2021 AMC 12B Fall Problem 6

Attempt Problem 6 of the 2021 AMC 12B Fall 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 2021 AMC 12B Fall solutions, or check the answer key.

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6.

The greatest prime number that is a divisor of 16,38416{,}384 is 22 because 16,384=214.16{,}384 = 2^{14}. What is the sum of the digits of the greatest prime number that is a divisor of 16,383?16{,}383?

33

77

1010

1616

2222

Answer: C
Concepts:difference of squaresprime factorization
Difficulty rating: 1280
Solution:

Since 16,383=214116{,}383 = 2^{14} - 1 =(271)(27+1)= (2^{7} - 1)(2^{7} + 1) =127129.= 127 \cdot 129. Then 129=343,129 = 3 \cdot 43, so 16,383=343127.16{,}383 = 3 \cdot 43 \cdot 127.

The greatest prime factor is 127,127, whose digit sum is 1+2+7=10.1 + 2 + 7 = 10.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

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