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 Brent@GMATPrepNow » Tue Feb 25, 2014 3:11 pm
Excellent approach, juanierik
You started by finding the SMALLEST possible value of n (2x2x2x2x2x2 = 64)
Then you found the SECOND SMALLEST possible value of n (3x2x2x2x2x2 = 96)
When you tried to find the THIRD SMALLEST value of n (3x3x2x2x2x2 = 144), you found that it was a 3-digit number, so you stopped there.
Perfect!!

I can't think of a better (i.e., faster) way. Sometimes GMAT questions just require a bit of "brute force"

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by GMATGuruNY » Tue Feb 25, 2014 3:17 pm
For any positive integer n the length is defined as the number of prime numbers whose product equals n. So for 75 the length is 3 since 75 = 3 * 5 * 5. How many 2-digit numbers have a length of 6?

a) None
b) One
c) Two
d) Three
e) Four
Start with the smallest possible prime factors:
2*2*2*2*2*2 = 64.
2*2*2*2*2*3 = 96.
Since the product must be less than 100, only the two numbers above are possible. If we increase any of the factors, the product will be greater than 100.

The correct answer is C.
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