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SVP
Joined: 29 Aug 2007
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Kudos [?]: 593 [2] , given: 19

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If $$@x$$ is the number of distinct positive divisors of $$x$$ , what is the value of $$@@90$$ ?

(A) 3
(B) 4
(C) 5
(D) 6
(E) 7

[Reveal] Spoiler: OA
D

Source: GMAT Club Tests - hardest GMAT questions

mxb908 wrote:
Not sure how the solution works itself out. Could someone please explain it. thanks.

1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 15, 18, 30, 45 and 90 divide 90.
So @90 = 12.

@@90 = @12 = 6
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Intern
Joined: 25 Nov 2008
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Kudos [?]: 10 [4] , given: 0

4
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Prime factorize 90
90= 2 * 3^2*5

Add 1 to each of the distinct prime factors exponents and multiply since we just need to find the number of distinct factors and not the actual factors.

(1+1) * (2+1)*(1+1)

12
Intern
Joined: 26 Jan 2010
Posts: 16
Location: UK
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Kudos [?]: 2 [0], given: 0

cramya wrote:
Prime factorize 90
90= 2 * 3^2*5

Add 1 to each of the distinct prime factors exponents and multiply since we just need to find the number of distinct factors and not the actual factors.

(1+1) * (2+1)*(1+1)

12

I don't have 12 in my answer choices and i answered incorrectly Although i understood the question perfectly

If @x is the number of distinct positive divisors of x, what is the value of @@90 ?

* 3
* 4
* 5
* 6
* 7
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TimurGMAT CRASHER

Manager
Joined: 02 Apr 2010
Posts: 98
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Kudos [?]: 8 [1] , given: 1

1
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still need to @12, prime factors = 2^2 x 3

(2+1) x (1+1 ) = 6
Manager
Joined: 30 May 2010
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Kudos [?]: 79 [1] , given: 32

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Work from the inside out. Work @90, and get 12. then @12.
Intern
Joined: 25 Aug 2010
Posts: 46
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Kudos [?]: 12 [0], given: 3

cramya wrote:
Prime factorize 90
90= 2 * 3^2*5

Add 1 to each of the distinct prime factors exponents and multiply since we just need to find the number of distinct factors and not the actual factors.

(1+1) * (2+1)*(1+1)

12

thanks:)

but could you please explain why addition of each of the exponents can produce the result? I cannot understand this:(
Retired Moderator
Joined: 02 Sep 2010
Posts: 805
Location: London
Followers: 87

Kudos [?]: 639 [0], given: 25

cnrnld wrote:
cramya wrote:
Prime factorize 90
90= 2 * 3^2*5

Add 1 to each of the distinct prime factors exponents and multiply since we just need to find the number of distinct factors and not the actual factors.

(1+1) * (2+1)*(1+1)

12

thanks:)

but could you please explain why addition of each of the exponents can produce the result? I cannot understand this:(

http://gmatclub.com/forum/math-combinatorics-87345.html#p785179

Read the example at the end, it derives this result and explains where it comes from
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Intern
Joined: 07 Sep 2010
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Kudos [?]: 0 [0], given: 0

Divisors of 90 are: 1 90, 2 45, 3 30, 5 18, 6 15, 9 10. Add em up and you get 12. Divisors of 12 are 1 12, 3 4, 2 6... Answer is D...
Intern
Joined: 25 Aug 2010
Posts: 46
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 12 [0], given: 3

shrouded1 wrote:
cnrnld wrote:
cramya wrote:
Prime factorize 90
90= 2 * 3^2*5

Add 1 to each of the distinct prime factors exponents and multiply since we just need to find the number of distinct factors and not the actual factors.

(1+1) * (2+1)*(1+1)

12

thanks:)

but could you please explain why addition of each of the exponents can produce the result? I cannot understand this:(

http://gmatclub.com/forum/math-combinatorics-87345.html#p785179

Read the example at the end, it derives this result and explains where it comes from

thank you a lot for referring me to the post and the example. it's still complicated, and i need to read it and the theory more deeply.
Manager
Joined: 30 May 2010
Posts: 190
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Kudos [?]: 79 [0], given: 32

cnrnld wrote:
thank you a lot for referring me to the post and the example. it's still complicated, and i need to read it and the theory more deeply.

Don't worry too much about the details, because it's not tested on the GMAT Make yourself a note to look it up one day after you finish studying!
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 29186
Followers: 4737

Kudos [?]: 50074 [4] , given: 7527

4
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Expert's post
cnrnld wrote:
thanks:)

but could you please explain why addition of each of the exponents can produce the result? I cannot understand this:(

MUST KNOW FOR GMAT:

Finding the Number of Factors of an Integer

First make prime factorization of an integer $$n=a^p*b^q*c^r$$, where $$a$$, $$b$$, and $$c$$ are prime factors of $$n$$ and $$p$$, $$q$$, and $$r$$ are their powers.

The number of factors of $$n$$ will be expressed by the formula $$(p+1)(q+1)(r+1)$$. NOTE: this will include 1 and n itself.

Example: Finding the number of all factors of 450: $$450=2^1*3^2*5^2$$

Total number of factors of 450 including 1 and 450 itself is $$(1+1)*(2+1)*(2+1)=2*3*3=18$$ factors.

Back to the original question:

If $$@x$$ is the number of distinct positive divisors of $$x$$ , what is the value of $$@@90$$?
(A) 3
(B) 4
(C) 5
(D) 6
(E) 7

The question defines $$@x$$ as the number of distinct positive divisors of $$x$$. Say $$@6=4$$, as 6 have 4 distinct positive divisors: 1, 2, 3, 6.

Question: $$@@90=?$$

$$90=2*3^2*5$$, which means that the number of factors of 90 is: $$(1+1)(2+1)(1+1)=12$$. So $$@90=12$$ --> $$@@90=@12$$ --> $$12=2^2*3$$, so the number of factors of 12 is: $$(2+1)(1+1)=6$$.

For more on these issues check Number Theory chapter of Math Book: math-number-theory-88376.html

Hope it helps.
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Intern
Joined: 25 Aug 2010
Posts: 46
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Kudos [?]: 12 [0], given: 3

suppose n=a^p*b^q, i guess +1 means picking 0 out of p or q, right?

thank you, Bunuel, for your detailed instruction, and jpr200012 for your encouragement:)
Retired Moderator
Joined: 02 Sep 2010
Posts: 805
Location: London
Followers: 87

Kudos [?]: 639 [0], given: 25

Yep, +1 refers to the case where you pick the "0 powe" or p^0 = 1
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Director
Joined: 21 Dec 2009
Posts: 592
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Finance
Followers: 16

Kudos [?]: 399 [0], given: 20

clearly for n=(a^p)*(b^q)*(c^r)....prime factorized
and p, q, and r are exponents

no of factors = (p+1)*(q+1)*(r+1)
90 = (2^1)*(3^2)*(5^1)...
no of factors = (1+1)(2+1)*(1+1) = 2*3*2 = 12

12 = (2^2)*(3^1)
no of factors = (2+1)*(1+1) = 3*2 = 6

OA = 6 (D)
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Intern
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Kudos [?]: 9 [0], given: 4

What level question do you think this is?
Senior Manager
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Kudos [?]: 48 [0], given: 56

I picked D as well.

@90 = (1x90,2x45,3x30,5x18,6x15,10x9) = 12 divisors
@12 = (1x12,2x6,3x4) = 6 divisors Correct answer!!!
Intern
Status: Preparing for GMAT
Joined: 14 Jun 2011
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Kudos [?]: 7 [0], given: 21

To get number of positive factors of any number follow below 4 steps:

1. The prime factorization raised to the power: 90= (3^2)(2^1)(5^1)(1^0)
2. The powers: 2, 1, 1, 0
3. Add one to the powers: 3,2,2,1
4. Multiply the results: (3)(2)(2)(1)=12

and repeat the steps for 12. thats it you are done!
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Current Student
Joined: 07 Sep 2011
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Kudos [?]: 30 [0], given: 13

Use the Fundamental Counting Theory...

Prime factorization of 90= 2*3^2*5
Add 1 to each exponent and multiply= (2)(3)(2)=12 distinct positive divisors of 90
Prime factorizatino of 12=3*2^2
(2)(3)=6 distinct factors of 12

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