
Question: If n is a non-negative integer, is \(10^n+8\) divisible by 18?
“If n is a non-negative integer, is divisible by 18”– is a topic of the GMAT Quantitative reasoning section of GMAT. This question has been taken f0rom the book "GMAT Quantitative Review". GMAT Quant section consists of a total of 31 questions. GMAT Data Sufficiency questions consist of a problem statement followed by two factual statements. GMAT data sufficiency comprises 15 questions which are two-fifths of the total 31 GMAT quant questions.
Solution and Explanation
Approach Solution 1:
Notice that \(10^n+8\) is divisible by 18 for any positive value of n. In this case, \(10^n+8\) = even + even = even
So it’s divisible by 2.
Also, in this case, the sum of the digits of \(10^n+8\) is 9 so it’s divisible by9.
Since \(10^n+8\) is divisible by both 2 and 9, then it’s divisible by 2*9 = 18 too.
On the other hand, if n = 0 then \(10^n+8\) = 1 + 8 = 9, so in this case \(10^n+8\) is not divisible by 2
(1) n is a prime number. Hence, n is a positive integer.
Sufficient.
(2) n is even. N can be zero as well as any positive even number. Not sufficient
Correct Answer: A
Approach Solution 2:
Non-negative integer means zero, 1,2,3…
Now as (1) says that n is prime, so it cannot be zero. Also (2) says that n is even so it cannot be zero.
So forget zero.
Take n = 1,2,3… in each case, we will get 100 + 8 or 10000 + 8 or 1000000 + 3…
All of these numbers will be divisible by 18 because each of these sums are ending with 8 which is divisible by 2 AND Sum of all digits is 9.. (because there are lot of zeros and 1 and 8 in every sum)
As every number is divisible by 9 and 2… that means it is divisible by 18.
Hence, (1) is sufficient.
So strike out answers BCE.
Now take (2). N is even. In this case also, it is divisible by 18 due to above mentioned logic. Hence strike out A
Answer is D.
Hold on! S2 is not sufficient because if we take n = 0 then we get answer 9 and 9 is not divisible by 18.
Correct Answer: A
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*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.