1 Number System

FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS
I. Numbers
In Hindu-Arabic system, we have ten digits, namely 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
A number is denoted by a group of digits, called numeral.
For denoting a numeral, we use the place-value chart, given below.
Ten- Crores Ten- Lakhs Ten- Thousands Hundreds Tens Ones
Crores Lakhs Thousands
(i) 5 2 8 6 7 9
(ii) 4 3 8 0 9 6 7
(iii) 3 5 2 1 8 0 0 9
(iv) 5 6 1 3 0 7 0 9 0
The four numerals shown above may be written in words as:
(i) Five lakh twenty-eight thousand six hundred seventy-nine
(ii) Forty-three lakh eighty thousand nine hundred sixty-seven
(iii) Three crore fifty-two lakh eighteen thousand nine
(iv) Fifty-six crore thirteen lakh seven thousand ninety
Now, suppose we are given the following four numerals in words:
(i) Nine crore four lakh six thousand two
(ii) Twelve crore seven lakh nine thousand two hundred seven
(iii) Four lakh four thousand forty
(iv) Twenty-one crore sixty lakh five thousand fourteen
Then, using the place-value chart, these may be written in figures as under:
Ten- Crores Ten- Lakhs Ten- Thousands Hundreds Tens Ones
Crores Lakhs Thousands
(i) 9 0 4 0 6 0 0 2
(ii) 1 2 0 7 0 9 2 0 7
(iii) 4 0 4 0 4 0
(iv) 2 1 6 0 0 5 0 1 4
II. Face value and Place value (or Local Value) of a Digit in a Numeral
(i) The face value of a digit in a numeral is its own value, at whatever place it may be.
Ex. In the numeral 6872, the face value of 2 is 2, the face value of 7 is 7, the face value of 8 is 8 and the
face value of 6 is 6.
(ii) In a given numeral:
Place value of ones digit = (ones digit) × 1,
Place value of tens digit = (tens digit) × 10,
Place value of hundreds digit = (hundreds digit) × 100 and so on.
Ex. In the numeral 70984, we have
Place value of 4 = (4 × 1) = 4,
Place value of 8 = (8 × 10) = 80,
Place value of 9 = (9 × 100) = 900,
Place value of 7 = (7 × 10000) = 70000.
Note: Place value of 0 in a given numeral is 0, at whatever place it may be.
III. Various Types of Numbers
1. Natural Numbers: Counting numbers are called natural numbers.
Thus, 1, 2, 3, 4, ........... are all natural numbers.
2. Whole Numbers: All counting numbers, together with 0, form the set of whole numbers.
Thus, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, ........... are all whole numbers.
3
4 QUANTITATIVE APTITUDE

3. Integers: All counting numbers, zero and negatives of counting numbers, form the set of integers.
Thus, ..........., – 3, – 2, – 1, 0, 1, 2, 3, ........... are all integers.
Set of positive integers = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, ...........}
Set of negative integers = { – 1, – 2, – 3, – 4, – 5, – 6, ...........}
Set of all non-negative integers = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...........}
4. Even Numbers: A counting number divisible by 2 is called an even number.
Thus, 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, ........... etc. are all even numbers.
5. Odd Numbers: A counting number not divisible by 2 is called an odd number.
Thus, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, ........... etc. are all odd numbers.
6. Prime Numbers: A counting number is called a prime number if it has exactly two factors, namely itself and 1.
Ex. All prime numbers less than 100 are:
2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 59, 61, 67, 71, 73, 79, 83, 89, 97
7. Composite Numbers: All counting numbers, which are not prime, are called composite numbers.
A composite number has more than 2 factors.
8. Perfect Numbers: A number, the sum of whose factors (except the number itself), is equal to the number, is called
a perfect number, e.g. 6, 28, 496
The factors of 6 are 1, 2, 3 and 6. And, 1 + 2 + 3 = 6.
The factors of 28 are 1, 2, 4, 7, 14 and 28. And, 1 + 2 + 4 + 7 + 14 = 28.
9. Co-primes (or Relative Primes): Two numbers whose H.C.F. is 1 are called co-prime numbers,
Ex. (2, 3), (8, 9) are pairs of co-primes.
10. Twin Primes: Two prime numbers whose difference is 2 are called twin-primes,
Ex. (3, 5), (5, 7), (11, 13) are pairs of twin-primes.
p
11. Rational Numbers: Numbers which can be expressed in the form , where p and q are integers and q ≠ 0, are
q
called rational numbers.
1 –8 2
Ex. , , 0, 6, 5 etc.
8 11 3
12. Irrational Numbers: Numbers which when expressed in decimal would be in non-terminating and non-repeating
form, are called irrational numbers.
Ex. 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , π, e , 0.231764735......
IV. Important Facts:
1. All natural numbers are whole numbers.
2. All whole numbers are not natural numbers.
0 is a whole number which is not a natural number.
3. Even number + Even number = Even number
Odd number + Odd number = Even number
Even number + Odd number = Odd number
Even number – Even number = Even number
Odd number – Odd number = Even number
Even number – Odd number = Odd number
Odd number – Even number = Odd number
Even number × Even number = Even number
Odd number × Odd number = Odd number
Even number × Odd number = Even number
4. The smallest prime number is 2.
5. The only even prime number is 2.
6. The first odd prime number is 3.
7. 1 is a unique number – neither prime nor composite.
8. The least composite number is 4.
9. The least odd composite number is 9.
10. Test for a Number to be Prime:
Let p be a given number and let n be the smallest counting number such that n2 ≥ p.
Now, test whether p is divisible by any of the prime numbers less than or equal to n. If yes, then p is not
prime otherwise, p is prime.
NUMBER SYSTEM 5

Ex. Test, which of the following are prime numbers?

(i) 137 (ii) 173 (iii) 319 (iv) 437 (v) 811
Sol. (i) We know that (12)2 > 137.
Prime numbers less than 12 are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11.
Clearly, none of them divides 137.
∴ 137 is a prime number.
(ii) We know that (14)2 > 173.
Prime numbers less than 14 are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13.
Clearly, none of them divides 173.
∴ 173 is a prime number.
(iii) We know that (18)2 > 319.
Prime numbers less than 18 are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17.
Out of these prime numbers, 11 divides 319 completely.
∴ 319 is not a prime number.
(iv) We know that (21)2 > 437.
Prime numbers less than 21 are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19.
Clearly, 437 is divisible by 19.
∴ 437 is not a prime number.
(v) We know that (30)2 > 811.
Prime numbers less than 30 are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29.
Clearly, none of these numbers divides 811.
∴ 811 is a prime number.
V. Important Formulae:
(i) (a + b)2 = a2 + b2 + 2ab (ii) (a – b)2 = a2 + b2 – 2ab
(iii) 2 2 2
(a + b) + (a – b) = 2(a + b ) 2 (iv) (a + b)2 – (a – b)2 = 4ab
(v) 3 3 3
(a + b) = a + b + 3ab (a + b) (vi) (a – b)3 = a3 – b3 – 3ab (a – b)
(vii) 2 2
a – b = (a + b) (a – b) (viii) (a + b + c)2 = a2 + b2 + c2 + 2(ab + bc +  ca)
(ix) a3 + b3 = (a + b) (a2 + b2 – ab) (x) a3 – b3 = (a – b) (a2 + b2 + ab)
(xi) 3 3 3 2 2 2
a + b + c – 3abc = (a + b + c) (a + b + c – ab – bc – ca)
(xii) If a + b + c = 0, then a3 + b3 + c3 = 3abc

TESTS OF DIVISIBILITY
1. Divisibility By 2:
A number is divisible by 2 if its unit digit is any of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8.
Ex. 58694 is divisible by 2, while 86945 is not divisible by 2.
2. Divisibility By 3:
A number is divisible by 3 only when the sum of its digits is divisible by 3.
Ex. (i) In the number 695421, the sum of digits = 27, which is divisible by 3.
∴ 695421 is divisible by 3.
(ii) In the number 948653, the sum of digits = 35, which is not divisible by  3.
∴ 948653 is not divisible by 3.
3. Divisibility By 9:
A number is divisible by 9 only when the sum of its digits is divisible by 9.
Ex. (i) In the number 246591, the sum of digits = 27, which is divisible by 9.
∴ 246591 is divisible by 9.
(ii) In the number 734519, the sum of digits = 29, which is not divisible by  9.
∴ 734519 is not divisible by 9.
4. Divisibility By 4:
A number is divisible by 4 if the number formed by its last two digits is divisible by 4.
Ex. (i) 6879376 is divisible by 4, since 76 is divisible by 4.
(ii) 496138 is not divisible by 4, since 38 is not divisible by 4.
5. Divisibility By 8:
A number is divisible by 8 if the number formed by its last three digits is divisible by 8.
6 QUANTITATIVE APTITUDE

Ex. (i) In the number 16789352, the number formed by last 3 digits, namely 352 is divisible by 8.
∴ 16789352 is divisible by 8.
(ii) In the number 576484, the number formed by last 3 digits, namely 484 is not divisible by 8.
∴ 576484 is not divisible by 8.
6. Divisibility By 10:
A number is divisible by 10 only when its unit digit is 0.
Ex. (i) 7849320 is divisible by 10, since its unit digit is 0.
(ii) 678405 is not divisible by 10, since its unit digit is not 0.
7. Divisibility By 5:
A number is divisible by 5 only when its unit digit is 0 or 5.
Ex. (i) Each of the numbers 76895 and 68790 is divisible by 5.
8. Divisibility By 11:
A number is divisible by 11 if the difference between the sum of its digits at odd places
and the sum of its digits at even places is either 0 or a number divisible by 11.
Ex. (i) Consider the number 29435417.
(Sum of its digits at odd places) – (Sum of its digits at even places)
= (7 + 4 + 3 + 9) – (1 + 5 + 4 + 2) = (23 – 12) = 11, which is divisible by   11.
∴ 29435417 is divisible by 11.
(ii) Consider the number 57463822.
(Sum of its digits at odd places) – (Sum of its digits at even places)
= (2 + 8 + 6 + 7) – (2 + 3 + 4 + 5) = (23 – 14) = 9, which is not divisible by  11.
∴ 57463822 is not divisible by 11.
9. Divisibility By 25:
A number is divisible by 25 if the number formed by its last two digits is either 00 or divisible by 25.
Ex. (i) In the number 63875, the number formed by last 2 digits, namely 75 is divisible by 25.
∴ 63875 is divisible by 25.
(ii) In the number 96445, the number formed by last 2 digits, namely 45 is not divisible by 25.
∴ 96445 is not divisible by 25.
10. Divisibility By 7 or 13:
Divide the number into groups of 3 digits (starting from right) and find the difference
between the sum of the numbers in odd and even places. If the difference is 0 or divisible
by 7 or 13 (as the case may be), it is divisible by 7 or 13.
Ex. (i) 4537792 → 4 / 537 / 792
(792 + 4) – 537 = 259, which is divisible by 7 but not by 13.
∴ 4537792 is divisible by 7 and not by 13.
(ii) 579488 → 579 / 488
579 – 488 = 91, which is divisible by both 7 and 13.
∴ 579488 is divisible by both 7 and 13.
11. Divisibility By 16:
A number is divisible by 16, if the number formed by its last 4 digits is divisible by 16.
Ex. (i) In the number 463776, the number formed by last 4 digits, namely 3776, is divisible by 16.
∴ 463776 is divisible by 16.
(ii) In the number 895684, the number formed by last 4 digits, namely 5684, is not divisible by 16.
∴ 895684 is not divisible by 16.
12. Divisibility By 6: A number is divisible by 6, if it is divisible by both 2 and 3.
13. Divisibility By 12: A number is divisible by 12, if it is divisible by both 3 and 4.
14. Divisibility By 15: A number is divisible by 15, if it is divisible by both 3 and 5.
15. Divisibility By 18: A number is divisible by 18, if it is divisible by both 2 and 9.
16. Divisibility By 14: A number is divisible by 14, if it is divisible by both 2 and 7.
17. Divisibility By 24: A given number is divisible by 24, if it is divisible by both 3 and  8.
18. Divisibility By 40: A given number is divisible by 40, if it is divisible by both 5 and  8.
19. Divisibility By 80: A given number is divisible by 80, if it is divisible by both 5 and  16.
NUMBER SYSTEM 7

Note: If a number is divisible by p as well as q, where p and q are co-primes, then the given number is divisible
by pq.
If p and q are not co-primes, then the given number need not be divisible by pq, even when it is divisible by both
p and q.
Ex. 36 is divisible by both 4 and 6, but it is not divisible by (4 × 6) = 24, since 4 and 6 are not co-primes.
VI. Factorial of a Number
Let n be a positive integer.
Then, the continued product of first n natural numbers is called factorial n, denoted by n ! or n .
Thus, n ! = n (n – 1) (n – 2) ........... 3.2.1
Ex. 5 ! = 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 120.
Note: 0 ! = 1
VII. Modulus of a Number
 x , when x ≥ 0
|x| = 
 – x , when x < 0

Ex.|– 5| = 5, |4| = 4, |– 1| = 1, etc.
VIII. Greatest Integral Value
The greatest integral value of an integer x, denoted by [x], is defined as the greatest integer not exceeding x.
 11   3 
Ex. [1.35] = 1,   =  2  = 2, etc.
 4   4
IX. Multiplication BY Short cut Methods
1. Multiplication By Distributive Law:
(i) a × (b + c) = a × b + a × c (ii) a × (b – c) = a × b – a × c
Ex. (i) 567958 × 99999 = 567958 × (100000 – 1) = 567958 × 100000 – 567958 × 1
= (56795800000) – 567958) = 56795232042.
(ii) 978 × 184 + 978 × 816 = 978 × (184 + 816) = 978 × 1000 = 978000.
2. Multiplication of a Number By 5n: Put n zeros to the right of the multiplicand and divide the number so
formed by 2n.
9754360000
Ex. 975436 × 625 = 975436 × 54 = = 609647500.
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X. Division Algorithm or Euclidean Algorithm
If we divide a given number by another number, then:
Dividend = (Divisor × Quotient) + Remainder
Important Facts:
1. (i) (xn – an) is divisible by (x – a) for all values of n.
(ii) (xn – an) is divisible by (x + a) for all even values of n.
(iii) (xn + an) is divisible by (x + a) for all odd values of n.
2. To find the highest power of a prime number p in n !
n  n   n  n r r +1
Highest power of p in n! =   +  2  +  3  + ...... +  r  , where p ≤ n < p
p p  p  p 

SOLVED EXAMPLES
Ex. 1. Simplify: (i) 8888 + 888 + 88 + 8
(ii) 715632 – 631104 – 9874 – 999 (LIC, ADO, 2007)
Sol. (i) 8 8 8 8 (ii) Given exp = 715632 – (631104 + 9874 + 99)
888 = 715632 – 641077 = 74555.
88 631104 715632
+ 8 9874 – 641077
9 8 7 2 + 99 74555
641077