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# A group of n students can be divided into equal groups of 4

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A group of n students can be divided into equal groups of 4 [#permalink]

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21 Jan 2012, 14:37
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Question Stats:

65% (02:32) correct 35% (01:25) wrong based on 247 sessions

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A group of n students can be divided into equal groups of 4 with 1 student left over or equal groups of 5 with 3 students left over. What is the sum of the two smallest possible values of n?

A. 33
B. 46
C. 49
D. 53
E. 86
[Reveal] Spoiler:
OA is a and this is how I arrived at.

Let say n = 4x+1 and n = 5y+3 -----> From the question Stem

n=4x+1 n = 5y+3
5 8
9 13
13 18
17 23
25 33
29 38
33 43

I get these above values by putting the same values for x and y. Is my concept correct?
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

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E.

MGMAT 1 --> 530
MGMAT 2--> 640
MGMAT 3 ---> 610
GMAT ==> 730

Last edited by mau5 on 18 Nov 2013, 22:35, edited 3 times in total.
Edited the OA
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21 Jan 2012, 14:59
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enigma123 wrote:
A group of n students can be divided into equal groups of 4 with 1 student left over or equal groups of 5 with 3 students left over. What is the sum of the two smallest possible values of n?
a) 33
b) 46
c) 49
d) 53
e) 86

Yes you can do the way you started by listing the possible values of n for both patterns and then picking first two matching numbers from these lists. Since we are dealing with easy and small numbers this approach probably would be the fastest one.

A group of n students can be divided into equal groups of 4 with 1 student left over --> n=4q+1 --> n can be: 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, ... (basically an evenly spaced set with common difference of 4)

A group of n students can be divided into equal groups of 5 with 3 students left over --> n=5p+3 --> n can be: 3, 8, 13, 18, 23, 28, 33, 38, ... (basically an evenly spaced set with common difference of 5)

Therefor two smallest possible values of n are 13 and 33 --> 13+33=46.

Else you can derive general formula based on n=4q+1 and n=5p+3.

Divisor will be the least common multiple of above two divisors 4 and 5, hence 20.

Remainder will be the first common integer in above two patterns, hence 13 --> so, to satisfy both conditions, n must be of a type n=20m+13: 13, 33, 53, ... (two two smallest possible values of n are for m=0 and for m=1, so 13, and 33 respectively) --> 13+33=46.

manhattan-remainder-problem-93752.html#p721341
when-positive-integer-n-is-divided-by-5-the-remainder-is-90442.html#p722552
when-the-positive-integer-a-is-divided-by-5-and-125591.html#p1028654

Hope it helps.
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Re: A group of n students can be divided into equal groups of 4 [#permalink]

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22 Jan 2012, 18:48
1
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Expert's post
enigma123 wrote:
A group of n students can be divided into equal groups of 4 with 1 student left over or equal groups of 5 with 3 students left over. What is the sum of the two smallest possible values of n?
a)33
b)46
c)49
d)53
e) 86

OA is a and this is how I arrived at.

Let say n = 4x+1 and n = 5y+3 -----> From the question Stem

n=4x+1 n = 5y+3
5 8
9 13
13 18
17 23
25 33
29 38
33 43

I get these above values by putting the same values for x and y. Is my concept correct?

I wrote a blog post discussing this concept in detail. I have discussed a couple of questions very similar to this one in the post. You can check it out if you like.

http://www.veritasprep.com/blog/2011/05 ... s-part-ii/
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Director
Status: Finally Done. Admitted in Kellogg for 2015 intake
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Kudos [?]: 3376 [0], given: 217

Re: A group of n students can be divided into equal groups of 4 [#permalink]

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21 Jan 2012, 15:34
Hi Bunuel - can the values of q and p be ZERO? I don't think they can be and therefore n cannot be 1 & 3. Am I wrong?
_________________

Best Regards,
E.

MGMAT 1 --> 530
MGMAT 2--> 640
MGMAT 3 ---> 610
GMAT ==> 730

Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 38854
Followers: 7723

Kudos [?]: 105987 [0], given: 11602

Re: A group of n students can be divided into equal groups of 4 [#permalink]

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21 Jan 2012, 15:44
enigma123 wrote:
Hi Bunuel - can the values of q and p be ZERO? I don't think they can be and therefore n cannot be 1 & 3. Am I wrong?

THEORY:
Positive integer $$a$$ divided by positive integer $$d$$ yields a reminder of $$r$$ can always be expressed as $$a=qd+r$$, where $$q$$ is called a quotient and $$r$$ is called a remainder, note here that $$0\leq{r}<d$$ (remainder is non-negative integer and always less than divisor).

For example we are told that when positive integer n is divided by 25, the remainder is 13 --> $$n=25q+13$$. Now, the lowest value of $$q$$ can be zero and in this case $$n=13$$ --> 13 divided by 25 yields the remainder of 13. Generally when divisor (25 in our case) is more than dividend (13 in our case) then the reminder equals to the dividend. For example:
3 divided by 24 yields a reminder of 3 --> $$3=0*24+3$$;
or:
5 divided by 6 yields a reminder of 5 --> $$5=0*6+5$$.

Also note that you shouldn't worry about negative numbers in divisibility questions, as every GMAT divisibility question will tell you in advance that any unknowns represent positive integers.

OUR ORIGINAL QUESTION:
We are told that "a group of n students can be divided into equal groups of 4 with 1 student left over" --> n=4q+1. Here q also can be zero, which would mean that there is only 1 student and zero groups of 4.

QUESTIONS TO PRACTICE:
PS questions on remainders: search.php?search_id=tag&tag_id=199
DS questions on remainders: search.php?search_id=tag&tag_id=198

THEORY ON REMAINDERS: compilation-of-tips-and-tricks-to-deal-with-remainders-86714.html

Hope it helps.
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Re: A group of n students can be divided into equal groups of 4 [#permalink]

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21 Jan 2012, 15:53
You are a true genius buddy.
_________________

Best Regards,
E.

MGMAT 1 --> 530
MGMAT 2--> 640
MGMAT 3 ---> 610
GMAT ==> 730

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Re: A group of n students can be divided into equal groups of 4 [#permalink]

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22 Jan 2012, 08:16
Stright and simple B
just try numbers for 4*n+1=5*k+3 where k and n are integers, find 2 smallest and your solve it for 30 sec
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Re: A group of n students can be divided into equal groups of 4 [#permalink]

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23 Jan 2012, 10:01
n=4q+1 -----> 1,5,9,13,17,21,25,29,33

n=5q+3------->3,8,13,18,23,28,33

the first two common numbers are 13 and 33, so add those numbers, you get 13+33=46

so, asnwer is B, 46

hope this helps
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Director
Status: Finally Done. Admitted in Kellogg for 2015 intake
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Kudos [?]: 3376 [0], given: 217

Re: A group of n students can be divided into equal groups of 4 [#permalink]

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24 Jan 2012, 16:09
Thanks Karishma. A very helpful post.
_________________

Best Regards,
E.

MGMAT 1 --> 530
MGMAT 2--> 640
MGMAT 3 ---> 610
GMAT ==> 730

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18 Nov 2013, 20:15

Again since the max student left over are 3 so any no with 3 can be common between the two groups ; 3, 13, 23, 33, 43, 53 etc.
using in the formula pf n= 4q+1 = 5r+ 3 ; will get 13 and 33 ; addd then =46
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19 Nov 2013, 10:48
Bunuel wrote:
enigma123 wrote:
A group of n students can be divided into equal groups of 4 with 1 student left over or equal groups of 5 with 3 students left over. What is the sum of the two smallest possible values of n?
a) 33
b) 46
c) 49
d) 53
e) 86

Yes you can do the way you started by listing the possible values of n for both patterns and then picking first two matching numbers from these lists. Since we are dealing with easy and small numbers this approach probably would be the fastest one.

A group of n students can be divided into equal groups of 4 with 1 student left over --> n=4q+1 --> n can be: 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, ... (basically an evenly spaced set with common difference of 4)

A group of n students can be divided into equal groups of 5 with 3 students left over --> n=5p+3 --> n can be: 3, 8, 13, 18, 23, 28, 33, 38, ... (basically an evenly spaced set with common difference of 5)

Therefor two smallest possible values of n are 13 and 33 --> 13+33=46.

Else you can derive general formula based on n=4q+1 and n=5p+3.

Divisor will be the least common multiple of above two divisors 4 and 5, hence 20.

Remainder will be the first common integer in above two patterns, hence 13 --> so, to satisfy both conditions, n must be of a type n=20m+13: 13, 33, 53, ... (two two smallest possible values of n are for m=0 and for m=1, so 13, and 33 respectively) --> 13+33=46.

manhattan-remainder-problem-93752.html#p721341
when-positive-integer-n-is-divided-by-5-the-remainder-is-90442.html#p722552
when-the-positive-integer-a-is-divided-by-5-and-125591.html#p1028654

Hope it helps.

Could you explain what you mean by 'divisor'? Where is there a divisor in those two equations....Is there work here that you did in your head, but left out? I'm trying to learn how to do these, so if you could show any work that was done mentally I would appreciate it! Thanks!
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19 Nov 2013, 15:19
AccipiterQ wrote:
Bunuel wrote:
enigma123 wrote:
A group of n students can be divided into equal groups of 4 with 1 student left over or equal groups of 5 with 3 students left over. What is the sum of the two smallest possible values of n?
a) 33
b) 46
c) 49
d) 53
e) 86

Yes you can do the way you started by listing the possible values of n for both patterns and then picking first two matching numbers from these lists. Since we are dealing with easy and small numbers this approach probably would be the fastest one.

A group of n students can be divided into equal groups of 4 with 1 student left over --> n=4q+1 --> n can be: 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, ... (basically an evenly spaced set with common difference of 4)

A group of n students can be divided into equal groups of 5 with 3 students left over --> n=5p+3 --> n can be: 3, 8, 13, 18, 23, 28, 33, 38, ... (basically an evenly spaced set with common difference of 5)

Therefor two smallest possible values of n are 13 and 33 --> 13+33=46.

Else you can derive general formula based on n=4q+1 and n=5p+3.

Divisor will be the least common multiple of above two divisors 4 and 5, hence 20.

Remainder will be the first common integer in above two patterns, hence 13 --> so, to satisfy both conditions, n must be of a type n=20m+13: 13, 33, 53, ... (two two smallest possible values of n are for m=0 and for m=1, so 13, and 33 respectively) --> 13+33=46.

manhattan-remainder-problem-93752.html#p721341
when-positive-integer-n-is-divided-by-5-the-remainder-is-90442.html#p722552
when-the-positive-integer-a-is-divided-by-5-and-125591.html#p1028654

Hope it helps.

Could you explain what you mean by 'divisor'? Where is there a divisor in those two equations....Is there work here that you did in your head, but left out? I'm trying to learn how to do these, so if you could show any work that was done mentally I would appreciate it! Thanks!

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Re: A group of n students can be divided into equal groups of 4 [#permalink]

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