prime no

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prime no

by mehrasa » Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:20 am
which one can not be prime?
1) 6!-1
2) 6!+21
3) 6!+41
4) 7!-1
5) 7!+11

OA after discussion
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by knight247 » Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:49 am
Answer Is B

The number 6! is a multiple of 3
The number 21 is also a multiple of 3

When two multiple of a certain number are added, the resultant number is also a multiple. Hence, 6!+21 has to be a multiple of 3 and can never be prime.

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by shankar.ashwin » Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:51 am
Its just a quick method of doing sums related to primes;
All prime Nos above 5 can be expressed in the form 6k (+/-) 1

6! and 7! are both multiples of 6.

Just see if the Nos can be written in the from 6K +/-1.

1) is of the from 6k-1
2) is not
3) is of the from 6k-1
4) is of the from 6k-1
5)is of the from 6k-1

So its B IMO

Note: Not all Nos of the form 6k +/- are prime, but all primes can be expressed in that from (above 5)

In this case there was only 1, so we could directly say
mehrasa wrote:which one can not be prime?
1) 6!-1
2) 6!+21
3) 6!+41
4) 7!-1
5) 7!+11

OA after discussion