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Bunuel
For a positive integer n, the function @n represents the product of all even numbers that lie between n and 2n, exclusive. For example, @6 = 8*10. If k is a positive integer and the greatest prime factor of @k is 17, which of the following cannot be the value of k?

I. 9
II. 18
III. 32

A. I only
B. II only
C. III only
D. I and III only
E. II and III only

Ans is D .

@n = product of even numbers between n and 2n , exclusive n and 2n , and must contain all even numbers.

I. 9

-- @9 = 10 * 12 ......*16 [Max prime factor is 7 . so k = 9 not possible ]


II. 18

@18 = 20 * 22 ......*34 [Max prime factor is 17 . so k = 18 possible ]


III. 32
-- @32 = 34 * 12 ......*64 [Max prime factor is 31 . so k = 32 not possible ]

Hence ans is D
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yashikaaggarwal
Since @n consist of the even number lies between n and 2n exclusive.
@k have 17 as the biggest prime number.
17 can't be the number itself because it's an odd number.
Therefore 34 is the number in the set.
@k = { .................34}
2K can be 36 or 38
Because even if 2k is 38 the largest no. will still be 17.
But 2k can't be 40. Because the greatest prime no. Will be 19 in that case.
2k = 36 or 38
K will be either 18 or 19
Only statement 2 is satisfying constraint
Therefore Answer should be B

Posted from my mobile device

The question is which cannot be the value of k

From your solution k can be 18 but cannot be 9 or 32

So the answer is D
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Bunuel
For a positive integer n, the function @n represents the product of all even numbers that lie between n and 2n, exclusive. For example, @6 = 8*10. If k is a positive integer and the greatest prime factor of @k is 17, which of the following cannot be the value of k?

I. 9
II. 18
III. 32

A. I only
B. II only
C. III only
D. I and III only
E. II and III only


Are You Up For the Challenge: 700 Level Questions
­I. If k=9 then the range is 9 to 18 -> 17 cannot be a factor of the product. Cancelled.
II. If k=18 then the range is 18 to 36 -> the maximum even integer in the range is 34=2*17. Keep this.
III. If k=32 then the range is 32 to 64 -> the maximum even integer in the range is 62=2*31. Cancelled.

I and III cannot be the value of k. Option (D) is correct.
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My explanation with a tad bit more detail:

I) @9 = 10 * 12 * 14 * 16 (because 2n = 2 * 9 = 18)-> the prime factor of this product is not 17 at all, because none of the numbers here are divisible by 17. Since 9 cannot be k, this answer choice is correct
II) @18 = 20 * 22 * 24 * 26 * 28 * 30 * 32 * 34 (because 2n = 2 * 18 = 36) -> the biggest prime factor of this product actually IS 17, because 34 is divisible by 17, and there are no other prime products of a prime number and 2 in this sequence in which the prime number is bigger than 17. Since 18 is a valid value of k, this answer choice is incorrect.
III) @32 = 34 * 36 * 38 * 40 * ... * 62 (because 2n = 2 * 32 = 64) -> while 17 is a prime factor of this product due to the value of 34, it is NOT the biggest one. That would be 31, because of 62 (31 * 2) due to the same logic explained in II. Since 32 cannot be k, this answer choice is correct.

Choice I + III, D is the correct answer.­
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I think the key thing to remember is that the only even numbers needs to be included. Hence, we are looking for a set which includes 34 but not 38 because that would make the 19 to be the greatest prime number in the set.
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