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Answer
If the sum of the digits is divisible by nine, so is the number.
Add up all of the digits in the number and see if the sum is divisible by 9. If you still can't tell, you can add those digits again to see if the new sum is divisible by 9. You can keep going until you the sum is obviously divisible by 9 or not.
For example, is 486451464 divisible by 9?
Do 4 + 8 + 6 + 4 + 5 + 1 + 4 + 6 + 4 = 42.
Is 42 divisible by 9? Not sure, you can then do:
4 + 2 = 6. Which clearly isn't divisible by 9. So our original number, 486451464, isn't either.
This is a classic paradox, attributed to Zeno of Elea, a Greek philosopher from Italy. Great minds over the centuries have pondered this paradox, and the scope of a solution is beyond the space available here. It is not even clear that a solution to the paradox actually exists.
It is now four years since I first asked for support, and I would like to sincerely thank everyone who has helped me. BrainBashers doesn't show adverts, and I continue to depend on the ongoing support from everyone who enjoys the site.
