Find thesmallest numberby which180must be multiplied so that the produ...
180 = 22 × 32 × 5. To make all powers even, multiply by 5.
180 × 5 = 900 = 302
Find thesmallest numberby which180must be multiplied so that the produ...
Understanding Perfect Squares
A perfect square is a number that can be expressed as the square of an integer. To determine the smallest number by which 180 must be multiplied to become a perfect square, we first need to factor 180 into its prime factors.
Prime Factorization of 180
- The prime factorization of 180 is:
- 180 = 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 × 5
- This can also be written as: 180 = 2^2 × 3^2 × 5^1
Analyzing the Prime Factors
- For a number to be a perfect square, all prime factors must have even exponents.
- In the prime factorization of 180:
- The exponent of 2 is 2 (even)
- The exponent of 3 is 2 (even)
- The exponent of 5 is 1 (odd)
Determining What is Needed
- The only prime factor with an odd exponent is 5.
- To make the exponent of 5 even, we need to multiply by 5.
- Therefore, we need to multiply 180 by 5 to ensure all exponents become even.
Conclusion
- The smallest number by which 180 must be multiplied to become a perfect square is:
- 5
Thus, the correct answer is option 'C'.