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What is the total number of natural numbers N such that out of all the factors of N (except 1 and N) the largest factor is 21 times the smallest one?
  • a)
    1
  • b)
    2
  • c)
    3
  • d)
    There are no such numbers.
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
Most Upvoted Answer
What is the total number of natural numbers N such that out of all th...
Let S be the smallest factor of N except 1 and L be the largest factor of N except N.
For any natural number N, Smallest factor * largest factor = 2nd smallest factor * 2nd largest factor = 3rd smallest factor x 3rd largest factor = ... = N Thus from the data given in the question and from the above rule, we get, S x L = N, L = 21S. Therefore S x 21S = N. Therefore 21 S2 = N.
Since we want the largest factor (after N) to be 21 times the smallest factor (after 1), we will have to ensure that S takes values less than or equal to the smallest prime factor of 21 i.e. less than or equal to 3.
S = 2, 3
Two such numbers N are possible. And the two values of N are 21 x 22 = 84 and 21 x 32 = 189 Hence, option 2.
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Community Answer
What is the total number of natural numbers N such that out of all th...
Understanding the problem
To find the total number of natural numbers N that satisfy the given condition, we need to consider factors of N (excluding 1 and N) where the largest factor is 21 times the smallest factor.

Factors of a number N
- Every number N will have factors in pairs, except when the number is a perfect square.
- For example, factors of 36 are 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18. Here, factors are in pairs (2, 18), (3, 12), (4, 9), (6, 6).
- So, the total number of factors of N will be even, unless N is a perfect square.

Applying the condition
- Let the smallest factor be x and the largest factor be 21x.
- We know that x * 21x = 21x^2 = N.
- So, N must be a perfect square for the factors to be in pairs.
- Let N = y^2, where y is a natural number.

Calculating the values
- From N = 21x^2 = y^2, we get x = y/√21.
- For x to be a natural number, y must be a multiple of √21.
- The possible values for y are 1√21, 2√21, 3√21, ...
- Only y = 3√21 and y = 6√21 will give natural numbers for x and N.

Conclusion
- Therefore, the total number of natural numbers N that satisfy the given condition is 2, which corresponds to y = 3√21 and y = 6√21.
- Hence, the correct answer is option B.
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