UPSC Prelims 2023·CSAT·Quantitative Aptitude·Number System

A number N is formed by writing 9 for 99 times. What is the remainder if N is divided by 13?

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Last updated 23 May 2026, 3:31 pm IST
  1. A11Correct
  2. B9
  3. C7
  4. D1

Explanation

To solve this, we first look for a pattern in the remainders when a sequence of 9s is divided by 13. When we divide 999,999 by 13, the remainder is 0. This is because 1,001 is divisible by 13, and any six digit number with identical digits is always divisible by 7, 11, and 13. Since a block of six 9s is exactly divisible by 13, we can group the 99 digits into sets of six. Dividing 99 by 6 gives 16 full blocks with a remainder of 3. This means that the first 96 digits form a number that is perfectly divisible by 13, leaving a remainder of 0. We only need to find the remainder of the last three digits, which are 999. Dividing 999 by 13: 13 times 70 is 910. 999 minus 910 is 89. 13 times 6 is 78. 89 minus 78 is 11. The remainder is 11. Therefore, option A is correct.
Quantitative Aptitude: A number N is formed by writing 9 for 99 times. What is the remainder if N is divided by 13?

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