A bag of pennies could be divided among 6, 7 or 8 children, with each getting the same number, and with 1 penny left over in each case. What is the smallest number of pennies that could be in the bag?

Question

anonymous · Answer

You are trying to find the lowest common multiple of 6,7 and 8. And then adding 1 to that number.

anonymous · Answer

I don't understand the concept of that in this question. Could you please elaborate on it?

anonymous · Answer

Sorry, just to clarify, do you know what a lowest common multiple is? Or simply how it applies to this question.

anonymous · Answer

I know what it is but i wanted to know how it applies to this question.

anonymous · Answer

Ok, let's pretend that there are 61 coins in the bag. First of all we want to have one coin left over so we only really care about 60 coins. With me so far?

anonymous · Answer

yup

anonymous · Answer

Now if we split 60 coins between 5 kids (for example) then they each get 12 coins. So that works out. If we now choose to split the bag between 6 kids, they will each get 10 coins. So that works too!

anonymous · Answer

I'm going to put a new question. how many coins must you have in the bag so that you can split it between 5 and 6 kids with one left over all the time?

anonymous · Answer

the comparison helps alot but since we don't know the total amount of pennies in this case, then how does the lcm work out as the answer?

anonymous · Answer

30 coins?

anonymous · Answer

Yeah that works (although remember the 1 left over so really 31 coins). How does 30 relate to 5 and 6? It's the lowest common multiple!

anonymous · Answer

thank you!

anonymous · Answer

Does that make sense?

anonymous · Answer

yeaaap!