Divisible by 4: Last Two Digits Trick, Examples, Chart, and Practice

What does divisible by 4 mean?

A number is divisible by 4 if you can divide it by 4 evenly.

Evenly means there is no remainder.

For example, 28 is divisible by 4 because 28 / 4 = 7 with no remainder.

But 30 is not divisible by 4 because 30 / 4 leaves 2 left over.

You can also think of it as making four equal groups. If the groups are equal and nothing is left over, the number is divisible by 4.

Printable Divisible by 4 trick chart

Use this SumReflex chart to remember the last-two-digits trick for divisibility by 4.

The same chart is also available in the Printable Number Reference Charts section with print and download buttons.

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The last two digits trick

To check if a whole number is divisible by 4, look at the last two digits.

If the last two digits make a number divisible by 4, the whole number is divisible by 4.

If the last two digits do not make a number divisible by 4, the whole number is not divisible by 4.

For example, 1,236 ends in 36. Since 36 / 4 = 9, 1,236 is divisible by 4.

How the last digit helps, but does not finish the test

A number divisible by 4 must also be divisible by 2.

That means the last digit must be even: 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8.

So, if the last digit is odd, you can stop right away. The number is not divisible by 4.

But an even last digit is only a clue. It is not the full rule.

Example: 18 ends in 8, so it is even, but 18 is not divisible by 4. You still need to check the last two digits.

Endings that show divisibility by 4

The last two digits can be 00, 04, 08, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, or 96.

These are the multiples of 4 from 0 to 96.

If a number ends with one of these two-digit endings, it is divisible by 4.

Example: 5,784 ends in 84. Since 84 is in the list and 84 / 4 = 21, 5,784 is divisible by 4.

Why does the trick work?

The trick works because 100 is divisible by 4.

Every full hundred is divisible by 4: 100 / 4 = 25, 200 / 4 = 50, 1,000 / 4 = 250, and so on.

So the hundreds, thousands, and larger place values are already safe for dividing by 4.

That leaves only the final two digits to check.

If the final two-digit part divides evenly by 4, the whole number divides evenly by 4.

Step-by-step method

Step 1: Look at the last digit. If it is odd, the number is not divisible by 4.

Step 2: If the last digit is even, look at the last two digits.

Step 3: Check whether those last two digits are divisible by 4.

Step 4: If the last two digits divide evenly by 4, the original number is divisible by 4.

Example: 2,416 ends in 16. Since 16 / 4 = 4, 2,416 is divisible by 4.

Examples with solutions

Example 1: Is 124 divisible by 4? The last two digits are 24. Since 24 / 4 = 6, 124 is divisible by 4. 124 / 4 = 31.

Example 2: Is 218 divisible by 4? The last two digits are 18. Since 18 is not divisible by 4, 218 is not divisible by 4.

Example 3: Is 320 divisible by 4? The last two digits are 20. Since 20 / 4 = 5, 320 is divisible by 4. 320 / 4 = 80.

Example 4: Is 654 divisible by 4? The last two digits are 54. Since 54 is not divisible by 4, 654 is not divisible by 4.

Example 5: Is 1,004 divisible by 4? The last two digits are 04, which means 4. Since 4 / 4 = 1, 1,004 is divisible by 4. 1,004 / 4 = 251.

Example 6: Is 3,516 divisible by 4? The last two digits are 16. Since 16 / 4 = 4, 3,516 is divisible by 4. 3,516 / 4 = 879.

Tougher examples

Example: Is 48,732 divisible by 4? The last two digits are 32. Since 32 / 4 = 8, 48,732 is divisible by 4.

Example: Is 91,426 divisible by 4? The last two digits are 26. Since 26 is not divisible by 4, 91,426 is not divisible by 4.

Example: Is 700 divisible by 4? The last two digits are 00. Since 00 is divisible by 4, 700 is divisible by 4. 700 / 4 = 175.

Example: Is 100,000 divisible by 4? The last two digits are 00. Since 00 is divisible by 4, 100,000 is divisible by 4.

Word problem examples

Example: A teacher has 236 cards and wants to split them equally into 4 boxes. Can she do it? The last two digits are 36. Since 36 / 4 = 9, yes. Each box gets 59 cards.

Example: There are 342 stickers. Can 4 students share them equally with none left over? The last two digits are 42. Since 42 is not divisible by 4, no.

Example: A game has 1,128 points to divide equally among 4 teams. The last two digits are 28. Since 28 / 4 = 7, yes. Each team gets 282 points.

Common mistakes

Do not check only the last digit. The last digit rule is enough for divisibility by 2, but not for divisibility by 4.

Do not say every even number is divisible by 4. The number 18 is even, but it is not divisible by 4.

Do not forget numbers ending in 00. Any whole number ending in 00 is divisible by 4 because 100 is divisible by 4.

Do not ignore a zero in the tens place. For 1,004, the last two digits are 04, and 04 is divisible by 4.

Quick practice

1. Is 84 divisible by 4? Answer: yes, because 84 / 4 = 21.

2. Is 126 divisible by 4? Answer: no, because the last two digits, 26, are not divisible by 4.

3. Is 1,240 divisible by 4? Answer: yes, because the last two digits are 40.

4. Is 2,222 divisible by 4? Answer: no, because the last two digits, 22, are not divisible by 4.

5. Is 5,608 divisible by 4? Answer: yes, because the last two digits are 08, which is divisible by 4.

6. Is 7,314 divisible by 4? Answer: no, because the last two digits, 14, are not divisible by 4.

7. Is 44,444 divisible by 4? Answer: yes, because the last two digits are 44.

The big idea

Divisibility by 4 is a last-two-digits rule.

An odd last digit means the number is not divisible by 4.

An even last digit only tells you to keep checking.

To finish the test, check whether the final two digits make a number divisible by 4.