Prime number

[chidcguy]

If N is a prime number greater than 3, what is the remainder when N is divided by 12?

(A) 0

(B) 1

(C) 2

(D) 3

(E) 5

[Carol]

when a smaller integer is divided by a larger integer, the quotient is 0

so, I picked 5 as a prime number bigger than 3 and

using the following formula:

n = xq + r

plugging the numbers into it:

5=12 x 0 + r ---> remainder 5


am I correct?

[chidcguy]

How about If Pick 7 and some one else picks 11 or 13

[egybs]

where's this question from?

As stated, I don't think it makes sense.

[Ian Stewart]

Clearly both 1 and 5 are possible remainders, as are 7 and 11. There's something wrong with the question. What's the source?

[Carol]

but the possible answers are: 0, 1,2,3,5.

so I picked 5 because they asked you for a prime number greater than 3, hence 5, right?


what's the OA ?

[chidcguy]

This is from a GMAT paper test. Answer is B. Did not make any sense to me and thats why I posted here to see if I was trapped.

[Carol]

I would have faild as well...

according to the OA, I think:

the numerator must be greater than the dominator, for the quotient won't be zero!

again the formula:

n = xq + r

I chose 13 as the prime number greater than 3

and

13 = 12 x 1 + 1

I think this sounds correct this time. I think the question missed smth, they should have given us more data.

What do you think?

[Ian Stewart]

the numerator must be greater than the dominator, for the quotient won't be zero!

There's nothing wrong with having a quotient of zero in this question. All we know is that N is greater than 3. Unless some information is missing from the question itself, or something has been mistranscribed, there isn't enough information here to give a unique answer- there are four possible answers (1, 5, 7, 11). If you replace the number '12' in the question with a '2', however, then the answer would be B, since you'd know N was odd. That's the only quick adjustment I can think to make to the question if we want the question to make any sense.

[mttorii]

Carol,

Using your formula, It also works with 17 (prime number)
17 = 12 x 1 + 5 ... and therefore we have a different reminder.

Furthermore
25 = 12 x 2 + 1

So B should not be the answer because 25 is not a prime number.
Anyway this question sounds strange.