What is the tens digit of positive integer x ?

The best way to solve this question is to use equation rather than getting stuck in remainder part
1) x = 100a+30 , where a is non-negative integer.
Thus x can take following values 30,130,230,330....etc
So the ten's digit always will be 3
Sufficient
2) x = 110a+30 , where a is non-negative integer.
Thus x can take following values 30,140,250,380....etc
So the ten's digit in not unique
In-Sufficient
Answer A

What is the tens digit of positive integer x ?

(1) x divided by 100 has a remainder of 30.
Means, x=100n+30 ; n=1,2,3...
x can be 130,230,330-in all cases tens place is held by 3- sufficient

(2) x divided by 110 has a remainder of 30.
Means, x=110n+30 ; n =1,2,3...
x can be 110,220,330- the tens place is changing with changing value of n - insufficient

Answer : A

Question 1) x divided by 100 has a remainder of 30 --> x=100q+30: 30, 130, 230, ... as you can see every such number has 3 as the tens digit. Sufficient. QUESTION :How exactly are 30, 130, 230 computed?

If q=0, then x=30;
If q=1, then x=130;
If q=2, then x=230;
If q=3, then x=330;
...

All these numbers when divided by 100 gives the remainder of 30.

Generally, if \(x\) and \(y\) are positive integers, there exist unique integers \(q\) and \(r\), called the quotient and remainder, respectively, such that \(y =divisor*quotient+remainder= xq + r\) and \(0\leq{r}<x\).

For example, when 15 is divided by 6, the quotient is 2 and the remainder is 3 since \(15 = 6*2 + 3\).

Notice that \(0\leq{r}<x\) means that remainder is a non-negative integer and always less than divisor.

This formula can also be written as \(\frac{y}{x} = q + \frac{r}{x}\).

You really need to brush up fundamentals:


Hope this helps.

Bunuel chetan2u niks18
amanvermagmat



Is it valid to take quotient(p/q) as 0 ? I assumed if divisor is divided by dividend, we need minimum value of quotient to be
non positive for division to be valid.

What is the remainder when 30 is divided by 100? Isn't it 30? So, why could not p (or q) be 0?

Target question: What is the tens digit of positive integer x ?

Statement 1: x divided by 100 has a remainder of 30
ASIDE: When it comes to remainders, we have 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 5 leaves a remainder of 1, then the possible values of k are: 1, 1+5, 1+(2)(5), 1+(3)(5), 1+(4)(5), . . . etc.
In other words, the possible values of k are: 1, 6, 11, 16, 21, 26, 31, . . . etc.

So, from statement 1, we can conclude that the possible values of x are: 30, 130, 230, 330, 430, 530,. . .
In ALL possible values of x, the tens digit is always 3
Since we can answer the target question with certainty, statement 1 is SUFFICIENT

Statement 2: x divided by 110 has a remainder of 30
From statement 2, we can conclude that the possible values of x are: 30, 140, 250, 360, 470, 580,. . .
Notice that the the tens digit can have many different values
Since we cannot answer the target question with certainty, statement 2 is NOT SUFFICIENT

Answer: A

Cheers,
Brent

hello

Am i the only one thinking x as the same number which gave the answer c for me

Hi Bunuel,

I was wondering how do we know that x cannot be a larger number which has 4 or more digits? e.g. x=1030
in that case, the tenth digit would be 0 and neither statements would be sufficient to answer the question.
Is there any "rule of thumb" on GMAT that a positive integer only refers to a max. 3 digit number?

Could you please share your thoughts about it?

Thank you.

Hello to you;

1030 divided by 100 gives 30 as a remainder and number 1030 has a tens digit of 3 just like any number divided by 100 to leave a remainder of 30 will have 3 as a tens digit;so Statement A is sufficient

(1) \(x=100q+30; x \ can \ be 130, 230, 330\) All cases tens digit is \(3\) Sufficient.

(2) \(x=110q+30; x \ can \ be 140, 250,\) Two different tens \((4, or \ 5)\), Insufficient.

The answer is A

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