I am a teacher by profession and by soul.

Everyday students come to me and

discuss about math. Most of the students find this subject “mind boggling”.
According to me, Mathematics is logical. Rather the theorems and formulas we use
are logical only. When I took the task of writing an article a day about any topic, it
seemed an easy task. But now I understand this is a responsibility. And I am
enjoying this. I am trying my best to cover all the topics. Still I want your
participation by posting your valuable comments.

Remainder
Before talking about the big fundas of remainder, let me come to basic things……….

+ ve and – ve remainder
If I ask you what is the remainder when 37 is divided by 7; obviously you will say 2.
Because
7 37 5
-35
2
What if we do it in these ways:-

7 37 6 7 37 4 7 37 3
-42 28 21
-5=2-7 9=2+7 16=2+7+7
So, we can get 2, -5(=2-7), 9(=2+7), 16(=2+7+7) as remainder, when 37 is divided
by 7. Our standard remainder is 2. So, whenever we want –ve remainder, we will subtract 7
from std. remainder and whenever we will get –ve remainder, we will add 7 to make it
positive.

 A and B when divided by 17 leave remainder 4 and 15 respectively what is the

remainder if
(i) A+B
(ii) A-B
(iii) B-A
(iv) AB is divided by 17

Soln: 17 A M 17 B N

4 15
So, A=17M+4
B=17N+15 (B’Coz Dividend = Divisor*Quotient + Remainder)

(i) A+B = 17(M+N)+19

Now divide A+B by 17
As 17(M+N) is exactly divisible by 17. So, we are left with 19.When 19 is divided by
17, remainder is 2. So, ans. is 2

(ii) A-B =17(M-N) + 4-15

= 17(M-N)-11
 Similarly, when A-B is divided by 17, we will check only for -11. When -11 is divided
by 17, remainder is -11+17= 6 Ans.

(iii) B-A = 17(N-M) +11

Clearly when B-A is divided by 17, remainder is 11 .

(iv) A.B= (17M+4) (17N+15)

=17(17MN+M+N) + 15*4
=17(17MN+M+N) + 60
Remainder when AB is divided by 17.
Remainder when 60 is divided by 17. Ans. 9

Tip: - Whenever we are asked to find remainder when

(i) a+b+c+….is divisible by x.
(ii) a.b.c……. is divisible by x.
(iii) a-b-c-…. Is divisible by x,

We will divide individual term by x to get the remainder and will apply the
corresponding arithmetic operation (i.e. addition, subtraction , multiply etc.)

 What is the remainder when 115*116*119*121 is divided by 13?

115
13 = -2 (Remainder)
116
13 = -1
119
13 =2
121
13 =4
So, 115*116*119*121= (-2)*(-1)*(2)*(4) = 16
=16-13=3 Ans.

 Find the remainder when (18+54+96+89) *88 is divided by 18.

Write down the remainder when individual term is divided by 18,
(0+0+6-1)(-2) = 5(-2) = -10= -10+18=8 ans.

Use of binomial theorem in remainder:

We know
(a+ b)n = nc0an+nc1an-1b+nc2a n-2 b2+……ncn-1 abn-1+ncnbn
= a (nc0an-1+nc1an-2b+nc2a n-3 b2+……ncn-1 abn-1) + bn
(Let nc0an-1+nc1an-2b+nc2a n-3 b2+……ncn-1 abn-1 =x)
=a x + bn
So, (a+ b)n =a (Something) + bn
We will exploit above result to find remainder:-

 Find remainder when

(i) 873
(ii) 673 is divided by 7
 (i) Now 873 = (7+1)73 =7(something) +173 (Acco to binomial)
= 7(something)+ 1
And when this is divided by 7, remainder is 1.

(ii) 673 = (7-1)73

= (7+ (-1))73
= 7(something) + (-1)73
= 7(something) - 1
So remainder is -1=-1+7=6 Ans.

 Find out the remainder when 1573 is divided by 7.

1573 = (14+1)73 (we will always look for any multiple of 7 near 15)
=14(_) +173
=14(_) +1
So ans. is 1

 Remainder when 763 is divided by 342.

Do we have any multiple of 7 near 342?
So, We can use 7’s power. A power of 7 which is nearer to 342…..hhhmmmmmn….
Obviously 73=343
So, 763= (73)21= (343)21= (342+1)21
=342(something) +121
=342(something) +1
So, Ans. Is 1

Tip: if remainder of ‘am’ by n is asked, divide a by ‘n’ and get the remainder ‘r’ then
question will become
Am/n = rm /n (this is to reduce the sum)

 295 is divided by 15. What is remainder?

24=16 is near to 15
So, 295=23*292
=8*(24)23
=8*(16)23
=8*123
=8 Ans.

 (36)95 is divided by 17. Find the remainder?

(36)95= (34+2)95 ( B’coz 34 is divisible by 17)
=295
=23*(24)23
=8*(16)23
=8*(-1)23 (B’coz 16=17-1)
=-8
=-8+17=9 Ans.


 When x+7 is divided by 15, remainder is 4. What is remainder when 2x+3 is
divided by 5.
15 x+7 5 2x+3

4 ?

So, x+7=15 (Something) +4

X= 15(something) -3
2x=30(something) -6
2x+3=30(something)-6+3=30(something)-3
& when 30(something)-3 is divided by 5, remainder is
-3=-3+5=2 Ans

CYCLICITY IN REMAINDER:
 Remainder when 397 is divided by 32.
We will check remainder for 31, 32, 33, 34,….
i.e. write down remainder when 31, 32, 33, 34,….are divided by 32.

Remainder By 32
1
3 (=3) 3

32(=9) 9

33(=27) 27

34(=81) 17

35(=34*3=17*3=51) 19 (cycle of 8 terms)

36(=19*3) 25

37(=25*3) 11

38(=11*3) 1

39(=1*3) 3

310(=39*3=3*3=9) 9

311 27
……..

and so on.

We can clearly see, pattern is repeating after 8 terms (i.e. cyclicity of 8)

i.e. 38, 316, 324, 332,….. all give remainder 1 when divided by 32
i.e. 3(multiple of 8) will leave remainder 1.
So, 397=396*3
 =38*12*3
=3multiple of 8*3
=1*3=3 Ans.

Tip: For finding remainder, find the cyclicity. Divide the power by cyclicity. As in above sum,
we will divide 97 by 8=remainder of 1
So,397=31

 Find remainder in each of the following case

(i) 4948÷9
(ii) 8181÷11

(i) 4948 = (45+4)48

=448
Now we can think in many ways. I am explaining each of every way I can think

Ist way:
Find any power of 4 which is near to multiple of 9 and bingo this is 4 3=64(near to 63)
So, 448 = (64)16
= (63+1)16
= 116
= 1 Ans.

2nd way:
Go by cyclicity:-
Remainder by 9
1
4 4

42(=16) 7 (cycle of 3)

43(=64) 1

44(=43*4=1*4) 4

I got the cyclicity of 3. So, divide the power (=48) by 3 since remainder is 0
=it will be the last step of cyclicity
=448 will leave remainder 1.

3rd way:
448=296
= (23)32
= (8)32= (-1)32= 1 Ans.

Is there any other way to reduce owe effort to find remainder. Let us take a smaller
example:
 Remainder when 10 is divided by 4?
10
Obviously 4 =2 (remainder)
 5
What if we cancel out 2 from 10 and 4? It will become 2 =1 (remainder)
But remainder in both cases is not same. So, to make a question easy, cancel out a
common factor from both dividend and divisor. Find remainder by any way. Multiply this
remainder by the no. which we have cancelled out.
e.g. in above sum, we have cancelled 2.later we got remainder 1. We will multiply it by 2.
So, our ans. Will be=2*1=2 Ans.
I guess following sum will explain it beautifully.

 Remainder when 296 is divided by 96.

Now 296/96= (25*291)/96 = (32*291)/32*3 (cancel out 32)
=291/3
So, sum because, what is remainder when 291 is divided by 3.
291= (-1)91 =-1=-1+3=2
But final ans. Is 2*32= 64 Ans.

 Remainder when 2108÷100

2108/100 = (4*2106)/4*25=2106/25
We will go by cyclicity
Remainder by 25
21 2

22 4

23 8

24 16

25(=32) 7

26(=7*2) 14

27 3

28 6

210 24=-1(-ve remainder)

211 -2

212 -4

213 -8

214 -16

215 -7

216 -14
 217 -3

218 -6

219 -12

220 1

So, we have got cycle of 20.divide power (=106) by 20 remainder is 6 and ans. For 2 6
is 14.
But final ans. = 14*4=56

In above sum, cyclicity is of 20. Isn’t there any smaller method to calculate remainder?
An arts student asked me this question. Being P.G. in mathematics, I felt that in
discussion of remainder, Euler no. can be neglected. I am not discussing the origin of
Euler No. (& if you want to enjoy complete recipe of Euler no., go to Olympiad Tab) we
will do learn only calculate Euler number and to apply it.
Euler Number:
I will go step by step. Read each line thoroughly. Don’t miss any sum.

 How many natural numbers ≤ 100, are not divisible by 4?

Had the question been,

4¿
100¿ ¿
How many numbers are divisible by 4, one will simply say, ¿ = 25

4¿
1¿ ¿
i.e. ¿ th of the numbers are ÷ by 4,

4¿
1¿ ¿
i.e. 1- ¿ th of the numbers are not ÷ by 4

4¿
3¿ ¿
i.e. ¿
of the numbers are not ÷ by 4
i.e. 75numbers are not ÷ by 4

 How many natural numbers ≤ 100, are Co-prime (H.C.F. =1) to 100?
100=22*52
I.e. we are looking for those numbers ≤ 100 which do not have 2 and 5. Because then
only they will be co-prime to 100.
I.e. we will take those numbers which are neither multiple of 2 nor of 5. So, question
becomes “How many natural numbers ≤ 100 are not divisible by 2 and 5?
1
Now 2 of total numbers are ÷ by 2
 1 1
So, 1- 2 = 2 of total numbers are not ÷ by 2
So, 50 numbers are not divisible by 2.
Out of these 50 numbers, every 5th number is a multiple of 5.

1
I.e. 5 of 50 numbers are ÷ by 5
1 4
I.e. 1- 5 = 5 of these 50 numbers are not ÷ by 5
4
So, 5 *50=40 of total numbers are not ÷ by 2 or 5
I.e. Co-prime to 100.

 How many numbers ≤ 360 are co-prime to 360?

We know 360= 23*32*51
So, we need those numbers which are neither ÷ by 2 nor by 3 nor by 5.
1
From 1 to 360, (1- 2 ) numbers are not ÷ by 2
1
Out of those, (1- 3 ) numbers are not ÷ by 3,
1
Out of those, (1- 5 ) numbers are not ÷ by 5.
1 2 4
So, 360* 2 * 3 * 5 = 96 numbers are not which are not co-prime to 360.

Now Euler of n= Φ (n) is the same thing

Euler of number n= Φ (n) = number of natural numbers ≤ n which are co-prime to n.
So, Φ (360) = 96
Φ (100) =40 (as in above examples)
So, if n= paqbrc……., where p, q, r…are distinct primes.
1 1 1
Φ (n) = n (1- p )(1- q )(1- r )……
 Find Φ(444)
Write 444 in prime factorization:-
I.e. 444=22*3*37
1 1 1
So, Φ (444) = 444(1- 2 )(1- 3 )(1- 37 )
1 2 36
=444( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 37 ) = 144 Ans.

APPLICATION OF EULER IN REMAINDER: - EULER THEOREM:

If a and n are co-prime to each other. Then a Φ(n) leaves remainder 1 when divided by n.
I.e.

n aΦ(n)
 1
Here n and a are co-prime to each other.

 Remainder when 796 is divided by 36.

We know 7 and 360 are co-prime.
And Φ (360) =96
So, 796/360=1 (Remainder)

 When 982 is divided by 100.

9 and 100 are co-prime
And Φ (100) =40
So, 940/100 =1(Remainder)
So, 982 = (940)2*92
=1*92= 81 Ans.

Now we will go back to previous question.

 2100/100
Here 2 and 100 are not co-prime.
To make it co-prime, we will cancel 22=4 from numerator and denominator (obviously
later we will multiply, I hope u remember). So, I am left with

298/25

Now 2 and 25 are co-prime.

4
Φ (25) = Φ (52)= 25* 5 =20
So, 220/25=1 (Remainder)
Now 298= (220)4*218
=1*218
=210*28
=1024*256 (Divide by 25)
=24*6
= (-1)*6=-6+25=19
Multiply by 4
=19*4=76 Ans.

 Remainder when 2108÷100

2108/100=2106/25
Φ (25) =20
So, 220/25 =1 remainder
So, 2106=2100.26
(220)5.64
=1*64=64=14 (Remainder by 25)
So, ans. is 14*4=56 Ans.

I hope now you will be able to crack these types of questions easily. We have many more
things to do in remainders as multiplicative inverse, Carmichael nos. etc. We’ll discuss those
in another article. Till then practice remainders. Best of luck…Yeah, 1 thing more…dnt forget
to rate the article…