Help with Maths Question- Divisibility related

11 Plus Maths – Preparation and Information

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Ahins
Posts: 13
Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2016 7:45 am

Help with Maths Question- Divisibility related

Post by Ahins »

Can anyone help with the question please?

a) Take an even number. If you multiply it by 4, then you get the number P. If you half it then you get the number Q. P-Q is always a multiple of seven.
For example, if we choose 10, then P=40 and Q=5. 40-5=35, which is a multiple of seven. Explain why regardless of which even number you start with, you will always get a multiple of seven.

Many thanks
Guest55
Posts: 16254
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:21 pm

Re: Help with Maths Question- Divisibility related

Post by Guest55 »

Ahins wrote:Take an even number. If you multiply it by 4, then you get the number P. If you half it then you get the number Q. P-Q is always a multiple of seven.
For example, if we choose 10, then P=40 and Q=5. 40-5=35, which is a multiple of seven. Explain why regardless of which even number you start with, you will always get a multiple of seven.
This is a totally inappropriate 11+ question: which school is this?

Take a general even number 2n

P = 4 x 2n = 8n
Q = 2n divided by 2 = n

P - Q = 8n - n = 7n hence always a multiple of 7.
Ahins
Posts: 13
Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2016 7:45 am

Re: Help with Maths Question- Divisibility related

Post by Ahins »

Thank you very much. Actually I do not think it is an 11+ question. I came across it from a few questions which I have collated over a period of time from different sources.Thanks for the quick response. Makes sense. Thanks so much.

Regards
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