Last visit was: 24 Apr 2026, 01:07 It is currently 24 Apr 2026, 01:07
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
feruz77
Joined: 08 Oct 2010
Last visit: 22 Dec 2021
Posts: 169
Own Kudos:
2,611
 [41]
Given Kudos: 974
Location: Uzbekistan
Concentration: Finance and accounting
Schools:Johnson, Fuqua, Simon, Mendoza
GPA: 4.0
WE 3: 10
Posts: 169
Kudos: 2,611
 [41]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
40
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
shrouded1
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 02 Sep 2010
Last visit: 29 Apr 2018
Posts: 608
Own Kudos:
3,230
 [15]
Given Kudos: 25
Location: London
Products:
Posts: 608
Kudos: 3,230
 [15]
9
Kudos
Add Kudos
6
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,802
Own Kudos:
810,909
 [1]
Given Kudos: 105,868
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,802
Kudos: 810,909
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
urfrndniks
Bunuel

I solved this with POE, subtracting each option from the original number and dividing it by 7, 12, 16. Solved it under 2 mins though.
A) 1856 - 137 = 1719 ; 1719/7 gives remainder 4 but dividing by 12 it fails, leave it
B) 1856 - 1361 = 495 ; 495/7 fails remainder is 5, leave it
C) 1856 - 140 = 1716; 1716/7 , fails remainder is not 4
D) 1856 - 157 = 1699; 1699/7, fails remainder is not 4
E) 1856-172 = 1684; dividing by all three 7, 12 and 16 gives remainder 4 - CORRECT

Is this approach suitable?
______________
Yes, that;s correct.
User avatar
JoeKan1234
Joined: 27 Aug 2022
Last visit: 23 Dec 2024
Posts: 63
Own Kudos:
45
 [3]
Given Kudos: 147
Posts: 63
Kudos: 45
 [3]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Let X be the number

1856 - X =336Q + 4

X = 1852 - 336Q

To minimize X, maximize Q

Max. value of Q = 5

So Min. value of X = 1852 - 336*5 = 172
User avatar
qwerty0311bc
Joined: 13 Mar 2024
Last visit: 19 Jul 2024
Posts: 3
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 2
Location: India
Posts: 3
Kudos: 10
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
My thought process:
to subtract a number from 1856 so that the remainder when divided by 7, 12, 16 is 4.

Since we have 12 and 16 as divisors and remainder is 4 I figured out the final number must be even, since multiples of 12, 16 are even and when we add 4 to them to count for remainder the value still is even.
so we need to subtract even from 1856 to get another even.
out of 5 options 3 are odd and when subtract odd numbers from 1856 we get final odd number which isn't what we concluded from top. hence eliminate a,b,d.
remaining c,e. substitute and check.
divide (1856-140)/7 to check if we get remainder 4. the answer is no.
bingo hence the answer is e.­
User avatar
BrushMyQuant
Joined: 05 Apr 2011
Last visit: 03 Apr 2026
Posts: 2,286
Own Kudos:
2,680
 [1]
Given Kudos: 100
Status:Tutor - BrushMyQuant
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Marketing
Schools: XLRI (A)
GMAT 1: 700 Q51 V31
GPA: 3
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: XLRI (A)
GMAT 1: 700 Q51 V31
Posts: 2,286
Kudos: 2,680
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Which is the least number that must be subtracted from 1856 so that the remainder when divided by 7, 12, 16 is 4?

As remainder is same when the number is divided by 7, 12 and 16
=> Number = Multiple of GCD(7, 12, 16) + 4 = 336*k + 4 (where k is an integer)
[ Watch this video to MASTER LCM AND GCD ]

Multiple of 336 close to 1856 = 336 * 5 = 1680
=> Number = 1680 + 4 = 1684

=> We need to subtract 1856 - 1684 = 172

So, Answer will be E
Hope it helps!

Watch the following video to MASTER Remainders

User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,965
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,965
Kudos: 1,117
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Automated notice from GMAT Club BumpBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.
Moderators:
Math Expert
109802 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts