If n is a non-negative integer such that 12^n is a divisor : GMAT Problem Solving (PS)
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# If n is a non-negative integer such that 12^n is a divisor

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If n is a non-negative integer such that 12^n is a divisor [#permalink]

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18 Sep 2010, 11:48
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If n is a non-negative integer such that 12^n is a divisor of 3,176,793, what is the value of n^12-12^n?

A. -11
B. -1
C. 0
D. 1
E. 11
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

Last edited by Bunuel on 29 Mar 2013, 01:41, edited 2 times in total.
Edited the question
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18 Sep 2010, 12:00
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3176793 is odd
12n is even
How can 12n be a divisor ?

The only answer I can think is n=0 which means -1

But I don't think you can count 0 as a "divisor"
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18 Sep 2010, 12:06
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Precisely, for this reason, I have posted this question here.
I am unclear is 0 should be considered as divisor.
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18 Sep 2010, 12:10
Orange08 wrote:
Precisely, for this reason, I have posted this question here.
I am unclear is 0 should be considered as divisor.

What's the source of the question ?

I am sure the only possible answer is -1, just not sure about the validity of the question
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Last edited by shrouded1 on 18 Sep 2010, 15:50, edited 1 time in total.
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18 Sep 2010, 19:11
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Orange08 wrote:
If n is a non-negative integer such that 12n is a divisor of 3,176,793, what is the value of n^12 – 12^n ?

a. -11
b. -1
c. 0
d. 1
e. 11

If the answer is B then I think it should be $$12^n$$ instead of $$12n$$

So the question would be:
If n is a non-negative integer such that 12^n is a divisor of 3,176,793, what is the value of n^12-12^n?

3,176,793 is an odd number. The only way it to be a multiple of $$12^n$$ (even number in integer power) is when $$n=0$$, in this case $$12^n=12^0=1$$ and 1 is a factor of every integer.

Then $$n^{12}-12^n=0^{12}-12^0=-1$$.

Hope it helps.
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25 Feb 2011, 07:25
Can someone help me with this?

If n is a non-negative integer such that 12n is a divisor of 3,176,793, what is the value of n12 – 12n ?
a) - 11
b) - 1
c) 0
d) 1
e) 11
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25 Feb 2011, 07:56
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Expert's post
Merging similar topics.

rosgmat wrote:
Can someone help me with this?

If n is a non-negative integer such that 12n is a divisor of 3,176,793, what is the value of n12 – 12n ?
a) - 11
b) - 1
c) 0
d) 1
e) 11

rosgmat, please format the questions properly.
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25 Feb 2011, 08:56
Nice question!

Bunuel's approach is very good.

Thanks!
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25 Feb 2011, 21:22
Thanks Bunnel's for this in depth explanation!!
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27 Feb 2011, 12:42
sorry for that, I didn;t notice it. And thanks for your help!

Bunuel wrote:
Merging similar topics.

rosgmat wrote:
Can someone help me with this?

If n is a non-negative integer such that 12n is a divisor of 3,176,793, what is the value of n12 – 12n ?
a) - 11
b) - 1
c) 0
d) 1
e) 11

rosgmat, please format the questions properly.
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15 Feb 2012, 21:00
-12^n will always be an even number because it will be a multiple of 12. however 3,176,793 is odd and there is no case when a positive number of n would be a factor of 3,176,793. Only number that would match is when n is zero.
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Re: If n is a non-negative integer such that 12n is a divisor of [#permalink]

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28 Mar 2013, 21:12
nave81 wrote:
If n is a non-negative integer such that $$12^n$$ is a divisor of 3,176,793, what is the value of n^12 - 12^n?

A. -11
B. - 1
C. 0
D. 1
E. 11

n is any integer $$>=0$$. Also, $$12^n$$ is a divisor of the given number. $$12^0$$ = 1 is a divisor of the given number. Replacing n = 0 in the given expression, we have 0^12 - 12^0 = -1.

Note that for any other value of n, there will be a factor of 2 in $$12^n$$. But the given number is odd and thus, has no factor of 2. Therefore, any other power of 12, can not be a divisor of the given number.

B.
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Re: If n is a non-negative integer such that 12n is a divisor of [#permalink]

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28 Mar 2013, 23:24
nave81 wrote:
If n is a non-negative integer such that $$12^n$$ is a divisor of 3,176,793, what is the value of n^12 - 12^n?

A. -11
B. - 1
C. 0
D. 1
E. 11

The only way that $$12^n$$ can be a divisor of 3 is if $$n=0, 12^0=1$$. So $$n=0$$
0^(12) - 12^0=0-1=-1

B
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05 Jul 2013, 08:08
3,176,793 is an odd number. The only way it to be a multiple of $$12^n$$ (even number in integer power) is when $$n=0$$, in this case $$12^n=12^0=1$$ and 1 is a factor of every integer.

Can you elaborate on this.. The sum of the digits add up to 9 the only example I thought of 12^2 = 144

does sum of the digits have any relation to this question or it isn't related?
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05 Jul 2013, 08:17
fozzzy wrote:
3,176,793 is an odd number. The only way it to be a multiple of $$12^n$$ (even number in integer power) is when $$n=0$$, in this case $$12^n=12^0=1$$ and 1 is a factor of every integer.

Can you elaborate on this.. The sum of the digits add up to 9 the only example I thought of 12^2 = 144

does sum of the digits have any relation to this question or it isn't related?

No, the sum of the digits is not relevant for this question.

3,176,793 is an odd number. An odd number cannot be a multiple of any even number, and 12^n is even for any positive integer n. Therefore n cannot be positive which means that n can only be 0.

Hope it's clear.

Similar question to practice: new-tough-and-tricky-exponents-and-roots-questions-125956-40.html#p1029223
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Re: If n is a non-negative integer such that 12^n is a divisor [#permalink]

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05 Jul 2014, 16:43
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Re: If n is a non-negative integer such that 12^n is a divisor [#permalink]

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15 Aug 2015, 11:25
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Re: If n is a non-negative integer such that 12^n is a divisor [#permalink]

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09 Mar 2016, 10:36
Bunuel wrote:
fozzzy wrote:
3,176,793 is an odd number. The only way it to be a multiple of $$12^n$$ (even number in integer power) is when $$n=0$$, in this case $$12^n=12^0=1$$ and 1 is a factor of every integer.

Can you elaborate on this.. The sum of the digits add up to 9 the only example I thought of 12^2 = 144

does sum of the digits have any relation to this question or it isn't related?

No, the sum of the digits is not relevant for this question.

3,176,793 is an odd number. An odd number cannot be a multiple of any even number, and 12^n is even for any positive integer n. Therefore n cannot be positive which means that n can only be 0.

Hope it's clear.

Similar question to practice: new-tough-and-tricky-exponents-and-roots-questions-125956-40.html#p1029223

Hi Bunuel,

I did not notice that the number given is odd and do the thinking in mind. Rather I read the Q and understood that 12^n should be a divisor on the huge number. 1 is a divisor of the number. and 12^0=1 and hence n=0 satisfies the Q.
So I realized that n&^12-12^n = -1.
if I follow this approach, Will I face a pit fall in any other question similar to this one?
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Re: If n is a non-negative integer such that 12^n is a divisor   [#permalink] 09 Mar 2016, 10:36
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