Is 0 considered a multiple on the GMAT?

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dalia0853: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 10; Joined: Mon Sep 27, 2010 11:28 pm

by dalia0853 » Sun Feb 03, 2013 1:24 pm

Hi,

Since 0 in some textbook is considered a multiple, if a problem asks you to list the first 5 multiples of 6, which of the below is considered correct?

List 1: 0, 6, 12, 18, 24

or

List 2: 6, 12, 18, 24, 30

Thanks!!

Dalia

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Ask the Test Maker | Sun Feb 03, 2013 1:24 pm

Jim@StratusPrep: MBA Admissions Consultant; Posts: 2279; Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2011 7:51 amFollowed by: 266 members; Location: New York; Thanked: 660 times; GMAT Score:770

by Jim@StratusPrep » Mon Feb 04, 2013 8:11 am

Real life - Zero is a multiple of all numbers.

GMAT - Multiples are greater than or equal to a number.

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kevincanspain: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 613; Joined: Thu Mar 22, 2007 6:17 amFollowed by: 64 members; Location: madrid; Thanked: 171 times; GMAT Score:790

by kevincanspain » Tue Feb 05, 2013 6:33 am

0 is a multiple of 5, in both real life and in the GMAT, if we go by what is said in the Math Review of the 13th Edition and the use of the term 'positive multiples of 5Â´ in PS question 201 in the 12th edition. Note, however, that the least common multiple of two positive integers is the smallest positive integer that is a multiple of both integers.

Summary: 0 is a multiple of 6 and of 8, but the least(lowest) common multiple of 6 and 8 is 24.

Kevin Armstrong
GMAT Instructor
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OfficialGMAT: Official Company Rep; Posts: 669; Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2012 9:06 pmFollowed by: 270 members; Location: Washington DC; Thanked: 143 times; GMAT Score:800

by OfficialGMAT » Thu Feb 07, 2013 10:25 am

Hello, Kevin! Thanks for the question. The short answer to your question is yes, zero would be considered a multiple. However, a question on the GMAT would never ask for the first 5 multiples of 6, because the question has no answer without some sort of qualifier. The set of all multiples of 6 is {..., -24, -18, -12, -6, 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, ...} so it is impossible to list the first 5 multiples. However, the first 5 positive multiples of 6 are 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30, and the first 5 nonnegative multiples of 6 are 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24.

I hope that answers your question!

Rebecca

Leah
Official GMAC Representative

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