If a and b are positive integers such that a/b = 97.16, which of the f

Official Solution

Courtesy: Veritas Prep


Let’s go back to the original question now: If a and b are positive integers such that a/b = 97.16, which of the following cannot be the remainder when a is divided by b?

a/b = 97.16 = 97 (16/100) in mixed fraction = 97 (4/25) in the lowest form.

The remainder must be a positive multiple of 4. 22 is not a multiple of 4 hence you can never have 22 as the remainder

4/25 = 22/?

You cannot have an integer in place of the ‘?’

ANSWER: C

Theory

Some of my most brilliant students have asked me something similar to this: “When I divide 11 by 4, I get 2.75. What do you mean by, “What is the remainder?’ Where is it?’” So if it is bothering you as well, don’t worry; I will address this issue first.

Say, I tell you the following: Divide 11 by 4. What do you get?

You could answer me with one of the following:

Case 1: You could say, “I get 2.75”

Case 2: You could say, “I get 2 as the quotient and 3 as the remainder.”

Either ways, you are correct. 11/4 = (2 ¾)

When you use the decimal form, you get a .75 which you add to 2 to give you 2.75. This .75 is nothing but the way you express the remainder 3. When you divide 11 by 4, 4 goes into 11 two times and then 3 is left over. When 4 goes into 3, you get 0.75 which is ¾. That is the reason why you can write 11/4 as (2 ¾) in mixed fractions.

Do the following calculations and see what you get. Express the answer in both the forms – Decimal form and quotient-remainder form.

1. Divide 22 by 8.
2. Divide 55 by 20.
3. Divide 275 by 100.

Let’s see what we get in each case.

1. Divide 22 by 8.

Case 1: In decimal form we get 2.75

Case 2: In quotient-remainder form we get 2 as quotient and 6 as remainder (Remember, the divisor is 8 here). We can say 22/8 = 2 (6/8) in mixed fractions.

1. Divide 55 by 20.

Case 1: In decimal form we get 2.75

Case 2: In quotient-remainder form we get 2 as quotient and 15 as remainder (Remember, the divisor is 20 here). We can say 55/20 = 2 (15/20) in mixed fractions.

1. Divide 275 by 100.

Case 1: In decimal form we get 2.75

Case 2: In quotient-remainder form we get 2 as quotient and 75 as remainder (Remember, the divisor is 100 here). We can say 275/100 = 2 (75/100) in mixed fractions.

Notice that the remainder is different in each case above. As the divisor changes, the remainder changes even though in decimal form the answer is the same. This is so because in each of the above cases, 6/8 = 0.75, 15/20 = 0.75 and 75/100 = 0.75. Each of these fractions is equal to ¾. Now if I flip the question and say, “When I divide a by b, I get 2.75. Which of the following cannot be the remainder when a is divided by b: 2, 3, 6, 12, 15?”

We saw above that 2.75 = 2 (75/100) = 2 ¾ in the lowest form. So the remainder will be 3 if the divisor is 4. The remainder will be 6 if the divisor is 8. The remainder will be 15 if the divisor is 20. On the same lines, the remainder will be 12 if the divisor is 16 because 12/16 = ¾. Can the remainder be 2?

3/4 = 2/?

We cannot have an integer value in place of the ‘?’. Hence we will never get 2 as the remainder. The remainder will always be a positive multiple of 3.