Maths Olympiad Prep

Track / Stage 7 / 170 of 300 #1570 of 1964

Problem 1570

National olympiad second round; IMO P1/P4
Number theory Difficulty 7.3 Find the answer

Each of the four positive integers N,N+1,N+2,N+3N,N +1,N +2,N +3 has exactly six positive divisors. There are exactly20 20 di\text{di} positive numbers which are exact divisors of at least one of the numbers. One of these is 2727. Find all possible values of NN.(Both 11 and mm are counted as divisors of the number mm.)

The source for this one didn't record the answer, so there is nothing to check what you type against. Work it on paper and mark yourself against the solution below.

Official solution

1. Understanding the problem: We are given four consecutive integers N,N+1,N+2,N+3 N, N+1, N+2, N+3 each having exactly six positive divisors. We are also given that there are exactly 20 different positive numbers which are exact divisors of at least one of these numbers, and one of these divisors is 27.

2. Divisors of a number: A number has exactly six divisors if it is of the form p5 p^5 or p2q p^2 q , where p p and q q are distinct prime numbers. This is because:
- For p5 p^5 , the divisors are 1,p,p2,p3,p4,p5 1, p, p^2, p^3, p^4, p^5 .
- For p2q p^2 q , the divisors are 1,p,p2,q,pq,p2q 1, p, p^2, q, pq, p^2 q .

3. Given divisor 27: Since 27 is 33 3^3 , it must be a divisor of one of the numbers. However, since each number has exactly six divisors, none of the numbers can be 33 3^3 itself. Therefore, one of the numbers must be 35=243 3^5 = 243 .

4. **Checking the form p2q p^2 q **: Since each number has exactly six divisors, we need to check if N,N+1,N+2,N+3 N, N+1, N+2, N+3 can be of the form p2q p^2 q .

5. **Finding N N **:
- Let's assume N=243 N = 243 . Then the numbers are 243,244,245,246 243, 244, 245, 246 .
- Check the number of divisors for each:
- 243=35 243 = 3^5 has divisors 1,3,9,27,81,243 1, 3, 9, 27, 81, 243 (6 divisors).
- 244=22×61 244 = 2^2 \times 61 has divisors 1,2,4,61,122,244 1, 2, 4, 61, 122, 244 (6 divisors).
- 245=5×72 245 = 5 \times 7^2 has divisors 1,5,7,35,49,245 1, 5, 7, 35, 49, 245 (6 divisors).
- 246=2×3×41 246 = 2 \times 3 \times 41 has divisors 1,2,3,6,41,82,123,246 1, 2, 3, 6, 41, 82, 123, 246 (8 divisors).

6. Conclusion: Since 246 has 8 divisors, N=243 N = 243 is not a valid solution. We need to find another set of four consecutive numbers where each has exactly six divisors.

7. **Rechecking the form p2q p^2 q **:
- Let's assume N=p2q N = p^2 q and check the next three numbers.
- We need to find N N such that N,N+1,N+2,N+3 N, N+1, N+2, N+3 each have exactly six divisors.

8. **Finding another possible N N **:
- Let's try N=180 N = 180 . Then the numbers are 180,181,182,183 180, 181, 182, 183 .
- Check the number of divisors for each:
- 180=22×32×5 180 = 2^2 \times 3^2 \times 5 has divisors 1,2,3,4,5,6,9,10,12,15,18,20,30,36,45,60,90,180 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 30, 36, 45, 60, 90, 180 (18 divisors).
- 181=181 181 = 181 (prime) has divisors 1,181 1, 181 (2 divisors).
- 182=2×7×13 182 = 2 \times 7 \times 13 has divisors 1,2,7,13,14,26,91,182 1, 2, 7, 13, 14, 26, 91, 182 (8 divisors).
- 183=3×61 183 = 3 \times 61 has divisors 1,3,61,183 1, 3, 61, 183 (4 divisors).

9. Conclusion: Since none of the sets of four consecutive numbers fit the criteria, we need to re-evaluate our approach.

10. Re-evaluating the problem:
- Given that 27 is a divisor, one of the numbers must be 35=243 3^5 = 243 .
- We need to find another set of four consecutive numbers where each has exactly six divisors.

11. Final check:
- Let's try N=180 N = 180 again and check the next three numbers.
- Check the number of divisors for each:
- 180=22×32×5 180 = 2^2 \times 3^2 \times 5 has divisors 1,2,3,4,5,6,9,10,12,15,18,20,30,36,45,60,90,180 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 30, 36, 45, 60, 90, 180 (18 divisors).
- 181=181 181 = 181 (prime) has divisors 1,181 1, 181 (2 divisors).
- 182=2×7×13 182 = 2 \times 7 \times 13 has divisors 1,2,7,13,14,26,91,182 1, 2, 7, 13, 14, 26, 91, 182 (8 divisors).
- 183=3×61 183 = 3 \times 61 has divisors 1,3,61,183 1, 3, 61, 183 (4 divisors).

12. Conclusion: Since none of the sets of four consecutive numbers fit the criteria, we need to re-evaluate our approach.

Source: NuminaMath-1.5, licensed Apache-2.0. Statement and solution reproduced as published; topic, difficulty and ordering added by this site.