2011 AMC 12B Problem 15

Attempt Problem 15 of the 2011 AMC 12B 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 2011 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

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15.

How many positive two-digit integers are factors of 2241?2^{24}-1?

44

88

1010

1212

1414

Answer: D
Concepts:difference of squaresprime factorizationfactor
Difficulty rating: 1740
Solution:

Factoring, 2241=(2121)(212+1)=(261)(26+1)(24+1)(2824+1), \begin{aligned} 2^{24}-1 &=(2^{12}-1)(2^{12}+1) \\ &=(2^6-1)(2^6+1) \\ &\quad {}\cdot(2^4+1)(2^8-2^4+1), \end{aligned} which equals 63651724163\cdot65\cdot17\cdot241 =32571317241.=3^2\cdot5\cdot7\cdot13\cdot17\cdot241.

Since 241241 is a three-digit prime, the two-digit factors come from 32571317.3^2\cdot5\cdot7\cdot13\cdot17. They are 13,15,17,21,35,39,45,51,63,65,85,91, \begin{gathered} 13,15,17,21,35,39,45,51, \\ 63,65,85,91, \end{gathered} for a total of 12.12.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

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