Advent calendar 2024
18 December
If k = 21, then 28k ÷ (28 + k) is an integer.
What is the largest integer k such that 28k ÷ (28 + k) is an integer?
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If \(k\) is a multiple of 28, then let \(k=28a\) and see that:
$$\frac{28k}{28+k}=\frac{28a}{1+a}$$
This is an integer if either \(a=0\), \(a=1\), or \(1+a\) is a factor of 28. Hence the largest value of \(a\) is 27, leading to \(k\) = 756.
Similar working out can be done for the cases where the hcf of 28 and \(k\) is 14, 7, 2, or 1, and in each case a lower answer would be obtained.
