DIVISIBILITY RULE EXTENSION

Divisibility Rule for Prime Numbers

Divisibility Rule for 7

Is 623 divisible by 7?

*Multiply the last digit of 623 by 2 then SUBTRACT the remaining digits i.e. 62 to the product.

62 – 2(3) = 56

Since 56 is divisible by 7, therefore 623 is divisible by 7.

Divisibility Rule for 13

Is 16185 divisible by 13?

*Multiply the last digit of 16185 by 4 and ADD the remaining digits i.e. 1618 to the product.

1618 + 4(5) = 1638

163 + 4(8) = 195
19 + 4(5) = 39

Since 39 is divisible by 13, therefore 16185 is divisible by 13.

Divisibility Rule for 31

Is 24459 divisible by 31?

*Multiply the last digit of 24459 by 3 and SUBTRACT the remaining digits i.e. 2445 to the product.

2445 – 3(9) = 2418

241 – 3(8) = 217
21 – 3(7) = 0

Since 0 is divisible by any number therefore it is divisible by 31, thus 24459 is also divisible by 31.

The number that multiply to the last digit is called DIVISIBILITY FACTOR for prime numbers. In our
example for 7 we have 2, for 13 we have 4, and for 31 we have 3.

Types of DIVISIBILITY FACTOR

A. Positive Divisibility Factor
In Positive Divisibility Factor multiply the Divisibility Factor to the last digit of the number then ADD to
the remaining digits.
B. Negative Divisibility Factor
In Negative Divisibility Factor multiply the Divisibility Factor to the last digit of the number then
SUBTRACT to the remaining digits.

How to find Positive Divisibility Factor?

For numbers ending in 9, the Positive Divisibility Factor is one more than the remaining digits.

e.g. 9 Divisibility Factor = 0 + 1 = 1

19 Divisibility Factor = 1 + 1 = 2
29 Divisibility Factor = 2 + 1 = 3
59 Divisibility Factor = 5 + 1 = 6

For number ending in 3, multiply the number by 3 to make the last digit equal to 9, then apply the rule
for numbers ending in 9.

e.g. 13 13(3) = 39 Divisibility Factor = 3 + 1 = 4

23 23(3) = 69 Divisibility Factor = 6 + 1 = 7
43 43(3) = 129 Divisibility Factor = 12 + 1 = 13

For numbers ending in 7 and 1 multiply the numbers by 7 or 9 so that the last digit becomes 9 then apply
the rule for numbers ending in 9.

On the other hand, for prime numbers ending in 7 and 1 it is better to use the Negative Divisibility
Factor to make it easier.

How to find Negative Divisibility Factor?

For numbers ending in 1, just simply drop the last digit and the number that is left is the Divisibility
Factor.

e.q 11 Divisibility Factor = 1

31 Divisibility Factor = 3
41 Divisibility Factor = 4
71 Divisibility Factor = 7

For numbers ending in 7, multiply the number by 3 to make the last digit equal to 1 then apply the rule
for numbers ending with 1.
e.g. 7 7(3) = 21 Divisibility Factor = 2
17 17(3) = 51 Divisibility Factor = 5
37 37(3) = 111 Divisibility Factor = 11

Summary:

For numbers ending with 1 and 7, use Negative Divisibility Factor and for numbers ending in 3 and 9 use
Positive Divisibility Factor.

Take note: This Divisibility Factors can be used even if the number is not a prime.

Is 9597 divisible by 21?

Use Negative Divisibility Factor

Use the rule for numbers ending in 1.

21 Divisibility Factor 2
959 – 2(7) = 945
94 – 2(5) = 84
since 84 is divisible by 21, therefore 9597 is also divisible by 21.

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