is divisible by which of the following numbers?
Correct Answer :
3 and 37 but not 2
Solution :
The correct option is 3 and 37 but not 2.
Let us analyze the divisibility of the expression by 2, 3, and 37 step-by-step.
1. Divisibility by 2:
We examine the parity (even or odd nature) of each term in the sum:
The number 222 is even, so any positive integer power of it, , is also even.
The number 333 is odd, so any positive integer power of it, , is also odd.
The sum of an even number and an odd number is always odd:
Since is an odd number, it is not divisible by 2.
2. Divisibility by 3:
Let us check the terms modulo 3:
For the first term, we sum the digits of 222: 2 + 2 + 2 = 6, which is divisible by 3. Thus, . This means:
For the second term, we sum the digits of 333: 3 + 3 + 3 = 9, which is divisible by 3. Thus, . This means:
Therefore, the sum modulo 3 is:
This confirms that the expression is divisible by 3.
3. Divisibility by 37:
Let us analyze the base numbers 222 and 333:
Notice that and .
Since both bases are multiples of 37, we have:
and
Raising these to their respective powers yields:
Thus, the sum modulo 37 is:
This confirms that the expression is divisible by 37.
Conclusion:
The expression is divisible by 3 and 37, but it is not divisible by 2.
Access expert-curated educational resources and study materials—completely free.
Create, conduct, and manage professional online assessments with Mindyard. Perfect for teachers and institutes.
Copyright © 2026 Mindyard. All Rights Reserved.