Math  /  Numbers & Operations

QuestionSparx Maths New! Multi Part Question - when you answer this question we'll mark each part individually Bookwork code: 1B Calculator not allowed
For each number, decide whether it is prime or not prime: a) 51 b) 87

Studdy Solution

STEP 1

What is this asking? We need to figure out if 51 and 87 are prime numbers. Watch out! Remember a prime number is a whole number greater than 1 that has only two divisors: 1 and itself.
Don't get tricked by numbers that *look* prime but aren't!

STEP 2

1. Check 51
2. Check 87

STEP 3

Alright, let's **tackle 51**!
Is it prime?
A prime number is only divisible by 1 and itself.
So, we need to see if 51 has any sneaky divisors other than 1 and 51.

STEP 4

Let's **think about divisibility rules**.
Is 51 divisible by 2?
Nope, it's not even.
How about 3?
The divisibility rule for 3 is to add up the digits. 5+1=65 + 1 = 6, and 6 *is* divisible by 3!

STEP 5

Let's **check**! 51÷351 \div 3.
We know that 310=303 \cdot 10 = 30, and 5130=2151 - 30 = 21, and 37=213 \cdot 7 = 21.
So, 30+21=5130 + 21 = 51, which means 310+37=513 \cdot 10 + 3 \cdot 7 = 51, or 3(10+7)=513 \cdot (10 + 7) = 51, which simplifies to 317=513 \cdot 17 = 51.
Boom!

STEP 6

Since 51 is divisible by 3 and 17, in addition to 1 and itself, it's **not** a prime number.

STEP 7

Now, let's **investigate 87**.
Is *this* number prime?
Let's apply our divisibility rule knowledge again!

STEP 8

Is 87 divisible by 2?
Nah, it's not even.
What about 3?
Let's add the digits: 8+7=158 + 7 = 15.
Hey, 15 *is* divisible by 3!

STEP 9

Let's **do the division**: 87÷387 \div 3.
We know that 320=603 \cdot 20 = 60, and 8760=2787 - 60 = 27, and 39=273 \cdot 9 = 27.
So, 60+27=8760 + 27 = 87, which means 320+39=873 \cdot 20 + 3 \cdot 9 = 87, or 3(20+9)=873 \cdot (20 + 9) = 87, which simplifies to 329=873 \cdot 29 = 87.
Awesome!

STEP 10

Since 87 is divisible by 3 and 29, as well as 1 and itself, it's **also not** a prime number.

STEP 11

a) 51 is **not prime**. b) 87 is **not prime**.

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