Hi shibsriz,

Rahul has properly explained this question, so I won't rehash that here.

"Remainder" questions are always based on patterns, so you should put your energy into doing enough work to spot the pattern.

You'll notice, from the first group of numbers listed, that the values increase by 5 and that K has to end in EITHER 2 OR 7. You don't have to list all of the possibilities out if you don't want to, but it might make the task easier.

From the second group, you should notice, relatively quickly, that the values increase by 6, so listing them shouldn't be too difficult.

Based on the way that the question is worded, you need to find ANY value for K that fits both rules. Once you find the number 17 in the second set of values, you're ready to finish off the question.

Take advantage of the patterns behind this (and other) questions on Test Day. Many of the shortcuts that you'll find on the GMAT are based on the built-in patterns around which the question was designed.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

[email protected] wrote:When positive integer k is divided by 5, the remainder is 2. When k is divided by 6, the remainder is 5. If k is less than 40, what is the remainder when k is divided by 7?

I'd like to mention that theCodeToGMAT is demonstrating a nice rule that says, If N divided by D, leaves remainder R, then the possible values of N are R, R+D, R+2D, R+3D,. . . etc.

For example, if k divided by 8 leaves a remainder of 1, then the possible values of k are: 1, 1+8, 1+(2)(8), 1+(3)(8), 1+(4)(8), . . . etc.

When positive integer k is divided by 5, the remainder is 2.
So, the possible values of k are: 2, 2+5, 2+(2)(5), 2+(3)(5), 2+(4)(5), . . . etc.
In other words, the possible values of k are: 2, 7, 12, 17, 22, etc.

See theCodeToGMAT's solution for the rest.

Cheers,
Brent