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Divisibility rules/Rule 2 for 7 proof

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Truncate the last digit of N, double that digit, and subtract it from the rest of the number (or vice-versa). N is divisible by 7 if and only if the result is divisible by 7.

Proof

An understanding of basic modular arithmetic is necessary for this proof.

The divisibility rule would be 2n_0-k, where k=d_110^0+d_210^1+d_310^2+..., where d_{n-1} is the nth digit from the right (NOT the left) and we have k-2n_0\equiv 2n_0+6k and since 2 is relatively prime to 7, 2n_0+6k\equiv n_0+3k\pmod{7}. Then yet again n_0+3k\equiv n_0+10k\pmod{7}, and this is equivalent to our original number.

See also

Back to Divisibility Rules

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