2013 AMC 12B Problem 9

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 9 of the 2013 AMC 12B, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2013 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:prime factorizationfactorialperfect square

Difficulty rating: 1510

9.

What is the sum of the exponents of the prime factors of the square root of the largest perfect square that divides 12!?12!\,?

55

77

88

1010

1212

Solution:

Since 12!=2103552711,12! = 2^{10}\cdot 3^5\cdot 5^2\cdot 7\cdot 11, the largest perfect square dividing it is 2103452,2^{10}\cdot 3^4\cdot 5^2, whose square root is 25325.2^5\cdot 3^2\cdot 5. The exponents sum to 5+2+1=8.5 + 2 + 1 = 8. Thus, the correct answer is C.

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