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NCERT Solutions For Class 6 Maths Chapter 3 Number Play Exercise 3.6 - 2025-26

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Number Play Class 6 Questions and Answers - Free PDF Download

Chapter 3 Number Play of Class 6 Maths introduces students to the fascinating world of numbers through various concepts like prime numbers, divisibility, factors, multiples, and magic numbers. Exercise 3.6 focuses on the Magic Number of Kaprekar, a unique mathematical discovery by the Indian mathematician D. R. Kaprekar. This exercise helps students explore how specific numbers can behave in interesting ways and strengthens their understanding of number operations and patterns.

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Our Class 6 Maths NCERT Solutions PDF breaks the lesson into easy-to-understand explanations, making learning fun and interactive. Students will develop essential language skills with engaging activities and exercises. Check out the revised CBSE Class 6 Maths Syllabus and start practising the Maths Class 6 Chapter 3.


Glance on Class 6 Chapter 3 Exercise 3.6 The Magic Number of Kaprekar

  • Introduction to Kaprekar's Magic Number (6174).

  • Understanding how subtracting a number from its reverse leads to the magic number.

  • Exploration of digit manipulation and their properties.

  • Mental calculations and number puzzles.

  • Prime numbers, composite numbers, and their uses in number play.

Access NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Maths Chapter 3 Number Play

Exercise 3.6

Question: What number will repeat if you carry out the same steps with 3-digit numbers?

Answer: When you perform the steps with 4-digit numbers, you always reach the magic number 6174, the Kaprekar constant. For 3-digit numbers, the number that will start repeating is 495. This is known as the Kaprekar routine for 3-digit numbers.


(Practise Questions)

Question 1: Take any four-digit number where all the digits are not the same (for example, 3524). Perform the Kaprekar process and find out how many steps it takes to reach 6174.

Answer: 

Step 1: Arrange the digits in descending and ascending order: 5432 - 2345 = 3087

Step 2: Repeat the process: 8730 - 0378 = 8352

Step 3: Repeat the process: 8532 - 2358 = 6174

It took 3 steps to reach 6174.


Question 2: What will happen if you start with the number 1000 in the Kaprekar process? Show the steps.

Answer: 

Step 1: Arrange the digits in descending and ascending order: 1000 - 0001 = 0999

Step 2: Repeat the process: 9990 - 0999 = 8991

Step 3: Repeat the process: 9981 - 1899 = 8082

Step 4: Repeat the process: 8820 - 0288 = 8532

Step 5: Repeat the process: 8532 - 2358 = 6174

It took 5 steps to reach 6174.


Question 3: If you start with the number 7624, how many steps will it take to reach the Kaprekar constant 6174? 

Answer: 

Step 1: Arrange the digits in descending and ascending order: 7642 - 2467 = 5175

Step 2: Repeat the process: 7551 - 1557 = 5994

Step 3: Repeat the process: 9954 - 4599 = 5355

Step 4: Repeat the process: 5553 - 3555 = 1998

Step 5: Repeat the process: 9981 - 1899 = 8082

Step 6: Repeat the process: 8820 - 0288 = 8532

Step 7: Repeat the process: 8532 - 2358 = 6174

It took 7 steps to reach 6174.


Question 4: Start with the number 8754 and perform the Kaprekar process. How many iterations does it take to reach 6174?

Answer: 

Step 1: Arrange the digits in descending and ascending order: 8754 - 4578 = 4176

Step 2: Repeat the process: 7641 - 1467 = 6174

It took 2 steps to reach 6174.


Question 5: Why does the Kaprekar process not work if all four digits of the number are the same (e.g., 1111)?

Answer: If all digits of a number are the same, subtracting the number from its reverse results in zero. For example:

1111 - 1111 = 0000

This means the Kaprekar process cannot continue, and you will not reach 6174. Therefore, the process only works for numbers where not all digits are the same.


Benefits of NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Maths Chapter 3 Exercise 3.6 

  • A clear understanding of number patterns: Students learn to identify and apply number patterns.

  • Improves problem-solving skills: Helps in using divisibility rules effectively in various problems.

  • Engages students with number puzzles: Enhances logical thinking through fun and interactive puzzles.

  • Strengthens core Maths concepts: Builds a solid foundation in number theory and divisibility.

  • Helps in exam preparation: Provides easy-to-understand solutions, aiding in quick revision before exams.


Class 6 Maths Chapter 3: Exercises Breakdown

Exercise

Topic

Exercise 3.1

Numbers Can Tell Us Things

Exercise 3.2

Supercells

Exercise 3.3

Patterns of Numbers on the Number Line

Exercise 3.4

Playing with Digits

Exercise 3.5

Pretty Palindromic Patterns

Exercise 3.7

Clock and Calendar Numbers

Exercise 3.8

Mental Math

Exercise 3.9

Playing with Number Patterns

Exercise 3.10

An Unsolved Mystery — the Collatz Conjecture!

Exercise 3.11

Simple Estimation

Exercise 3.12

Games and Winning Strategies



Important Study Material Links for Maths Chapter 3 Class 6

S.No.

Important Study Material Links for Chapter 3

1.

Class 6 Number Play Important Questions

2.

Class 6 Number Play Notes

3.

Class 6 Maths Number Play Worksheets



Conclusion

Chapter 3: Number Play in the Class 6 Maths syllabus is an exciting chapter that introduces students to the world of numbers and their properties. Exercise 3.6 on The Magic Number of Kaprekar encourages students to explore unique mathematical phenomena while honing their problem-solving and reasoning skills. Mastering this chapter will make students more confident in their understanding of number patterns, operations, and magic numbers, which helps them understand numbers.


Chapter-wise NCERT Solutions Class 6 Maths

After familiarising yourself with the Class 6 Maths  Chapters Question Answers, you can access comprehensive NCERT Solutions from all Class 6 Maths textbook chapters.




Related Important Links for Class 6  Maths 

Along with this, students can also download additional study materials provided by Vedantu for Maths  Class 6-


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FAQs on NCERT Solutions For Class 6 Maths Chapter 3 Number Play Exercise 3.6 - 2025-26

1. How do I find the Highest Common Factor (HCF) of 18 and 48 using the prime factorisation method as per NCERT Class 6 Maths Chapter 3?

To find the HCF of 18 and 48 using prime factorisation, you follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Find the prime factors of the first number. For 18, the prime factorisation is 2 × 3 × 3.
  • Step 2: Find the prime factors of the second number. For 48, the prime factorisation is 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 3.
  • Step 3: Identify the common prime factors in both lists. Here, both numbers share one '2' and one '3'.
  • Step 4: Multiply these common prime factors together to get the HCF. So, HCF = 2 × 3 = 6.

For more detailed methods, you can refer to Vedantu's page on HCF (Highest Common Factor).

2. What is the step-by-step process to find the Lowest Common Multiple (LCM) of 20, 25, and 30 as shown in Chapter 3 solutions?

The correct method to find the LCM of 20, 25, and 30 using prime factorisation is as follows:

  • Step 1: Write the prime factorisation for each number.
    20 = 2 × 2 × 5 = 2² × 5
    25 = 5 × 5 = 5²
    30 = 2 × 3 × 5
  • Step 2: Identify the highest power of each prime factor that appears in any of the factorisations. The prime factors are 2, 3, and 5. The highest power of 2 is 2², the highest power of 3 is 3¹, and the highest power of 5 is 5².
  • Step 3: Multiply these highest powers together to find the LCM.
    LCM = 2² × 3¹ × 5² = 4 × 3 × 25 = 300.

Thus, the smallest number divisible by 20, 25, and 30 is 300.

3. How do you solve questions on the divisibility test for 11 from NCERT Chapter 3? For example, is 5445 divisible by 11?

To check if a number is divisible by 11, you use the following method:

  • Step 1: Find the sum of the digits at the odd places (from the right). For 5445, this is the first and third digit: 5 + 4 = 9.
  • Step 2: Find the sum of the digits at the even places. For 5445, this is the second and fourth digit: 4 + 5 = 9.
  • Step 3: Find the difference between these two sums. Here, the difference is 9 – 9 = 0.
  • Step 4: If the difference is 0 or a multiple of 11, the number is divisible by 11. Since the result is 0, the number 5445 is divisible by 11.

4. Why is the prime factorisation method a reliable way to find both HCF and LCM?

The prime factorisation method is reliable because it breaks down numbers into their most basic, unique building blocks, which are the prime numbers.

  • For the HCF, this method helps you clearly see the 'common' building blocks shared by all the numbers. By multiplying only these shared factors, you find the highest possible number that can divide all of them.
  • For the LCM, it ensures you include every building block from all numbers at its highest required quantity (power). This guarantees the final result is the smallest number that contains all the original numbers as factors.
This method removes guesswork and works for any set of numbers, no matter how large.

5. What is the correct method to solve word problems involving HCF and LCM in NCERT Class 6 Maths Chapter 3?

To solve word problems, you must first identify whether to calculate HCF or LCM by looking for keywords:

  • Calculate HCF if the problem asks for the greatest, maximum, or largest number to divide or group different quantities into equal sets. For example, finding the 'maximum capacity' of a container that can measure the oil from different tankers an exact number of times.
  • Calculate LCM if the problem asks for the smallest, minimum, or least quantity or the next time something will happen simultaneously. For example, finding when three bells, ringing at different intervals, will 'ring together' again.

Once identified, you can apply the respective method. You can find more solved examples in the NCERT Solution for Class 6 Maths Chapter 3.

6. What is the key difference between factors and multiples, and why are they commonly confused in Chapter 3?

The key difference lies in their relationship to a number:

  • A factor is a number that divides another number exactly, leaving no remainder. Factors of a number are finite and are always less than or equal to the number itself. For example, the factors of 8 are 1, 2, 4, and 8.
  • A multiple is the result of multiplying a number by an integer. Multiples of a number are infinite and are always greater than or equal to the number itself. For example, the multiples of 8 are 8, 16, 24, 32, and so on.

They are often confused because both involve multiplication and division. A helpful way to remember is: 'Factors are few, Multiples are many'.

7. How do you check if a large number is divisible by 3 using the method given in the NCERT solutions for Chapter 3?

The method to check for divisibility by 3 is simple and works for any number, no matter how large. Follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Add up all the digits of the number. For instance, to check the number 15,963.
  • Step 2: Sum the digits: 1 + 5 + 9 + 6 + 3 = 24.
  • Step 3: Check if this sum is divisible by 3. Since 24 is divisible by 3 (24 ÷ 3 = 8), the original number is also divisible by 3.
  • Conclusion: 15,963 is divisible by 3. If the sum was not divisible by 3, the original number would not be either.

8. Can two numbers have 15 as their HCF and 175 as their LCM? How do the solutions for Chapter 3 help us reason this?

No, two numbers cannot have 15 as their HCF and 175 as their LCM. The NCERT solutions for Chapter 3 are based on a fundamental property of numbers: the HCF of two numbers must always be a factor of their LCM. To check this:

  • Step 1: Divide the proposed LCM by the proposed HCF.
  • Step 2: Perform the division: 175 ÷ 15.
  • Step 3: The result is 11 with a remainder of 10.

Since 15 does not divide 175 exactly, it is not a factor. Therefore, it is mathematically impossible for such a pair of numbers to exist.

9. How are prime and composite numbers defined in Chapter 3, and what is the correct way to identify them?

In Chapter 3, prime and composite numbers are defined based on their number of factors:

  • Prime Numbers: These are natural numbers greater than 1 that have exactly two distinct factors: 1 and the number itself. Examples include 2, 3, 5, 7, 11.
  • Composite Numbers: These are natural numbers greater than 1 that have more than two factors. Examples include 4 (factors 1, 2, 4), 6 (factors 1, 2, 3, 6), and 9 (factors 1, 3, 9).

To identify a number, you check how many factors it has. If it only has two, it's prime; if it has more than two, it's composite. For a deeper explanation, you can explore the concepts of Prime and Composite Numbers.

10. In the NCERT solutions for 'Number Play', why is the number 1 considered neither prime nor composite?

The number 1 is a special case and is considered neither prime nor composite because it doesn't fit the strict definition of either:

  • The definition of a prime number requires it to have exactly two distinct factors (1 and itself). The number 1 has only one factor: 1.
  • The definition of a composite number requires it to have more than two factors. The number 1 fails this condition as well.

Since 1 does not satisfy the criteria for being prime or composite, it is classified uniquely on its own.