Bunuel
If a positive integer n has 24 positive factors, what is the maximum possible range in the number of distinct prime factors that n can have?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
E. 5
GMAT Club Official Explanation:
If the prime factorization of a positive integer is a^x * b^y * c^z *... where a, b, and c are prime numbers and x, y, and z are their powers, then the number of positive factors of the integer is given by (x + 1)(y + 1)(z + 1)... So, to find the number of positive factors, we add 1 to the powers of the distinct primes in the prime factorization and multiply.
We are given that n has 24 factors. To find how many prime factors n can have, we consider how 24 can be written as a product of such terms.
The least number of primes n can have is 1, if n = prime^23, which gives the number of factors as 23 + 1 = 24. For example, n could be 2^23.
For the maximum number of primes, break 24 into the maximum number of integers greater than 1: 24 = 2 * 2 * 2 * 3. In this case, n would have 4 primes: n = (prime_1) * (prime_2) * (prime_3) * (prime_4)^2, which gives the number of factors as (1 + 1)(1 + 1)(1 + 1)(2 + 1) = 2 * 2 * 2 * 3 = 24. For example, n could be 2 * 3 * 5 * 7^2.
So, the range is 4 - 1 = 3.
Answer: C.