What is the largest 3 digit number to have an odd number of factors?

Question

A. 625
B. 729
C. 841
D. 943
E. 961

chetan2u · Accepted Answer

Some info on ODD/EVEN number of FACTORS..
 1) ODD FACTORS- 
a) if there are odd factors of an integer, that integer will be a square..
b) If the integer has 3 factors only, it is square of a PRIME number..

2) EVEN FACTORS- 
a) If an integer has even number of factors, it will not be a Square..
b) If an integer has 2 factors, its a PRIME number
 
Here we are looking for largest 3-digit number, which has odd factors.. 
so this number must be square and since it asks for the largest 3-digit number..
We can look for the largest number given-961 , which is 31^2..

Also we know 900=30^2 so answer has to be equal to or greater than 30.. 
check for 31^2..

BrentGMATPrepNow · Answer

IMPORTANT CONCEPT: All positive integers have a EVEN number of positive factors  EXCEPT  integers that are  squares of integers  
  Squares of integers (e.g., 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, etc) have an  ODD  number of positive factors.

So, the question is really asking us  "What is the largest 3 digit number that is the SQUARE OF AN INTEGER?"

Let's find out. 
30² = 900, so 900 will have an odd number of positive factors
31² = 961, so 961 will have an odd number of positive factors
32² = 1024, so 1024 will have an odd number of positive factors.

Of course 1024 is a FOUR-DIGIT number. 
So, 961 must be the greatest 3-digit number with an ODD number of positive factors.

Answer: E

Cheers,
Brent

Divyadisha · Answer

It is basically asking what is the biggest 3 digit square number. Answer is 'E'

Tip- All squares have odd numbers of factors.

vardhanindaram · Answer

All squares have odd number of factors.
Highest square 31^2 =961
Answer E

stonecold · Answer

Remember whenever the question says odd number odd number of factors we must conclude that its a perfect square.
Hence E is correct which is a perfect square of 31
hence E

JeffTargetTestPrep · Answer

A number greater than 1 will have an odd number of factors only if it's a perfect square. The largest 3-digit perfect square is 31 x 31 = 961 (since 32 x 32 = 1,024).

Answer: E

budaii · Answer

Just a question: How is one suppose to mentally calculate/know for certain that the answer choices presented are all perfect squares?

Is it common to memorize Perfect Squares up to 30..etc?.. I feel this question would take me far too much time to assess whether each answer choice is a perfect square. The only one I know off the bat was 625..:/

Kinshook · Answer

Asked:  What is the largest 3 digit number to have an odd number of factors?

Number having odd number of factors = square of integer
 961 = 31^2

IMO E

auradediligodo · Answer

How can you infer that 961 is the square of 31?
Do you use prime factorization or what?

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

What is the largest 3 digit number to have an odd number of factors?

A. 625
B. 729
C. 841
D. 943
E. 961

Square of prime numbers has 3 factors i.e odd no of factors. Since we are asked to find the largest 3 digit number with odd no of factors, let's start with 
Option E . 961

961 =  31^2  and 31 is a prime number.
So 961 has 3 factors (ODD). Since 961 is the largest among the options, we don't need to look for other options.

Option E is the answer.

Thanks,
Clifin J Francis,
GMAT SME.

bumpbot · Answer

Automated notice from GMAT Club BumpBot: 

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

 This post was generated automatically.

What is the largest 3 digit number to have an odd number of factors?

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Problem Solving (PS) Questions

What is the largest 3 digit number to have an odd number of factors?

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards