Question

On a calculator, Karmen divided x into y and got the answer 2.25. Both x and y are positive integers. the value of x is less than 20. Karmen can’t remember what numbers she used. What are the highest possible values of x and y?

Answer 1

x = 19.98 y= 8.88

Explanation:

Answer 2

• x = 18, y = 8

Explanation:

We have:

• x/ y = 2.25, where x and y are positive integers and x < 20

Rewrite it as:

• x = 2.25y

For x to be a positive integer, y has to be a multiple of 4:

• y = 4m

Where m is also positive integer, then

• x = 2.25*4m = 9m

As we see x is multiple of 9, it can get values of 9 or 18.

The greatest possible value of x is 18.

Then the value of y is:

• y = 18/2.25 = 8