guerrero wrote:If a and b are positive integers, and (2^3) (3^4) (5^7)=(a^3)*b, how many different possible values of b are there?
(A) 2
(B) 3
(C) 4
(D) 6
(E) 12
Source : Magoosh
OA E
(2³)(3³)(5³)(5³)(3)(7) = (a³)b
a³ must be the cube of an integer
Once a value has been chosen for a³ , the value of b will be equal to whichever factors on the lefthand side are not included in the value of a³.
The answer choices represent the number of options for b.
Since the greatest answer choice is 12, there are at most 12 options for b, implying that there are at most 12 options for a³.
Thus, we can quickly count the number of options for a³:
1³
2³
3³
5³
(2³)(3³)
(2³)(5³)
(3³)(5³)
We can stop here.
Since there are at least 7 options for a³, there are at least 7 options for b.
Thus, the only viable answer choice is
E.
Here are all of the options for a³ :
1³
2³
3³
5³
(2³)(3³)
(2³)(5³)
(3³)(5³)
(5³)(5³)
(2³)(3³)(5³)
(2³)(5³)(5³)
(3³)(5³)(5³)
(2³)(3³)(5³)(5³)
Total options = 12.
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