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What is the remainder when -12 is divided by -5? 07 Mar 2019, 01:16
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E
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65% (hard)

Question Stats:

25% (00:32) correct 75% (00:37) wrong based on 158 sessions

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What is the remainder when \(-12\) is divided by \(-5\)?

A. \(-3\)
B. \(-2\)
C. \(0\)
D. \(2\)
E. \(3\)­
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E
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What is the remainder when -12 is divided by -5? 07 Mar 2019, 01:21
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MathRevolution
[GMAT math practice question]

What is the remainder when \(-12\) is divided by \(-5\)?

\(A. -3\)
\(B. -2\)
\(C. 0\)
\(D. 2\)
\(E. 3\)
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Just a note: ALL GMAT divisibility/remainder questions are limited to positive integers only.
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What is the remainder when -12 is divided by -5? 07 Mar 2019, 04:47
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Bunuel Gladiator59

Shouldn't it be D .

Because it says what number so it shuld 12 / 5 rem= 2 How E cause it does't says multiple of -5 :( other wise 15 -12 then rem = 3 would be possible Still confunsed :)

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What is the remainder when -12 is divided by -5? 07 Mar 2019, 08:14
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Like Bunuel already mentioned - remainder questions on the GMAT exclusively deal with positive numbers only.

Still, the way we need to solve such a question is always remember that the remainder when dividing by |x| is always between 0 and X-1 (Inclusive) i.e remainder is always positive. ( By definition)

-12 = -5(n) + R
-12 = -5(3) + R
R = 15 - 12 = 3

Hence the remainder will be 3.

Or in other words, if you get a remainder of -2 ( which you will if you put n = 2 above) remember to arrive at 5 - 2 = 3 such that the remainder is always positive non-negative.

Hope this helps.

ShrenikBimbsar
Bunuel Gladiator59

Shouldn't it be D .

Because it says what number so it shuld 12 / 5 rem= 2 How E cause it does't says multiple of -5 :( other wise 15 -12 then rem = 3 would be possible Still confunsed :)

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K.y.Shrenik Bimbsar
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What is the remainder when -12 is divided by -5? 10 Mar 2019, 18:21
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=>

If we can write \(A = BQ + R\) with \(0 ≤ R < |B|\), then \(R\) is the remainder when \(A\) is divided by \(B\).

\(-12 = (-5)*3 + 3\)

Thus, the remainder when \(-12\) is divided by \(-5\) is \(3\).

Therefore, the answer is E.
Answer: E
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What is the remainder when -12 is divided by -5? 18 Mar 2024, 20:24
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