Brainbashers had a straightforward puzzle today: What is the smallest integer, which, when multiplied by 3 gives a number consisting of only 4’s?.

Go ahead, think about it. It’s not as hard as it sounds.

Yes, now.

Wait, wait, wait.

Ok, here’s how I worked it out. Is the final answer 4? No, 4 is not a multiple of 3. How do I know a number is divisible by 3? I add all the digits up until there is only one digit left. If that digit is 3, 6 or 9, the number is divisible by 3. (e.g. 8787 = 8+7+8+7 = 30 = 3+0 = 3, therefore 8787 is a multiple of 3.)

Ok, how about 44? 4+4=8, not divisible by 3.

Ok, how about 444? 4+4+4 = 12 = 1+2 = 3. Therefore 444 is a multiple of 3. 444 divided by 3 is 148, so the answer is 148.