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Bunuel
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Which of the following numbers is a perfect square? 02 Aug 2018, 00:36
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D
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61% (01:26) correct 39% (01:35) wrong based on 245 sessions

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Which of the following numbers is a perfect square?


A. \((20!)(21! + 20!)\)

B. \((21!)(22! + 21!)\)

C. \((22!)(23! + 22!)\)

D. \((23!)(24! + 23!)\)

E. \((24!)(25! + 24!)\)
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D
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Which of the following numbers is a perfect square? 02 Aug 2018, 00:45
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Bunuel
Which of the following numbers is a perfect square?


A. \((20!)(21! + 20!)\)

B. \((21!)(22! + 21!)\)

C. \((22!)(23! + 22!)\)

D. \((23!)(24! + 23!)\)

E. \((24!)(25! + 24!)\)
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should be D

23!*23!(24+1)
23!*23!*25
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Which of the following numbers is a perfect square? 02 Aug 2018, 00:47
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Bunuel
Which of the following numbers is a perfect square?


A. \((20!)(21! + 20!)\)

B. \((21!)(22! + 21!)\)

C. \((22!)(23! + 22!)\)

D. \((23!)(24! + 23!)\)

E. \((24!)(25! + 24!)\)
Show more


A factorial can be written as the product of that number and the factorial of the smaller number

If you look at the numbers in the answer options, \(25(5^2)\) is a number which is a
perfect square! We need to backtrack from answer options and arrive at a 25.

\((23!)(24! + 23!) = (23!)(24*23! + 23!) = (23!)^2(24 + 1) = (23!)^2*25 = (23! * 5)^2\)

Therefore, \((23!)(24! + 23!)\)(Option D) is a perfect square and is our answer!
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Which of the following numbers is a perfect square? 02 Aug 2018, 00:48
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Ans: D
given expression looks a bit ... you know what i mean: so lets make it easy lets say that first number in ! is x so expression will become
\((x!)((x+1)! + x!)\) from here.. let me also write !x as F(x)
If we take the F(x) inside, expression will become [F(x)*F(x+1) + F(x)^2]
We know F(x+1) = (x+1)*F(x)
so it becomes [F(x)^2 * (x+1) + F(x)^2]
npw take F(x)^2 common Expression will become = F(x)^2 [x+1+1]
F(x)^2 [x+2]
now we need to know if this is whole square or not. We know F(x)^2 is always so we just need to know if (x+2) is whole square or not.
Put x =23 , we know 25 is a whole square so D is the ans.

Bunuel
Which of the following numbers is a perfect square?


A. \((20!)(21! + 20!)\)

B. \((21!)(22! + 21!)\)

C. \((22!)(23! + 22!)\)

D. \((23!)(24! + 23!)\)

E. \((24!)(25! + 24!)\)
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Which of the following numbers is a perfect square? 02 Aug 2018, 02:05
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Bunuel
Which of the following numbers is a perfect square?
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+1 for D.

(23!)(24!+23!)
23! * ( 24 * 23! + 23! )
23! * 23! * ( 24 + 1 )
23! * 23! * 25
(23!)^2 * 5^2

Hence, D.
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Which of the following numbers is a perfect square? 02 Aug 2018, 02:10
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pushpitkc
Bunuel
Which of the following numbers is a perfect square?


A. \((20!)(21! + 20!)\)

B. \((21!)(22! + 21!)\)

C. \((22!)(23! + 22!)\)

D. \((23!)(24! + 23!)\)

E. \((24!)(25! + 24!)\)


A factorial can be written as the product of that number and the factorial of the smaller number

If you look at the numbers in the answer options, \(25(5^2)\) is a number which is a
perfect square! We need to backtrack from answer options and arrive at a 25.

\((23!)(24! + 23!) = (23!)(24*23! + 23!) = (23!)^2(24 + 1) = (23!)^2*25 = (23! * 5)^2\)

Therefore, \((23!)(24! + 23!)\)(Option D) is a perfect square and is our answer!
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hi there pushpitkc :-)
how did you get that the result is a perfect square \((23!)(24! + 23!)\)
should try all answer choices as you did ? isnt it time consuming ? or perhaps there is a way you can quickly filter incorrect answer choices ?
thanks for taking time to explain :-)
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Which of the following numbers is a perfect square? 02 Aug 2018, 02:19
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dave13
pushpitkc
Bunuel
Which of the following numbers is a perfect square?


A. \((20!)(21! + 20!)\)

B. \((21!)(22! + 21!)\)

C. \((22!)(23! + 22!)\)

D. \((23!)(24! + 23!)\)

E. \((24!)(25! + 24!)\)


A factorial can be written as the product of that number and the factorial of the smaller number
If you look at the numbers in the answer options, \(25(5^2)\) is a number which is a
perfect square! We need to backtrack from answer options and arrive at a 25.

\((23!)(24! + 23!) = (23!)(24*23! + 23!) = (23!)^2(24 + 1) = (23!)^2*25 = (23! * 5)^2\)

Therefore, \((23!)(24! + 23!)\)(Option D) is a perfect square and is our answer!

hi there pushpitkc :-)
how did you get that the result is a perfect square \((23!)(24! + 23!)\)
should try all answer choices as you did ? isnt it time consuming ? or perhaps there is a way you can quickly filter incorrect answer choices ?
thanks for taking time to explain :-)
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Hi dave13

As I have already explained - After seeing the various options, I knew that
25 is a number which is both a perfect square and can be got using the five
answer options. Also, see the highlighted part in my solution

The general rule for the highlighted part is n! = n*(n-1)! Specific to the
problem in hand, 24! = 24*23! and 23! + 24! = 23!(1 + 24) = 23!*25

Hope this clears your confusion.
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Which of the following numbers is a perfect square? 02 Aug 2018, 02:34
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dave13
pushpitkc
Bunuel
Which of the following numbers is a perfect square?


A. \((20!)(21! + 20!)\)

B. \((21!)(22! + 21!)\)

C. \((22!)(23! + 22!)\)

D. \((23!)(24! + 23!)\)

E. \((24!)(25! + 24!)\)


A factorial can be written as the product of that number and the factorial of the smaller number

If you look at the numbers in the answer options, \(25(5^2)\) is a number which is a
perfect square! We need to backtrack from answer options and arrive at a 25.

\((23!)(24! + 23!) = (23!)(24*23! + 23!) = (23!)^2(24 + 1) = (23!)^2*25 = (23! * 5)^2\)

Therefore, \((23!)(24! + 23!)\)(Option D) is a perfect square and is our answer!

hi there pushpitkc :-)
how did you get that the result is a perfect square \((23!)(24! + 23!)\)
should try all answer choices as you did ? isnt it time consuming ? or perhaps there is a way you can quickly filter incorrect answer choices ?
thanks for taking time to explain :-)
Show more


not sure if this will help !!

23! will definitely be an integer say p
now, p*p = p^2
this part is a perfect square , as it gives p as the root
the remaining is 25 , which again is 5*5 and gives 5 as its root

also, perfect square * perfect square = perfect square
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Which of the following numbers is a perfect square? 02 Aug 2018, 03:01
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Ans: D

I saw a pattern in the answer choices and formularized it:

n![(n+1)!+n!]

Then, I factored it further:

n!*n!*(n+1+1)
= [(n!)^2]*(n+2)

=> n+2 has to be a perfect square

Judging from answer choices, n=23

Posted from my mobile device
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Which of the following numbers is a perfect square? 02 Aug 2018, 07:17
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hi pushpitkc thanks got it. just one tech question :-)

how from here \((23!)(24*23! + 23!) How You Got This (23!)^2(24 + 1)\) ?

here \((23!)(24*23! + 23!)\) I see TWO 23! in brackets plus ONE 23! outside of brackets so normally it must be \((23!)^3(24 + 1)\) when you factor out :? pls explain :)

Also why here in formula there is minus sign n! = n*(n-1)! and in your solution +sign :?
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Which of the following numbers is a perfect square? 02 Aug 2018, 10:24
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dave13
hi pushpitkc thanks got it. just one tech question :-)

how from here \((23!)(24*23! + 23!) How You Got This (23!)^2(24 + 1)\) ?

here \((23!)(24*23! + 23!)\) I see TWO 23! in brackets plus ONE 23! outside of brackets so normally it must be \((23!)^3(24 + 1)\) when you factor out :? pls explain :)

Also why here in formula there is minus sign n! = n*(n-1)! and in your solution +sign :?
Show more

Hey dave13

I think Bunuel explained this perfectly - while explaining a similar expression's specification

Let's assume we have an expression -> c(ab + a) | This can be further simplified as ca(b+1).
In the example that we are given (23!)(24*23! + 23!) = (23!)^2 * (24 + 1)

Hope this helps you!
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Which of the following numbers is a perfect square? 18 Jun 2019, 18:06
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Bunuel
Which of the following numbers is a perfect square?


A. \((20!)(21! + 20!)\)

B. \((21!)(22! + 21!)\)

C. \((22!)(23! + 22!)\)

D. \((23!)(24! + 23!)\)

E. \((24!)(25! + 24!)\)
Show more

When I see the term perfect square then the first thing that comes to my mind is that all the numbers should occur twice in a series of a multiplication chain.
I see addition, I have to remove this sign as sum of two perfect squares is not a perfect square (necessarily), (9+4)
I also see that the numbers are revolving around mid twenties, so GMAT is toying with 25 that is a perfect square.

If I look at option D, I can easily eliminate the '+' sign
23! * 23! (24+1)

Perfect square spotted.
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Which of the following numbers is a perfect square? 21 Jun 2019, 11:37
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Bunuel
Which of the following numbers is a perfect square?


A. \((20!)(21! + 20!)\)

B. \((21!)(22! + 21!)\)

C. \((22!)(23! + 22!)\)

D. \((23!)(24! + 23!)\)

E. \((24!)(25! + 24!)\)
Show more

In order for a number to be a perfect square, we need our factors to be in even quantities.

Looking at answer choice D, we see that we have:

23![23!(24 + 1)]

23![23!(25)]

(23!)^2 x 5^2

Thus, the quantity in choice D is a perfect square.

Answer: D
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Which of the following numbers is a perfect square? 03 Feb 2024, 22:45
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