GRE Math : How to divide integers

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Divide Integers

Apples are sold by whole bushels. You cannot purchase part of a bushel. There are 126 apples in a bushel.

Sam is a caterer who needs to bake 300 pies to sell at the county fair. If it takes 4 apples to make a pie, how many bushels must Sam order to ensure he has enough apples for his pies?

Possible Answers:

9

11

9.5

10

12

Correct answer:

10

Explanation:

Because Sam needs to make 300 pies, and each pie needs 4 apples, the number of apples he needs is

300 x 4 = 1200.

To determine how many bushels Sam needs, divide the total number of apples by the number of apples sold in a bushel.

1200 / 126 = 9.524

Because apples are sold by the whole bushel, Sam cannot order part of a bushel. In order to make sure he has sufficient apples, he will need to order 10 bushels.

Example Question #1 : How To Divide Integers

Which of the following integers is divisible by ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to find a number divisible by 6, you must find a number divisible by both of its factors — 2 and 3. Only even numbers are divisible by 2, so 81 is eliminated. In order to be divisible by 3, the sum of the digits has to be divisible by 3.

The sum of the digits of 316 is  3 + 1 + 6 = 10.

For 240, the sum is 2 + 4 = 6.

For 118, the sum is 1 + 1 + 8 = 10.

Only 6 is divisible by 3.

Example Question #12 : Operations

Which of the following rules makes the expression  an integer?

Possible Answers:

None of these rules makes  an integer.

 is a multiple of

 divided by  has a remainder of

 divided by  has a remainder of

All of these rules make  an integer.

Correct answer:

 divided by  has a remainder of

Explanation:

4 is already an integer, so we need to make sure x/10 is an integer too.  

Multiples of 5 won't work. For example, 5 is a multiple of 5 but 5/10 isn't an integer. Similarly, if x/10 leaves a remainder of 5, x/10 isn't an integer. For example, 15/10 leaves a remainder of 5 and isn't an integer.  

If x/10 has no remainder, then it must be an integer. For example, 10/10 and 20/10 both leave no remainders and simplify to the integers 1 and 2, respectively. 

Example Question #1 : How To Divide Integers

The remainder of  is .

Quantity A:

Quantity B: 

Possible Answers:

Quantity A is larger.

The relationship between the two quantities cannot be determined.

The two quantities are equal.

Quantity B is larger.

Correct answer:

The relationship between the two quantities cannot be determined.

Explanation:

If the remainder of  is , we know that  could be:

Since this generates an entire list of values, we cannot know which quantity is larger.  

Do not be tricked by the question, which is trying to get you to say that they are equal!

Example Question #14 : Operations

The remainder of  is .

The remainder of  is .

Which of the following is a potential value for ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Begin by writing out a few possible values for  and .  

Since the remainder of  is , we can list:

Since the remainder of  is , we can list:

Since  (which is ) is your smallest possible value, you know that  and  are not options.  You cannot derive either  or  from the values given.  

Therefore, the only option that is left is , which is equal to .

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