Divisor 1627

Prime Number:
Yes!
Divisibility test:
The "Lisa Kowalsky Test"
Test Discovered by:
Matt Parker
Date:
11/11/2024

The "Lisa Kowalsky Test" for Divisibility by 1627

To determine if any number is divisible by 1627, apply the "Lisa Kowalsky Test":

  1. If your number ("X") has 5 digits or more, separate the last (smallest) 4 digits from the rest. This makes two smaller numbers, call them Left and Right (note: don't add in trailing zeros to L). If there are fewer than 5 digits, L = 0 and therefore R = X.
  2. Multiply L by 238 and add to R.
  3. Take that result and cross off its final digit (units). Take this new number and subtract 488 times the digit you just crossed off. Call this final result "Y".
  4. Y will be much smaller than X, but we have preserved divisibility by 1627. That is, your original number is divisible by 1627 if (and only if) Y is. Now that it's much smaller, with basic knowledge of your 1627-times tables, it should be easy to visually see if Y is divisible by 1627. If the Y is still much larger than 1627, the above process can be repeated until it does reduce to within small multiples of 1627.

Easy!