Divisibility by 11

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Theorem

Let $N \in \N$ be expressed as:

$N = a_0 + a_1 10 + a_2 10^2 + \cdots + a_n 10^n$


Then $N$ is divisible by $11$ if and only if $\ds \sum_{r \mathop = 0}^n \paren {-1}^r a_r$ is divisible by $11$.

That is, a divisibility test for $11$ is achieved by alternately adding and subtracting the digits and taking the result modulo $11$.


Proof

As:

$10 \equiv -1 \pmod {11}$

we have:

$10^r \equiv \paren {-1}^r \pmod {11}$

from Congruence of Powers.

Thus:

$N \equiv a_0 + \paren {-1} a_1 + \paren {-1}^2 a_2 + \cdots + \paren {-1}^n a_n \pmod {11}$

from the definition of Modulo Addition.

The result follows.

$\blacksquare$


Sources