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Bunuel
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Bunuel
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any other simpler/faster method?

Check here: an-integer-between-1-and-300-inclusive-is-chosen-at-random-87439.html
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is there any shortcut method? Seems the only method to get this sorted out is working through all options. is it really he case with real GMAT questions?
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is there any shortcut method? Seems the only method to get this sorted out is working through all options. is it really he case with real GMAT questions?


Check here: an-integer-between-1-and-300-inclusive-is-chosen-at-random-87439.html
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can anyone please explain me this quant ?
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can anyone please explain me this quant ?

Please ask specific questions. For alternative solutions please follow the link provided above.
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If I face such question, I am going to select answer choice just randomly and move to next. It takes 5 minutes to understand and 10 minutes to solve and also 3-4 minutes to check. Horrible
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taking exponent 2
1-300 we have 1^2-17^2
taking exponent 3
1-300 we have 1^3-6^3
taking exponent 4
1-300 we have 1^4-4^4
taking exponent 5
1-300 we have 1^5-3^5
taking exponent 6
1-300 we have 1^6 and 2^6
taking exponent 7
1-300 we have 1^7 and 2^7
taking exponent 8
1-300 we have 1^8 and 2^8 only
taking exponent 7
1-300 we have only 1^9 remaining so here we stop
total number of terms are 17+6+4+3+2+2+2+1=37
NOW we have to subtract the common terms
1 is repeated in all 8 hence we subtract 8 from 37 and add just one one so it becomes 30
in squares we have 2^2 4^2 8^2 and 16^2 included as 4^2=2^4 it is included in raised to 4 list, 8^2 in raised to 6 list
and 16^2 in raised to 8 list
hence we subtract 3 from 30
again same way in squares list we have 3^2 and 9^2 we remove 9^2 as it is included as 3^4 in raised to four list
hence we subtract total (3+1) from 30 giving us 26 left
now in cubes list we have 2^3 and 4^3 we hence remove 4^3 as it is in raised to 6 list (2^6)
hence we subtract 1 from 26 giving us 25 left
i raised to 4 list we have both 2^4 and 4^4=2^8
hence again 25-1=24 left
in raised to 5 , 6 , 7 , and 8 list all numbers are unique so we dont remove anything
hence probability = 24/300=2/25 :angel: :angel: :angel: :angel: :roll: :roll: :roll: :-D
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greater than 1 include 1?
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greater than 1 include 1?

No. Integers greater than 1 are 2, 3, 4, 5, ...
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thank you. but this answer looks including 1.
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EDIT: I missed 17^2 confusing it for 7^3 silly me.

1 itself -> 1 value
2^2 to 2^8 -> 7 values.
3^2 to 3^5 -> 4 values.
All powers of 4 come under 2.
5^2 and 5^3 -> 2 values.
6^2 and 6^3 -> 2 values.
7^2 to 17^2 = 11 values but 8^2, 9^2 and 16^2 are repeated so 11-3 = 8.

Total I am getting:
1+7+4+2+2+8 = 24 values.

Probability = 24/300 = 2/25.

Answer: Option C
Bunuel
Official Solution:

An integer between 1 and 300, inclusive, is chosen at random. What is the probability that the integer so chosen equals an integer raised to an exponent that is an integer greater than 1?

A. \(\frac{17}{300}\)
B. \(\frac{1}{15}\)
C. \(\frac{2}{25}\)
D. \(\frac{1}{10}\)
E. \(\frac{3}{25}\)


First, make sure that you grasp the question. To find the desired probability, we need to count the integers between 1 and 300 that fit the given constraint. (We will then divide this count by 300, to determine the final answer.)

The constraint is worded in a confusing way, so we should attempt to reword it. If necessary, put in sample numbers to make the conditions make sense. We need an "integer raised to an exponent that is an integer greater than 1." In other words, we need an integer raised to the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. power. In even other words, we need perfect squares, perfect cubes, etc. that are between 1 and 300, inclusive.

Now we need to count these perfect squares, etc. in an efficient way. Let's start with the squares. What's the biggest perfect square less than 300? Test numbers if necessary. \(16^2 = 256\) and \(17^2 = 289\), but \(18^2 = 324\). Thus, we have 12 through 172, for 17 perfect squares.

Now, let's count the cubes. Leave out \(1^3\), since we've already counted 1 as \(1^2\). \(5^3 = 125\) and \(6^3 = 216\), but \(7^3 = 343\). Thus, we seem to have 5 more integer powers (\(2^3\) through \(6^3\), inclusive) - but careful! \(4^3 = 64\), which we've already counted as a square (\(8^2\)), so we only have 4 more integer powers. This gives us a cumulative total of 21.

What about the fourth powers - \(2^4\), \(3^4\), etc.? We've already counted any of these that matter, because they are also perfect squares: \(2^4 = 42\), \(3^4 = 9^2\), etc. We can leave out any higher even powers for the same reason (\(2^6 = 8^2\), \(2^8 = 16^2\), etc.).

However, we must consider additional odd powers, continuing to leave out 1 raised to any power. \(2^5 = 32\), \(3^5 = 243\), but \(4^5 =\) something greater than 300, as we can see by considering that \(4^5 = 4^4 \times 4 = 16^2 \times 4 = 256 \times 4\). So we have two more integer powers (\(2^5\) and \(3^5\)), for a cumulative total of 23.

Seventh powers: \(2^7 = 128\), but \(3^7 =\) something much greater than 300 (since \(3^7 = 3^5 \times 3^2 = 243 \times 9\)). Be sure to stop calculating when you see that the result is outside the bounds of the problem.

We have 1 more power, for a cumulative total of 24.

Ninth powers: \(2^9 = 128 \times 4 =\) greater than 300. So we can stop here.

Finally, we compute \(\frac{24}{300} = \frac{2}{25}\).


Answer: C
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