If an integer n is to be selected at random from 1 to 100, inclusive, what is probability n(n+1) will be divisible by 4?

[BTGModeratorVI]

If an integer n is to be selected at random from 1 to 100, inclusive, what is probability n(n+1) will be divisible by 4?

A. 1/4
B. 1/3
C. 1/2
D. 2/3
E. 3/4

Answer: C
Source: GMAT prep

[Brent@GMATPrepNow]

If an integer n is to be selected at random from 1 to 100, inclusive, what is probability n(n+1) will be divisible by 4?

A. 1/4
B. 1/3
C. 1/2
D. 2/3
E. 3/4

Answer: C
Source: GMAT prep

Let's look for a pattern.

If n = 1, then (n)(n+1) = 2, which is NOT divisible by 4
If n = 2, then (n)(n+1) = 6, which is NOT divisible by 4
If n = 3, then (n)(n+1) = 12, which IS divisible by 4
If n = 4, then (n)(n+1) = 20, which IS divisible by 4
If n = 5, then (n)(n+1) = 30, which is NOT divisible by 4
If n = 6, then (n)(n+1) = 42, which is NOT divisible by 4
If n = 7, then (n)(n+1) = 56, which IS divisible by 4
If n = 8, then (n)(n+1) = 72, which IS divisible by 4
.
.
.
From the pattern, we can see that, out of every FOUR consecutive values of n, (n)(n+1) IS divisible by 4 for TWO of the values, and (n)(n+1) is NOT divisible by 4 for TWO of the values.

So, the probability is 1/2 that n(n+1) will be divisible by 4

Answer: C

Cheers,
Brent

[Scott@TargetTestPrep]

If an integer n is to be selected at random from 1 to 100, inclusive, what is probability n(n+1) will be divisible by 4?

A. 1/4
B. 1/3
C. 1/2
D. 2/3
E. 3/4

Answer: C

Solution:

We are given that an integer n is to be selected at random from 1 to 100, inclusive, and we must determine the probability that n(n+1) will be divisible by 4.

Since probability = favorable outcomes/total outcomes, and we know that the total number of outcomes is 100, since there are 100 integers from 1 to 100, inclusive. We need to determine the number of values of n such that n(n+1) is divisible by 4.

First, we can determine the number of values of n that are divisible by 4, that is, the number of multiples of 4 that are between 1 and 100, inclusive. To calculate this, we can use the formula:

(Largest multiple of 4 – smallest multiple of 4)/4 + 1

(100 - 4)/4 + 1

96/4 + 1

24 + 1 = 25

Thus, there are 25 multiples of 4 between 1 and 100 inclusive. That is, the value of n can be any one of these 25 multiples of 4 so that n(n + 1) will be divisible by 4.

Similarly, if n + 1 is a multiple of 4, n(n + 1) will also be divisible by 4. Since we know that there are 25 values of n that are multiples of 4, there must be another 25 values of n such that n + 1 is a multiple of 4. Let’s expand on this idea:

When n = 3, n + 1 = 4, and thus n(n+1) is a multiple of 4…..

When n = 23, n + 1 = 24, and thus n(n+1) is a multiple of 4…..

When n = 99, n + 1 = 100, and thus n(n+1) is a multiple of 4.

So we can see that there are 25 values of n that are multiples of 4 and 25 more values of n for n + 1 that are multiples of 4. Thus, the probability of selecting a value of n so that n(n+1) is a multiple of 4 is:

50/100 = 1/2

Answer: C