2023 AMC 10B Problem 15

Attempt Problem 15 of the 2023 AMC 10B below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2023 AMC 10B solutions, or check the answer key.

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15.

What is the least positive integer mm such that m2!3!4!5!16!m \cdot 2! \cdot 3! \cdot 4! \cdot 5! \cdots 16! is a perfect square?

3030

3003030030

7070

14301430

10011001

Answer: C
Concepts:perfect squareprime factorizationfactorialpairing and grouping
Difficulty rating: 1730
Solution:

Group the product as (2!3!)(4!5!)(14!15!)16!.(2!\,3!)(4!\,5!)\cdots(14!\,15!)\cdot 16!. Since (2k)!(2k+1)!(2k)!(2k+1)! =((2k)!)2(2k+1),= \bigl((2k)!\bigr)^2(2k+1), each pair is a perfect square times an odd number. Those odd numbers 3,5,7,9,11,13,153, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 multiply to 345271113,3^4 \cdot 5^2 \cdot 7 \cdot 11 \cdot 13, with squarefree part 71113.7 \cdot 11 \cdot 13. And 16!=215365372111316! = 2^{15} 3^6 5^3 7^2 \cdot 11 \cdot 13 has squarefree part 251113.2 \cdot 5 \cdot 11 \cdot 13. Multiply the two: the squarefree part of the whole thing is 257.2 \cdot 5 \cdot 7. That's the smallest m,m, namely 257=70.2 \cdot 5 \cdot 7 = 70. Thus, C is the correct answer.

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