Example:

Without actual division, check whether 779183 is divisible by 13.

Solution:

Here, we need to use the divisibility rule of 13.

To check the divisibility of a number by any prime number (other than 2), at first, we have to find a ‘key number’ for the prime number.

 

How to find key number ?

To find the ‘key number’ of any prime number,

1)                Multiply it by a number (the least number) such that the unit digit of the product will be 9.

2)                Then, add 1 to the product. Now, the sum becomes a multiple of 10.

3)                Divide the sum by 10. The quotient will be the ‘key number’.

So, we can find the key number of 13 as follows: 





Thus, the key number for 13 is 4.


How to check divisibility ?

We can use the ‘key number’ to check the divisibility     as shown below:

(Extract the last digit and   multiply it by the key number and then add the product)










20 is not divisible by 13.

Hence, the given number is not divisible by 13.

 

Note: We can continue the process till we get a small number.

 

ALTERNATIVE METHOD:

We know that the key number for 13 is 4. Right ?

Let’s say that 4 is the first key number for 13.

Then, the second key number for 13 

                                      = 13 – the first key number

                                      = 13 – 4 = 9

How to check divisibility by using the 2nd key number ?

We can use the ‘2nd key number’ to check the divisibility     as shown below:

(Extract the last digit and   multiply it by the key number and then subtract the product)









5 is not divisible by 13.

Hence, the given number is not divisible by 13.

 

Note:

1) It is better to use the key number which is smaller.

2) This rule is applicable for all the prime numbers except 2.

 

PROBLEMS FOR PRACTICE:

1) By using the divisibility rule, check whether the following numbers are divisible by 13. (use 4 as the key number)

(a) 773318   

(b) 1285330

 

2) By using the divisibility rule, check whether the following numbers are divisible by 13. (use 9 as the key number)

(a) 1147627   

(b) 863172