CAT 2023 Slot 2 — QA Question 6

Prime and Composite NumbersEasy

The number of positive integers less than 50, having exactly two distinct factors other than 1 and itself, is

Answer & solution

Correct answer: 15

Answer: 15

Solution

Easy

"Exactly two distinct factors other than 11 and itself" means exactly 44 total factors. A number has exactly 44 factors only when it is p⋅qp\cdot q (two distinct primes) or p3p^3 (cube of a prime). Count both families below 5050.

Number of factors of paqb⋯p^a q^b\cdots is (a+1)(b+1)⋯(a+1)(b+1)\cdots. We need this to equal 44, so the exponent pattern is either 1×11\times1 → p1q1p^1q^1, or 33 → p3p^3.

1

Case A — product of two distinct primes p⋅q<50p\cdot q\lt 50:

p=2: q∈{3,5,7,11,13,17,19,23} → 8p=3: q∈{5,7,11,13} → 4p=5: q∈{7} → 1\begin{aligned} &p=2:\ q\in\{3,5,7,11,13,17,19,23\}\ \to\ 8\\ &p=3:\ q\in\{5,7,11,13\}\ \to\ 4\\ &p=5:\ q\in\{7\}\ \to\ 1 \end{aligned}

(Stop at 5⋅7=355\cdot 7=35; 5⋅11=55>505\cdot 11=55\gt 50.) Total =8+4+1=13=8+4+1=13.

2

Case B — prime cubes p3<50p^3\lt 50:

23=8,33=2753=125>50 (reject)\begin{aligned} &2^3=8,\quad 3^3=27\\ &5^3=125\gt 50\ \text{(reject)} \end{aligned}

Total =2=2.

3

Add the cases:

13+2=1513+2=15
15 such numbers\mathbf{15}\ \text{such numbers}

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CAT 2023 Slot 2 QA Q6 — Prime and Composite Numbers solution | TheCATExam