Live GMAT classes with Target Test Prep start Nov 21 and Nov 22. First class free.

See classes
Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 winner: Target Test Prep, #1 Test Prep

Target Test Prep was voted #1 Best Test Prep in the 2026 Newsweek Readers’ Choice™ Awards.

★★★★★5.0563 reviews
GMATLiveTeachStarts Nov 22
Josh Braslow, Target Test Prep GMAT expert
LIVE ONLINE CLASSES

Get Ready for GMAT Test Day Faster with Live Online Classes

with Josh Braslow, 20+ years in test prep

Nov 22 · Josh Braslow
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes + 6 months of TTP OnDemand
  • Attend the first class for free
  • Every class is recorded, so you never fall behind
View classes & enroll
Limited seats availableTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeachOnDemandStart anytime
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Target Test Prep EA OnDemand

Self-paced EA prep. Study on your schedule.

EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

with

165+ EA score guarantee
$05-day trial no automatic billing
Schedule
Included
40 hours of live online classes plus six months of access to the complete TTP EA OnDemand course.
  • 165+ EA Score Guarantee
  • 4,100+ Quant, Verbal, and Integrated Reasoning practice questions
  • 400+ hours of in-depth video lessons
  • 3,000+ step-by-step video solutions
View EA class & enroll Start free 5-day trial
Limited cohort · enrollment openTrial includes full course accessTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemandStart anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

715+ score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions

Number Properties - Advanced

Expert replies
by davo45 » Sat Mar 05, 2011 10:23 pm
Q1
a and b are integers such that a/b =3.45. If R is the remainder of a/b, which of the following could NOT be equal to R?

a) 3 b)9 c)36 d)81 E)144

I understand how to derive the equation to 20 X R = 9 X b.

Lost on how the correct answer is a) (3).

Q2
When 15 is divided by y, the remainder is y - 3. If Y must be an integer, what are all the
possible values of y?

Understand the remainder,y, must be at least 3 and y at most can only be 18.

From this point you could pick numbers, dividing 15 by these numbers to check to see whether the
remainder is 3 lower than the number you have picked. Only 15 divided by 3,6,9, and 18 yield remainders
three less than the divisor:
15 = (5 x3) + 0
15 = (2 x 6) + 3
15 = (1 x 9) + 6
15 = (0 x 18) + 15

Remainder of 0 is 3 less than divisor of 3.
Remainder of 3 is 3 less than divisor of 6.
Remainder of 6 is 3 less than divisor of 9.
Remainder of 15 is 3 less than divisor of 18.


answer is 3,6,9,18. Still dont understand.

Please explain.

Thanks and regards

Charles
Join the discussion
Source: — Problem Solving |

by Anurag@Gurome » Sat Mar 05, 2011 10:44 pm
davo45 wrote:a and b are integers such that a/b =3.45. If R is the remainder of a/b, which of the following could NOT be equal to R?

a) 3 b)9 c)36 d)81 E)144
Say, when a is divided by b, the quotient is x.
Hence, a = bx + R

But, a/b = 3.45 => a = 3.45b = 3b + .45b

As a, b and R are integers, comparing the terms, x must be equal to 3 and R must be equal to 0.45b.

Hence, for b to be integer, (R/0.45) must be an integer.
For R = 3, (R/.45) is not an integer, i.e. 3 cannot be a value of R.

The correct answer is A.
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/
Join the discussion

by Night reader » Sat Mar 05, 2011 10:47 pm
a/b=345/100 --> 69/20
69/20 = 3 +9/20
69*4/20*4 = 3 + 36/80
69*9/20*9 = 3 + 81/180
69*16/20*16 = 3 + 144/320
Only 3 cannot be remainder

correct answer is A.
davo45 wrote:Q1
a and b are integers such that a/b =3.45. If R is the remainder of a/b, which of the following could NOT be equal to R?

a) 3 b)9 c)36 d)81 E)144


Thanks and regards

Charles
My knowledge frontiers came to evolve the GMATPill's methods - the credited study means to boost the Verbal competence. I really like their videos, especially for RC, CR and SC. You do check their study methods at https://www.gmatpill.com
Join the discussion

by Night reader » Sat Mar 05, 2011 10:55 pm
15/y = i (i is integer) + (y-3)/y --> 15/y = i + 1 -3/y --> 15/y +3/y = i + 1 --> 18/y = i + 1;
y= 18/(i+1), y can be an integer if and only if 18 divided by (i+1) gives an integer; this is possible when i has the following values {0,1,2,5,8,17}. Total six values for i and six values for y {18,9,6,3,2,1}

davo45 wrote:
Q2
When 15 is divided by y, the remainder is y - 3. If Y must be an integer, what are all the
possible values of y?

Understand the remainder,y, must be at least 3 and y at most can only be 18.

From this point you could pick numbers, dividing 15 by these numbers to check to see whether the
remainder is 3 lower than the number you have picked. Only 15 divided by 3,6,9, and 18 yield remainders
three less than the divisor:
15 = (5 x3) + 0
15 = (2 x 6) + 3
15 = (1 x 9) + 6
15 = (0 x 18) + 15

Remainder of 0 is 3 less than divisor of 3.
Remainder of 3 is 3 less than divisor of 6.
Remainder of 6 is 3 less than divisor of 9.
Remainder of 15 is 3 less than divisor of 18.


answer is 3,6,9,18. Still dont understand.

Please explain.

Thanks and regards

Charles
My knowledge frontiers came to evolve the GMATPill's methods - the credited study means to boost the Verbal competence. I really like their videos, especially for RC, CR and SC. You do check their study methods at https://www.gmatpill.com
Join the discussion

by arora007 » Sat Mar 05, 2011 10:59 pm
1)
.45 = X/b (as per formula)

45/100 = X/b

9/20 =X/b (reduce)

now 9,36,81,144 are all multiples of 9 so they cannot be the answer.
3 is not a multiple of 9 and is our choice.
https://www.skiponemeal.org/
https://twitter.com/skiponemeal
Few things are impossible to diligence & skill.Great works are performed not by strength,but by perseverance

pm me if you find junk/spam/abusive language, Lets keep our community clean!!
Join the discussion

by GMATGuruNY » Sun Mar 06, 2011 3:16 am
Q1
a and b are integers such that a/b =3.45. If R is the remainder of a/b, which of the following could NOT be equal to R?

a) 3 b)9 c)36 d)81 E)144

I understand how to derive the equation to 20 X R = 9 X b.
When one positive integer doesn't divide evenly into another positive integer, we can represent what's left over as a decimal (5/2 = 2.5) or as a remainder (5/2 = 2 R 1). The problem above is testing the relationship between the decimal representation and the remainder representation. Here's the relationship:

decimal * divisor = remainder

Let's revisit 5/2 = 2.5. If we multiply the decimal (.5) by the divisor (2), we get .5 * 2 = 1, which is the remainder if we represent the division as 5/2 = 2 R1.

In the problem above. the decimal is .45, the divisor is b, and the answer choices represent possible remainders. The correct answer -- the answer that cannot be the value of R -- will yield a non-integer value for b.

Answer choice A: R = 3

.45b = 3
b = 3/.45 = 300/45 = 20/3.

The correct answer is A.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
Join the discussion

by Testtrainer » Sun Mar 06, 2011 6:44 pm

Step-by-step method for dealing with remainder questions when picking numbers or plugging in answers doesn't apply:

1) Rephrase as equation: remainder = decimal x divisor
R = .45b

2) Rephrase decimal using 10^-x
R = 45 x 10^-2b

3) Prime factor all terms
R = 3^2 x 5 x 2^-2 x 5^-2 x b

4) Combine terms
R = 2^-2 x 3^2 x 5^-2 x b

5) Rephrase as ratio/fraction:
R/b = 3^2/5 x 2^2

We now know that R must be a multiple of 9 (and that b must be multiple of 20).[/u]
Join the discussion

by aljaz11 » Mon Mar 07, 2011 11:17 pm
15/y = i (i is integer) + (y-3)/y --> 15/y = i + 1 -3/y --> 15/y +3/y = i + 1 --> 18/y = i + 1;
y= 18/(i+1), y can be an integer if and only if 18 divided by (i+1) gives an integer; this is possible when i has the following values {0,1,2,5,8,17}. Total six values for i and six values for y {18,9,6,3,2,1}


can you please clarify me how did you come to (y-3)/y ? everything else from there is clear but in the question it says:: When 15 is divided by y, the remainder is y - 3. I just can not understand how did you come to (y-3)/y
Join the discussion

by Night reader » Tue Mar 08, 2011 12:06 am
@aljaz11, hi :) the selection (made by me) was your question, correct? Let me ask you - when 15 is divided by 2, the remainder is 1, how you understand the remainder 1/15? The same way I consider "When 15 is divided by y and the remainder is y-3 --> 15/y= integer + (y-3)/y. anything else, please post that
aljaz11 wrote:15/y = i (i is integer) + (y-3)/y --> 15/y = i + 1 -3/y --> 15/y +3/y = i + 1 --> 18/y = i + 1;
y= 18/(i+1), y can be an integer if and only if 18 divided by (i+1) gives an integer; this is possible when i has the following values {0,1,2,5,8,17}. Total six values for i and six values for y {18,9,6,3,2,1}


can you please clarify me how did you come to (y-3)/y ? everything else from there is clear but in the question it says:: When 15 is divided by y, the remainder is y - 3. I just can not understand how did you come to (y-3)/y
My knowledge frontiers came to evolve the GMATPill's methods - the credited study means to boost the Verbal competence. I really like their videos, especially for RC, CR and SC. You do check their study methods at https://www.gmatpill.com
Join the discussion

by aljaz11 » Tue Mar 08, 2011 1:14 am
hi, yes that was what i was asking you about

i must admit i still dont comprehend the (y-3)/y im trying hard :)

you gave an example:
15 is divided by 2 the remainder is 1 or 1/15.... i do understand that remainder of 1 is 1/15 of 15 (or 1part out of 15) but if we divide 15 by 2 we get 7 and the remainder is a whole number 1 (or 15/15...thats where i am confused with 1/15)

im just having trouble trying to cross this gap.... thanks for the help!!
Join the discussion

by Night reader » Tue Mar 08, 2011 1:18 am
the fact that we have remainder puts zero possibility on having 0 as a remainder - otherwise there's no remainder; i is just an integer to give us a remainder with having 15 divided by y as well as remainder has the form (y-3)/y, ok?
aljaz11 wrote:hi, yes that was what i was asking you about

i must admit i still dont comprehend the (y-3)/y im trying hard :)

you gave an example:
15 is divided by 2 the remainder is 1 or 1/15.... i do understand that remainder of 1 is 1/15 of 15 (or 1part out of 15) but if we divide 15 by 2 we get 7 and the remainder is a whole number 1 (or 15/15...thats where i am confused with 1/15)

im just having trouble trying to cross this gap.... thanks for the help!!
My knowledge frontiers came to evolve the GMATPill's methods - the credited study means to boost the Verbal competence. I really like their videos, especially for RC, CR and SC. You do check their study methods at https://www.gmatpill.com
Join the discussion