime number, we have to divide it by all the primes between 2 and $$\sqrt{x}.$$ Since $$\sqrt{220}\approx14.8$$ then we have to check only by 2, 3, 5, 7, 11 and 13.
First, we can omit all the even numbers (since they are divisible by 2) and all the odd numbers ending in 5 (since they are divisible by 5). So we are left with 201, 203, 207, 209, 211, 213, 217 and 219. We can omit 201, 207, 213 and 219 also since all of these numbers are divisible by 3 (notice that the sum of their digits is divisible by 3). So we only need to consider 203, 209, 211 and 217.M7MBA wrote:How many prime numbers exist between 200 and 220?
(A) None
(B) One
(C) Two
(D) Three
(E) Four
The OA is B.
