Question

Suppose that 3 is a factor of a, a is a divisor of 12, and a is positive. What is the number of possible values of a?

Answer 1

Answer: the number of possible values of a are 3 and 6

Explanation:
Since a is a divisor of 12
Then let’s see what are the divisor for 12
12= 6 x 2
12= 3 x 4
And we know that 3 is a factor of a
So if a was 3 then 3/3 is exactly 1
And if a was 6 then 6/3 is exactly 2 with no remainder

And 3 and 6 are also the divisor of 12
12/6=2
12/3=4
So a should be 3 and 6

Answer 2

3

Explanation:

12 is divisible by: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12

Because 3 is a factor of a, that means 3 multiplied by another number equals a. Additionally, a is a divisor of 12, meaning a multiplied by another number equals 12.

Out of the numbers, 12 is divisible by, only 3 are also divisible by 3: 3, 6, 12 This gives three possible values of a.