GMATPill

Problem Solving
Exponents & Divisibility

http://www.gmatpill.com
• Exponent Basics

• Units Digit Cycling

• Examples

• Divisibility Rules
• Examples
 Exponent Basics
Some questions will require rearranging an expression to find the correct answer among answer choices

1) 45 x 42 47

2) (45)2 410

3) 45 + 42 42(65)

4) 157 (57 x 37)

5) 45 x 55 (20)5

6) 365 + 366 365(37)

 Exponent Unit Digit Cycles
Cycle Units Digit Cycle Pattern
2x 2 4 8 6

3x 3 9 7 1

4x 4 6

5x 5

6x 6

7x 7 9 3 1

8x 8 4 2 6

9x 9 1

10x 0
 Exponent Unit Digit Cycles
1) 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 … 8, 64, XX2, XX6, XX8, XX4, XX2

2) UnitsDigit(813)? UnitsDigit(817)? 8

3) UnitsDigit(1813)? UnitsDigit(2813)? 8

4) UnitsDigit(813x82)? 2

5) UnitsDigit(813)2 4

6) UnitsDigit(713)? 7

7) UnitsDigit(1713)? 7
 Divisibility Rules
n A number is divisible by n when …

2 Even Number
3 (Sum of Digits) %3
4 (Last 2 Digits) %4
5 Last Digit = 5 or 0
6 x%3 AND x% 2
7 ---------too complicated for GMAT------------
8 (Last 3 Digits) %8
9 (Sum of Digits) %9
10 Last Digit = 0
11 (From left add every even, subtract every odd digit) %11
12 x%3 AND x%4
25 Last 2 Digits: 00, 25, 50, 75
 Divisibility
892,132,24x
What is x if the number above is
divisible by …
1) By 2? x = 0, 2, 4, 6, 8
2) By 3? x = 2, 5, 8
3) By 4? x = 0, 4, 8
4) By 5? x = 0, 5
5) By 6? x = 2, 8
6) By 7? NA
7) By 8? x = 0, 8
8) By 9? x=5
9) By 10? x=0
10) By 11? x=1
11) By 12? x=8
12) By 25? x = NULL