j_shreyans wrote:The integer 6 is the product of two consecutive integers (6 = 2 × 3) and the product of three consecutive integers (6 = 1 × 2 × 3). What is the next integer greater than 6 that is both the product of two consecutive integers and the product of three consecutive integers?
A)153
B)210
C)272
D)336
E)600
OAB
Check each answer choice.
A) 153 is not possible because any two or three consecutive integers will always include at least one even integer. 153 is odd. So it cannot have any even factors. So eliminate A.
B) Since we are looking for a product of two consecutive integers, look for the nearest perfect square. 15² = 225. Ah, so 15 x 14 = 210! So that's two consecutive integers and the factors of them are 3, 5, 2 and 7. The factors can be rearranged into 5, 6, and 7. So we have our answer.
The question is finished at this point, but I'll do the rest for illustrative purposes.
C) Since we are looking for a product of two consecutive integers, look for the nearest perfect square. 16² = 256. Ah so 16 x 17 = 272. But 17 is prime. So we can't break down the factors further. So eliminate C.
D) Since we are looking for a product of two consecutive integers, I would look for the nearest perfect square, which is probably 18², but I am getting a sense of the pattern so I go with 18 x 20 = 360 and realize that 18 X 19 = 342, which is less than 18 away from 336. So there's no way to get two consecutive integers to multiply to 336, and D is out.
E) Since we are looking for a product of two consecutive integers, look for the nearest perfect square, which is 25² = 625. So 25 x 24 = 600. So the prime factors are 5, 5, 2, 2, 2 and 3. Immediately I see the two 5's and realize that as soon as they are split up there can't be three consecutive numbers, because any two unique numbers with 5 as a factor have to be at least 5 apart from each other. So E is out.
Choose
B.
