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Too good, Superb explanation and thanks for correcting me Bunuel.
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Bunuel
Is x divisible by 30?

(1) x = k*(m^3 - m), where m and k are both integers > 9 --> x=k*(m-1)m(m+1). Well, if k=30 then the answer is YES, but if k=11, then (m-1)m(m+1) only guarantees divisibility by 6, so the answer might be NO (for example m=12). Not sufficient.

(2) x = n^5 - n, where n is an integer > 9 --> the last digit of any integer in positive integer power repeats in pattern of 4 (some numbers have the pattern of 2 or 1, but pattern of 4 holds for them too). So, n^5 has the same last digit as n^1 or simply n, therefore the last digit of n^5-n is ALWAYS zero, so its ALWAYS divisible by 10. Next, n^5-n=n(n^4-1)=n(n^2-1)(n^2+1)=(n-1)n(n+1)(n^2+1) --> (n-1)n(n+1) is divisible by 3 (as there are 3 consecutive integers) --> n^5-n is divisible by 10*3=30. Sufficient.

Answer: B.

P.S. You have factored n^5-n incorrectly and also your reasoning for n^2(n+1)(n-1) is not right: it's not always divisible by 30, try n=12 for example.

Hope it's clear.


Hi Bunnel,

I've a doubt in the following:

(n-1)n(n+1) ..is the product of any 3 consecutive integers divisble by 3 or 6 (3!)?
(I came across the following rule in this forum : product of n consecutive integers is divisble by n!.)

If the product is divisible by 6 , then we need to check for only divisbility by 5?

Regards,
Anu
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anuu

Hi Bunnel,

I've a doubt in the following:

(n-1)n(n+1) ..is the product of any 3 consecutive integers divisble by 3 or 6 (3!)?
(I came across the following rule in this forum : product of n consecutive integers is divisble by n!.)

If the product is divisible by 6 , then we need to check for only divisbility by 5?

Regards,
Anu

In my solution I showed that n^5-n is divisible by 10 and 3, so by 30. You can do in another way too: prove divisibility by 5 and divisibility by 6.
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Hey Bunuel

you are awesome!
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anuu

Hi Bunnel,

I've a doubt in the following:

(n-1)n(n+1) ..is the product of any 3 consecutive integers divisble by 3 or 6 (3!)?
(I came across the following rule in this forum : product of n consecutive integers is divisble by n!.)

If the product is divisible by 6 , then we need to check for only divisbility by 5?

Regards,
Anu

In my solution I showed that n^5-n is divisible by 10 and 3, so by 30. You can do in another way too: prove divisibility by 5 and divisibility by 6.


Hi
How do you prove divisibility by 5 and 6?
Is it possible?
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Bunuel
anuu

Hi Bunnel,

I've a doubt in the following:

(n-1)n(n+1) ..is the product of any 3 consecutive integers divisble by 3 or 6 (3!)?
(I came across the following rule in this forum : product of n consecutive integers is divisble by n!.)

If the product is divisible by 6 , then we need to check for only divisbility by 5?

Regards,
Anu

In my solution I showed that n^5-n is divisible by 10 and 3, so by 30. You can do in another way too: prove divisibility by 5 and divisibility by 6.


Hi
How do you prove divisibility by 5 and 6?
Is it possible?

Please read the solution carefully:

(2) x = n^5 - n, where n is an integer > 9 --> the last digit of any integer in positive integer power repeats in pattern of 4 (some numbers have the pattern of 2 or 1, but pattern of 4 holds for them too). So, n^5 has the same last digit as n^1 or simply n, therefore the last digit of n^5-n is ALWAYS zero, so its ALWAYS divisible by 10. Next, n^5-n=n(n^4-1)=n(n^2-1)(n^2+1)=(n-1)n(n+1)(n^2+1) --> (n-1)n(n+1) is divisible by 3 (as there are 3 consecutive integers) --> n^5-n is divisible by 10*3=30. Sufficient.
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Infer - we need 2*3*5 in the dividend.
S-1) k * m (m-1) (m+1) if m is 10 sufficient
but if m = 11 not sufficient. Also no information on k. K can be same as m. Not sufficient.

S-2) x = n (n-1) (n+1) (n^2+1). Consider n as odd and even value.
n = 12 then 11,12,13,145 sufficient
n = 11 then 9,10,11,122 sufficient as we have 2*3*5
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Infer - we need 2*3*5 in the dividend.
S-1) k * m (m-1) (m+1) if m is 10 sufficient
but if m = 11 not sufficient. Also no information on k. K can be same as m. Not sufficient.

S-2) x = n (n-1) (n+1) (n^2+1). Consider n as odd and even value.
n = 12 then 11,12,13,145 sufficient
n = 11 then 9,10,11,122 sufficient as we have 2*3*5

Great solution for S-2. I'll just generalize it a bit further.

For n=10, 11, 14 or 15 we already have a 5 factor in (n-1)n(n+1). In fact, this applies to any n with units digit of 0, 1, 4, 5 as well as 6 (because 1+5) and 9 (because 4+5).

There is only need for testing for n when n has 2 or 3 as a units digits* (12, 13, 22, 23, ...) because they don't have a 5 factor in (n-1)n(n+1).
The goal here is to find out if there is a factor 5 in (n²+1).
The answer is YES, because if
units digit of n=2, units digit of (n²+1)=5
units digit of n=3, units digit of (n²+1)=0


Therefore S-2 is sufficient.
*No need for testing unit digit 7 and 8 because they are just a factor 5 away from 2 and 3.
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Somehow, I came across to the following axiom:

If p is a prime number, then for any integer n, \((n^p-n)\) is ALWAYS divisible by both p and 3.

If the above axiom is correct, we may solve the given problem in the following way.

To be divisible by 30, the last digit of the number must be 0.

(1) \(x = k*(m^3 - m)\)

From this we can say that \((m^3 - m)\) is divisible by 3, but we can not say whether its last digit is 0. If k or \((m^3 - m)\) is multiple of 10, then the answer is YES, otherwise the the answer is NO. Not sufficient.

(2) \(x = n^5 - n\)

According to the above mentioned theory 1, \(n^5 - n\) is divisible by both by 3 and 5. So, it is divisible by 15. Moreover, as Bunuel explained earlier, the last digit of \(n^5-n\) is ALWAYS zero, so its ALWAYS divisible by 10. So, it must be divisible by 30 (LCM of 15 and 10). Sufficient.

Answer is B.
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why is the last digit of n^5−n ALWAYS zero ?
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Tanvi94
why is the last digit of n^5−n ALWAYS zero ?

The last digit of any integer in positive integer power repeats in pattern of 4 (some numbers have the pattern of 2 or 1, but pattern of 4 holds for them too). So, n^5 has the same last digit as n^1 or simply n, therefore the last digit of n^5-n is ALWAYS zero
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enigma123
Is x divisible by 30?

(1) x = k*(m^3 - m), where m and k are both integers > 9
(2) x = n^5 - n, where n is an integer > 9

Question is x / 30 ? Yes/No

30 = 2* 3 * 5

Statement 1 ) x = k*(m^3 - m), where m and k are both integers > 9
x = k * m * m-1 * m + 1

m & k > 9
case 1: when both are 10
x = 10 * 10 * 9 * 11, Question will be yes
case 2: when both are 12
x = 12 * 12 * 11 * 13, Question will be No

(2) x = n^5 - n, where n is an integer > 9

x = n ( n^4 - 1)
x = n (n-1) (n+1) (n^2+1)
n = 10, 11, 12 ,13
case 1: when n is 10
x = 10 * 9 *11 * 101, Question will be Yes
case 2: when n is 11
x = 11 * 10 * 12 *122 , Question will be Yes
case 3: when n is 12
x = 12 * 11 * 13 * 145, Question will be Yes

Answer B
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Bunuel
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Bunuel
anuu

Hi Bunnel,

I've a doubt in the following:

(n-1)n(n+1) ..is the product of any 3 consecutive integers divisble by 3 or 6 (3!)?
(I came across the following rule in this forum : product of n consecutive integers is divisble by n!.)

If the product is divisible by 6 , then we need to check for only divisbility by 5?

Regards,
Anu

In my solution I showed that n^5-n is divisible by 10 and 3, so by 30. You can do in another way too: prove divisibility by 5 and divisibility by 6.


Hi
How do you prove divisibility by 5 and 6?
Is it possible?

Please read the solution carefully:

(2) x = n^5 - n, where n is an integer > 9 --> the last digit of any integer in positive integer power repeats in pattern of 4 (some numbers have the pattern of 2 or 1, but pattern of 4 holds for them too). So, n^5 has the same last digit as n^1 or simply n, therefore the last digit of n^5-n is ALWAYS zero, so its ALWAYS divisible by 10. Next, n^5-n=n(n^4-1)=n(n^2-1)(n^2+1)=(n-1)n(n+1)(n^2+1) --> (n-1)n(n+1) is divisible by 3 (as there are 3 consecutive integers) --> n^5-n is divisible by 10*3=30. Sufficient.

Bunuel -- where can i learn more about this theory marked in red ?
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Bunuel
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Bunuel
anuu

Hi Bunnel,

I've a doubt in the following:

(n-1)n(n+1) ..is the product of any 3 consecutive integers divisble by 3 or 6 (3!)?
(I came across the following rule in this forum : product of n consecutive integers is divisble by n!.)

If the product is divisible by 6 , then we need to check for only divisbility by 5?

Regards,
Anu

In my solution I showed that n^5-n is divisible by 10 and 3, so by 30. You can do in another way too: prove divisibility by 5 and divisibility by 6.


Hi
How do you prove divisibility by 5 and 6?
Is it possible?

Please read the solution carefully:

(2) x = n^5 - n, where n is an integer > 9 --> the last digit of any integer in positive integer power repeats in pattern of 4 (some numbers have the pattern of 2 or 1, but pattern of 4 holds for them too). So, n^5 has the same last digit as n^1 or simply n, therefore the last digit of n^5-n is ALWAYS zero, so its ALWAYS divisible by 10. Next, n^5-n=n(n^4-1)=n(n^2-1)(n^2+1)=(n-1)n(n+1)(n^2+1) --> (n-1)n(n+1) is divisible by 3 (as there are 3 consecutive integers) --> n^5-n is divisible by 10*3=30. Sufficient.

Bunuel -- where can i learn more about this theory marked in red ?

Check this: Cyclicity on the GMAT
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Bunuel -- Thank you for the link. Have a follow up

Per your strategy, you proved that n^5 - n is a multiple of 10

n^5 - n ==== (n-1)(n)(n+1)(n^2+1)

just wondering -- do you know which bit of the equation brings about the 5.

- is it (n-1)? or (n) ? or (n+1) ? or (n^2+1) ? that brings about the multiple of 5 specifically ?

(n-1)*n*(n+1) brings about a multiple of 6 -- does that mean (n^2+1) is what brings about the bit that is a multiple of 5 specifically ?
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the last digit of any integer in positive integer power repeats in pattern of 4 (some numbers have the pattern of 2 or 1, but pattern of 4 holds for them too)

can someone pls explain with example
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