Number theory.....

This topic has expert replies
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 155
Joined: Wed Sep 22, 2010 3:54 am
Thanked: 6 times

Number theory.....

by pzazz12 » Tue Oct 05, 2010 1:54 am
K = wxyz, where w, x, y, z are prime numbers. Not including 1 and K, how many factors does K have?


I don't know the options for this questions ....

help me to solve this problem

User avatar
Community Manager
Posts: 991
Joined: Thu Sep 23, 2010 6:19 am
Location: Bangalore, India
Thanked: 146 times
Followed by:24 members

by shovan85 » Tue Oct 05, 2010 2:11 am
K=wxyz
Assuming w,x,y and z are the digits of k then
w,x,y and z can be a value from [2,3,5,7]

So the number of factors will be varying from number to number as we can form 96 different numbers using the 4 digits(Repetition allowed).

Can u please review the question?

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 156
Joined: Sat Sep 04, 2010 2:27 am
Location: Leeds,UK
Thanked: 1 times

by lokesh r » Tue Oct 05, 2010 2:39 am
16 must the be the answer.

User avatar
Community Manager
Posts: 991
Joined: Thu Sep 23, 2010 6:19 am
Location: Bangalore, India
Thanked: 146 times
Followed by:24 members

by shovan85 » Tue Oct 05, 2010 2:43 am
lokesh r wrote:16 must the be the answer.
How? Please explain in detail!!

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 156
Joined: Sat Sep 04, 2010 2:27 am
Location: Leeds,UK
Thanked: 1 times

by lokesh r » Tue Oct 05, 2010 3:38 am
shovan85 wrote:
lokesh r wrote:16 must the be the answer.
How? Please explain in detail!!
Since nothing is mentioned in the question about the power to which w, x, y, z are raised, i assume it is 1.
So using the formula

say N=w^1 x x^1 x y^1 x z^1

No of factors of N is = (1+1)x(1+1)x(1+1)x(1+1) = 2x2x2x2=16

User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 43
Joined: Sat Jan 23, 2010 12:18 am
Thanked: 1 times
Followed by:1 members

by AtifS » Tue Oct 05, 2010 3:57 am
Not getting it... I was actually predicting that factors are 12 as it is a 4-digit number and max can be 7777 (as 7 is the biggest prime number out of first 10 digits) and 2^12 gives 4096 but 2^13 gives 8192 which is larger than 7777.

But I am not sure I am right.
Any expert with a detailed nice explanation??
I am not perfect

User avatar
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 19
Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2010 10:57 pm
Thanked: 2 times

by deepakb » Tue Oct 05, 2010 10:28 am
K = wxyz, where w, x, y, z are prime numbers. Not including 1 and K, how many factors does K have?

Answer is 22

w, x, y, and z these 4 are factors of K. Also 6 more, wx,wy,wz,xy,xz,yz. And wxy,wxz,wyz (3) each for x, y, and z also which equals 12.
= 4+6+12 = 22

Legendary Member
Posts: 1119
Joined: Fri May 07, 2010 8:50 am
Thanked: 29 times
Followed by:3 members

by diebeatsthegmat » Tue Oct 05, 2010 6:02 pm
pzazz12 wrote:K = wxyz, where w, x, y, z are prime numbers. Not including 1 and K, how many factors does K have?


I don't know the options for this questions ....

help me to solve this problem
i only count 14 factor without including 1 and k
k=xyzw so k can be divisible by w,y,x,z,wx,wy,wz,xy,xz,zy,wxy,wxz,xyz

dunno how you guy find 16 and 22 and cant understand why....

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 385
Joined: Sun Jul 12, 2009 10:16 pm
Thanked: 29 times
Followed by:2 members
GMAT Score:710

by debmalya_dutta » Tue Oct 05, 2010 6:20 pm
my pick is 14..... exclude 1 & K .... 16 is the total number of factors including 1 and K
@Deb

User avatar
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 19
Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2010 10:57 pm
Thanked: 2 times

by deepakb » Wed Oct 06, 2010 1:55 am
yes. 14 is correct. I repeated some of the combinations.

User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 43
Joined: Sat Jan 23, 2010 12:18 am
Thanked: 1 times
Followed by:1 members

by AtifS » Wed Oct 06, 2010 2:03 am
Yea, it is 14 indeed. Can we solve it like this, 2^4=16 factors - 2 (1 & K)= 14 factors instead of counting all the factors?
I am not perfect