Question

If 21y5 is a multiple of 9, where y is a digit, what is the value of y?

Answer 1

If a number is a multiple of 9, then the sum of its digits will be divisible by 9.

Sum of digits of 21y5 = 2 + 1 + y + 5 = 8 + y

Hence, 8 + y should be a multiple of 9.

This is possible when 8 + y is any one of these numbers 0, 9, 18, 27, and so on …

However, since y is a single digit number, this sum can be 9 only. Therefore, y should be 1 only.