Number theory

1 √ is prime number and x being even then there is only one possibility that x
is 4.

2 Prime numbers are: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, and 41.

3 Important rules
o*o=o o+o=e
o*e=e o+e=o
e*e=e e+o=e
Where o is odd e is even

4 If x2 = y2 ………………………. (1)
| | = | | (true)
x2 – y2 (true)
x = y (false)
Because from (1) we know that
| | = | | …………………………(2)
If x =2 & y = -2 it satisfies (2)
If x = -2 & y =2 satisfies (2)
But in both cases x is not equal to y
5 Real number: all number that exists except imaginary number

6 Integers: numbers which is not represented as fraction all negative, positive

including zero (0)
Remember zero (0) is even number

7 Negative numbers are not prime numbers. Also, 1 is not prime number.
Moreover, negative numbers can be classified as odd or even.

8 Consecutive even or odd (consecutive numbers) can be written as: x, x+2,

x+4

9 If given x2 > y2 it means that | | > | | which means that independent of sign
x must be greater than y

10 If a question asks you to find maximum value for a problem and the answer
you get for that problem is not available, then select minimum value. If
answer is 76.88 and options are
(a) 75
(b) 76
(c) 74
Select 76 (since, 76.88 is max value)
Similarly, if answer is minimum than select higher value
 E.g. if a factory running cost is 11000$ + $300/ bicycle and selling each cycle
at $700/ cycle
What is minimum number of cycle to make profit?
For no profit or loss, (let –x be the number)
11000 + (300) * x = 700 * x
Therefore, x = 27.5
Since, question asks to select minimum select slightly higher value i.e. 28.

11 In comparing two equation eliminate common variables and constant.

3 −4 +5 2 −3 +5
Which is greater?
Eliminate common variables and constants by equating to each other,

Remember for the operation below any variable (except if all the variables
are positive and greater than 0, multiplication and division can be performed
possible) can be added or subtracted but multiplication or division cannot be
performed.

3 −4 +5=2 −3 +5
3 −4 =2 −3
=

Remove equality sign,

Compare x y
So for comparison it depends on actual value of x and y. Since x and y does
not have any fix value and any further condition is not mentioned explicitly,
we cannot determine the value of x and y. So, answer is D.
Example 11.1
If x – 3 = 10/x and x > 0, then what is the value of x?
10
−3=

Since variable x is positive and greater than 0, we can perform multiplication

and division of variable x as required
− 3 = 10
− 3 − 10 = 0
− 5 + 2 − 10 = 0
−5 +2 −5 =0
−5 + 2 =0
So =5 −2
According to question x is positive. So x = 5

Example 11.2
Saving=income – expenditure
3
Ratio of income =4
1
Ratio of expenditure =2

Saving of A Saving of B
Quantitative comparison?
Ai = 3 Bi = 4
AE = BE = 2 (i = income, E= expenditure)
SA = 3 − 4
SB = 4 − 2
According to above mentioned point,
3 − =4 −2
=
 Remove “=” and compare,
Answer is D.
Also, in addition to above point
3 4
?
4 5
Equate both of the fraction (Since all numbers are positive multiplication is
possible)
3 4
=
4 5
15 = 16
Now remove “=” and compare,
4
5

Example 11.3
The price of an item is greater than $90 and less than $150.
Price of item after a 10% off Price of item after 10$ off
discount and then a 20$ off discount and then a 20%
discount discount

For above question form equation

Let price of item be x
Condition 1: 0.9 − 20
Condition 2: − 10 ∗ 0.8 = 0.8 − 8
Put “=” sign and compare
0.9 − 20 = 0.8 − 8
= 120
Since, 90 < < 150, which could be greater than or equal to or less than
120. So, answer is D.
 Quantities on both sides can be eliminated by division or multiplication
(taking squares of numbers in case of number comparison) only if the term
can never ever be negative or zero

e.g.
column A column B
y3 + y4 y>0 y4 – 2y2
equate both terms,
y3 + y4 = y4 – 2y2
we can cancel out common terms on both sides
y3 = -2y2
we can divide both sides by y2 as y is positive (multiplication can also be
performed by same reasoning)
y = -2
compare
y -2
column A is larger.

12 In quantitative comparison if there are only numbers then D cannot be the

answer.

13 Be alert from the eye catcher. Try to solve the question to remove doubt
e.g.
Quantitative comparison.
Largest value of 3 that is factor of
5∗3 +3 ∗2 3∗2+7∗3
So,
3 ∗ 5+2 3∗ 2+7
 3 3
So if we guess according to above mentioned approach then, it would result
to wrong result.
Expanding it we get,
3∗3 +3 ∗2 3∗2+7∗3
63 27
3 ∗7 3$
Hence, B > A (Be careful from eye catcher).

14 If a question says that, x is 40% less than y it means that x/y=0.6. How???
40
= %1 − &∗
100
= 0.6

= 0.6

E.g. Cranwell Golf Course offers two different pricing packages for golf
lesson. Under “Sapphire” pricing plan, lesson can be bought for a flat rate
$80 per hour. Under “Diamond” pricing plan, for an initial fee of $495, lesson
can be bought for a rate $15 per hour. If Jeanie buys “Diamond” pricing plan,
how many lesson she needs to take in order to spend exactly 40% less than
she would have under “Sapphire” plan?

Question explicitly says that. How many lesson to take for Diamond plan be
40% less than Sapphire plan.
Diamond Sapphire
x y

' ( )*
= 0.6 40% /
+ ,,ℎ
 A) 10
B) 12
C) 15
D) 18
E) 20

Diamond Sapphire
495 + ) ∗ 15 80)

495 + 15)
= 0.6
80n

495 + 15) = 48)

) = 15

15 If question says 150% more then, be careful because it does not mean 1.5
times.
E.g.
If Standard jeans cost $60 and Designer jeans cost 150% more, 29 pairs of
Jeans are sold for $3540, how many pairs were Designer Jeans?
Standard jeans cost = $60
Designer jeans cost
150
= 60 ∗ %1 + &
100
+ + ' = 29 … … … … … … … 1
+ ∗ 60 + ' ∗ 150 = 3540
60 ∗ 29 − ' + 150 ' = 3540
 1740 − 60 ' + 150 ' = 3540
' = 20

16 If a question asks to find revenue of sell don’t subtract selling price to cost
price.
Revenue ≠ SP – CP
Revenue = Cost + Profit

17 To find factor of a number in simple way do as follows (continue until the

same pattern repeats)
E.g.
To find factors of 64
Start with 1 * 64 and go on increasing 1 to 2 …. 3 …. until same pattern
repeats
1* 64
2 * 32
4 * 16 Same pattern repeats so stop and do not
8*8 consider highlighted number again or
16 * 4 any repeated number as it does not make
sense.
So, factors are 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64.

18 If it is asked to find prime factors, then simply factorize as normally done for
calculating HCF.
E.g.
Prime factors of 1050: 2*5*5*3*7
So distinct prime factors are: 2, 3, 5, 7
19 Consider two numbers (x1x2n) m and (y1y2n) m
Raising same power to different numbers having same last digit will result
different numbers with same last digit
(x1x2n)m (y1y2n)m

The result of above expression will have

same last digit.

E.g.
(23)3 (13)3
12167 2197

Next example
What is the remainder when 1323 + 172$ is divided by 10?
For this type of problem don’t ever think of using calculator. Last number
will be determined by last digit of the expression as discussed above.
Finding 1323 in regard to last digit is equivalent of finding 323 .
Form a set of 4 data
3 3 3$ 34
3 9 27 81
For detecting patterns, we need to evaluate values for further higher powers.
35 = 34 ∗ 3 = 81 ∗ 3 = 3
Above expression can be generalized
 36 = 3672 ∗ 32
6
= 672
∗ 2

38 = 35 ∗ 3 = 3 ∗ 3 = 9
33 = 38 ∗ 3 = 9 ∗ 3 = 7
39 = 33 ∗ 3 = 7 ∗ 3 = 1
Hence we find that pattern continues.
For last digit 3 pattern continues as {3, 9, 7, 1}, {3, 9, 7, 1}
Similarly, for 7 find first four data
7 7 7$ 74
7 49 343 2401
Taking only last digit
7931
From above generalized pattern discussed above we can write
75 = 74 ∗ 7 = 1 ∗ 7 = 7
78 = 75 ∗ 7 = 7 ∗ 7 = 49 = 9
73 = 78 ∗ 7 = 9 ∗ 7 = 63 = 3
79 = 73 ∗ 7 = 3 ∗ 7 = 21 = 1
{7, 9, 3, 1}, {7, 9, 3, 1}
This is theory for similar types of questions.
Now for this question, according to pattern
323 will give last digit as 3 (as counting the pattern of 3 four times and
additional 1 count to make it 17)
72$ will give last digit as 7 (counting the pattern of 7 three times and
additional 1 count to make it 13)
So adding last digit will give 10, which is exactly divisible by 10 leaving no
remainder.
20 If there are three numbers divisible by 3 then we can represent it as 3p, 3q
and 3r.

21 If there is a two-digit number “ab” if we solve according to the condition as

follows, then we cannot determine which value is greater.
Condition: Difference of two number is 6 and their square is 60
Then,
a2 - b2 = 60
a–b=6
−: ∗ + : = 60
+ : = 10 … … . . 1
− : = 6……… 2
Solving equation (1) and (2) we get,
a=8 & b=2
There is also another case possible that,
:− ∗ :+ = 60 … … . . 1
:− = 6………….. 2
On solving we get,
b=8 & a=2
So look for both case.

22 If there is a number which is divisible by two numbers e.g. 8 and 6 then the
number that will be divisible by both 8 and 6 will be LCM of 8 and 6.
So, for 8 and 6 the number would be 24 (LCM of 8 and 6).
E.g.
How many two-digit multiples of 6 are multiples of 15?
 So number that will be multiple of 6 and 15 both will be LCM of 6 and 15
i.e. 30. So possible values will be 30, 60, 90. Answer is 3.

23 If a number ‘d’ divides a number ‘m’ leaves a remainder ‘r’ with quotient ‘q’
then it can be expressed as:
d) m (q
-…………
r

( = *; + … … … … … . 1
(
= ; + …………………. 2
* *
When divisor does not change then try to make divisor appear again without
leaving negative remainders.
E.g.
m leaves remainder 2 when divided by 6
n leaves remainder 3 when divided by 6
What is remainder when m – n is divided by 6
So from (1) and (2) we can make equation as:
( = 6;2 + 2 Remainder
) = 6; + 3 cannot be
Now negative
( − ) = 6 ;2 − ; −1
Arrange in such a way that entering new number would result in multiple
Of 6 for above case.
( − ) = 6 ;2 − ; −1+5−5
( − ) = 6 ;2 − ; − 1 + 5
 Next example
m + n when divided by 12 remainder is 8.
m – n when divided by 12 remainder is 6.
What when is remainder when m*n is divided by 6?
Sol:
( + ) = 12;2 + 8 … … … … . 1
( − ) = 12; + 6 … … … … … . 2
Adding two equations we get,
( = 6;2 + 6; + 7 … … … … … . 3
) = 6;2 − 6; + 1 … … … … … . 4
( ∗ ) = 6;2 + 6; + 7 ∗ 6;2 − 6; + 1
Let us make it short. Since the final result of ( ∗ ) has to be divisible by 6.
So, only 7*1 will give the value which is not multiple of 6 and we have to
target that.
Form above we can consider that
(∗) =6∗ +7∗1
(∗) =6∗ +6+1
(∗) 1
= +1 +
6 6
Comparing with the form,
(
=;+
* *
Hence, remainder is 1.
Remember for above equation r must be less that d.

24 In quantitative comparison if statement emphasizes on “must” then it means

that option is true for all case.
e.g.
Q) If x is divisible by 18 and y is divisible by 12, which of the following must
be true?
1. + is divisible by 6
2. is divisible by 48
<
3. is divisible by 6
=

Since question explicitly emphasizes on “must” so we must select the option

which is true for all cases.
Evaluating option 1.
= 18, (p=1, 2, 3……………… since it is divisible by 18)
= 12;
+ = 18, + 12;
+ = 6 3, + 2;
Above option is always divisible by 6.

Evaluating option 2
∗ = 18, ∗ 12;
= 216,;
216,;
= = 4.5,;
48 48
So option 2 does not satisfy condition “must “or “always”

Evaluating option 3
18, ,
= = 1.5
12; ;
So option 3 does not satisfy condition “must” or “always”
25 The product of two prime numbers is never a prime number.

26 Not all consecutive numbers are evenly spaced. For instance,

consecutive prime numbers arranged in increasing order are not evenly
spaced.

27 Important formula
> ?/ ) = / )− / )+1
For example,
In the town of Windsor, 250 families have at least one car while 60 families
have at least two cars. How many families have exactly one car?
Apply formula
> ? / 1= / 1− / 2
250 − 60 = 190

28 Numbers between given range

For not inclusive case
@A(: : B ) )2 )* ) = ) − )2 − 1 ) > )2
E.g.
How many numbers are there between 1024 and 1773?
@A(: : B ) 1024 )* 1773 = 1773 − 1024 − 1 = 748
For inclusive case
@A(: : B ) )2 )* ) )?/A D = ) − )2 + 1 ) > )2
E.g.
How many numbers are there between 1024 and 1773 inclusive?
 @A(: : B ) 1024 )* 1773 = 1773 − 1024 + 1 = 750
(inclusive)

29 If @ = ,E ∗ ; F ∗ G
∗ … … ..where where p, q, r, etc. are prime numbers, then
the total number of positive divisors of N is + 1 ∗ : + 1 ∗ ? + 1 … ..
For example,
The number 16,000 has how many positive divisors?
16000 = 23 ∗ 5$
@A(: H, D *D = 7 + 1 ∗ 3 + 1 = 32

30 An integer a is a multiple of an integer b means that a/b = integer

Is zero multiple of 10?
From above we can conclude that 0 is multiple of 10
0/10 = 0 which is an integer, which satisfies condition to be multiple of 10.
Thus, 0 is multiple of 10.

31 Taking square root of number will decrease the value except when it is
between 0 and 1.
e.g.
√4 = 2
√0.25 = 0.5
Square root of number between 0 and 1 increases value

Taking square of a number (or any higher power) will increase the value
except when it is between 0 and 1.
 e.g.
2 =4
0.5 = 0.25
Square of number between 0 and 1 decreases value.

32 Any even number ‘n’ can be represented as ‘2z’ and any odd number ‘n’ can
be represented as ‘2z+1’, where z is positive integer 0, 1, 2, 3….
e.g.
If n is a positive integer and (n + 1) (n + 3) is odd, then (n + 2) (n + 4) must
be a multiple of
which one of the following?
For product of (n + 1) and (n + 3) to be odd n must be even.
Only two case yield odd
i.e.
odd * odd = odd
odd + even = odd
Since result of (n + 1) (n + 3) is odd (n + 1) and (n + 3) both are odd.
Moreover, when (n + 1) is odd n must be even and similar rule applies for
(n + 3)
So finally, replacing n = 2z since n is even
(2z + 2) * (2z + 4)
2(z + 1) * 2(z + 2)
4 * product two consecutive integers [(z + 1) * (z + 2)]
At least two consecutive positive integers would be 1 and 2 to satisfy the
condition “must” in the question.
33 It will be very useful if we can predict whether a number is prime or not. For
any number to be prime, divide by 6 after adding and subtracting 1 from the
number.
Formula
Prime number are in the form: (6n + 1) and (6n – 1), where n must be integer
For a number to be prime it must be either divisible by (6n + 1) or (6n - 1).
E.g.
143 prime number?
143 = 6n + 1
142/6 = n
n = 23.6667

Also,
143 = 6n – 1
144 = 6n
n = 144/6 = 24 (integer) [143 is prime number]

34 In case of quantitative comparison always try to plug as below

e.g.
if given x > 0 plug [1, 2. 1/2]
if given x < 0 plug [-1, -2, -1/2]
if range is not defined, then, plug [0, 1, 2, 1/2, -1, 2, -1/2]
note|: try to attack the 1st answer of the quantitative comparison by failing it
if possible

35 How many value for = √16 ?

Above expression has only one value i.e. =4
 The argument that
= I −4 ∗ −4

= I −4
= −4
This is not valid because = √16 is treated as one part of solution of =
16 and on taking ‘root’ on both sides yields,
= 16
| | = √16
Either = √16 or = −√16

36 Number what percent less or greater than a number

IF x is m percent more (or increase in percentage) than y, then,

( = % − 1& ∗ 100%

IF x is m percent less (or decrease in percentage) than y, then,

( = %1 − & ∗ 100%

e.g.
The number that is 50% greater than 60 is what percent less than the number
that is 20% less than 150?
50% greater than 60 = 90
20% less than 150 = 120
90 is what percent less than 150?
From above,
90
( = %1 − & ∗ 100 = 25%
120
37 The factor common in all numbers: HCF
The factor that satisfies all given numbers: LCM

38 If a number ‘n’ is multiple of ‘m’ or ‘n’ is divisible by ‘m’ or ‘m’ is factor of

‘n’, then ‘n’ must have numbers contain in them at least equal to ‘m’
Example 38.1
If 12 is multiple of 6, then,
12 = 2 ∗ 2 ∗ 3
6=2∗3
From above we find that 12 has at least 6 in it.

Example 38.2
If k is multiple of 24 but not multiple of 16, which of following cannot be an
integer?
A) k/8
B) k/9
C) k/32
D) k/36
E) k/81

If k is multiple of 24, then it must contain at least number 24 in it

J = 24 = 2$ ∗ 3 /
Moreover, k must not be multiple of 16
J = 16 = 24
So, k cannot be a number where number of two is 4 and there is no restriction
to the number of 3.
J = 2$ )/ ∗3 ) ? )
Now evaluate every option
A) k/8
2$ ∗ 3
= )
2$
B) k/9
2$ ∗ 3
= ) J? )ℎ D ( ) 3
9
C) k/32
2$ ∗ 3 2$ ∗ 3
= =) ) ) J ? )) ? * 2$
32 25
D) k/36
2$ ∗ 3 2$ ∗ 3
= = )
36 3 ∗2

E) k/81
2$ ∗ 3 2$ ∗ 3
= = )
81 34

Example 38.3
If n is an integer and n3 is divisible by 24, what is the largest number that must
be a factor of n?
If n3 is divisible by 24, then,
)$ = 24 = 2$ ∗ 3 /
Now,

) = I2 $ ∗ 3 ∗ 3 ∗ 3
K

Since we can add as much as we want the number of 2 or 3.

)=6
Now greatest factor of n,
1*6
2*3
3 * 2 stop as same pattern repeats
So greatest factor is 6.