Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 23:53 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 23:53
Close
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
Your Progress

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
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,408
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 99,987
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,408
Kudos: 778,413
 [13]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
12
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Akash720
Joined: 17 Jan 2017
Last visit: 05 Jun 2020
Posts: 217
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 144
Location: India
GPA: 4
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Posts: 217
Kudos: 272
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
rahulkashyap
Joined: 09 Oct 2015
Last visit: 24 Feb 2019
Posts: 168
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 28
Posts: 168
Kudos: 73
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
chetan2u
User avatar
GMAT Expert
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Last visit: 15 Nov 2025
Posts: 11,238
Own Kudos:
43,707
 [3]
Given Kudos: 335
Status:Math and DI Expert
Location: India
Concentration: Human Resources, General Management
GMAT Focus 1: 735 Q90 V89 DI81
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT Focus 1: 735 Q90 V89 DI81
Posts: 11,238
Kudos: 43,707
 [3]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
Given two positive integers A and B such that A > B, what is the remainder when the square of B is subtracted from the square of A and then divided by 15?

(1) When the sum of A and B is divided by 5, the remainder is 1

(2) When B is subtracted from A and then divided by 3, the remainder is 1.


\(a^2-b^2=(a-b)(a+b)\)

Individually they are clearly insufficient..

So let's see combined...
1) \(a+b=5x+1\)
2) \(a-b=3y+1\)

So \((a-b)(a+b)=(5x+1)(3y+1)=15xy+5x+3y+1\)
We have to check for 5x+3y+1, as 15xy is divisible by 15.....

1) If x is multiple of 3 and y a multiple of 5, remainder will be 1...
Say a is 31 and b is 15... a-b=16=3*5+1....a+b=46=3*15+1
2) otherwise remainder can be anything
Say a is 14 and b is 7.. \(a-b=14-7=7=3*2+1 ....a+b=14+7=21=4*5+1\)
Remainder =\(\frac{7*21}{15}=147\) so remainder=12
Insufficient

E
avatar
sejm
Joined: 28 May 2020
Last visit: 08 Jan 2022
Posts: 11
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 24
Posts: 11
Kudos: 8
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Can someone help me understand this question and how I solved it incorrectly? Here is what I did:

The question is asking what is remainder when (A^2 - B^2)/15.

So what is the remainder when (A+B)(A-B)/15?

1. We are given (A+B)/5 = R1. This is insufficient because we don't know what (A-B) =
2. We are given (A-B)/3 = R1. This is insufficient because we don't know what (A+B) =
Together: (A+B)(A-B)/15 -> Let's split this remainders. (A+B)/15 = R1 (15 is a multiple of 5 so remainder will be 1) (A-B)/15 = R1 (15 is a multiple of 3 so remainder will be 1) Thus we can calculate the value, and both statements are sufficient.

What did I do wrong? Why is the answer E?
User avatar
gurmukh
Joined: 18 Dec 2017
Last visit: 24 Jan 2025
Posts: 259
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 20
Posts: 259
Kudos: 260
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
sejalmali
Can someone help me understand this question and how I solved it incorrectly? Here is what I did:

The question is asking what is remainder when (A^2 - B^2)/15.

So what is the remainder when (A+B)(A-B)/15?

1. We are given (A+B)/5 = R1. This is insufficient because we don't know what (A-B) =
2. We are given (A-B)/3 = R1. This is insufficient because we don't know what (A+B) =
Together: (A+B)(A-B)/15 -> Let's split this remainders. (A+B)/15 = R1 (15 is a multiple of 5 so remainder will be 1) (A-B)/15 = R1 (15 is a multiple of 3 so remainder will be 1) Thus we can calculate the value, and both statements are sufficient.

What did I do wrong? Why is the answer E?
6/5 gives a remainder 1 but that does not mean 6/15 will also give me a remainder 1.

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,591
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,591
Kudos: 1,079
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
Moderators:
Math Expert
105408 posts
496 posts