factors

This topic has expert replies
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 37
Joined: Sat Apr 24, 2010 8:27 am

factors

by GmatTakerNo.1 » Sun Apr 25, 2010 4:39 am
Hey, can you help me out with this one:

How many positive integers less than 1000 have no factors (other than 1) in common with 1000?
a) 400
b) 410
c) 411
d) 412
e) None of the above

What is the approach to solve this under two minutes?
Source: — Problem Solving |

Legendary Member
Posts: 809
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:10 pm
Thanked: 50 times
Followed by:4 members

by akhpad » Sun Apr 25, 2010 5:02 am
Total no divisible by 2
2, 4, 6, 8 ... 1000 = 500

Total no divisible by 5
5,10,15,20 ... 1000 = 200

Total no divisible by both 2 and 5
10,20,40 ... 1000 = 100

Total no divisible by either 2 or 5
500+200-100 = 600

Total no not divisible by either 2 or 5
1000 - 600 = 400

Since 1 is not included, required number = 399

Is answer E?

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 3225
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 2:40 pm
Location: Toronto
Thanked: 1710 times
Followed by:614 members
GMAT Score:800

by Stuart@KaplanGMAT » Sun Apr 25, 2010 2:00 pm
akhp77 wrote:Total no divisible by 2
2, 4, 6, 8 ... 1000 = 500

Total no divisible by 5
5,10,15,20 ... 1000 = 200

Total no divisible by both 2 and 5
10,20,40 ... 1000 = 100

Total no divisible by either 2 or 5
500+200-100 = 600

Total no not divisible by either 2 or 5
1000 - 600 = 400

Since 1 is not included, required number = 399

Is answer E?
Excellent work right up until the last step!

The question doesn't say that we shouldn't include 1 as a potential answer, it says we shouldn't consider 1 as a "factor in common".

So, the correct answer is (A) 400.
Image

Stuart Kovinsky | Kaplan GMAT Faculty | Toronto

Kaplan Exclusive: The Official Test Day Experience | Ready to Take a Free Practice Test? | Kaplan/Beat the GMAT Member Discount
BTG100 for $100 off a full course