If x and y are positive integers such that the greatest common factor ...
The correct answer is E. You could take a “bruteforce” approach and test all the given values of y and see if you could find an x that worked. For aenxdamxple, if y = 9, then the two numbers are x2 × 92 × 93. You can see that 92 is a factor of these 2 numbers, so 27 cannot be the greatest common factor.
It might be more efficient to be more general and avoid testing all 5 values of x. Notice that xy2 is a common factor of both x2y2 and xy3. Because it is a factor, xy2 must also be a factor of 27. Well, 27 factors as 3 × 32, so it seems natural to see = 3 and y = 3 are possible solutions. In this case the two numbers from the problem are 32 × 32 and 33 × 3 and the g
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If x and y are positive integers such that the greatest common factor ...
To find the possible values of y, we need to analyze the given information about the greatest common factor (GCF) of x^2y^2 and xy^3.
- Given: GCF(x^2y^2, xy^3) = 27
Let's break down the expressions x^2y^2 and xy^3 and examine their factors.
Expression 1: x^2y^2
- Factors of x^2y^2 include x, x, y, and y.
Expression 2: xy^3
- Factors of xy^3 include x, y, y, and y.
Now, let's consider the GCF of these two expressions.
- GCF(x^2y^2, xy^3) = 27
Since the GCF is 27, all the common factors between the two expressions must be raised to a power of 27. However, we also know that x and y are positive integers.
From the factors mentioned above, we can see that the only common factor of x^2y^2 and xy^3 is y. Thus, y must be raised to the power of 27.
Now, let's consider the given answer choices.
a) 81: This is not a possible value for y because 81 is not a power of 27.
b) 27: This is not a possible value for y because 27 is not a power of 27.
c) 18: This is not a possible value for y because 18 is not a power of 27.
d) 9: This is not a possible value for y because 9 is not a power of 27.
e) 3: This is a possible value for y because 3^3 = 27.
Hence, the correct answer is option E, y = 3.
If x and y are positive integers such that the greatest common factor ...
The correct answer is E. You could take a “bruteforce” approach and test all the given values of y and see if you could find an x that worked. For aenxdamxple, if y = 9, then the two numbers are x2 × 92 × 93. You can see that 92 is a factor of these 2 numbers, so 27 cannot be the greatest common factor.
It might be more efficient to be more general and avoid testing all 5 values of x. Notice that xy2 is a common factor of both x2y2 and xy3. Because it is a factor, xy2 must also be a factor of 27. Well, 27 factors as 3 × 32, so it seems natural to see = 3 and y = 3 are possible solutions. In this case the two numbers from the problem are 32 × 32 and 33 × 3 and the g