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# If p is a prime number and n is a positive integer, what is the number

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Math Revolution GMAT Instructor
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If p is a prime number and n is a positive integer, what is the number  [#permalink]

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25 Jul 2018, 01:08
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29% (01:25) correct 71% (00:55) wrong based on 76 sessions

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[Math Revolution GMAT math practice question]

If $$p$$ is a prime number and $$n$$ is a positive integer, what is the number of factors of $$3^np^2$$?

1)$$n = 4$$
2) $$p > 4$$

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"Only $149 for 3 month Online Course" "Free Resources-30 day online access & Diagnostic Test" "Unlimited Access to over 120 free video lessons - try it yourself" MBA Section Director Affiliations: GMATClub Joined: 22 May 2017 Posts: 2363 GPA: 4 WE: Engineering (Computer Software) If p is a prime number and n is a positive integer, what is the number [#permalink] ### Show Tags Updated on: 25 Jul 2018, 01:31 1 To find the number of factors of $$3^n p^2$$ Statement 1 n = 4 If p $$\neq$$ 3 then number of factors = (n + 1) * (2 + 1) = 5 * 3 = 15 If p = 3 then number of factors = n + 2 + 1 = 7 Statement 1 is not sufficient Statement 2 p > 4 number of factors of $$3^n p^2$$ = (n + 1) * (2 + 1) Since we don't know the value of n, statement 2 is insufficient Combining statements 1 and 2 p > 4 => p $$\neq$$ 3 then number of factors = (n + 1) * (2 + 1) = 5 * 3 = 15 Hence option C _________________ Originally posted by workout on 25 Jul 2018, 01:17. Last edited by workout on 25 Jul 2018, 01:31, edited 2 times in total. Senior Manager Joined: 15 Oct 2017 Posts: 308 GMAT 1: 560 Q42 V25 GMAT 2: 570 Q43 V27 GMAT 3: 710 Q49 V39 If p is a prime number and n is a positive integer, what is the number [#permalink] ### Show Tags 25 Jul 2018, 01:27 Given: n=4, p=prime number. To know the number of factors, we need to know the powers of primes and whether p=3. 1) If p=3, then the total number of factors= 6+1 =7. But if p is not equal to 3, then the total number of factors will be (4+1)*(2+1) = 5*3 = 15. Not Sufficient. 2) If p>4, then the total number of factors = (2+1)*(n+1). But we do not know the value of n. Hence not sufficient. Combining 1 & 2, we get n=4 and p is not equal to 3. Therefore the total number of factors = (4+1)*(2+1) = 15. Sufficient. Therefore, C. Senior Manager Joined: 04 Aug 2010 Posts: 386 Schools: Dartmouth College Re: If p is a prime number and n is a positive integer, what is the number [#permalink] ### Show Tags 25 Jul 2018, 04:10 To count the factors of a positive integer: 1. Prime-factorize the integer 2. Write the prime-factorization in the form $$(a^p)(b^q)(c^r)$$... 3. The number of factors = $$(p+1)(q+1)(r+1)$$... MathRevolution wrote: [Math Revolution GMAT math practice question] If $$p$$ is a prime number and $$n$$ is a positive integer, what is the number of factors of $$3^np^2$$? 1)$$n = 4$$ 2) $$p > 4$$ Statement 1: $$n=4$$ Test one case that also satisfies Statement 2. Case 1: $$p=5$$, with the result that $$3^np^2 = (3^4)(5^2)$$ Adding 1 to each exponent and multiplying, we get: Number of factors $$= (4+1)(2+1) = 15$$ Test a case that does NOT also satisfy Statement 2. Case 1: $$p=3$$, with the result that $$3^np^2 = (3^4)(3^2) = 3^6$$ Adding 1 to the only exponent, we get: Number of factors $$= 6+1 = 7$$ Since the number of factors can be different values, INSUFFICIENT. Statement 2: $$p>4$$ Case 1 also satisfies Statement 2. In Case 1, the number of factors = 15. Case 3: $$p=5$$ and $$n=2$$, with the result that $$3^np^2 = (3^2)(5^2)$$ Adding 1 to each exponent and multiplying, we get: Number of factors $$= (2+1)(2+1) = 9$$ Since the number of factors can be different values, INSUFFICIENT. Statements combined: As illustrated by Case 1, if $$n=4$$ and $$p>4$$, the number of factors = 15. SUFFICIENT. _________________ GMAT and GRE Tutor Over 1800 followers Click here to learn more GMATGuruNY@gmail.com New York, NY If you find one of my posts helpful, please take a moment to click on the "Kudos" icon. Available for tutoring in NYC and long-distance. For more information, please email me at GMATGuruNY@gmail.com. Math Revolution GMAT Instructor Joined: 16 Aug 2015 Posts: 7107 GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V42 GPA: 3.82 Re: If p is a prime number and n is a positive integer, what is the number [#permalink] ### Show Tags 27 Jul 2018, 00:49 => Forget conventional ways of solving math questions. For DS problems, the VA (Variable Approach) method is the quickest and easiest way to find the answer without actually solving the problem. Remember that equal numbers of variables and independent equations ensure a solution. The first step of the VA (Variable Approach) method is to modify the original condition and the question. We then recheck the question. If a question asks for a number of factors, it is very important to check that all of the given prime factors are “different”. By condition 2), $$p$$ is a prime number different from $$3$$. To determine the number of factors, we need to know the exponents in the prime number factorization. Therefore, we also need condition 1). Since $$p$$ is a different prime integer from $$3$$, and $$n = 4$$, the number of factors of $$3^np^2$$ is $$(4+1)(2+1) = 15.$$ Since we have a unique solution, both conditions together are sufficient. Therefore, C is the answer. Answer: C _________________ MathRevolution: Finish GMAT Quant Section with 10 minutes to spare The one-and-only World’s First Variable Approach for DS and IVY Approach for PS with ease, speed and accuracy. "Only$149 for 3 month Online Course"
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Re: If p is a prime number and n is a positive integer, what is the number  [#permalink]

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27 Dec 2018, 04:58
Solution:

Given: ‘p’ is a prime number and ‘n’ is a positive integer.
To find: The number of factors of $$3^n p^2$$?
Inferences: To find the number of factors; the best technique is “prime factorization”. Any composite number can be represented in the form of its prime factors. We can represent as $$(a^p)(b^q )(c^r )$$.
Then the number of factors we can find $$(p+1)(q+1)(r+1)$$.

Analysis of statement 1: $$n=4$$
We can get two cases here,
Case A: Let the value of $$p = 7$$,
Then total number of factors = $$3^4 7^2$$= (4 + 1) (2 + 1) = (5)(3) = 15 factors.
Case B: Let the value of $$p = 3$$
Then total number of factors = $$3^4 3^2$$= $$3^6$$ = (6 + 1) = 7 factors.
Here we are getting two different answers; hence the statement 1 is not sufficient. We can eliminate the options A and D.

Analysis of statement 2: $$p > 4$$
Here too we can have two cases,
Case A: Let the value of $$p = 7$$,
Then total number of factors = $$3^4 7^2$$= (4 + 1) (2 + 1) = (5)(3) = 15 factors.
Case A also satisfies statement 2.
Case C: $$p = 7$$ and $$n = 2$$
The total number of factors = $$3^2 7^2$$=(2+1)(2+1)= (3)(3) = 9 factors.
Here we are getting two different answers; hence the statement 2 is not sufficient. We can eliminate the option B.

Combining the statements 1 and 2; we get:
When $$n = 4$$ and $$p > 4$$, the number of factors = 15, as encapsulated in case A.
Hence sufficient.

The correct answer option is “C”.

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Re: If p is a prime number and n is a positive integer, what is the number   [#permalink] 27 Dec 2018, 04:58
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# If p is a prime number and n is a positive integer, what is the number

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