How to multiply odd numbers - PSAT Math
Card 1 of 70
You are given that
,
, and
are positive integers, and

In which of the following cases is
odd?
I) Exactly one of
is odd.
II) Exactly two of
are odd.
III) Exactly three of
are odd.
You are given that ,
, and
are positive integers, and
In which of the following cases is odd?
I) Exactly one of is odd.
II) Exactly two of are odd.
III) Exactly three of are odd.
Tap to reveal answer
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
At least two of
must have the same odd/even status. The sum of those two numbers must be even, and since it is a factor of
, then
itself must be even.
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
At least two of must have the same odd/even status. The sum of those two numbers must be even, and since it is a factor of
, then
itself must be even.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
You are given that
,
, and
are positive integers, and

In which of the following cases is
odd?
I) Exactly one of
is odd.
II) Exactly two of
are odd.
III) Exactly three of
are odd.
You are given that ,
, and
are positive integers, and
In which of the following cases is odd?
I) Exactly one of is odd.
II) Exactly two of are odd.
III) Exactly three of are odd.
Tap to reveal answer
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
At least two of
must have the same odd/even status. The sum of those two numbers must be even, and since it is a factor of
, then
itself must be even.
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
At least two of must have the same odd/even status. The sum of those two numbers must be even, and since it is a factor of
, then
itself must be even.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
You are given that
,
, and
are positive integers, and

In which of the following cases is
odd?
I) Exactly one of
is odd.
II) Exactly two of
are odd.
III) Exactly three of
are odd.
You are given that ,
, and
are positive integers, and
In which of the following cases is odd?
I) Exactly one of is odd.
II) Exactly two of are odd.
III) Exactly three of are odd.
Tap to reveal answer
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
At least two of
must have the same odd/even status. The sum of those two numbers must be even, and since it is a factor of
, then
itself must be even.
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
At least two of must have the same odd/even status. The sum of those two numbers must be even, and since it is a factor of
, then
itself must be even.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
You are given that
,
, and
are positive integers, and
is odd.
Which of the following is possible?
I) Exactly one of
is odd.
II) Exactly two of
are odd.
III) Exactly three of
are odd.
You are given that ,
, and
are positive integers, and
is odd.
Which of the following is possible?
I) Exactly one of is odd.
II) Exactly two of are odd.
III) Exactly three of are odd.
Tap to reveal answer
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
must be even, so for
to be odd,
must be odd. Similarly, for
and
to be odd, respectively,
and
must be odd.
Therefore, all three of
,
, and
must be odd, and the correct response is III only.
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
must be even, so for
to be odd,
must be odd. Similarly, for
and
to be odd, respectively,
and
must be odd.
Therefore, all three of ,
, and
must be odd, and the correct response is III only.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
You are given that
,
, and
are positive integers, and

In which of the following cases is
odd?
I) Exactly one of
is odd.
II) Exactly two of
are odd.
III) Exactly three of
are odd.
You are given that ,
, and
are positive integers, and
In which of the following cases is odd?
I) Exactly one of is odd.
II) Exactly two of are odd.
III) Exactly three of are odd.
Tap to reveal answer
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
At least two of
must have the same odd/even status. The sum of those two numbers must be even, and since it is a factor of
, then
itself must be even.
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
At least two of must have the same odd/even status. The sum of those two numbers must be even, and since it is a factor of
, then
itself must be even.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
You are given that
,
, and
are positive integers, and

In which of the following cases is
odd?
I) Exactly one of
is odd.
II) Exactly two of
are odd.
III) Exactly three of
are odd.
You are given that ,
, and
are positive integers, and
In which of the following cases is odd?
I) Exactly one of is odd.
II) Exactly two of are odd.
III) Exactly three of are odd.
Tap to reveal answer
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
At least two of
must have the same odd/even status. The sum of those two numbers must be even, and since it is a factor of
, then
itself must be even.
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
At least two of must have the same odd/even status. The sum of those two numbers must be even, and since it is a factor of
, then
itself must be even.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
You are given that
,
, and
are positive integers, and
is odd.
Which of the following is possible?
I) Exactly one of
is odd.
II) Exactly two of
are odd.
III) Exactly three of
are odd.
You are given that ,
, and
are positive integers, and
is odd.
Which of the following is possible?
I) Exactly one of is odd.
II) Exactly two of are odd.
III) Exactly three of are odd.
Tap to reveal answer
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
must be even, so for
to be odd,
must be odd. Similarly, for
and
to be odd, respectively,
and
must be odd.
Therefore, all three of
,
, and
must be odd, and the correct response is III only.
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
must be even, so for
to be odd,
must be odd. Similarly, for
and
to be odd, respectively,
and
must be odd.
Therefore, all three of ,
, and
must be odd, and the correct response is III only.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
You are given that
,
, and
are positive integers, and

In which of the following cases is
odd?
I) Exactly one of
is odd.
II) Exactly two of
are odd.
III) Exactly three of
are odd.
You are given that ,
, and
are positive integers, and
In which of the following cases is odd?
I) Exactly one of is odd.
II) Exactly two of are odd.
III) Exactly three of are odd.
Tap to reveal answer
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
At least two of
must have the same odd/even status. The sum of those two numbers must be even, and since it is a factor of
, then
itself must be even.
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
At least two of must have the same odd/even status. The sum of those two numbers must be even, and since it is a factor of
, then
itself must be even.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
You are given that
,
, and
are positive integers, and
is odd.
Which of the following is possible?
I) Exactly one of
is odd.
II) Exactly two of
are odd.
III) Exactly three of
are odd.
You are given that ,
, and
are positive integers, and
is odd.
Which of the following is possible?
I) Exactly one of is odd.
II) Exactly two of are odd.
III) Exactly three of are odd.
Tap to reveal answer
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
must be even, so for
to be odd,
must be odd. Similarly, for
and
to be odd, respectively,
and
must be odd.
Therefore, all three of
,
, and
must be odd, and the correct response is III only.
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
must be even, so for
to be odd,
must be odd. Similarly, for
and
to be odd, respectively,
and
must be odd.
Therefore, all three of ,
, and
must be odd, and the correct response is III only.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
You are given that
,
, and
are positive integers, and
is odd.
Which of the following is possible?
I) Exactly one of
is odd.
II) Exactly two of
are odd.
III) Exactly three of
are odd.
You are given that ,
, and
are positive integers, and
is odd.
Which of the following is possible?
I) Exactly one of is odd.
II) Exactly two of are odd.
III) Exactly three of are odd.
Tap to reveal answer
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
must be even, so for
to be odd,
must be odd. Similarly, for
and
to be odd, respectively,
and
must be odd.
Therefore, all three of
,
, and
must be odd, and the correct response is III only.
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
must be even, so for
to be odd,
must be odd. Similarly, for
and
to be odd, respectively,
and
must be odd.
Therefore, all three of ,
, and
must be odd, and the correct response is III only.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
You are given that
,
, and
are positive integers, and

In which of the following cases is
odd?
I) Exactly one of
is odd.
II) Exactly two of
are odd.
III) Exactly three of
are odd.
You are given that ,
, and
are positive integers, and
In which of the following cases is odd?
I) Exactly one of is odd.
II) Exactly two of are odd.
III) Exactly three of are odd.
Tap to reveal answer
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
At least two of
must have the same odd/even status. The sum of those two numbers must be even, and since it is a factor of
, then
itself must be even.
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
At least two of must have the same odd/even status. The sum of those two numbers must be even, and since it is a factor of
, then
itself must be even.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
You are given that
,
, and
are positive integers, and
is odd.
Which of the following is possible?
I) Exactly one of
is odd.
II) Exactly two of
are odd.
III) Exactly three of
are odd.
You are given that ,
, and
are positive integers, and
is odd.
Which of the following is possible?
I) Exactly one of is odd.
II) Exactly two of are odd.
III) Exactly three of are odd.
Tap to reveal answer
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
must be even, so for
to be odd,
must be odd. Similarly, for
and
to be odd, respectively,
and
must be odd.
Therefore, all three of
,
, and
must be odd, and the correct response is III only.
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
must be even, so for
to be odd,
must be odd. Similarly, for
and
to be odd, respectively,
and
must be odd.
Therefore, all three of ,
, and
must be odd, and the correct response is III only.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
You are given that
,
, and
are positive integers, and
is odd.
Which of the following is possible?
I) Exactly one of
is odd.
II) Exactly two of
are odd.
III) Exactly three of
are odd.
You are given that ,
, and
are positive integers, and
is odd.
Which of the following is possible?
I) Exactly one of is odd.
II) Exactly two of are odd.
III) Exactly three of are odd.
Tap to reveal answer
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
must be even, so for
to be odd,
must be odd. Similarly, for
and
to be odd, respectively,
and
must be odd.
Therefore, all three of
,
, and
must be odd, and the correct response is III only.
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
must be even, so for
to be odd,
must be odd. Similarly, for
and
to be odd, respectively,
and
must be odd.
Therefore, all three of ,
, and
must be odd, and the correct response is III only.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
You are given that
,
, and
are positive integers, and
is odd.
Which of the following is possible?
I) Exactly one of
is odd.
II) Exactly two of
are odd.
III) Exactly three of
are odd.
You are given that ,
, and
are positive integers, and
is odd.
Which of the following is possible?
I) Exactly one of is odd.
II) Exactly two of are odd.
III) Exactly three of are odd.
Tap to reveal answer
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
must be even, so for
to be odd,
must be odd. Similarly, for
and
to be odd, respectively,
and
must be odd.
Therefore, all three of
,
, and
must be odd, and the correct response is III only.
For the product of three integers to be odd, all three integers must themselves be odd.
must be even, so for
to be odd,
must be odd. Similarly, for
and
to be odd, respectively,
and
must be odd.
Therefore, all three of ,
, and
must be odd, and the correct response is III only.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
When 8 integers are multiplied their product is negative, then at most how many of the integers can be negative?
When 8 integers are multiplied their product is negative, then at most how many of the integers can be negative?
Tap to reveal answer
When one multiplies two negative numbers (or any even multiple) the result is a positive number. However, when one multiplies three negative numbers (or any odd multiple) the product is negative. If the result of multiplying 8 negatives is odd, the largest number of negative integers will be the largest odd number, in this case 7.
When one multiplies two negative numbers (or any even multiple) the result is a positive number. However, when one multiplies three negative numbers (or any odd multiple) the product is negative. If the result of multiplying 8 negatives is odd, the largest number of negative integers will be the largest odd number, in this case 7.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
If
is an odd integer, all of the following must be odd integers EXCEPT:
If is an odd integer, all of the following must be odd integers EXCEPT:
Tap to reveal answer
Let's examine the choice
. We can rewrite
as
, which would be multiplying an odd number (because
is odd) by an odd number. Multiplying two odd numbers always produces another odd number. So this can't be the correct answer.
Next, let's look at
. We can rewrite this as
. We already established that
must be odd, so then
must also be odd. If we then add
to an odd number, we still get an odd number. So we can eliminate this choice as well.
Now, let's look at the choice
. Let's factor this as
. We know that n must be odd, and we know that
must be odd. Therefore,
is odd, because multiplying two odd numbers gives us an odd number.
Finally, let's analyze
. We can rewrite this as
. Since n is odd,
must be an even number. When we multiply an even number by an even number, we get an even number, so
must be even, and it cannot be odd.
The answer is
.
Let's examine the choice . We can rewrite
as
, which would be multiplying an odd number (because
is odd) by an odd number. Multiplying two odd numbers always produces another odd number. So this can't be the correct answer.
Next, let's look at . We can rewrite this as
. We already established that
must be odd, so then
must also be odd. If we then add
to an odd number, we still get an odd number. So we can eliminate this choice as well.
Now, let's look at the choice . Let's factor this as
. We know that n must be odd, and we know that
must be odd. Therefore,
is odd, because multiplying two odd numbers gives us an odd number.
Finally, let's analyze . We can rewrite this as
. Since n is odd,
must be an even number. When we multiply an even number by an even number, we get an even number, so
must be even, and it cannot be odd.
The answer is .
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
If n and m are both positive even integers, which of the following must be odd?
I. (n + 1)(m + 1)
II. nm + 1
III. nm + m
If n and m are both positive even integers, which of the following must be odd?
I. (n + 1)(m + 1)
II. nm + 1
III. nm + m
Tap to reveal answer
Let us analyze I, II, and III one at a time.
Because n and m are both even, if we increase either by 1, the result will be an odd number. Thus, n + 1 and m + 1 are both odd. When two odd numbers are multiplied together, the result is always an odd number. Thus (n + 1)(m + 1) must be an odd number.
Because n and m are even, when we multiply two even numbers together, we always get an even number. Thus nm is even. However, when we then add one to an even number, the result will be an odd number. Thus, nm + 1 is odd.
We just established that nm is even. If we subtract an even number from an even number, the result is always even. Thus, nm – m is an even number.
Only choice I and II will always produce odd numbers.
The answer is I and II only.
Let us analyze I, II, and III one at a time.
Because n and m are both even, if we increase either by 1, the result will be an odd number. Thus, n + 1 and m + 1 are both odd. When two odd numbers are multiplied together, the result is always an odd number. Thus (n + 1)(m + 1) must be an odd number.
Because n and m are even, when we multiply two even numbers together, we always get an even number. Thus nm is even. However, when we then add one to an even number, the result will be an odd number. Thus, nm + 1 is odd.
We just established that nm is even. If we subtract an even number from an even number, the result is always even. Thus, nm – m is an even number.
Only choice I and II will always produce odd numbers.
The answer is I and II only.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
odd * odd * odd =
odd * odd * odd =
Tap to reveal answer
The even/odd number properties are good to know. If you forget them, however, it's easy to check with an example.
Odd * odd = odd. If you didn't remember that, a check such as 1 * 3 = 3 will give you the same answer. So if odd * odd = odd, (odd * odd) * odd = odd * odd = odd, just as 3 * 3 * 3 = 27, which is odd. This means we are looking for an answer choice that also produces an odd number. Let's go through them.
even * even = even (2 * 2 = 4)
even * odd = even (2 * 3 = 6)
odd * odd = odd (1 * 3 = 3) This is the correct answer! But just to double check, let's go through the last two.
even * even * even = even * even = even (2 * 2 * 2 = 8)
odd * odd * even = odd * even = even (1 * 3 * 2 = 6)
The even/odd number properties are good to know. If you forget them, however, it's easy to check with an example.
Odd * odd = odd. If you didn't remember that, a check such as 1 * 3 = 3 will give you the same answer. So if odd * odd = odd, (odd * odd) * odd = odd * odd = odd, just as 3 * 3 * 3 = 27, which is odd. This means we are looking for an answer choice that also produces an odd number. Let's go through them.
even * even = even (2 * 2 = 4)
even * odd = even (2 * 3 = 6)
odd * odd = odd (1 * 3 = 3) This is the correct answer! But just to double check, let's go through the last two.
even * even * even = even * even = even (2 * 2 * 2 = 8)
odd * odd * even = odd * even = even (1 * 3 * 2 = 6)
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
When
is evaluated, what number is in the ones digit?
When is evaluated, what number is in the ones digit?
Tap to reveal answer
Let us say we have two numbers,
and
whose ones digits are
and B, respectively. If we want to know the ones digits of the product of
and
, all we need to do is to look at the ones digit of the product of
and
. For example, if we multiply 137 and 219, then the ones digit will be the same as the ones digit of
. Since the ones digit of 63 is 3, the ones digit of 137 x 219 will also be 3. In short, we really only need to worry about the ones digits of the numbers we multiply when we try to find the ones digit of their product.
We want to find the ones digit of
. An exponent is essentially just a short hand for repeated multiplication. Let us look at the ones digit of the first few exponents of 2013.
- the ones digit is 3.
To find the ones digit of the 2013 to the second power, we need to think of it as the product of 2013 and 2013. As discussed previously, if we want the ones digit of two numbers multiplied together, we just need to multiply their ones digits. Thus, if we multiply 2013 by 2013, then the ones digit will be the same as
.
- ones digit is 9.
Next, we want to find the ones digit of 2013 to the third power. In order to do this, we will multiply the square of 2013 by 2013. It does not matter that we do not know exactly what 2013 squared equals, beacuse we only need to worry about the ones digit, which is 9. In other words, 2013 to the third power will have a ones digit that is equal to the ones digit of the product of 9 (which was the ones digit of 2013 squared) and 3 (which is the ones digit of 2013). When we multiply 9 and 3, we get 27, so the ones digit of 2013 to the third power is 7.
- ones digit of 7.
To find the ones digit of 2013 to the fourth power, we only need to worry about multiplying the ones digit of 2013 to the third power (which is 7) by the ones digit of 2013. When we mulitply 7 and 3, we get 21, which means that the ones digit of 2013 to the fourth power is 1.
- ones digit of 1.
To find the ones digit of 2013 to the fifth power, we will multiply 1 by 3, which gives us 3.
- ones digit of 3.
Notice that we are back to a ones digit with 3. If we multiply this by 2013, we will end up with a ones digit of 9. In other words, the ones digits repeat every fourth power.
The value of the ones digits of the powers of 2013 is as follows (starting with 2013 to the first power):
3, 9, 7, 1, 3, 9, 7, 1,....
We essentially want to find the 2013th term of the sequence above. Notice that every fourth term is 1, i.e. the sequence repeats every four terms. If a terms position in the sequence is a multiple of 4, then the term will be 1. In short, the 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th terms, and so on, will be 1. Because 2012 is a multiple of 4, the 2012th term in the sequence will be 1. (We can determine if a number is a multiple of 4 by looking at its last two digits.) This means that that 2013th term will be 3. Thus, 2013 to the power of 2013 has a ones digit of 3.
The answer is 3.
Let us say we have two numbers, and
whose ones digits are
and B, respectively. If we want to know the ones digits of the product of
and
, all we need to do is to look at the ones digit of the product of
and
. For example, if we multiply 137 and 219, then the ones digit will be the same as the ones digit of
. Since the ones digit of 63 is 3, the ones digit of 137 x 219 will also be 3. In short, we really only need to worry about the ones digits of the numbers we multiply when we try to find the ones digit of their product.
We want to find the ones digit of . An exponent is essentially just a short hand for repeated multiplication. Let us look at the ones digit of the first few exponents of 2013.
- the ones digit is 3.
To find the ones digit of the 2013 to the second power, we need to think of it as the product of 2013 and 2013. As discussed previously, if we want the ones digit of two numbers multiplied together, we just need to multiply their ones digits. Thus, if we multiply 2013 by 2013, then the ones digit will be the same as .
- ones digit is 9.
Next, we want to find the ones digit of 2013 to the third power. In order to do this, we will multiply the square of 2013 by 2013. It does not matter that we do not know exactly what 2013 squared equals, beacuse we only need to worry about the ones digit, which is 9. In other words, 2013 to the third power will have a ones digit that is equal to the ones digit of the product of 9 (which was the ones digit of 2013 squared) and 3 (which is the ones digit of 2013). When we multiply 9 and 3, we get 27, so the ones digit of 2013 to the third power is 7.
- ones digit of 7.
To find the ones digit of 2013 to the fourth power, we only need to worry about multiplying the ones digit of 2013 to the third power (which is 7) by the ones digit of 2013. When we mulitply 7 and 3, we get 21, which means that the ones digit of 2013 to the fourth power is 1.
- ones digit of 1.
To find the ones digit of 2013 to the fifth power, we will multiply 1 by 3, which gives us 3.
- ones digit of 3.
Notice that we are back to a ones digit with 3. If we multiply this by 2013, we will end up with a ones digit of 9. In other words, the ones digits repeat every fourth power.
The value of the ones digits of the powers of 2013 is as follows (starting with 2013 to the first power):
3, 9, 7, 1, 3, 9, 7, 1,....
We essentially want to find the 2013th term of the sequence above. Notice that every fourth term is 1, i.e. the sequence repeats every four terms. If a terms position in the sequence is a multiple of 4, then the term will be 1. In short, the 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th terms, and so on, will be 1. Because 2012 is a multiple of 4, the 2012th term in the sequence will be 1. (We can determine if a number is a multiple of 4 by looking at its last two digits.) This means that that 2013th term will be 3. Thus, 2013 to the power of 2013 has a ones digit of 3.
The answer is 3.
← Didn't Know|Knew It →
odd * odd * odd =
odd * odd * odd =
Tap to reveal answer
The even/odd number properties are good to know. If you forget them, however, it's easy to check with an example.
Odd * odd = odd. If you didn't remember that, a check such as 1 * 3 = 3 will give you the same answer. So if odd * odd = odd, (odd * odd) * odd = odd * odd = odd, just as 3 * 3 * 3 = 27, which is odd. This means we are looking for an answer choice that also produces an odd number. Let's go through them.
even * even = even (2 * 2 = 4)
even * odd = even (2 * 3 = 6)
odd * odd = odd (1 * 3 = 3) This is the correct answer! But just to double check, let's go through the last two.
even * even * even = even * even = even (2 * 2 * 2 = 8)
odd * odd * even = odd * even = even (1 * 3 * 2 = 6)
The even/odd number properties are good to know. If you forget them, however, it's easy to check with an example.
Odd * odd = odd. If you didn't remember that, a check such as 1 * 3 = 3 will give you the same answer. So if odd * odd = odd, (odd * odd) * odd = odd * odd = odd, just as 3 * 3 * 3 = 27, which is odd. This means we are looking for an answer choice that also produces an odd number. Let's go through them.
even * even = even (2 * 2 = 4)
even * odd = even (2 * 3 = 6)
odd * odd = odd (1 * 3 = 3) This is the correct answer! But just to double check, let's go through the last two.
even * even * even = even * even = even (2 * 2 * 2 = 8)
odd * odd * even = odd * even = even (1 * 3 * 2 = 6)
← Didn't Know|Knew It →