Last visit was: 10 Sep 2026, 12:17 It is currently 10 Sep 2026, 12:17
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
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.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
magmag
User avatar
Joined: 20 Oct 2011
Last visit: 23 Apr 2019
Posts: 9
Own Kudos:
1
 [1]
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 9
Kudos: 1
 [1]
Confused between different uses of "Divisor" 17 Sep 2013, 02:23
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I know that the words "divisor" & "factor" mean the same thing, at least from the GMAT point of view". For example: 2 is a factor (or divisor) of 12 because there exists an integer (6) which we we multiply 2 by gives us 12.

What confuses me is that this word "divisor" is also used in the GMAT quotient/remainder topic when we divide a number by another number e.g. 7/2 gives us a quotient of 3 and a remainder of 1. The number 7 is called the "dividend" and the number 2 is called the "divisor" (even though 2 does not really divide 7 evenly because there's a remainder 1) so how come it's still called a divisor?! Can someone shed some light on the confusion of using the same word "divisor" differently in both situations?



Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Quantitative Questions Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block below for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
User avatar
fameatop
User avatar
Joined: 24 Aug 2009
Last visit: 09 Jun 2017
Posts: 382
Own Kudos:
2,582
Given Kudos: 275
Concentration: Finance
Schools:Harvard, Columbia, Stern, Booth, LSB,
Posts: 382
Kudos: 2,582
Confused between different uses of "Divisor" 17 Sep 2013, 04:01
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
magmag
I know that the words "divisor" & "factor" mean the same thing, at least from the GMAT point of view". For example: 2 is a factor (or divisor) of 12 because there exists an integer (6) which we we multiply 2 by gives us 12.

What confuses me is that this word "divisor" is also used in the GMAT quotient/remainder topic when we divide a number by another number e.g. 7/2 gives us a quotient of 3 and a remainder of 1. The number 7 is called the "dividend" and the number 2 is called the "divisor" (even though 2 does not really divide 7 evenly because there's a remainder 1) so how come it's still called a divisor?! Can someone shed some light on the confusion of using the same word "divisor" differently in both situations?
Show more

When divisor divides any dividend and leaves '0' remainder, then such such divisor is called a FACTOR of that dividend.

Hope this will help.
User avatar
magmag
User avatar
Joined: 20 Oct 2011
Last visit: 23 Apr 2019
Posts: 9
Own Kudos:
1
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 9
Kudos: 1
Confused between different uses of "Divisor" 17 Sep 2013, 04:13
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
fameatop
magmag
I know that the words "divisor" & "factor" mean the same thing, at least from the GMAT point of view". For example: 2 is a factor (or divisor) of 12 because there exists an integer (6) which we we multiply 2 by gives us 12.

What confuses me is that this word "divisor" is also used in the GMAT quotient/remainder topic when we divide a number by another number e.g. 7/2 gives us a quotient of 3 and a remainder of 1. The number 7 is called the "dividend" and the number 2 is called the "divisor" (even though 2 does not really divide 7 evenly because there's a remainder 1) so how come it's still called a divisor?! Can someone shed some light on the confusion of using the same word "divisor" differently in both situations?

When divisor divides any dividend and leaves '0' remainder, then such such divisor is called a FACTOR of that dividend.

Hope this will help.
Show more

Thanks for clarification. From what you said I can deduce that any factor can also be called a divisor but the opposite is not always true. i.e. not all divisors are factors. I hope I'm correct! :)
User avatar
fameatop
User avatar
Joined: 24 Aug 2009
Last visit: 09 Jun 2017
Posts: 382
Own Kudos:
2,582
Given Kudos: 275
Concentration: Finance
Schools:Harvard, Columbia, Stern, Booth, LSB,
Posts: 382
Kudos: 2,582
Confused between different uses of "Divisor" 17 Sep 2013, 05:17
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
magmag
fameatop
magmag
I know that the words "divisor" & "factor" mean the same thing, at least from the GMAT point of view". For example: 2 is a factor (or divisor) of 12 because there exists an integer (6) which we we multiply 2 by gives us 12.

What confuses me is that this word "divisor" is also used in the GMAT quotient/remainder topic when we divide a number by another number e.g. 7/2 gives us a quotient of 3 and a remainder of 1. The number 7 is called the "dividend" and the number 2 is called the "divisor" (even though 2 does not really divide 7 evenly because there's a remainder 1) so how come it's still called a divisor?! Can someone shed some light on the confusion of using the same word "divisor" differently in both situations?

When divisor divides any dividend and leaves '0' remainder, then such such divisor is called a FACTOR of that dividend.

Hope this will help.

Thanks for clarification. From what you said I can deduce that any factor can also be called a divisor but the opposite is not always true. i.e. not all divisors are factors. I hope I'm correct! :)
Show more

Yes you are correct in that "not all divisors are factors" and "All factor are divisors"



Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Quantitative Questions Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block above for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!