2004 AMC 10B Problem 6

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 6 of the 2004 AMC 10B, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2004 AMC 10B solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:factorialperfect square

Difficulty rating: 1290

6.

Which of the following numbers is a perfect square?

98!99!98! \cdot 99!

98!100!98! \cdot 100!

99!100!99! \cdot 100!

99!101!99! \cdot 101!

100!101!100! \cdot 101!

Solution:

For m<n,m \lt n, we have m!n!=(m!)2(m+1)(m+2)n,m! \cdot n! = (m!)^2 \cdot (m+1)(m+2)\cdots n, which is a perfect square precisely when (m+1)n(m+1)\cdots n is a perfect square.

For the five choices this leftover factor is 99,99, 99100,99 \cdot 100, 100,100, 100101,100 \cdot 101, and 101.101. Only 100=102100 = 10^2 is a perfect square.

Therefore 99!100!=(99!10)299! \cdot 100! = (99! \cdot 10)^2 is the perfect square.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

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