If n is a positive integer and r is the remainder when (n-1)(n+1) is divided by 24, what is the value of r?

Plug-in method:

(n-1)(n+1)=n^2-1

(1) n is not divisible by 2 --> pick two odd numbers: let's say 1 and 3 --> if n=1, then n^2-1=0 and as zero is divisible by 24 (zero is divisible by any integer except zero itself) so remainder is 0 but if n=3, then n^2-1=8 and 8 divided by 24 yields remainder of 8. Two different answers, hence not sufficient.

(2) n is not divisible by 3 --> pick two numbers which are not divisible by 3: let's say 1 and 2 --> if n=1, then n^2-1=0, so remainder is 0 but if n=2, then n^2-1=3 and 3 divided by 24 yields remainder of 3. Two different answers, hence not sufficient.

(1)+(2) Let's check for several numbers which are not divisible by 2 or 3:
n=1 --> n^2-1=0 --> remainder 0;
n=5 --> n^2-1=24 --> remainder 0;
n=7 --> n^2-1=48 --> remainder 0;
n=11 --> n^2-1=120 --> remainder 0.
Well it seems that all appropriate numbers will give remainder of 0. Sufficient.

Algebraic approach:

(1) n is not divisible by 2. Insufficient on its own, but this statement says that n=odd --> n-1 and n+1 are consecutive even integers --> (n-1)(n+1) must be divisible by 8 (as both multiples are even and one of them will be divisible by 4. From consecutive even integers one is divisible by 4: (2, 4); (4, 6); (6, 8); (8, 10); (10, 12), ...).

(2) n is not divisible by 3. Insufficient on its own, but form this statement either n-1 or n+1 must be divisible by 3 (as n-1, n, and n+1 are consecutive integers, so one of them must be divisible by 3, we are told that it's not n, hence either n-1 or n+1).

(1)+(2) From (1) (n-1)(n+1) is divisible by 8, from (2) it's also divisible by 3, therefore it must be divisible by 8*3=24, which means that remainder upon division (n-1)(n+1) by 24 will be 0. Sufficient.

Answer: C.

Hope it's clear.
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Statement 1)
When n is not divisible by 2, then n can be 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 etc
For n=1, the remainder is 0
For n=3, the remainder is 16.
For n=5, the remainder is 0.
Different answers. Hence insufficient.

statement 2)
When n is not divisible by 3, then n can be 1,2, 4, 6 etc
Here also different remainders.
Insufficient.

On combining these two statements, n is 1,5, 7 etc
For such numbers, the remainder is 0.
Sufficient.
+1C
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n-1,n, n+1 are consecutive +ve intigers, and thus if n is even both n-1,n+1 are odd and vice versa. also in every 3 consecutive numbers we get one that is a multiple of 3

from 1

n is odd thus both n-1, n+1 are even and their product has at least 2^3 as a factor however if n = 3 thus n-1,n+1 are 2,4 and since , 24 = 2^3*3 , thus reminder is 3 but if n = 5 for example thus n-1,n+1 are 4,6 and therofre in this case r = 0.....insuff

from 2

n is a multiple of 3 and thus both n-1,n+1 are either even (e.g: n=3) or odd (n=6) and therfore this is insuff

both together

n is odd and is a multiple of 3 and therfore the reminder of the product (n-1)(n+1) when devided by 24 is always 3..suff

C

A few things:
1. Exactly one of any two consecutive positive integers is even.
2. Exactly one of any three consecutive positive integers must be a multiple of 3
3. Exactly one of any four consecutive positive integers must be a multiple of 4
etc
Check this post for the explanation:
http://www.veritasprep.com/blog/2011/09 ... c-or-math/

a) n is not divisible by 2

Since every alternate number is divisible by 2, (n-1) and (n+1) both must be divisible by 2. Since every second multiple of 2 is divisible by 4, one of (n-1) and (n+1) must be divisible by 4. Hence, the product (n-1)*(n+1) must be divisible by 8. But if n is divisible by 3, then neither (n-1) nor (n+1) will be divisible by 3 and hence, when you divide (n-1)(n+1) by 24, you will get some remainder. If n is not divisible by 3, one of (n-1) and (n+1) must be divisible by 3 and hence the product (n-1)(n+1) will be divisible by 24 and the remainder will be 0. Not sufficient.


b) n is not divisible by 3
We don't know whether n is divisible by 2 or not. As discussed above, we need to know that to figure whether the product (n-1)(n+1) is divisible by 8. Hence not sufficient.

Take both together, we know that (n-1)*(n+1) is divisible by 8 and one of (n-1) and (n+1) is divisible by 3. Hence, the product must be divisible by 8*3 = 24. So r must be 0. Sufficient.

Answer (C)
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Merging similar topics. Please refer to the solutions above.

Also, please read carefully and follow: rules-for-posting-please-read-this-before-posting-133935.html
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PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW: 11 Rules for Posting!!!

RESOURCES: [GMAT MATH BOOK]; 1. Triangles; 2. Polygons; 3. Coordinate Geometry; 4. Factorials; 5. Circles; 6. Number Theory; 7. Remainders; 8. Overlapping Sets; 9. PDF of Math Book; 10. Remainders

COLLECTION OF QUESTIONS:
PS: 1. Tough and Tricky questions; 2. Hard questions; 3. Hard questions part 2; 4. Standard deviation; 5. Tough Problem Solving Questions With Solutions; 6. Probability and Combinations Questions With Solutions; 7 Tough and tricky exponents and roots questions; 8 12 Easy Pieces (or not?); 9 Bakers' Dozen; 10 Algebra set. NEW!!! ,11 Mixed Questions NEW!!!, 12 Fresh Meat NEW!!!

DS: 1. DS tough questions; 2. DS tough questions part 2; 3. DS tough questions part 3; 4. DS Standard deviation; 5. Inequalities; 6. 700+ GMAT Data Sufficiency Questions With Explanations; 7 Tough and tricky exponents and roots questions; 8 The Discreet Charm of the DS ; 9 Devil's Dozen!!!; 10 Number Properties set. NEW!!!, 11 New DS set. NEW!!!


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