In the question (if a positive integer has 24 factors , what is least possible value of that integer,) the video says answer is 420 but since i calculated putting all scenario together it's 360. Help?

Asked by VARIJ SRIVASTAVA 11 months ago

1 Answer

Yes, your calculation is correct

To determine the least positive integer with exactly 24 factors, we need to understand how the number of factors of a positive integer is determined by its prime factorization.

If a number N has a prime factorization of the form:
N = p1^e1 * p2^e2 * ... * pk^ek
Then the number of factors of N is given by:
(e1 + 1) * (e2 + 1) * ... * (ek + 1)

We need to find the smallest integer N such that the number of factors equals 24.

Step 1: Prime Factorization and Factors Count

To get 24 as the product of (e1 + 1) * (e2 + 1) * ... * (ek + 1), we can have different combinations:
24 = 24 * 1
24 = 12 * 2
24 = 8 * 3
24 = 6 * 4
24 = 6 * 2 * 2
24 = 4 * 3 * 2

We need to select the combination that leads to the smallest possible N.

Step 2: Finding the Smallest N

Let's test the combinations with the smallest prime numbers.

Case 1: 24 = 24 * 1
N = p1^23
This is not minimal as it involves a very large exponent.

Case 2: 12 * 2
N = p1^11 * p2
Using the smallest primes, 2^11 * 3 = 2048 * 3 = 6144

Case 3: 8 * 3
N = p1^7 * p2^2
Using the smallest primes, 2^7 * 3^2 = 128 * 9 = 1152

Case 4: 6 * 4
N = p1^5 * p2^3
Using the smallest primes, 2^5 * 3^3 = 32 * 27 = 864

Case 5: 6 * 2 * 2
N = p1^5 * p2 * p3
Using the smallest primes, 2^5 * 3 * 5 = 32 * 3 * 5 = 480

Case 6: 4 * 3 * 2
N = p1^3 * p2^2 * p3
Using the smallest primes, 2^3 * 3^2 * 5 = 8 * 9 * 5 = 360

Step 3: Conclusion

The smallest value of N that has exactly 24 factors is 360.

Therefore, the least positive integer with exactly 24 factors is 360.


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