What Are the Possible Values of r in This Division Equation?

[kiss89]

Hi, I'm taking calculus this sem, and i have a question on stuff pre calculus.

If x and y are natural numbers and y[less-than]x, then whole numbers q and r must exist such that x=yq+r.
a)what is the value of r if y is a factor of x? IT IS ZERO
b)If y is not a factor of x, what are the possible values of r if y=5 , y=7, or y=n?

I don't get b), can anyone help me please.
THANK YOU.

 

[cristo]

Well, if y=5, then we can write x=5q+r (5<x). This says that x can be written as a multiple of 5 plus some remainder. What is the maximum value that this remainder can be?

 

[kiss89]

there is no max. value, and by the way the answer at the back of the book is : 1,2,3,4(for y=5) and 1,2,3,4,5,6(for y=7) and 1,2,3,...,n-1( for y=n).
but i still don't understand what these answers mean.

 

[d_leet]

there is no max. value,

Why do you think there is no max value?

 

[cristo]

Ok, so I suppose you could say there is no maximum value for r. However, suppose we say that we want x=5q+r where x>5, and q is as large as possible (which is what the question wants). i.e. we write x as the largest multiple of 5 possible, then take r as the remainder. Now, with the question written like this, there is a maximum value for r.

I'm not too sure how to give any futher hints without giving away the answer! But, suppose that r=9; is q the biggest value possible?

 

[HallsofIvy]

Hi, I'm taking calculus this sem, and i have a question on stuff pre calculus.

If x and y are natural numbers and y[less-than]x, then whole numbers q and r must exist such that x=yq+r.

It would help to state this properly: If x, y are natural numbers and y< x, then there exist unique whole numbers q and r such that x= yq+ r and $0\le r< y$

a)what is the value of r if y is a factor of x? IT IS ZERO[\quote]
Without the additions above, x= 24, y= 4, you could write 24= 4(6) or 24= 4(5)+ 4 or 24= 4(4)+ 8, etc.

b)If y is not a factor of x, what are the possible values of r if y=5 , y=7, or y=n?

I don't get b), can anyone help me please.
THANK YOU.

If y= 5, then obviously the possible values for r are 1, 2, 3, 4. If y= 7, then 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

 

[mathwonk]

as phrased, the correct answers are:
a) any multiple of y,
b) any integer at all.(In this question, understanding how to ask it correctly is more important than answering it.]