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A number is divisible by 12 if:
It is divisible by 2 and 6
It is divisible by 3 and 4
It is divisible by 2 and 4
It is divisible by 6 and 8
It is divisible by 3 and 4
Use the property that if n=a├Чb and a,b are coprime (i.e., their HCF is 1), then divisibility by n requires divisibility by both a and b simultaneously.
A number needs to be checked for divisibility by 12.
n=lcm(a,b)тЯ╣if┬аgcd(a,b)=1,┬аthen┬аnтИгNтЯ║aтИгN┬аand┬аbтИгN
Use the property that if n=a├Чb and a,b are coprime (i.e., their HCF is 1), then divisibility by n requires divisibility by both a and b simultaneously.
Students often pick divisibility by 2 and 6, forgetting that 2 and 6 are not coprime; for example, 18 is divisible by 2 and 6, but 18 is not divisible by 12.
Factorize the divisor
To check divisibility by 12, factorize 12 into two numbers such that their greatest common divisor (GCD) is 1.
12=3├Ч4,┬аwhere┬аgcd(3,4)=1
Apply divisibility rule
If a number is divisible by two coprime factors, it must be divisible by their product.
N┬аis┬аdivisible┬аby┬а12тЯ║N┬аis┬аdivisible┬аby┬а3┬аand┬а4
Verify other options
Option A (2 and 6) is incorrect because gcd(2,6)=2юАа=1. Option C (2 and 4) is incorrect because gcd(2,4)=2юАа=1. Option D (6 and 8) is incorrect because gcd(6,8)=2юАа=1.
12=lcm(3,4)
B is correct because a number is divisible by 12 if and only if it is divisible by its coprime factors 3 and 4.
This rule applies to all composite numbers; always factorize the divisor into coprime factors (e.g., for divisibility by 72, check 8 and 9).