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jmc

counting and probability junior

Problem

All the positive integers greater than 1 are arranged in five columns (A, B, C, D, E) as shown. Continuing the pattern, in what column will the integer 800 be written?

problem
Solution
We write the sequence of columns in which the integers are written: We see that the sequence consists of the block repeated over and over.

Now, note that 800 will be the number in the list . When 799 is divided by 8, its remainder is 7, so 800 will be written in the same column in which the seventh number is written. This is column B.

As another solution, we could note that all multiples of 8 appear in column B, so 800 must be in column .
Final answer
\text{B}