SOLUTION: Let $m$ and $n$ be positive integers. If $m$ has exactly $10$ positive divisors, $n$ has exactly $16$ positive divisors, and $mn$ has exactly $21$ positive divisors. How many di

Algebra ->  Divisibility and Prime Numbers -> SOLUTION: Let $m$ and $n$ be positive integers. If $m$ has exactly $10$ positive divisors, $n$ has exactly $16$ positive divisors, and $mn$ has exactly $21$ positive divisors. How many di      Log On


   



Question 1207623: Let $m$ and $n$ be positive integers. If $m$ has exactly $10$ positive divisors, $n$ has exactly $16$ positive divisors, and $mn$ has exactly $21$ positive divisors. How many divisors does $m^2 n^2$ have?

Answer by greenestamps(13200) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


Let p and q represent unknown prime numbers.

Using the method for finding the number of positive divisors of a number, if mn has 21 positive divisors, then it is either p%5E20 or %28p%5E6%29%28q%5E2%29. So the product of m and n contains factors of at most two prime numbers.

If mn is p%5E20, then m and n are both powers of p, but that would make m = p%5E9 and n = p%5E15, in which case mn would be p%5E24.

So mn is of the form %28p%5E6%29%28q%5E2%29.

m has 10 positive divisors, and its prime factorization can have at most 2 different primes, and no prime factor can occur more than 6 times. The only possibility is then for m to be of the form %28p%5E4%29%28q%5E1%29.

Similarly, n has 16 positive divisors, and its prime factorization can have at most 2 different primes, and no prime factor can occur more than 6 times. The only possibility is then for n to be of the form %28p%5E3%29%28q%5E3%29.

But if mn is of the form %28p%5E6%29%28q%5E2%29, n can't be of the form %28p%5E3%29%28q%5E3%29.

So, while the problem could have been a good one for using math and logical reasoning to find the solution, the given information is inconsistent -- it is impossible for m to have 10 positive divisors, n to have 16, and mn to have 21.

ANSWER: NO SOLUTION