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Bunuel
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wow I guessed this one but its a brilliant problem! Beautiful!
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please explain..
if x divided by y the reminder is 3 then y > 3 , not x . example : x=2 ; y=4
:( :( :roll:
please can anyone explain me this problem in easy way :cry:
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Karanagrawal
please explain..
if x divided by y the reminder is 3 then y > 3 , not x . example : x=2 ; y=4
:( :( :roll:
please can anyone explain me this problem in easy way :cry:

See x has to be at least 3 for a remainder of 3 when x is divided by y.

then x = 3.

y has to be greater than 3 for x/y to get a remainder of 3,

and y has to be at least 8 for y/z to get a remainder of 8.

then y = 8.

z has to be greater than 8 for y/z to have a remainder of 8. Lowest possible integer greater than 8 is 9.

So going with z = 9.

x + y + z = 3 + 8 + 9 = 20
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Karanagrawal
please explain..
if x divided by y the reminder is 3 then y > 3 , not x . example : x=2 ; y=4
:( :( :roll:
please can anyone explain me this problem in easy way :cry:

Hi,
X as 2 and y as 4 is clearly incorrect...

Now for this Q, my advice would be talk of larger number first...

1) If y is divided by z, remainder is 8..
This tells us that least value of y is 8 and the remainder will be 8, ONLY if z is greater than 8, so take the next least possible value..
And it is 8+1=9...

2) now take the second part..
If x is divided by y, remainder is 3..
Since least value of y is 8, x will be 3 or 11 or 19 and so on to leave remainder of 3..
But we have to take least value and it is 3..

So x can be 3, y can be 8 and z can be 9..
Ans x+y+z=3+8+9=20
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I think this is a high-quality question and I agree with explanation.
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Bunuel Can you please explain me how do we derive the minimum possible value of z?
I was able to understand how we get the minimum value of Y. But I could not understand your explanation for the minimum value of z to be 9.
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ridhi9jain
Bunuel Can you please explain me how do we derive the minimum possible value of z?
I was able to understand how we get the minimum value of Y. But I could not understand your explanation for the minimum value of z to be 9.

y is divided by z the remainder is 8:

\(y = qz + 8\), where \(q\) is a quotient, an integer \(\ge 0\). Which means that the least value of \(y\) is when \(q=0\), in that case \(y=8\). This basically means that \(y\) is less than \(z\). For example 8 divided by 9 yields the remainder of 8.
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I think this is a high-quality question and I agree with explanation. Excellent question quality !!
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I have edited the question and the solution by adding more details to enhance its clarity. I hope it is now easier to understand.
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I think this is a high-quality question and I agree with explanation.
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SushiVoyage
Bunuel Can you please explain me how do we derive the minimum possible value of z?
I was able to understand how we get the minimum value of Y. But I could not understand your explanation for the minimum value of z to be 9.

I am not sure if this is still helpful but there is a property that states that the range of "R" is 0<=R<= D, such that R is remainder and D is divisor.
Hence, the minimum value of z should be 9 because if the value of z were 8 then the "R" of 8 would be divisible by z. In turn leaving the remainder 0 and going against the info provided in the question.

Few more important properties or tips to note/remember in these remainder questions are -
1. In any fraction, Numerator = Remainder and Denominator = Divisor. The same is also true for their multiples. Suppose if we were asked to find out the value of the "R" and "D" using this fraction = 3/4 then the possible values for "R" and D" would be (3,6,9,12 etc) and (4,8,12,16 etc). In its core the absolute value of the fraction should not change.
2. 0 is a multiple of every number possible. Hence, whenever we start to think of the possible values that leave a certain a "R" as a compulsion (unless stated otherwise in the question) we must always start with (0+R) to come up with all possible values.

Hope this is helps!
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This is how I approached it:

X/Y -> Remainder of 3
Y/Z -> Remainder of 8

Using the rule that the remainder must be less than the divisor, we can infer the following:
Y > 3
Z > 8

Since we are trying to find the minimum of the sum and we are given that X, Y, and Z are integers,
the minimum value of Y = 4 and Z = 9

Therefore, if Y = 4, we can go back and say if X/4 -> remainder of 3, X = 7
So, X = 7, Y = 4, Z = 9
7 + 4 + 9 = 20
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­Different way of solving than what Ive seen here.

Since R:8 is larger, let's start there. Y/Z = R8. Smallest Y and Z value here would be 8/1=0 R8. So Y=8 and Z=1. Now we know X/8= R 3. Plug in 11 for X you get 11/8 = 0 R3. 8+1+11 = 20.

Seems like I didnt do this correctly but got to the same answer. Curious to understand why
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Bunuel
The positive integers \(x\), \(y\), and \(z\) are such that when \(x\) is divided by \(y\), the remainder is 3, and when \(y\) is divided by \(z\), the remainder is 8. What is the smallest possible value of \(x+y+z\)?

A. 12
B. 20
C. 24
D. 29
E. 33
­Good problem just neeed bit of help of observations of number like 3 and 8 rest is easy first putting x=3 and y=8 you will get remainder 3 now for y/z for remainder 8 least value of z can be 9 so there for x+y+z = 3+8+9 = 20.

Hence B
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Bunuel
Official Solution:

The positive integers \(x\), \(y\), and \(z\) are such that when \(x\) is divided by \(y\), the remainder is 3, and when \(y\) is divided by \(z\), the remainder is 8. What is the smallest possible value of \(x+y+z\)?

A. 12
B. 20
C. 24
D. 29
E. 33


The statement "when \(x\) is divided by \(y\), the remainder is 3" can be expressed as \(x = qy + 3\), where \(q\) is the quotient, an integer that is greater than or equal to 0. This equation implies that the smallest value for \(x\) occurs when \(q\) equals 0, giving us \(x = 3\). Essentially, this shows that the smallest possible value of \(x\) will be less than \(y\). For instance, if we divide 3 by 4, we indeed get a remainder of 3.

Similarly, the condition "when \(y\) is divided by \(z\), the remainder is 8" implies that the smallest possible value for \(y\) is 8, therefore \(y < z\). As a result, the smallest possible value of \(z\) must be one more than 8, or 9. For instance, if we divide 8 by 9, we indeed get a remainder of 8.

Therefore, the smallest possible value of \(x+y+z\) is \(3+8+9=20\).


Answer: B
Why is z necessarily > y?
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lnyngayan
Bunuel
Official Solution:

The positive integers \(x\), \(y\), and \(z\) are such that when \(x\) is divided by \(y\), the remainder is 3, and when \(y\) is divided by \(z\), the remainder is 8. What is the smallest possible value of \(x+y+z\)?

A. 12
B. 20
C. 24
D. 29
E. 33


The statement "when \(x\) is divided by \(y\), the remainder is 3" can be expressed as \(x = qy + 3\), where \(q\) is the quotient, an integer that is greater than or equal to 0. This equation implies that the smallest value for \(x\) occurs when \(q\) equals 0, giving us \(x = 3\). Essentially, this shows that the smallest possible value of \(x\) will be less than \(y\). For instance, if we divide 3 by 4, we indeed get a remainder of 3.

Similarly, the condition "when \(y\) is divided by \(z\), the remainder is 8" implies that the smallest possible value for \(y\) is 8, therefore \(y < z\). As a result, the smallest possible value of \(z\) must be one more than 8, or 9. For instance, if we divide 8 by 9, we indeed get a remainder of 8.

Therefore, the smallest possible value of \(x+y+z\) is \(3+8+9=20\).


Answer: B
Why is z necessarily > y?

When \(y\) is divided by \(z\), the remainder is 8 can be expressed as \(y = qz + 8\), where \(q\) is the quotient, an integer that is greater than or equal to 0. This equation implies that the smallest value for \(y\) occurs when \(q\) equals 0, giving us \(y = 8\). Essentially, this shows that the smallest possible value of \(y\) will be less than \(z\). For instance, if we divide 8 by 9, we indeed get a remainder of 8.
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I like the solution - it’s helpful.
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