1998 AMC 12 Problem 12

Attempt Problem 12 of the 1998 AMC 12 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 1998 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

12.

How many different prime numbers are factors of NN if log⁡2(log⁡3(log⁡5(log⁡7N)))=11? \log_2(\log_3(\log_5(\log_7N)))=11?
11
22
33
44
77
Answer: A
Concepts:nested logarithmsprime factors
Small hint:
Undo the logarithms one at a time, starting with base 22
Big hint:
The final expression for NN is a power of 77
Solution:
Successively exponentiating gives N=7 5 3 211. N=7^{\,5^{\,3^{\,2^{11}}}}. Thus 77 is the only prime factor of N,N, so the correct answer is A.
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