Dozens

Dozens printable sheet

You may find the article on Divisibility Tests helpful.

The problem is explained below, but you may wish to scroll to the foot of the page to watch a video of the NRICH team presenting the challenge.

Do you know a quick way to check if a number is a multiple of 2? How about 3, 4, 5..., 12..., 15..., 25...?
 
To start with, the interactivity below will generate two random digits.
Your task is to find the largest possible three-digit number which uses the computer's digits, and one of your own, to make a multiple of 2.

Can you describe a strategy that ensures your first 'guess' is always correct?

Clicking on the purple cog gives you a chance to change the settings.
You can vary the challenge level by changing:

• the multiple
• the number of digits in your target number
• the number of digits provided by the computer.

To ensure you have some choice, make sure the number of digits provided by the computer is fewer than the number of digits in the target number.

Can you describe your strategies that ensure your first 'guess' is always correct for a variety of settings?
 

Here is a video of the NRICH team presenting the challenge. You could just watch the start to check that you understand the problem, or you may like to pause the video and work on the task at various points.

Something else to think about:
 
What is the largest possible five-digit number divisible by 12 that you can make from the digits 1, 3, 4, 5 and one more digit? 

Once you've had a chance to think about this, click below to check.

Here is a selection of follow-up problems you may now like to try:
Factors and Multiples Game
Take Three from Five
American Billions


Click here for a poster of this problem

We are very grateful to the Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research for their generous support for the development of this resource.