Playing with Number Ex 16.2 Class 8 NCERT
Welcome back, math champion! In Chapter 16 of CBSE Class 8 Maths, "Playing with Numbers," Exercise 16.2 is one of the most exciting sections. Here, you get to play math detective! Instead of just checking if a full number is divisible by 3 or 9, you will use algebra to discover a missing digit that makes the number divisible. In this guide, we will master the divisibility rules of 3 and 9 and learn how to solve equations where digits are hidden as variables. Knowing these rules is not only important for your school exams but also helps you build strong mental math skills for competitive tests. Let's dive in with YoLearn AI and understand how to solve these problems step-by-step!
Understanding the Logic Behind Divisibility Rules
In playing with number ex 16 2 class 8 ncert, we learn why the divisibility rules for 3 and 9 actually work. Let's express a three-digit number $abc$ in its generalized form: $100a + 10b + c$. We can rewrite this algebraically as $(99a + a) + (9b + b) + c$, which simplifies to $99a + 9b + (a + b + c)$. Since $99a$ and $9b$ are always multiples of both 3 and 9, the divisibility of the entire number depends entirely on the remaining part: $(a + b + c)$. This is the sum of the digits! Thus, a number is divisible by 3 or 9 if and only if the sum of its digits is divisible by 3 or 9 respectively.
How to Find the Missing Digit
- Sum the Digits — Add all the given digits together with the variable. For example, in the number $21y5$, the sum is $2 + 1 + y + 5 = 8 + y$.
- Identify Multiples — List the multiples of the divisor (3 or 9) that are greater than or equal to your basic sum. For $8 + y$ checking divisibility by 9, the potential multiples are 9, 18, 27...
- Set Up Equations — Create simple linear equations: $8 + y = 9$ or $8 + y = 18$.
- Filter Valid Single Digits — Solve for the variable. Since the variable represents a single digit in a number, its value must be a whole number between 0 and 9 inclusive. Reject any value that is negative or greater than 9.
Avoid These Common Mistakes in Ex 16.2
1. The Single Digit Rule: Remember, the unknown letter (like $x, y, z$) is a digit in a base-10 number. It can only be a single integer from $0$ to $9$. If your equation gives $y = 12$, that is incorrect for a single-digit placeholder.
2. Multiple Solutions for Divisibility by 3: Since 3 has more frequent multiples, equations involving divisibility by 3 often yield multiple valid answers (e.g., $x = 0, 3, 6, 9$). Write down all valid single-digit solutions in your exam to score full marks!
Practice Questions with Solutions
- Q: If $21y5$ is a multiple of 9, where $y$ is a digit, what is the value of $y$? A: Step 1: Find the sum of the digits: $2 + 1 + y + 5 = 8 + y$. Step 2: Since it is a multiple of 9, the sum $(8 + y)$ must be divisible by 9. Step 3: The nearest multiple of 9 equal to or greater than 8 is 9. Step 4: Set up the equation: $8 + y = 9 \implies y = 9 - 8 = 1$. Step 5: If we try the next multiple of 9, which is 18: $8 + y = 18 \implies y = 10$. Since $y$ must be a single digit, 10 is not possible. Final answer: $y = 1$.
- Q: If $31z5$ is a multiple of 3, where $z$ is a digit, what are the possible values of $z$? A: Step 1: Find the sum of the digits: $3 + 1 + z + 5 = 9 + z$. Step 2: Since it is a multiple of 3, $(9 + z)$ must be divisible by 3. Step 3: Set $(9 + z)$ equal to multiples of 3 that are $\ge 9$: - $9 + z = 9 \implies z = 0$ - $9 + z = 12 \implies z = 3$ - $9 + z = 15 \implies z = 6$ - $9 + z = 18 \implies z = 9$ - $9 + z = 21 \implies z = 12$ (not a single digit, so reject). Final answer: $z$ can be 0, 3, 6, or 9.
- Q: If $24x$ is a multiple of 3, where $x$ is a digit, find all possible single-digit values of $x$. A: Step 1: Add the digits together: $2 + 4 + x = 6 + x$. Step 2: For $24x$ to be a multiple of 3, $(6 + x)$ must be a multiple of 3. Step 3: Solve for possible single-digit values of $x$ (from 0 to 9): - $6 + x = 6 \implies x = 0$ - $6 + x = 9 \implies x = 3$ - $6 + x = 12 \implies x = 6$ - $6 + x = 15 \implies x = 9$ Final answer: The possible values of $x$ are 0, 3, 6, and 9.
- Q: If $31y2$ is a multiple of 9, where $y$ is a digit, find the value of $y$. A: Step 1: Find the sum of the digits: $3 + 1 + y + 2 = 6 + y$. Step 2: Since $31y2$ is a multiple of 9, $(6 + y)$ must be a multiple of 9. Step 3: Set up the equation with the nearest multiple of 9: - $6 + y = 9 \implies y = 9 - 6 = 3$. - If we check the next multiple 18: $6 + y = 18 \implies y = 12$ (invalid since it must be a single digit). Final answer: $y = 3$.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the rule of divisibility for 9?
A number is divisible by 9 if the sum of all its individual digits is a multiple of 9. For example, 162 is divisible by 9 because $1 + 6 + 2 = 9$.
Why can the variable in these exercise problems only range from 0 to 9?
The variable represents a single digit placeholder in a decimal number system. Therefore, it can only take single-digit whole number values from 0 to 9.
Can a number be divisible by 3 but not by 9?
Yes, numbers like 12 or 15 are divisible by 3 because their digit sums are multiples of 3, but they are not divisible by 9 because their digit sums are not multiples of 9.