Math Problem Statement

The answer to the question "If the four-digit AA77 can be divisible by 37, then find A" is 4. Can you please explain how the answer is 4?

Solution

To explain why the answer is A=4A = 4, let's break this problem down step by step:

Problem Setup:

The given number is AA77AA77, where AA is a digit, and the entire number must be divisible by 3737.

This can be written as: AA77=1100A+10A+77=110A+77AA77 = 1100A + 10A + 77 = 110A + 77

We are tasked with finding a value of AA such that 110A+77110A + 77 is divisible by 3737.

Divisibility Condition:

A number NN is divisible by 3737 if: Nmod37=0N \mod 37 = 0

Thus, we need: (110A+77)mod37=0(110A + 77) \mod 37 = 0

Simplifying Modulo 37:

  1. Compute 110mod37110 \mod 37:

    • Divide 110110 by 3737: 110÷37=2110 \div 37 = 2 remainder 3636.
    • Therefore, 110mod37=36110 \mod 37 = 36.

    So, the expression becomes: (36A+77)mod37=0(36A + 77) \mod 37 = 0

  2. Simplify 77mod3777 \mod 37:

    • Divide 7777 by 3737: 77÷37=277 \div 37 = 2 remainder 33.
    • Thus, 77mod37=377 \mod 37 = 3.

    The expression now becomes: (36A+3)mod37=0(36A + 3) \mod 37 = 0

Solving for AA:

The equation (36A+3)mod37=0(36A + 3) \mod 37 = 0 implies: 36A+3=k37for some integer k36A + 3 = k \cdot 37 \quad \text{for some integer } k

Rewriting: 36A3(mod37)36A \equiv -3 \pmod{37}

Since 3-3 is equivalent to 3434 modulo 3737 (because 3+37=34-3 + 37 = 34), we have: 36A34(mod37)36A \equiv 34 \pmod{37}

  1. Solve for AA using the modular inverse of 36mod3736 \mod 37:
    • The modular inverse of 3636 modulo 3737 is 11 (since 3611(mod37)36 \cdot 1 \equiv 1 \pmod{37}).
    • Multiply both sides of 36A34(mod37)36A \equiv 34 \pmod{37} by 11: A34(mod37)A \equiv 34 \pmod{37}

Thus, A=34mod10A = 34 \mod 10 (because AA is a digit), which gives A=4A = 4.

Final Answer:

The value of AA is 44. When A=4A = 4, the number 44774477 is divisible by 3737.


Let me know if you'd like further details or have any questions. Here are 5 related questions for practice:

  1. What is the modular inverse, and how is it calculated?
  2. How can you test if a number is divisible by 3737 directly?
  3. How does modular arithmetic simplify divisibility problems?
  4. What happens if AA is replaced by a different digit? Can you verify divisibility manually?
  5. What is the general process for solving divisibility problems with unknown digits?

Tip: Modular arithmetic is a powerful tool for solving divisibility problems efficiently. Practice breaking down

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Modular Arithmetic
Divisibility Rules
Number Theory

Formulas

N = 110A + 77 (representation of the number AA77)
N % 37 = 0 (divisibility condition)
36A + 3 ≡ 0 (mod 37) (simplified modulo equation)

Theorems

Properties of Modular Arithmetic
Concept of Modular Inverses

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 9-12