MATH TRICK - DIVISIBILITY BY 6

To determine if a number is divisible by 6, you can use the following steps:

Divisibility Rule for 6

1. Check Divisibility by 2: The number must be even, meaning its last digit must be 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8.

2. Check Divisibility by 3: The sum of the digits must be divisible by 3.

Combined Rule

If a number meets both criteria—being even and having a digit sum divisible by 3—then the number is divisible by 6.

Example

• For the number 48:
  1. Check divisibility by 2: 48 ends in 8, so it is even.
  2. Check divisibility by 3: Sum of digits $4 + 8 = 12$, and 12 is divisible by 3.

Since 48 meets both criteria, it is divisible by 6.

Another Example

• For the number 123:
  1. Check divisibility by 2: 123 ends in 3, so it is not even.
  2. Check divisibility by 3: Sum of digits $1 + 2 + 3 = 6$, which is divisible by 3.

Since 123 does not meet the first criterion (it’s not even), it is not divisible by 6.

This rule helps you quickly check for divisibility by 6 using simple checks for 2 and 3.