CONGRUENCE AND DIVISIBILITY: DIVISIBILITY CRITERIA FOR POSITIVE INTEGERS

Abstract

In this paper we deal with divisibility criteria for any integer in decimal system. In the development of these criteria we use facts from congruence theory: as modular Arithmetic, linear congruences, and some important properties of divisibility and congruence. Then, we give general divisibility criteria for the two classes of positive integers. The divisibility criteria for the first class of divisors is written down as a linear form in which the decades and the units digits of the test integer are involved in such a way that the co-efficient of the decades takes one and that of the units digit is an integer formed by a parameter, which is the solution of the linear congruence describing the co-primality of the divisor and the base of the underlying number system. This divisibility parameter is not unique, but each yields a unique criterion. Finally, we apply the rule giving a couple of examples and make a conclusion which summarizes the general divisibility test in terms of the two classes of divisors.

Key words: co-prime, modular Arthmetics, linear congruences, divisibility criteria, fundamental theorem of arthmetics

DOI: 10.7176/MTM/9-6-01

Publication date: June 30^th 2019