Find all School-related info fast with the new School-Specific MBA Forum

 It is currently 29 Jul 2015, 20:43

### GMAT Club Daily Prep

#### Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

# Events & Promotions

###### Events & Promotions in June
Open Detailed Calendar

# If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24?

Author Message
TAGS:
Intern
Joined: 27 Nov 2011
Posts: 7
Location: India
Concentration: Technology, Marketing
GMAT 1: 660 Q47 V34
GMAT 2: 710 Q47 V41
WE: Consulting (Consulting)
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 18 [1] , given: 4

If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24? [#permalink]  25 May 2012, 01:00
1
KUDOS
9
This post was
BOOKMARKED
00:00

Difficulty:

75% (hard)

Question Stats:

54% (02:07) correct 46% (01:31) wrong based on 246 sessions
If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24?

(1) n is a prime number.
(2) n is greater than 191
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 28763
Followers: 4585

Kudos [?]: 47272 [13] , given: 7116

Re: If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24? [#permalink]  25 May 2012, 01:31
13
KUDOS
Expert's post
3
This post was
BOOKMARKED
If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24?

(1) n is a prime number --> if n=2, then the answer is NO but if n=5, then the answer is YES. Not sufficient.

(2) n is greater than 191. Clearly insufficient (consider n=24^2 for a NO answer and n=17^2 for an YES answer).

(1)+(2) Given that n is a prime number greater than 191 so n is odd and not a multiple of 3. n^2-1=(n-1)(n+1) --> out of three consecutive integers (n-1), n and n+1 one must be divisible by 3, since it's not n then it must be either (n-1) or (n+1), so (n-1)(n+1) is divisible by 3. Next, since n is odd then (n-1) and (n+1) are consecutive even numbers, which means that one of them must be a multiple of 4, so (n-1)(n+1) is divisible by 2*4=8. We have that (n-1)(n+1) is divisible by both 3 and 8 so (n-1)(n+1) is divisible by 3*8=24. Sufficient.

Hope it's clear.
_________________
Senior Manager
Joined: 01 Nov 2010
Posts: 295
Location: India
Concentration: Technology, Marketing
GMAT Date: 08-27-2012
GPA: 3.8
WE: Marketing (Manufacturing)
Followers: 8

Kudos [?]: 66 [0], given: 44

Re: If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24? [#permalink]  27 May 2012, 00:59
Bunuel wrote:
If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24?

(1) n is a prime number --> if n=2, then the answer is NO but if n=5, then the answer is YES. Not sufficient.

(2) n is greater than 191. Clearly insufficient (consider n=24 for a NO answer and n=17 for an YES answer).

(1)+(2) Given that n is a prime number greater than 191 so n is odd and not a multiple of 3. n^2-1=(n-1)(n+1) --> out of three consecutive integers (n-1), n and n+1 one must be divisible by 3, since it's not n then it must be either (n-1) or (n+1), so (n-1)(n+1) is divisible by 3. Next, since n is odd then (n-1) and (n+1) are consecutive even numbers, which means that one of them must be a multiple of 4, so (n-1)(n+1) is divisible by 2*4=8. We have that (n-1)(n+1) is divisible by both 3 and 8 so (n-1)(n+1) is divisible by 3*8=24. Sufficient.

Hope it's clear.

if n is not there, why it n-1 & n+1 must be divisible by 3.
it may be possible that only n is divisible by 3 example; n-1=2,n=3,n+1=4 i.e 2,3,4
if 3 is not there,, why 2x4 must be divisible by 3 ??
_________________

kudos me if you like my post.

Attitude determine everything.
all the best and God bless you.

Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 28763
Followers: 4585

Kudos [?]: 47272 [1] , given: 7116

Re: If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24? [#permalink]  27 May 2012, 03:38
1
KUDOS
Expert's post
321kumarsushant wrote:
Bunuel wrote:
If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24?

(1) n is a prime number --> if n=2, then the answer is NO but if n=5, then the answer is YES. Not sufficient.

(2) n is greater than 191. Clearly insufficient (consider n=24 for a NO answer and n=17 for an YES answer).

(1)+(2) Given that n is a prime number greater than 191 so n is odd and not a multiple of 3. n^2-1=(n-1)(n+1) --> out of three consecutive integers (n-1), n and n+1 one must be divisible by 3, since it's not n then it must be either (n-1) or (n+1), so (n-1)(n+1) is divisible by 3. Next, since n is odd then (n-1) and (n+1) are consecutive even numbers, which means that one of them must be a multiple of 4, so (n-1)(n+1) is divisible by 2*4=8. We have that (n-1)(n+1) is divisible by both 3 and 8 so (n-1)(n+1) is divisible by 3*8=24. Sufficient.

Hope it's clear.

if n is not there, why it n-1 & n+1 must be divisible by 3.
it may be possible that only n is divisible by 3 example; n-1=2,n=3,n+1=4 i.e 2,3,4
if 3 is not there,, why 2x4 must be divisible by 3 ??

For (1)+(2) we have that n is odd and not a multiple of 3. Next, (n-1), n and n+1 represent three consecutive integers. Out of ANY three consecutive integers one is always divisible by 3, we know that it's not n, so it must be either n-1 or n+1.

Hope it's clear.
_________________
Manager
Joined: 26 Dec 2011
Posts: 117
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 16 [0], given: 17

Re: If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24? [#permalink]  29 May 2012, 06:16
Hi Bunuel... n is greater than 191. Clearly insufficient (consider n=24 for a NO answer and n=17 for an YES answer).....I did not understand when n> 191, why are we considering n =24,17 <191?
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 28763
Followers: 4585

Kudos [?]: 47272 [0], given: 7116

Re: If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24? [#permalink]  29 May 2012, 08:56
Expert's post
pavanpuneet wrote:
Hi Bunuel... n is greater than 191. Clearly insufficient (consider n=24 for a NO answer and n=17 for an YES answer).....I did not understand when n> 191, why are we considering n =24,17 <191?

I should be "n=24^2 for a NO answer and n=17^2 for an YES answer".
_________________
Intern
Joined: 28 Feb 2012
Posts: 29
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 12 [0], given: 1

Re: If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24? [#permalink]  30 May 2012, 08:25
I have another solution which came to me.
Clearly first and second statement alone each can not be sufficient to find out whether expression is divisible by 24 or not.
Now considering both, we know that n is prime number which is greater than 191.
All prime numbers except 2 and 3 are in the form of 6n+1 or 6n-1.

n^2 -1 = (6n+1)^2 - 1 or n^2 -1 = (6n - 1)^2 - 1

n^2 -1 = 36n^2 + 12n or n^2 -1 = 36n^2 - 12n

= 12(n^2 + n) or 12(n^2 - n)

Now we know that this expression is divisible by 12 and this will be divisible by 24 if (n^2+n) or (n^2-n) is even numbers.
As we know that n is prime number which is greater than 191 so it has to be odd so
n^2 will also be odd and now we can say that n^2+n will be even (odd+odd = even).
Same way n^2 - n will be even.

So this expression will definitely divisible by 24.

Bunuel - Please let me know if I am doing any wrong over here.
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 28763
Followers: 4585

Kudos [?]: 47272 [1] , given: 7116

Re: If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24? [#permalink]  31 May 2012, 01:04
1
KUDOS
Expert's post
1
This post was
BOOKMARKED
sandal85 wrote:
I have another solution which came to me.
Clearly first and second statement alone each can not be sufficient to find out whether expression is divisible by 24 or not.
Now considering both, we know that n is prime number which is greater than 191.
All prime numbers except 2 and 3 are in the form of 6n+1 or 6n-1.

n^2 -1 = (6n+1)^2 - 1 or n^2 -1 = (6n - 1)^2 - 1

n^2 -1 = 36n^2 + 12n or n^2 -1 = 36n^2 - 12n

= 12(n^2 + n) or 12(n^2 - n)

Now we know that this expression is divisible by 12 and this will be divisible by 24 if (n^2+n) or (n^2-n) is even numbers.
As we know that n is prime number which is greater than 191 so it has to be odd so
n^2 will also be odd and now we can say that n^2+n will be even (odd+odd = even).
Same way n^2 - n will be even.

So this expression will definitely divisible by 24.

Bunuel - Please let me know if I am doing any wrong over here.

Your approach is correct, but when expressing prime number $$n$$, you shouldn't use the same variable ($$n$$). Also there are some other little mistakes.

It should be: since any prime number greater than 3 could be expressed as $$6k+1$$ or$$6k+5$$ ($$6k-1$$), where $$k$$ is an integer >1, then $$n=6k+1$$ or $$n=6k-1$$.

$$n^2-1=36k^2+12k=12k(3k+1)$$ or $$n^2-1=36k^2-12k=12k(3k-1)$$.

We can see that $$n^2-1$$ is divisible by 12. Next, notice that if $$k=odd$$ then $$3k+1=even$$ ($$3k-1=even$$) and if $$k=even$$ then $$3k+1=odd$$ ($$3k-1=odd$$). So, $$n^2-1$$ is also divisible by 2, which means that $$n^2-1$$ is divisible by 12*2=24.

Hope it's clear.
_________________
Intern
Joined: 30 Mar 2012
Posts: 36
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 2 [0], given: 11

Re: If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24? [#permalink]  31 May 2012, 03:45
321kumarsushant wrote:
if n is not there, why it n-1 & n+1 must be divisible by 3.
it may be possible that only n is divisible by 3 example; n-1=2,n=3,n+1=4 i.e 2,3,4
if 3 is not there,, why 2x4 must be divisible by 3 ??

The assumption is that n is a prime and is greater than 191 which is the reason why
N is not a multiple of 3.

If you factorize the given equation it comes to (n+1)(n-1) and which when combine with N comes to a product of three consecutive numbers.

and it is know that a product of three consecutive numbers are divisible by 3.
hence one of the numbers is divisible by 3. I hope this clarifies your reasoning.
_________________

This time its personal..

Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 28763
Followers: 4585

Kudos [?]: 47272 [0], given: 7116

Re: If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24? [#permalink]  26 Jun 2013, 00:39
Expert's post
Bumping for review and further discussion*. Get a kudos point for an alternative solution!

*New project from GMAT Club!!! Check HERE

All DS Divisibility/Multiples/Factors questions to practice: search.php?search_id=tag&tag_id=354
All PS Divisibility/Multiples/Factors questions to practice: search.php?search_id=tag&tag_id=185

_________________
Moderator
Joined: 25 Apr 2012
Posts: 734
Location: India
GPA: 3.21
Followers: 29

Kudos [?]: 443 [1] , given: 723

Re: If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24? [#permalink]  26 Jun 2013, 01:30
1
KUDOS
kunalbh19 wrote:
If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24?

(1) n is a prime number.
(2) n is greater than 191

St 1 : If n =2 then n^2-1 is not divisibly by 24
but if n=7 then n^2-1 is divisible by 24

There is a there property that for any prime (p) greater than 6, p^2 -1 is always divisible by 6
Option A,D ruled out
St 2 says n>191 again if n is not prime than n^2-1 may or may not be divisible by 24 but if n is prime and greater than 191 then it surely divisible by 24
since 2 choices are possible so option B is ruled out

Combining we get n is prime and n>191 and hence the expression n^2-1 will be divisible by 24 for any value of n

Ans is C
_________________

“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”

Verbal Forum Moderator
Joined: 10 Oct 2012
Posts: 629
Followers: 62

Kudos [?]: 746 [1] , given: 135

Re: If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24? [#permalink]  26 Jun 2013, 02:16
1
KUDOS
Expert's post
kunalbh19 wrote:
If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24?

(1) n is a prime number.
(2) n is greater than 191

Any prime number greater than 3 can be represented as $$6k\pm1$$ but NOT necessarily vice-versa, where k = 1,2,3..etc

I. If n is prime,$$n^2-1 = (6k+1)^2-1$$ --> (6k+2)*6k --> 12*k*(3k+1) . Either k is odd and (3k+1) is even OR k is even and (3k+1) is odd. Either ways, with one even factor in the expression, $$n^2-1$$ would always have a factor of 24.

II.If n is prime, $$n^2-1 = (6k-1)^2-1$$ --> (6k-2)*6k --> 12*k*(3k-1) . Either k is odd and (3k-1) is even OR k is even and (3k-1) is odd. Either ways, with one even factor in the expression, $$n^2-1$$ would always have a factor of 24.

Thus, any prime number n>3,$$n^2-1$$ is ALWAYS divisible by 24.

F.S 1- We don't know whether n>3 or not. Insufficient.

F.S 2- We don't know whether n is prime or not. For n= 240 we get a YES, for n = 241, we get a NO.Insufficient.

Taking both togehter, we know that n is prime and n>3. Thus, $$n^2-1$$ will always be divisible by 24. Sufficient.
C.
_________________
Intern
Joined: 22 May 2013
Posts: 49
Concentration: General Management, Technology
GPA: 3.9
WE: Information Technology (Computer Software)
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 11 [1] , given: 10

Re: If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24? [#permalink]  26 Jun 2013, 07:03
1
KUDOS
kunalbh19 wrote:
If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24?

(1) n is a prime number.
(2) n is greater than 191

Question: YES or NO type

(1) n is a prime number.
n can be 2 or 3 or >=5
both bearing YES and NO respectively =>Not sufficient

(2) n is greater than 191
Lets take a no say 200

200^2 = 40000
40000 -1 = 3999 = 3*1333

we need another 8 in the factors to make it divisible by 24 , Not possible
, although for all the primary no >=5 the question is true, Thus, for all primary no's >191, it will hold true.

Again a YES and a NO =>Not sufficient.

(1)+(2) again, we already considered this argument, this will definitely result in a YES =>Sufficient

Ans: C
_________________

Manager
Joined: 14 Dec 2012
Posts: 83
Location: United States
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 14 [0], given: 186

Re: If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24? [#permalink]  23 Jul 2013, 20:47
Bunuel wrote:
If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24?

(1) n is a prime number --> if n=2, then the answer is NO but if n=5, then the answer is YES. Not sufficient.

(2) n is greater than 191. Clearly insufficient (consider n=24^2 for a NO answer and n=17^2 for an YES answer).

(1)+(2) Given that n is a prime number greater than 191 so n is odd and not a multiple of 3. n^2-1=(n-1)(n+1) --> out of three consecutive integers (n-1), n and n+1 one must be divisible by 3, since it's not n then it must be either (n-1) or (n+1), so (n-1)(n+1) is divisible by 3. Next, since n is odd then (n-1) and (n+1) are consecutive even numbers, which means that one of them must be a multiple of 4, so (n-1)(n+1) is divisible by 2*4=8. We have that (n-1)(n+1) is divisible by both 3 and 8 so (n-1)(n+1) is divisible by 3*8=24. Sufficient.

Hope it's clear.

amazing explanation,Bunuel!You rock!
Intern
Joined: 17 Jul 2013
Posts: 40
Location: India
WE: Information Technology (Health Care)
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 7 [0], given: 183

Re: If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24? [#permalink]  19 Jun 2014, 10:20
This question can be rephrased as follows:

Is n^2 - 1 = 24k ?

Is n^2 = 24k+1? (24 k + 1 is odd)
so question is: Is n^2 = odd? (since n is positive integer, and if n^2 = odd then n must be odd)
so question is : Is n = odd ?

statement 1: n is prime : If n = 2 = even, if n = 3 = odd .Not suff
Statement 2: n > 191 , n = 192 = even, n = 193 (odd) . Not suff

1 + 2 : n is prime and > 191 = n is odd. Sufficient
C
_________________

I'm on 680... 20 days to reach 700 +

Intern
Joined: 23 Jul 2013
Posts: 9
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 0 [0], given: 0

If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24? [#permalink]  01 Aug 2014, 22:45
Bunuel wrote:
If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24?

(1) n is a prime number --> if n=2, then the answer is NO but if n=5, then the answer is YES. Not sufficient.

(2) n is greater than 191. Clearly insufficient (consider n=24^2 for a NO answer and n=17^2 for an YES answer).

(1)+(2) Given that n is a prime number greater than 191 so n is odd and not a multiple of 3. n^2-1=(n-1)(n+1) --> out of three consecutive integers (n-1), n and n+1 one must be divisible by 3, since it's not n then it must be either (n-1) or (n+1), so (n-1)(n+1) is divisible by 3. Next, since n is odd then (n-1) and (n+1) are consecutive even numbers, which means that one of them must be a multiple of 4, so (n-1)(n+1) is divisible by 2*4=8. We have that (n-1)(n+1) is divisible by both 3 and 8 so (n-1)(n+1) is divisible by 3*8=24. Sufficient.

Hope it's clear.

they are asking us whether (n+1)(n-1) is divisible by 24
if n is a prime number greater than 191 then n is odd ==> (n+1) and (n-1) are even integers
out of n, (n+1), and (n-1) one number must be divisible by 3
if n is divisible by 3 then (n+1) and (n-1) are not divisible by 3 --> Insufficient
if n is not divisible by 3 then its either (n+1) or (n-1) which is divisible by 3 --> Sufficient

Bunuel, correct me if i am wrong!
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 28763
Followers: 4585

Kudos [?]: 47272 [0], given: 7116

Re: If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24? [#permalink]  02 Aug 2014, 01:06
Expert's post
AkshayDavid wrote:
Bunuel wrote:
If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24?

(1) n is a prime number --> if n=2, then the answer is NO but if n=5, then the answer is YES. Not sufficient.

(2) n is greater than 191. Clearly insufficient (consider n=24^2 for a NO answer and n=17^2 for an YES answer).

(1)+(2) Given that n is a prime number greater than 191 so n is odd and not a multiple of 3. n^2-1=(n-1)(n+1) --> out of three consecutive integers (n-1), n and n+1 one must be divisible by 3, since it's not n then it must be either (n-1) or (n+1), so (n-1)(n+1) is divisible by 3. Next, since n is odd then (n-1) and (n+1) are consecutive even numbers, which means that one of them must be a multiple of 4, so (n-1)(n+1) is divisible by 2*4=8. We have that (n-1)(n+1) is divisible by both 3 and 8 so (n-1)(n+1) is divisible by 3*8=24. Sufficient.

Hope it's clear.

they are asking us whether (n+1)(n-1) is divisible by 24
if n is a prime number greater than 191 then n is odd ==> (n+1) and (n-1) are even integers
out of n, (n+1), and (n-1) one number must be divisible by 3
if n is divisible by 3 then (n+1) and (n-1) are not divisible by 3 --> Insufficient
if n is not divisible by 3 then its either (n+1) or (n-1) which is divisible by 3 --> Sufficient

Bunuel, correct me if i am wrong!

The correct answer is C (check the spoiler in the original post), so you must be wrong somewhere.

n is a prime greater than 191, hence it CANNOT be divisible by 3.
_________________
Re: If n is a positive integer, is n^2 - 1 divisible by 24?   [#permalink] 02 Aug 2014, 01:06
Similar topics Replies Last post
Similar
Topics:
4 Is n(n+1)(n+2) divisible by 24? 2 29 Apr 2015, 03:56
4 If n is a positive integer and r is the remainder when n^2-1 7 21 Jan 2012, 17:04
5 Is positive integer n is divisible by 4 ? 1) n^2 is 8 19 Oct 2010, 09:37
Is positive integer n divisible by 3 ? 1 N^2/36 is an 2 19 Jul 2010, 03:49
If n is a positive integer and r is the remainder when n^2 - 1 is divi 6 11 Feb 2010, 13:52
Display posts from previous: Sort by