Question 704229
In multiplying two positive integers a and b, Joey inadvertently reversed the digits of the two-digit number a. His erroneous product was 161. What is the value of (ab)^2?
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<pre>
By dividing 161 by odd prime numbers, trying to find one that
will give a whole number, when we come to dividing 161 by 7 
we get the integer 23.  So

161 = 7×23

So the two-digit number "a" with the digits reversed was 23,


Therefore a = 32, and b = 7.

So (ab)² = (32×7)² = 224² = 50176

Edwin</pre>