Question

Find the least positive integer which if diminished by 5 is exactly divisible by 36and 54.

Answer 1

Answer:

5

Step-by-step explanation:

This question is designed with a trap.

It's tempting to say:

36 = 2² × 3² and 54 = 2 × 3³ so their LCM is 2² × 3³ = 108

hence 108 + 5 = 113 is the least positive integer which if diminished by 5 is exactly divisible by 36 and 54.

BUT

0 is exactly divisible by every number ( a is divisible by b is there is an integer c such that a = bc; when a = 0, then whatever b is, the value c = 0 always makes this work, so "0 is divisible by b" is true for all numbers b ).

This means the correct answer is 5.