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The value of \((\sqrt{8!} + \sqrt{9!})^2\) is an integer. What is the greatest integer n such that \(2^n\) is a factor of \((\sqrt{8!} + \sqrt{9!})^2\)?

A. 3
B. 6
C. 8
D. 11
E. 14­



\((\sqrt{8!} + \sqrt{9!})^2\)

Replacing 8! with "a" and noticing 9! is basically 9(8!) or 9a can help a bit.

\((\sqrt{a} + \sqrt{9a})^2\)

When we open this, we get:

a + 9a + 2\(\sqrt{a} \sqrt{9a}\)

a + 9a + 2\(\sqrt{9a^2}\)

a + 9a + 2(3a)

16a

Replace a with 8!

16(8!)

How many factors of 2 can go into this?

16 is equal to 2^4 so we have 4 there - and 8! has 7

4 + 7 = 11

(D) is your answer.
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Bunuel
Sushi_545
The value of \((\sqrt{8!} + \sqrt{9!})^2\) is an integer. What is the greatest integer n such that \(2^n\) is a factor of \((\sqrt{8!} + \sqrt{9!})^2\)?

A. 3
B. 6
C. 8
D. 11
E. 14­

Hi Bunuel,

what is wrong here?

8!= has 2 ^7 max power of 7
9! has 2^7 max power of 7

so (2^7/2(root(x)+root(y)))^2 translates to 2^7 (7 is the max power of 2)

Have no idea what you are doing there...


Hi bunuel,

Please find my attached image its hard to write here.

We are told that "The value of \((\sqrt{8!} + \sqrt{9!})^2\) is an integer", so \((\sqrt{x} + \sqrt{y})^2\) must be an integer, and could be even, contributing more powers of 2. So you cannot conclude that 7 is the highest power from that approach.
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Hi, can someone explain where the (1+6+9) comes from?
JeffTargetTestPrep
Bunuel
The value of \((\sqrt{8!} + \sqrt{9!})^2\) is an integer. What is the greatest integer n such that \(2^n\) is a factor of \((\sqrt{8!} + \sqrt{9!})^2\)?

A. 3
B. 6
C. 8
D. 11
E. 14

(√8! + √9!)^2 = 8! + 2√(8!×9!) + 9! =

8! + 2√(8!×8!×9) + 9! =

8! + 2×8!×3 + 9! =

8!(1 + 6 + 9) =

8!×16 =

8!×2^4

We need to find the greatest integer n such that (8!×2^4)/2^n = integer. The expression above is an integer if n is not greater than the total number of 2s in the prime factored form of the numerator.

We can quickly determine the total number of 2s in the prime factored form of 8! with the following technique:

8/2 = 4; 4/2 = 2; 2/2 = 1

The total number of 2s is 4 + 2 + 1 = 7, so we have:

n ≤ 7 + 4 [We add 4 because there are 4 additional 2s in 2^4.]

n ≤ 11

We see that the maximum value of integer n is 11.

Answer: D
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Hi, can someone explain where the (1+6+9) comes from?
JeffTargetTestPrep
Bunuel
The value of \((\sqrt{8!} + \sqrt{9!})^2\) is an integer. What is the greatest integer n such that \(2^n\) is a factor of \((\sqrt{8!} + \sqrt{9!})^2\)?

A. 3
B. 6
C. 8
D. 11
E. 14

(√8! + √9!)^2 = 8! + 2√(8!×9!) + 9! =

8! + 2√(8!×8!×9) + 9! =

8! + 2×8!×3 + 9! =

8!(1 + 6 + 9) =

8!×16 =

8!×2^4

We need to find the greatest integer n such that (8!×2^4)/2^n = integer. The expression above is an integer if n is not greater than the total number of 2s in the prime factored form of the numerator.

We can quickly determine the total number of 2s in the prime factored form of 8! with the following technique:

8/2 = 4; 4/2 = 2; 2/2 = 1

The total number of 2s is 4 + 2 + 1 = 7, so we have:

n ≤ 7 + 4 [We add 4 because there are 4 additional 2s in 2^4.]

n ≤ 11

We see that the maximum value of integer n is 11.

Answer: D

8! + 2*8!*3 + 9! =

= 8! + 8!*6 + 8!*9 =

= 8!(1 + 6 + 9)

Hope it helps.
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