L1 · Divisibility tests for 2, 5 and 10; investigating 0 to 10
“I can decide whether a whole number is divisible by 2, by 5, or by 10 just by looking at its last digit - and I can explain why only the last digit matters.”
Is 5,284 divisible by 2? Step 1: Split the number: 5,284 = 5,280 + 4. The 5,280 part is made of thousands, hundreds and tens - every thousand, hundred and ten is even, so that part is always divisible by 2. Step 2: Only the last digit can block divisibility. The last digit is 4. Step 3: 4 is even, so 5,284 is divisible by 2. (Check: 5,284 / 2 = 2,642.) Say it plainly: thousands, hundreds and tens are always divisible by 2, so the 2-test is a test of the last digit only.
Why can we ignore all the digits except the last one when testing for divisibility by 2?
Is 7,531 divisible by 2? -> No - the last digit, 1, is odd; the 7,530 part is fine, the 1 is left over.
"9,206: last digit is ___, which is even, so 9,206 ___ divisible by 2" -> 6; is
10 scored questions with a 3-rung hint ladder. Mastery needs 8/10 plus both gate questions.