SOLUTION: Find the largest three digit number which has exactly ten factors, including 1 and itself.

Algebra ->  Divisibility and Prime Numbers -> SOLUTION: Find the largest three digit number which has exactly ten factors, including 1 and itself.      Log On


   



Question 42054: Find the largest three digit number which has exactly ten factors, including 1 and itself.
Answer by psbhowmick(878) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
If any number has 'N' has 'r' prime number factors and can be expressed as
%28p%5Br%5D%29%5E%28q%5Br%5D%29
where p%5B1%5D, p%5B2%5D, p%5B3%5D, ... are the prime factors and q%5B1%5D, q%5B2%5D, q%5B3%5D, .... are their respective indices.

For such a number N, the total number of factors (including 1 and itself) is given by %28q%5B1%5D%2B1%29%2A%28q%5B2%5D%2B1%29%2A%28q%5B3%5D%2B1%29%2A....%28q%5Br%5D%2B1%29.

Here total no. of factors = 10.
Hence, %28q%5B1%5D%2B1%29%2A%28q%5B2%5D%2B1%29%2A%28q%5B3%5D%2B1%29%2A....%28q%5Br%5D%2B1%29=10

As 10 itself has prime factors 2 and 5.
So the reqd. number must have only two prime factors such that the index of one of them is (2-1=) 1 and that of the other is (5-1=) 4.

So, N+=+%28p%5B1%5D%29%5E1%2A%28p%5B2%5D%29%5E4

As N has to be largest of all 3-digited number possible.

First, let us try with p%5B2%5D
Let, p%5B2%5D = 7. Then p%5B2%5D%5E4=2401 > 1000.
Let, p%5B2%5D = 5. Then p%5B2%5D%5E4=625 < 1000 but p%5B1%5D has to be atleast 2. So then N > 1000.
Let, p%5B2%5D = 3. Then p%5B2%5D%5E4=81. Under this condition p%5B1%5D(max) = 11 so N(max) = 891 < 1000. OK
Let, p%5B2%5D = 2. Then p%5B2%5D%5E4=16. Under this condition p%5B1%5D(max) = 61 so N(max) = 976 < 1000. OK

Hence 976 is the largest 3-digit number with exactly 10 factors including (1 and itself).
These factors are: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 61, 122, 244, 488, 976.