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Bunuel
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Option D

Number of prime factors of a will be maximum when a has same prime factors as the product a*b*c.
So, the maximum number of prime factors a can have = number of prime factors of product a*b*c = 3.
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Nice trap question.

The product result has exactly three prime factors.

The question doesn’t say that one prime factor comes from each number, the 3 prime factors can be present in all three value of A < B < C

A = (2) (3) (5)

B = (2)^2 (3)^2 (5)

C = (2)^3 (3)^3 (5)

Result of multiplication:

ABC = (2)^6 * (3)^6 * (5)^3

Condition is met- Result of ABC is divisible by exactly 3 prime factors 2, 3, and 5

And A can have all 3 prime factors

Posted from my mobile device
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Spartan85
Answer : D

If product a*b*c has exactly 3 prime factors,

a can have maximum 3 prime factors.

eg.
a= 2^1 * 3^1 * 5^1
b = 2^2 * 3^2 * 5^2
c = 2^3 * 3^3 * 5^3

Now a * b* c = 2^6 * 3^6 * 5^6
­The question doesn't say that it has 3 distinct prime factors. It simply says 3 prime factors, and usually, unless the question stem explicitly says 'distinct', we take TOTAL number of prime numbers into account. So there are 6 + 6 + 6 = 18 prime factors in your expression. 
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ZIX
Spartan85
Answer : D

If product a*b*c has exactly 3 prime factors,

a can have maximum 3 prime factors.

eg.
a= 2^1 * 3^1 * 5^1
b = 2^2 * 3^2 * 5^2
c = 2^3 * 3^3 * 5^3

Now a * b* c = 2^6 * 3^6 * 5^6
­The question doesn't say that it has 3 distinct prime factors. It simply says 3 prime factors, and usually, unless the question stem explicitly says 'distinct', we take TOTAL number of prime numbers into account. So there are 6 + 6 + 6 = 18 prime factors in your expression. 

­Not so. Three prime factors means three distinct prime factors. 
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So, by default, whenever the question does not specifically mention total or unique prime factors, should we consider it to be unique/distinct?
Bunuel
ZIX
Spartan85
Answer : D

If product a*b*c has exactly 3 prime factors,

a can have maximum 3 prime factors.

eg.
a= 2^1 * 3^1 * 5^1
b = 2^2 * 3^2 * 5^2
c = 2^3 * 3^3 * 5^3

Now a * b* c = 2^6 * 3^6 * 5^6
­The question doesn't say that it has 3 distinct prime factors. It simply says 3 prime factors, and usually, unless the question stem explicitly says 'distinct', we take TOTAL number of prime numbers into account. So there are 6 + 6 + 6 = 18 prime factors in your expression.

­Not so. Three prime factors means three distinct prime factors.
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So, by default, whenever the question does not specifically mention total or unique prime factors, should we consider it to be unique/distinct?
Bunuel
ZIX
Spartan85
Answer : D

If product a*b*c has exactly 3 prime factors,

a can have maximum 3 prime factors.

eg.
a= 2^1 * 3^1 * 5^1
b = 2^2 * 3^2 * 5^2
c = 2^3 * 3^3 * 5^3

Now a * b* c = 2^6 * 3^6 * 5^6
­The question doesn't say that it has 3 distinct prime factors. It simply says 3 prime factors, and usually, unless the question stem explicitly says 'distinct', we take TOTAL number of prime numbers into account. So there are 6 + 6 + 6 = 18 prime factors in your expression.

­Not so. Three prime factors means three distinct prime factors.
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apoorvarora19
So, by default, whenever the question does not specifically mention total or unique prime factors, should we consider it to be unique/distinct?

Yes, "the number of prime factors" refers to the number of distinct prime factors.
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