GRE Math : Factors / Multiples

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Prime Numbers

What must be true of all prime numbers?

Possible Answers:

Multiplying two primes will always produce an odd number.

The distribution of primes is random.

There are only two primes that are consecutive positive integers on the number line.

The sum of two primes is always even.

Every positive prime has a corresponding negative prime.

Correct answer:

There are only two primes that are consecutive positive integers on the number line.

Explanation:

Let's go through the five statements. 

The sum of two primes is always even: This is only true of the odd primes. 2 is also a prime number, however, and 2 plus an odd number is odd.

Every positive prime has a corresponding negative prime: This is also false. There are no negative primes. A prime number is defined as a number greater than 1 that is divisible by only 1 and itself.

There are only two primes that are consecutive positive integers on the number line: This is true and therefore the correct answer. 2 and 3 are the only primes that are consecutive. Because 2 is the only even prime, all other primes must have at least one number in between them (since every two odd numbers are separated by an even).

Multiplying two primes will always produce an odd number: This is also only true of odd primes. 2 * odd prime = even.

The distribution of primes is random: False. The primes are logarithmically distributed.

Example Question #1 : Prime Numbers

Quantitative Comparison

Quantity A: The smallest prime number multiplied by 3 and divided by the least common multiple of 5 and 10

Quantity B: The smallest odd prime number multiplied by 2 and divided by the 2nd smallest odd prime

Possible Answers:

The two quantities are equal.

Quantity B is greater.

The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.

Quantity A is greater.

Correct answer:

Quantity B is greater.

Explanation:

Quantity A: The smallest prime number is 2. We also need the least common multiple of 5 and 10, which is 10.

So Quantity A = 2 * 3 / 10 = 3/5

Quantity B: The smallest odd prime is 3. The second smallest odd prime is 5.

So Quantity B = 3 * 2 / 5 = 6/5

Quantity B is greater.

Example Question #11 : Factors / Multiples

Quantitative Comparison

Quantity A: The number of prime numbers between 0 and 100, inclusive.

Quantity B: The number of prime numbers between 101 and 200, inclusive.

Possible Answers:

The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.

The two quantities are equal.

Quantity A is greater.

Quantity B is greater.

Correct answer:

Quantity A is greater.

Explanation:

As we go up on the number line, the number of primes decreases almost exponentially. Therefore there are far more prime numbers between 0 and 100 than there are between 101 and 200. This is a general number theory point that is important to know, but trying to come up with some primes in these two groups will also quickly demonstrate this principle. 

Example Question #3 : Prime Numbers

Which number is greater than the sum of all the prime factors of 330?

Possible Answers:

 

 

 

 

Correct answer:

 

Explanation:

The prime factorization of 330 is \dpi{100} \small 2\times 3\times 5\times 11.

The sum of the prime factors is \dpi{100} \small 2+3+5+11=21.

23 is the only answer choice greater than 21. 

Example Question #12 : Factors / Multiples

A prime number is divisible by: 

Possible Answers:

It depends on the prime number.

Itself

Two answers are correct.

Correct answer:

Two answers are correct.

Explanation:

The definition of a prime number is a number that is divisible by only one and itself. A prime number can't be divided by zero, because numbers divided by zero are undefined. The smallest prime number is 2, which is also the only even prime. 

Example Question #13 : Factors / Multiples

What is half of the third smallest prime number multiplied by the smallest two digit prime number?

Possible Answers:

This number does not exist.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The third smallest prime number is 5. (Don't forget that 2 is a prime number, but 1 is not!)

The smallest two digit prime number is 11. 

Now we can evaluate the entire expression:

Example Question #15 : Integers

a, b and c are integers, and a and b are not equivalent.

If ax + bx = c, where c is a prime integer, and a and b are positive integers which of the following is a possible value of x?

Possible Answers:

2

1

None of the other answers

3

4

Correct answer:

1

Explanation:

This question tests basic number properties. Prime numbers are numbers which are divisible only by one and themselves. Answer options '2' and '4' are automatically out, because they will always produce even products with a and b, and the sum of two even products is always even. Since no even number greater than 2 is prime, 2 and 4 cannot be answer options. 3 is tempting, until you remember that the sum of any two multiples of 3 is itself divisible by 3, thereby negating any possible answer for c except 3, which is impossible. There are, however, several possible combinations that work with x = 1. For instance, a = 8 and b = 9 means that 8(1) + 9(1) = 17, which is prime. You only need to find one example to demonstrate that an option works. This eliminates the "None of the other answers" option as well.

Example Question #82 : Arithmetic

Which statement is false about prime numbers?

Possible Answers:

Every positive integer except for 1 is a prime or a product of primes. 

There are no negative primes.

Every integer greater than 1 has a unique prime factorization.

None are false.

All are false.

Correct answer:

None are false.

Explanation:

All of these statements are true. Let's go through them.

1. There are no negative prime numbers. This appears as if it might be false, but in fact, the prime numbers are defined as whole numbers greater than one that are divisible by only one and itself. 

2. Every number except 0 and 1 is a prime number or product of primes. This is also true. Let's look at the factorization of a number that isn't prime. For example, 6 = 2 * 3, which is a product of primes.  12 = 2 * 2 * 3, which is also a product of primes. 

3. Every number has a unique prime factorization. We just saw that every number is either prime, or a product of primes. Therefore each number must have a unique prime factorization. Just as above, 6 is the product of two primes, 2 and 3. No other number can be made by mulitplying 2 * 3. The same is true for 12. When we multiply 2 * 2 * 3, the only number we will ever get is 12. 

Example Question #1 : How To Factor A Number

Column A                                                  

5!/3!                                                            

Column B

6!/4!

Possible Answers:

The two quantities are equal.

The quantity in Column B is greater.

The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.

The quantity in Column A is greater.

Correct answer:

The quantity in Column B is greater.

Explanation:

This is a basic factorial question. A factorial is equal to the number times every positive whole number smaller than itself. In Column A, the numerator is 5 * 4 * 3 * 2 * 1 while the denominator is 3 * 2 * 1.

As you can see, the 3 * 2 * 1 can be cancelled out from both the numerator and denominator, leaving only 5 * 4.

The value for Column A is 5 * 4 = 20.

In Column B, the numerator is 6 * 5 * 4 * 3 * 2 * 1 while the denominator is 4 * 3 * 2 * 1. After simplifying, Column B gives a value of 6 * 5, or 30.

Thus, Column B is greater than Column A.

Example Question #2 : How To Factor A Number

Which of the following integers are factors of both 24 and 42? 

Possible Answers:
8
5
3
12
7
Correct answer: 3
Explanation:

3 is the only answer that is a factor of both 24 and 42. 42/3 = 14 and 24/3 = 8.  The other answers are either a factor of 24 OR 42 or neither, but not both.

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