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Puzzle ZENA 



??

What is the smallest integer which...

...when multiplied by 3 gives a number consisting of only 4's?

Puzzle Copyright © Kevin Stone

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Answer
148.

Reasoning
A number that is divisible by 3 has digits that add up to a number that is also divisible by 3 (e.g. 123 is divisible by 3).

So we can look for the first number where 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + ... is divisible by 3, which is 4 + 4 + 4, and 444 ÷ 3 = 148.

Alternative Reasoning
Let's try the possible answers in order:

  4 ÷ 3 = 1.3333
 44 ÷ 3 = 14.6666
444 ÷ 3 = 148

Double-Checking
148 x 3 = 444.

 

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