How many distinct Prime Factors does a^b^c has
1) a^b has three distinct prime factors
2) b^c has four distinct prime factors
Answer: Option A
Source: www.GMATinsight.com
5-Day Free Trial
5-day free, full-access trial TTP
Available with Beat the GMAT members only code
MORE DETAILS
How many distinct Prime Factors does a^b^c has 1) a^b has t
This topic has expert replies
-
GMATinsight
- Legendary Member
- Posts: 1100
- Joined: Sat May 10, 2014 11:34 pm
- Location: New Delhi, India
- Thanked: 205 times
- Followed by:24 members
"GMATinsight"Bhoopendra Singh & Sushma Jha
Most Comprehensive and Affordable Video Course 2000+ CONCEPT Videos and Video Solutions
Whatsapp/Mobile: +91-9999687183 l [email protected]
Contact for One-on-One FREE ONLINE DEMO Class Call/e-mail
Most Efficient and affordable One-On-One Private tutoring fee - US$40-50 per hour
Most Comprehensive and Affordable Video Course 2000+ CONCEPT Videos and Video Solutions
Whatsapp/Mobile: +91-9999687183 l [email protected]
Contact for One-on-One FREE ONLINE DEMO Class Call/e-mail
Most Efficient and affordable One-On-One Private tutoring fee - US$40-50 per hour
@GMATinsight,
I Tried to solve this in the following way. Please correct me if wrong. (Took a long time though)
S1: a^b has 3 distinct prime numbers.
Let the three distinct prime numbers be 2,3,5. Stem can be rewritten as a=(2*3*5). a^b = (2*3*5) * (2*3*5)....b times. Notice that the same three prime factors are repeated each time. infact for any power of a, the same three primes will be repeating. This also means a^b^c will also have 3 distinct primes.
S1 is hence sufficient.
S2: b^c has four distinct prime factors. This says b^c has 4 distinct prime factors. No info on a though. If a = 0 the answer is different as compared to say a = 2
Insuff.
Final answer = A
I Tried to solve this in the following way. Please correct me if wrong. (Took a long time though)
S1: a^b has 3 distinct prime numbers.
Let the three distinct prime numbers be 2,3,5. Stem can be rewritten as a=(2*3*5). a^b = (2*3*5) * (2*3*5)....b times. Notice that the same three prime factors are repeated each time. infact for any power of a, the same three primes will be repeating. This also means a^b^c will also have 3 distinct primes.
S1 is hence sufficient.
S2: b^c has four distinct prime factors. This says b^c has 4 distinct prime factors. No info on a though. If a = 0 the answer is different as compared to say a = 2
Insuff.
Final answer = A
GMATinsight wrote:How many distinct Prime Factors does a^b^c
1) a^b has three distinct prime factors
2) b^c has four distinct prime factors
Answer: Option A
Source: www.GMATinsight.com
