x,y

[ruplun]

If 1234567867 is divided by 12^x, what is the value of x-y , if x,y are non-negative integers and x#y?

a. -1
b.0
c.1
d.12
e.cannot b determined

[jainnikhil02]

IMO E

[jaymw]

If 1234567867 is divided by 12^x, what is the value of x-y , if x,y are non-negative integers and x#y?

a. -1
b.0
c.1
d.12
e.cannot b determined

What is the source of this question? The wording seems a bit strange.

If we take the word divided as divisible, we can get x. x must be zero, because in that case 12^0 would equal 1, which is a divisor of 1234567867. x cannot be any other positive integer because 12^(any positive integer) will always result in an even number, which can never be a divisor of an odd number.

Since x and y are different non-negative integers, and x is the only non-negative integer (zero), then y must be a positive integer.

Subtracting any positive integer from 0 results in a negative integer. If y is 1, the result of x-y will be -1. However, if y is 2, the result of x-y will be -2.

Therefore, the correct answer choice should be E.