PS

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PS

by beater » Sun Sep 21, 2008 10:16 am
If p is the product of the integers from 1 to 30, inclusive, what is the greatest integer k for which 3^k is a factor of p?

A. 10
B. 12
C. 14
D. 16
E. 18
Source: — Problem Solving |

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by mals24 » Sun Sep 21, 2008 11:14 am
IMO C

I'll give you two ways to solve this problem pick whichever you are comfortable with:

1. Write down all the factors of 3 from 1-30
3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24,27,30

Now count how many 3 go into each of the numbers and add them up

1+1+2+1+1+2+1+1+3+1 = 14

2. To find the max power of a prime p present in any factorial f simply find

f/p + f/(p^2) + ..+ f/(p^n)
where p^n < f

So in this case we need to find the value of 30/3+30/(3)^2+30/(3)^3
(we stop at 3^3 since 3^4 > 30)

10+3+1 = 14 approx

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by stop@800 » Sun Sep 21, 2008 1:00 pm
yes 14

10 multiples of 3
3 multiple of 9
1 multiple of 27