GMATH practice exercise (Quant Class 16)

The product of the positive 4-digit integer 118A and 25847 is 4758 units less than a number that leaves remainder 1 when divided by 5. How many values are possible for the digit A?

(A) None
(B) Only 1
(C) Only 2
(D) Only 3
(E) More than 3
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Fabio Skilnik :: GMATH method creator (Math for the GMAT)
Our high-level "quant" preparation starts here: https://gmath.net

Hi, chetan2u ! Thanks for joining and for your nice contribution!

Let me offer our "official solution":

\(\left\langle {118A} \right\rangle \cdot 25847 + 4758 = 5M + 1\,\,\,,\,\,\,M \ge 1\,\,{\mathop{\rm int}}\)

\(?\,\,\,:\,\,\,\# \,\,A\,\,{\rm{possibilities}}\)


\(\left[ N \right] = units\,\,digit\,\,of\,\,N\,\,\,\,\,\left( * \right)\)


\(\left\langle {118A} \right\rangle \cdot 25847 + 4757 = 5M\,\,\,\,\,{\rm{AND}}\,\,\,\,\,\left( * \right)\,\,\,\left\{ \matrix{
\,\,\left[ {\left\langle {118A} \right\rangle \cdot 25847} \right] = \left[ {7 \cdot A} \right] \hfill \cr
\,\,\left[ {4757} \right] = 7 \hfill \cr
\,\,\left[ {5M} \right] = 0 \hfill \cr} \right.\,\,\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,\,\left[ {7 \cdot A + 7} \right]\,\,\,{\rm{equals}}\,\,\,0\,\,{\rm{or}}\,\,5\)


\(\Rightarrow \,\,\,\,\,7 \cdot \left( {A + 1} \right)\,\,\,{\rm{multiple}}\,\,{\rm{of}}\,\,5\,\,\,\,\mathop \Rightarrow \limits^{GCD\left( {7,5} \right)\,\, = \,\,1} \,\,\,\,\,\left[ {A + 1} \right]\,\,\,{\rm{equals}}\,\,\,0\,\,{\rm{or}}\,\,5\,\,\,\,\, \Rightarrow \,\,\,A\,\,\,{\rm{equals}}\,\,{\rm{4}}\,\,{\rm{or}}\,\,{\rm{9}}\)


The correct answer is therefore (C).


We follow the notations and rationale taught in the GMATH method.

Regards,
Fabio.
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Fabio Skilnik :: GMATH method creator (Math for the GMAT)
Our high-level "quant" preparation starts here: https://gmath.net