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Difference between revisions of "2021 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 25"

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<math>\textbf{(A) }5 \qquad \textbf{(B) }6 \qquad \textbf{(C) }7 \qquad \textbf{(D) }8\qquad \textbf{(E) }9</math>
 
<math>\textbf{(A) }5 \qquad \textbf{(B) }6 \qquad \textbf{(C) }7 \qquad \textbf{(D) }8\qquad \textbf{(E) }9</math>
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==Solution==
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Consider the prime factorization <cmath>n={p_1}^{e_1}{p_2}^{e_2}{p_3}^{e_3}\cdots{p_k}^{e_k}.</cmath> By the Multiplication Principle, <cmath>d(n)=(e_1+1)(e_2+1)(e_3+1)\cdots(e_k+1).</cmath> Now, we rewrite <math>f(n)</math> as <cmath>f(n)=\frac{d(n)}{\sqrt [3]n}=\frac{(e_1+1)(e_2+1)(e_3+1)\cdots(e_k+1)}{{p_1}^{{e_1}/3}{p_2}^{{e_2}/3}{p_3}^{{e_3}/3}\cdots{p_k}^{{e_k}/3}}=\left(\frac{e_1+1}{{p_1}^{{e_1}/3}}\right)\left(\frac{e_2+1}{{p_2}^{{e_2}/3}}\right)\left(\frac{e_3+1}{{p_3}^{{e_3}/3}}\right)\cdots\left(\frac{e_k+1}{{p_k}^{{e_k}/3}}\right).</cmath> As <math>f(n)>0</math> for all positive integers <math>n,</math> it follows that for all positive integers <math>a</math> and <math>b</math>, <math>f(a)>f(b)</math> if and only if <math>f(a)^3>f(b)^3.</math> So, <math>f(n)</math> is maximized if and only if <cmath>f(n)^3=\left(\frac{(e_1+1)^3}{{p_1}^{e_1}}\right)\left(\frac{(e_2+1)^3}{{p_2}^{e_2}}\right)\left(\frac{(e_3+1)^3}{{p_3}^{e_3}}\right)\cdots\left(\frac{(e_k+1)^3}{{p_k}^{e_k}}\right)</cmath> is maximized.
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For every factor <math>\frac{(e_i+1)^3}{{p_i}^{e_i}}</math> with a fixed <math>p_i</math> where <math>1\leq i\leq k,</math> the denominator grows faster than the numerator, as exponential functions grow faster than polynomial functions. For each prime <math>p_i=2,3,5,7,\cdots,</math> we look for the <math>e_i</math> for which <math>\frac{(e_i+1)^3}{{p_i}^{e_i}}</math> is a relative maximum:
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<cmath>\begin{tabular}{ c c c c }
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pi & ei & fraction & choose? \\
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\hline
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2 & 0 & 1 & \\ 
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2 & 1 & 4 & \\
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2 & 2 & 27/4 &\\
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2 & 3 & 8 & yes\\
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2 & 4 & 125/16 & \\
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\hline
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3 & 0 & 1 &\\
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3 & 1 & 8/3 & \\
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3 & 2 & 3 &  yes\\
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3 & 3 & 64/27 &  \\
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\hline
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5 & 0 & 1 &  \\
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5 & 1 & 8/5 &  yes\\
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5 & 2 & 27/25 & \\
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\hline
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7 & 0 & 1 &  \\
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7 & 1 & 8/7 &  yes\\
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7 & 2 & 27/49 & \\
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\hline
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11 & 0 & 1 & yes \\
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11 & 1 & 8/11 &  \\
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\hline
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,,, & ... & ... &
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\end{tabular}</cmath>
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Finally, the number we seek is <math>N=2^3 3^2 5^1 7^1 = 2520.</math> The sum of its digits is <math>2+5+2+0=\boxed{\textbf{(E) }9}</math>
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~MRENTHUSIASM
  
 
== Video Solution by OmegaLearn (Multiplicative function properties + Meta-solving ) ==
 
== Video Solution by OmegaLearn (Multiplicative function properties + Meta-solving ) ==

Revision as of 07:22, 12 February 2021

Problem

Let $d(n)$ denote the number of positive integers that divide $n$, including $1$ and $n$. For example, $d(1)=1,d(2)=2,$ and $d(12)=6$. (This function is known as the divisor function.) Let\[f(n)=\frac{d(n)}{\sqrt [3]n}.\]There is a unique positive integer $N$ such that $f(N)>f(n)$ for all positive integers $n\ne N$. What is the sum of the digits of $N?$

$\textbf{(A) }5 \qquad \textbf{(B) }6 \qquad \textbf{(C) }7 \qquad \textbf{(D) }8\qquad \textbf{(E) }9$

Solution

Consider the prime factorization \[n={p_1}^{e_1}{p_2}^{e_2}{p_3}^{e_3}\cdots{p_k}^{e_k}.\] By the Multiplication Principle, \[d(n)=(e_1+1)(e_2+1)(e_3+1)\cdots(e_k+1).\] Now, we rewrite $f(n)$ as \[f(n)=\frac{d(n)}{\sqrt [3]n}=\frac{(e_1+1)(e_2+1)(e_3+1)\cdots(e_k+1)}{{p_1}^{{e_1}/3}{p_2}^{{e_2}/3}{p_3}^{{e_3}/3}\cdots{p_k}^{{e_k}/3}}=\left(\frac{e_1+1}{{p_1}^{{e_1}/3}}\right)\left(\frac{e_2+1}{{p_2}^{{e_2}/3}}\right)\left(\frac{e_3+1}{{p_3}^{{e_3}/3}}\right)\cdots\left(\frac{e_k+1}{{p_k}^{{e_k}/3}}\right).\] As $f(n)>0$ for all positive integers $n,$ it follows that for all positive integers $a$ and $b$, $f(a)>f(b)$ if and only if $f(a)^3>f(b)^3.$ So, $f(n)$ is maximized if and only if \[f(n)^3=\left(\frac{(e_1+1)^3}{{p_1}^{e_1}}\right)\left(\frac{(e_2+1)^3}{{p_2}^{e_2}}\right)\left(\frac{(e_3+1)^3}{{p_3}^{e_3}}\right)\cdots\left(\frac{(e_k+1)^3}{{p_k}^{e_k}}\right)\] is maximized.

For every factor $\frac{(e_i+1)^3}{{p_i}^{e_i}}$ with a fixed $p_i$ where $1\leq i\leq k,$ the denominator grows faster than the numerator, as exponential functions grow faster than polynomial functions. For each prime $p_i=2,3,5,7,\cdots,$ we look for the $e_i$ for which $\frac{(e_i+1)^3}{{p_i}^{e_i}}$ is a relative maximum: \[\begin{tabular}{ c c c c } pi & ei & fraction & choose? \\ \hline 2 & 0 & 1 & \\ 2 & 1 & 4 & \\ 2 & 2 & 27/4 &\\ 2 & 3 & 8 & yes\\ 2 & 4 & 125/16 & \\ \hline 3 & 0 & 1 &\\ 3 & 1 & 8/3 & \\ 3 & 2 & 3 & yes\\ 3 & 3 & 64/27 & \\ \hline 5 & 0 & 1 & \\ 5 & 1 & 8/5 & yes\\ 5 & 2 & 27/25 & \\ \hline 7 & 0 & 1 & \\ 7 & 1 & 8/7 & yes\\ 7 & 2 & 27/49 & \\ \hline 11 & 0 & 1 & yes \\ 11 & 1 & 8/11 & \\ \hline ,,, & ... & ... & \end{tabular}\]

Finally, the number we seek is $N=2^3 3^2 5^1 7^1 = 2520.$ The sum of its digits is $2+5+2+0=\boxed{\textbf{(E) }9}$

~MRENTHUSIASM

Video Solution by OmegaLearn (Multiplicative function properties + Meta-solving )

https://youtu.be/6P-0ZHAaC_A

~ pi_is_3.14

See also

2021 AMC 12A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
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