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Exercise 232Number theory › Divisibility and gcdHigh schoolAdded 3 Nov 2026

Divisibility rules

#divisibility rules#modular arithmetic#base 10

Statement

State and justify the divisibility rules for 22, 33, 55, 99, and 1111.

Hint

Write n=∑ak10kn=\sum a_k10^k and reduce 1010 modulo the divisor.

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Solution

Divisibility by 22 and 55. Since 10≡0(mod2)10\equiv0\pmod2 and (mod5)\pmod5, only the last digit matters: n≡a0(mod2)n\equiv a_0\pmod2 and (mod5)\pmod5. So 2∣n2\mid n iff the last digit is even; 5∣n5\mid n iff the last digit is 00 or 55.

Divisibility by 33 and 99. Since 10≡1(mod3)10\equiv1\pmod3 and (mod9)\pmod9, n≡∑ak(mod3)n\equiv\sum a_k\pmod3 (and mod 99). So 3∣n3\mid n (resp. 9∣n9\mid n) iff the digit sum is divisible by 33 (resp. 99).

Divisibility by 1111. Since 10≡−1(mod11)10\equiv-1\pmod{11}, n≡∑(−1)kak(mod11)n\equiv\sum(-1)^ka_k\pmod{11}. So 11∣n11\mid n iff the alternating digit sum is divisible by 1111.

Conclusion. These rules follow directly from 10≡0,1,−110\equiv0,1,-1 modulo the respective divisors.