DIVISIBILITY RULES

Divisibility rules of 2, 4, 8 and 16

A number is divisible by 2, if its unit’s digit is even or 0.

For example, 244, 350, 710, 916 are all divisible by 2.

A number is divisible by 4 if the number formed by the last two right hand digits is divisible by 4, or if the last
two digits are zeroes.
For example, 1264, 1500, 7916 are all divisible by 4.

A number is divisible by 8 if the number formed by the last three right hand digits is divisible by 8, or if the last
three digits are 0’s.
For example, 22000, 8957365783432, 864 are all divisible by 8.

A number is divisible by 16 if the number formed by the last four right hand digits is divisible by 16, or if the last
four digits are 0’s.
For example, 2320000, 8957365786864, 864 are all divisible by 16.

In general, a number is divisible by 2n if the number formed by the last n right hand digits is divisible by 2n, or if
the last n digits are 0’s. So, we can generate rules for 32, 64 etc.

If a particular number is not divisible by 2, or 4 or 8 etc, in that case, the number when divided by 2, or 4 or 8 will
leave some remainder. To find the remainder, we take the help of divisibility rules only. Let us take an example to
understand this.

What is the remainder when 25439 is divided by 4?

Surely, the given number is not divisible by 4 as the number formed by the last two digits is 39, which is not
divisible by 4. When 39 is divided by 4, remainder is 3. Therefore, when 25439 is divided by 4, the remainder
would be same, i.e. 3.

Find a if 36437a is divisible by 8.

For divisibility by 8, the number formed by last three digits, i.e. 37a should be divisible by 8. Obviously, a should
be even number. If a = 2, then we get 372 which is not divisible by 8. Similarly, putting values of a as 4, 6, etc…
we can identify the value of a, which will make the given number divisible by 8. We realize that when a = 6, we
get 376 which is divisible by 8. So, a = 6.
Alternatively, we can write 37a = 370 + a. When 370 is divided by 8, remainder is 2. So, 370 + a = 368 + (2 + a).
Now, 370 + a should be divisible by 8. For that, (2 + a) should be divisible by 8 and for that a must be 6.

Divisibility rules of 3 and 9

A number is divisible by 3, if the sum of its digits is divisible by 3.

For example, 345, 888, 132, 372 are all divisible by 3

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Divisibility Rules
A number is divisible by 9, if the sum of its digits is divisible by 9
For example, 39537, 756, 62343 are all divisible by 9

Find the remainder when 43168 is divided by 3. Also find the remainder when divided by 9.

The sum of the digits is 4 + 3 + 1 + 6 + 8 = 22. When 22 is divided by 3, remainder is 1. So, when 43168 is
divided by 3, remainder is same, i.e. 1. Similarly, when 22 is divided by 9, remainder is 4. So, when 43168 is
divided by 9, remainder is same, i.e. 4.
Alternatively, we can also add the digits of 22 to obtain 4 and proceed to find the remainders. When 4 is divided
by 3, remainder is 1 and when 4 is divided by 9, remainder is 4.

Find the value of a if 457a49 is divisible by 9.

Sum of digits = 4 + 5 + 7 + a + 4 + 9 = 29 + a. For this to be divisible by 9, 29 + a should be 36 and hence a = 7.

Find (a, b) if 459a78b is divisible by 4 as well as 9.

If the given number is divisible by 4, 8b should be divisible by 4. The possible values of b are 4 and 8. Also, the
given number is divisible by 9. So, digit sum = 4 + 5 + 9 + a + 7 + 8 + b = 33 + a + b. When b = 4, a should be 8
so that the number becomes divisible by 9. When b = 8, a should be 4 so that the number becomes divisible by 9.
So, there are two sets of value of a and b possible. Therefore, (a, b) ≡ (4, 8), (8, 4).

Divisibility rules of 5, 25, 125, 10 and 100

A number is divisible by 5, if its unit’s digit is 5 or 0

For example, 245, 50, 78965 are all divisible by 5

A number is divisible by 25, if the number formed by the last two right hand digits is divisible by 25
For example 826475, 650, 12225 are all divisible by 25

A number is divisible by 125, if the number formed by the last three right hand digits is divisible by 125
For example, 948539875625 is divisible by 125

In general, a number is divisible by 5n if the number formed by the last n right hand digits is divisible by 5n, or if
the last n digits are 0’s. So, we can generate rules for 625, 3125 etc.

A number is divisible by 10, if its unit’s digit is 0.

For example, 520, 1350, 65430 are all divisible by 10.

A number is divisible by 100, if it ends in at least two zeroes.

For example, 12000, 300, 524300 are all divisible by 100.

How many four-digit numbers, which are divisible by 25, can be formed by using the digits 2, 3, 5 and 7, using
each digit only once?

The numbers that are divisible by 25 have their last two digits as 00 or 25 or 50 or 75. Zero is not one of the four
digits given in the question. Hence we only need to consider the numbers ending in 25 and 75.

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Divisibility Rules
Numbers ending in 25:
Four-digit numbers with last two digits as 25 and using 3 and 7 as the other two digits are 3725 and 7325.
Numbers ending in 75:
Similarly, four-digit numbers with last two digits as 75 and using 2 and 3 as the other two digits are 2375 and
3275.
Hence four numbers, satisfying the given conditions, can be formed using the given digits.

Divisibility rules of composite numbers

A number is divisible by 6, if it is divisible by both 2 and 3, i.e. if it is an even number and if the sum of its digits
is divisible by 3.
For example, 354, 462, 780 are all divisible by 6.

A number is divisible by 12 if the number is divisible by both 3 and 4.

For example, 624, 1440, 1596 are all divisible by 12.

In the divisibility rules of composite numbers, please note that the composite number is factored into two numbers
which are co-prime numbers. Two numbers (a, b) are co-prime or relatively prime if their only factor is 1. For
example, (2, 5), (5, 6) and (8, 9) are pairs of co-prime numbers.
Note that 8 and 9 individually are not prime numbers, but are (co)prime relative to each other.

So, 12 can be factored into 3 and 4 to generate divisibility rule, because (3, 4) are co-prime. Similarly 6 is factored
into 2 and 3 because (2, 3) are co-prime).

In general, if N = a × b, where a and b are co-prime, then any given number will be divisible by N if it is
individually divisible by a and b. Once we understand the applicability of co-prime pair of numbers to divisibility
rules, we can generate rules of more numbers. So,
A number is divisible by 14 if it is divisible by 2 and 7;
A number is divisible by 15 if it is divisible by 3 and 5;
A number is divisible by 18 if it is divisible by 2 and 9;
A number is divisible by 20 if it is divisible by 4 and 5;
A number is divisible by 21 if it is divisible by 3 and 7;
A number is divisible by 35 if it is divisible by 5 and 7;
A number is divisible by 72 if it is divisible by 8 and 9;
and so on

Find the value of a if 254a6 is divisible by 12.

The given number should be divisible by 3 as well as 4. For divisibility by 4, the number a6 should be divisible
by 4. For this, a can be 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9. For divisibility by 3, sum of digits = 17 + a should be divisible by 3.
Therefore, possible values of a are 1, 4, 7. Therefore, a can be 1 or 7.

Find the respective remainders when 659863146 is divided by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9 individually.

Divisibility by 2:
The last digit of the given number is 6, which is even and hence divisible by 2 ⇒ The remainder is 0
Divisibility by 3:

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Divisibility Rules
The sum of the digits of the given number is 6 + 5 + 9 + 8 + 6 + 3 + 1 + 4 + 6 = 48 . Now 48 is divisible by 3 ⇒
remainder is 0.
Divisibility by 4:
The number formed by the last two digits of the given number is 46, which leaves a remainder of 2 when divided
by 4 ⇒ remainder is 2.
Divisibility by 5:
The last digit of the given number is 6, which leaves a remainder of 1 when divided by 5 ⇒ remainder is 1.
Divisibility by 6:
The number is even (hence divisible by 2) and the sum of its digits, 48, is divisible by 3 (and hence the number
itself is divisible by 3). Since the number is divisible by 2 as well as 3, it is divisible by 6 ⇒ remainder is 0.
Divisibility by 9:
The sum of the digits of the given number is 6 + 5 + 9 + 8 + 6 + 3 + 1 + 4 + 6 = 48 . Now 48 leaves a remainder of 3
when divided by 9 ⇒ remainder is 3.

Divisibility rules of 11, 7 and 13

A number is divisible by 11, if the difference between the sum of the digits in the odd and even places is 0 or a
multiple of 11

Let a number be 9372836. Sum of digits starting from unit’s digit, S1 = 6 + 8 + 7 + 9 = 30. Sum of other set of
alternate digits, S2 = 3 + 2 + 3 = 8. Now, S1 – S2 = 30 – 8 = 22.
If S1 – S2 is 0 or divisible by 11, then the number is divisible by 11, otherwise not. Here, since S1 – S2 is 22, which
is divisible by 11, the number 9372836 is divisible by 11.

If S1 – S2 is not divisible by 11, then this difference itself will generate the remainder when the given number is
divided by 11.

Find the remainder when 32146753 is divided by 11.

Here, S1 = 3 + 7 + 4 + 2 = 16; S2 = 5 + 6 + 1 + 3 = 15. Now, S1 – S2 = 16 – 15 = 1, which is not divisible by 11.

So, 1 is the remainder when 32146753 is divided by 11.

Find the remainder when 23417673 is divided by 11.

Here, S1 = 3 + 6 + 1 + 3 = 13; S2 = 7 + 7 + 4 + 2 = 20. Now, S1 – S2 = 13 – 20 = –7, which is not divisible by 11.

In case we get negative remainder, we should add the divisor (11, in this case) to get the correct remainder. So, –7
+ 11 = 4 is the remainder when 23417673 is divided by 11.

The positive number M39048458N is divisible by 8 and 11 where M and N are single-digit numbers. What are
the values of M and N respectively?

A number is divisible by 8 if the last three digits of that number are divisible by 8.
In this question the last three digits are 58N, and the only number between 580 and 589 that is divisible by 8 is
584 ⇒ N = 4 .

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Divisibility Rules
For divisibility by 11, S1 – S2 = (M + 9 + 4 + 4 + 8) – (3 + 0 + 8 + 5 + 4) = M + 5 should be divisible by 11 ⇒ M
= 6. Note that M has to be a single digit number only.

To understand divisibility by 7, let us take an example.

Let a number be 325474321034232138. Form groups of 3 digits from right side. So, we get

325 474 321 034 232 138

Starting from rightmost side, add the alternate groups of digits and call it S1, i.e. S1 = 138 + 034 + 474 = 646.
Similarly, add the remaining alternate groups of digits and call it S2, i.e. S2 = 232 + 321 + 325 = 878. Now, S1 – S2
= 646 – 878 = –232. In case we get a large negative remainder, we should first divide it by the divisor (7, in this
case) and then add the divisor, i.e 7. So, 232 when divided by 7 leaves remainder 1 and hence remainder is –1 to
which when we add 7, we get final remainder 6.

Divisibility rule of 13 is exactly same as for 7.

Find the value of a if 4326a1567321 is divisible by 13.

Write the number as 432 6a1 567 321.

S1 = 321 + 6a1; S2 = 567 + 432 = 999. Now, S1 – S2 = 321 + 6a1 – 999 = 6a1 – 678, which should be divisible by
13. So, 6a1 – 678 = (600 + a0 + 1) – (600 + 70 + 8) = a0 + 1 – 78. Here, 78 is divisible by 13. So, a0 + 1 = a1
should be divisible by 13 and therefore a = 9.

Important:
• For divisibility by 7, 11 or 13, one may choose to find S1 – S2 or S2 – S1. However, to find the
remainder when a given number is divided by 7 or 11 or 13, one must always find S1 – S2 and
never S2 – S1, even if one gets negative remainder in the first place.
• In case one gets negative remainders, add the corresponding divisor to obtain the positive
remainder. This fact is true for any divisor and not just for 7 or 11 or 13.
• There is no need to know the divisibility rules of prime numbers beyond 13.
• If a digit repeats 6 times, then it is always divisible by 3, 7, 11, 13 and 37. That is, a 6 digit
number ‘aaaaaa’ is always divisible by these prime numbers. This is so because
aaaaaa = a(111111) = a(111)(1001) = a(3 × 37)(7 × 11 × 13).
Extending this logic further, we can say that is a digit repeats 6n times, where n is any natural
number, then the number so formed is always divisible by these given prime numbers.

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Divisibility Rules