Let be a positive integer. Given that has 861 positive divisors, find .
HMMT November
Solution
If , we must have . If , we have , and the only prime powers dividing 860 are , and 43 , which are not solutions. Note that if or for some , then is either , or 6 , which are not solutions. Therefore, we must have for some . The only divisor of 20 that is divisible by for some prime is 20 , and it is indeed the solution.
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