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Fundamental Number

Properties
Number Properties Intro

Number properties deal with the way numbers or groups


of numbers behave.

Odds
Evens
Positives
Negatives
Primes
Perfect Squares
etc…

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Positive and Negative Numbers

Is  n  posi2ve?  
1.   n  is  an  integer.                                            
2.   –n  <  1                                                        

When Testing Cases on Data Sufficiency, the goal


STRATEGY
TIP is to use the constraints to find conflicting answers
to the question in the prompt.

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Positive and Negative Numbers

If  a  is  a  posi2ve  integer  and  b  is  a  nega2ve  integer,  which  of  the  
following  must  be  true?  

I.      a2  −  b2  is  posi2ve.  


II.    a3  −  b3  is  posi2ve.  
III.  ab(a  +  b)  is  nega2ve.  

I  only  
II  only  
III  only  
I  and  II  only  
II  and  III  only

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Positive and Negative Numbers

Is    t    nega2ve?  
1. qt  >  0  and  pt  <  0  
2. q  >  0                                          

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Adding and Subtracting Positive and Negative Numbers

Positive + Positive = Positive


Positive – Negative = Positive

Negative + Negative = Negative


Negative – Positive = Negative

Memorize these!
Positive + Negative = ?
Positive – Positive = ?

Negative + Positive = ?
Negative – Negative = ?

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Adding and Subtracting Positive and Negative Numbers

Positive + Positive = Positive


Positive – Negative = Positive Subtracting a negative
is the same as adding a
Negative + Negative = Negative positive
Negative – Positive = Negative

Positive + Negative = ?
Positive – Positive = ? Depends on the
relative size of
Negative + Positive = ? the numbers
Negative – Negative = ?

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Multiplying and Dividing Positive and Negative Numbers

Positive × Positive = Positive


Positive ÷ Positive = Positive

Negative × Negative = Positive


Negative ÷ Negative = Positive
Memorize these!
Positive × Negative = Negative
Positive ÷ Negative = Negative

Negative × Positive = Negative


Negative ÷ Positive = Negative

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Multiplying and Dividing Positive and Negative Numbers

Positive × Positive = Positive


Positive ÷ Positive = Positive When both values are
the same sign, the
Negative × Negative = Positive result is positive
Negative ÷ Negative = Positive

Positive × Negative = Negative


Positive ÷ Negative = Negative When the values are
different signs, the
Negative × Positive = Negative result is negative
Negative ÷ Positive = Negative

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Even & Odd Numbers

If  r  is  an  odd  integer  and  s  is  an  even  integer,  which  of  the  
following  must  be  an  even  integer?  

2r  
s  
2s  
r  
2r  -­‐  s  
2s  -­‐  r  
s  -­‐  r  

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Adding and Subtracting Even and Odd Numbers

Odd + Odd = Even


Odd – Odd = Even

Even + Even = Even


Even – Even = Even

Memorize these!

Odd + Even = Odd


Odd – Even = Odd

Even + Odd = Odd


Even – Odd = Odd

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Adding and Subtracting Even and Odd Numbers

Odd + Odd = Even


Odd – Odd = Even
When the values are the same
Even + Even = Even type, the result is always even
Even – Even = Even

Odd + Even = Odd


Odd – Even = Odd
When the values are not the same
Even + Odd = Odd type, the result is always odd
Even – Odd = Odd

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Multiplying Even and Odd Numbers

Odd × Odd = Odd

Even × Even = Even


Memorize these!
Odd × Even = Even

Even × Odd = Even

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Multiplying Even and Odd Numbers

Odd × Odd = Odd

Even × Even = Even


In multiplication, a single even
Odd × Even = Even value will make the result even.

Even × Odd = Even

STRATEGY When many numbers are involved in the calculation, take


TIP them one pair at a time and simplify using these same rules.

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Dividing Even and Odd Numbers

Even ÷ Even Even


Odd
Non-Integer

Odd ÷ Odd Even In division, the answer can be


Odd even, odd, or a non-integer.
Non-Integer
Because even/odd division yields
Even ÷ Odd Even
ambiguous results, it often shows
Odd
up on DS questions!
Non-Integer

Odd ÷ Even Even


Odd
Non-Integer
FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES
Factors, Multiples, and Divisibility

If  p  and  q  are  integers,  is  p  divisible  by  11?  


1.   10  –  p  =  3q  

2.   3q  +  12  is  divisible  by  11.  

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Multiples

A multiple of a number is a product of that number


and a positive integer.

So, multiples of m are m, 2m, 3m, 4m, etc.


For example, multiples of 8 include:
8×1=8
8 × 2 = 16
8 × 3 = 24
8 × 4 = 32
8 × 5 = 40

Multiples must be positive, so 8 × (–1) = –8 and 8 × 0 = 0


are NOT multiples of 8.

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Factors

Factors of a number divide evenly into that number.


For example, the factors of 42 are
1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 14, 21, and 42

If Q is a multiple of p, then p is a factor of Q.

A number’s largest factor and smallest multiple are always


the number itself.
Factors must also be positive, so –3 is NOT a factor of 42.

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Factors and Multiples

Is  the  four-­‐digit  number  k  less  than  2,400?  

1.   The  product  of  the  digits  in  k  is  72.  

2.   The  hundreds  digit  is  the  largest  digit  in  k.  

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Factors

Notice that the factors of 42 can be split into pairs whose


product is 42: (1, 42), (2, 21), (3, 14), (6, 7)

Like most numbers, 42 has an even number of distinct factors

Only perfect squares have an odd number of distinct factors.


For example, 16 has five distinct factors: 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16.

The square root, in this case 4, pairs with itself to produce


the product of 16.

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Sums and Differences of Factors and Multiples

The sum or difference of two multiples of a number is also


a multiple of that number.
For example, 77 and 56 are both multiples of 7.
Thus, 77 + 56 = 133 and 77 – 56 = 21 are multiples of 7.

Similarly, if a number is a factor of two other numbers,


it is a factor of their sum or difference.
For example, 4 is a factor of 76 and 44.
Thus, 4 is a factor of 76 + 44 = 120 and 76 – 44 = 32.

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Divisibility

Is  the  integer  p  divisible  by  12?  

1.   All  of  the  digits  in  p  are  divisible  by  3.  

2.   The  last  two  digits  of  p  are  36.  

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Divisibility Rules, 2-6

An integer is divisible by ___ if ___ Memorize these!

2   It  is  even  (its  last  digit  is  0,  2,  4,  6,  or  8)   128
3   The  sum  of  its  digits  is  a  mul2ple  of  3   852
4   Its  last  two  digits  are  divisible  by  4   956
(it  can  be  evenly  divided  by  2  twice)  
5   Its  last  digit  is  a  0  or  5   975
6   It  is  divisible  by  both  2  and  3   594

STRATEGY TEST TIP: For Critical Reasoning, read the question before
STRATEGY
reading theYou can save time testing for divisibility by 4 if you memorize
prompt.
TIP all multiples of 4 between 0 and 100.

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Divisibility Rules, 8-10 and 12

An integer is divisible by ___ if ___ Memorize these!

8   It  can  be  divided  evenly  by  2  three  2mes   144


9   The  sum  of  its  digits  is  a  mul2ple  of  9   675
10   Its  last  digit  is  a  0   910
12   It  is  divisible  by  both  3  and  4   276

If a number is divisible by N, it is also divisible by all


CONCEPT
TIP factors of N. For example, since 260 is divisible by 52,
it is also divisible by all factors of 52 (1, 2, 4, 13, 26, 52).

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Divisibility and Consecutive Numbers

Consecutive integers can be written as


(x – 3), (x – 2), (x – 1), x, (x + 1), (x + 2), (x + 3), (x + 4), etc.

In any list of n consecutive integers, exactly one of the


integers is a multiple of n.
For example, in any list of three consecutive integers,
one is a multiple of 3. (21, 22, 23)
As a result, the product of n consecutive integers is always
a multiple of n. (Or, it is divisible by n.)
For example, the products 113 × 114 × 115 and
(y + 5)(y + 6)(y + 7) are both divisible by 3.

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Divisibility and Consecutive Numbers

If  integer  p  >  0,  is  p(p  +  1)(p  +  2)  a  mul2ple  of  3?  of  4?  of  6?  

of  3?   Yes, because it is three consecutive numbers.


of  4?   We can’t tell.
of  6?   Yes, because 2 and 3 are factors.

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


GCF/LCM 1

What  is  the  least  common  mul2ple  of  a  and  b?  

1.   The  greatest  common  factor  of  a  and  b  is  15  

2.   a  =  30  and  a  >  b  

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Greatest Common Factor

The Greatest Common Factor (GCF) of two numbers is the


largest number that is a factor of both.

You can find the GCF two different ways:


1. Write out the factors of both numbers and find the
largest shared factor

2. Find the prime factorization of each number, then


multiply together the common elements of their prime
factorizations

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Least Common Multiple

The Least Common Multiple (LCM) of two numbers is the


smallest number that is a multiple of both.

You can find the LCM (like the GCF) two different ways:
1. Write out the multiples of both numbers and find the
smallest shared multiple

2. Find the prime factorization of each number. The LCM


is a product of the prime factors of the two numbers.
The product includes each prime factor the maximum
number of times it appears in one of the two numbers’
prime factorizations.

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Prime Numbers

If  r  and  s  are  dis2nct  prime  numbers,  which  of  the  following  


CANNOT  be  evenly  divisible  by  rs?  

6  
8  
10  
15  
18  

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Prime Numbers

A prime number is a positive integer that has exactly two


distinct factors: the number itself and the number 1.
1 is not prime.
2 is the only even prime number.
Negative numbers cannot be prime.

Review the list of the 25 prime numbers that are less than 100:
2, 3, 5, 7 Memorize Primes 53, 59
between 1 and 30!
11, 13, 17, 19 61, 67
23, 29 71, 73, 79
31, 37 83, 89
41, 43, 47 97 (NOT 91; 91 = 7 × 13)
FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES
Using Prime Factors to Determine Other Factors

If  z  =  992,  which  of  the  following    


CANNOT  be  a  factor  of  z?  

27  
33  
81  
111  
121  

The GMAT almost never requires you to perform


STRATEGY
TIP calculations with big numbers, so if you find yourself
wishing for a calculator, look for a shortcut!

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Prime Factorization - Review

Use factor trees to find the prime factorization of a number.

1. Start with the number 60

2. Split it into two factors


6 10

3. Repeat until the end of


each branch has a prime 2 3 2 5
number

This gives us the unique prime factorization of the number.


In this case: 60 = 2 × 2 × 3 × 5

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Factors/Multiples/Divisibility

If  x  is  a  posi2ve  integer,  what  is  the  value  of  x?  

1.   When  x  is  divided  by  8,  the  result  is  a  prime  number.  

2.   3  is  a  factor  of  x.  

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Number Properties Summary

Positive and Negative Numbers

Even and Odd Numbers

Factors, Multiples, Divisibility


Divisibility Rules
GCF and LCM 1
Prime Factorizations
Factor Trees
GCF and LCM 2

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES


Lesson Skills: Takeaways

Testing cases required more than one round of calculation,


but using number properties rules can be much faster.

Use algebraic manipulation as much as possible before testing


cases in order to simplify calculations.

Become comfortable testing cases. It is sometimes the only


practical way to solve many GMAT problems.

In questions involving factors and divisibility, writing out a factor


tree will quickly put a lot of information at your fingertips.

FUNDAMENTAL NUMBER PROPERTIES

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