SOLUTION: If a non-zero integer n is chosen such that (2-16/n) is an integer less than 6 Which of the following must be true of n ? A -8 b -6 c -4 d -3 e -1

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Question 277460: If a non-zero integer n is chosen such that (2-16/n) is an integer less than 6
Which of the following must be true of n ?
A -8 b -6 c -4 d -3 e -1

Found 3 solutions by stanbon, Edwin McCravy, vleith:
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
If a non-zero integer n is chosen such that (2-16/n) is an integer less than 6
Which of the following must be true of n ?
------
Solve (2-(16/n)) < 6
Factor out a "2" and divide both sides by it:
(1-(8/n) < 3
8/n > -2
------------
Check: n = -8
8/-8 > -2
-1 > -2
true
---
Check: n = -6
8/-6 > -2
-4/3 > -2
true
---
Check: n = -4
8/-2> -2
-4> -2
false
======
Answer: n could be -8 or n could be -6
============================================
Cheers,
Stan H.

A -8 b -6 c -4 d -3 e -1

Answer by Edwin McCravy(20054) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
If a non-zero integer n is chosen such that 2-16%2Fn is an integer less than 6
Which of the following must be true of n ?
A -8 b -6 c -4 d -3 e -1
 

The other tutor's answer is incorrect.  He did not observe the
fact that 2-16%2Fn must be an integer!

---------------------------------------------

Plug those 5 values into 2-16%2Fn 

Plugging in n=-8, 2-16%2Fn=2-16%2F%28-8%29=2%2B2=4

That's possible.  Let's see if any of the others are:

Plugging in n=-6, 2-16%2F%28-6%29=2%2B16%2F6=2%2B8%2F3=2%2B2%262%2F3=4%262%2F3.
No, that's not an integer!

Plugging in n=-4, 2-16%2F%28-4%29=2%2B16%2F4=2%2B4=6.
No, 6 is not less than 6.

Plugging in n=-3, 2-16%2F%28-3%29=2%2B16%2F3=2%2B5%261%2F3=7%261%2F3.
No, that's not an integer!

Plugging in n=-1, 2-16%2F%28-1%29=2%2B16=18
No, that's not less than 6.

So a) -8 is the only one of those that works.

Comment: The question is worded very badly, because there are 
other values n could be which are not listed besides just -8. 
For instance n could be any of these:

-16, -8, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16
 
and 2-16%2Fn would be an integer less than 6.

It's just that -8 was the only one listed as a choice.

So the question should have read:

"Which of the following could n be?"

not "must be true of n"!!!

Edwin

Answer by vleith(2983) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Given
n is a non-zero integer and
2-%2816%2Fn%29+%3C+6
find n
2-%2816%2Fn%29+%3C+6 collect like terms
-%2816%2Fn%29+%3C+4
-4%2Fn+%3C+0+
Now here is the tricky part. In order to isolate n, we need to multiply through by n. If n is positive, then the inequality sign stays 'less than'. However, if n is negative, then the inequalty changes to 'greater than'.
-4+%3C+n when n > 0
-4+%3E+n+ when n < 0
Every one of the possible answers A through E are negative. So we need to use the second equation.
-4+%3E+n+
Which possible answers are less than -4? Only -8 and -6 (A and B)
BUT, your problem stated the result had to be < 6 and an integer. You can see that 16/-6 is not an integer, so -6 won't work. 16/-8 is an integer.
Answer is -8 (A)
Check that answer by plugging -8 in
2+-+%2816%2F%28-8%29%29+%3C+6
2+%2B+2+%3C+6
4+%3C+6 which is true. So -8 works