Number Properties PS

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Number Properties PS

by juanierik » Tue Feb 25, 2014 3:04 pm
This question comes from the GMAT Prep Software

For any positive inter n, the length of n is defined as the number of prime factors whose product is n. For example, the length of 75 is 3, since 75=3*5*5. How many two-digit positive integers have length 6?

A. None
B. One
C. Two
D. Three
E. Four


I guessed on this question during the actual test.

While reviewing:

First, I tried multiplying the smallest prime number six times: 2*2*2*2*2*2=64 (that's 1 two-digit number with length of 6)

Then, I tried multiplying the second largest prime number six times: 3*3*3*3*3*3=81*9 which is not a two digit number. From here I knew that the 2 prime numbers had to be a product of mostly 2's and maybe a combination of 2 and another number.

Then I tried multiplying five 2's and one 3: 2*2*2*2*2*3=96 (this is the second two-digit number found with length 6)
Then I tried multiplying four 2's and two 3's: 2*2*2*2*3*3= 16*9= 108 (not a two digit number)

Because, by process of elimination, I found 2 two-digit numbers that satisfy the length of 6 rule. I determined that the answer is C (which is the correct answer)

This process felt a bit like guess work. Please give insight into other approaches to find this solution.

Thanks.
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by [email protected] » Tue Feb 25, 2014 8:26 pm
Hi juanierik,

The method that you used to solve this problem is EXACTLY what you should have done. Calling this 'a guess' is not correct; you used the definitions and limitations of the question to discover the possibilities. To encourage you further, I can tell you that you'll use this type of thinking on a bunch of questions in the Quant section (most DS questions can actually be solved with a similar process), so you should know that you did the right thing.

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Rich
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by theCodeToGMAT » Tue Feb 25, 2014 9:33 pm
Minimum two digit positive integer can be formed by = 2x2x2x2x2x2 = 64

Now, possible combinations = 2x2x2x2x2x3 = 96

If we further increase the last factor, than the number will be 3 digit.

So, TWO[spoiler]

{C}[/spoiler]
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