2016 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 25

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Problem

How many ordered triples $(x,y,z)$ of positive integers satisfy $\text{lcm}(x,y) = 72, \text{lcm}(x,z) = 600$ and $\text{lcm}(y,z)=900$?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 15\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 16\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 24\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 27\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 64$

Solution

We prime factorize $72,600,$ and $900$. The prime factorizations are $2^3\times 3^2$, $2^3\times 3\times 5^2$ and $2^2\times 3^2\times 5^2$, respectively. Let $x=2^a\times 3^b\times 5^c$, $y=2^d\times 3^e\times 5^f$ and $z=2^g\times 3^h\times 5^i$. We know that \[\max(a,d)=3\] \[\max(b,e)=2\] \[\max(a,g)=3\] \[\max(b,h)=1\] \[\max(c,i)=2\] \[\max(d,g)=2\] \[\max(e,h)=2\] and $c=f=0$ since $\text{lcm}(x,y)$ isn't a multiple of 5. Since $\max(d,g)=2$ we know that $a=3$. We also know that since $\max(b,h)=1$ that $e=2$. So now some equations have become useless to us...let's take them out. \[\max(b,h)=1\] \[\max(d,g)=2\] are the only two important ones left. We do casework on each now. If $\max(b,h)=1$ then $(b,h)=(1,0),(0,1)$ or $(1,1)$. Similarly if $\max(d,g)=2$ then $(d,g)=(2,0),(2,1),(2,2),(1,2),(0,2)$. Thus our answer is $5\times 3=15$.

See Also

2016 AMC 10A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 24
Followed by
Last Problem
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
All AMC 10 Problems and Solutions
2016 AMC 12A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 21
Followed by
Problem 23
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
All AMC 12 Problems and Solutions

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