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2023 AMC 10B Problem 15

Problem 15 of 25IntermediateNumber TheoryArithmeticProblem-Solving Techniques

What is the least positive integer mm such that m⋅2!⋅3!⋅4!⋅5!⋯16!m \cdot 2! \cdot 3! \cdot 4! \cdot 5! \cdots 16! is a perfect square?

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Solution

Group the product as (2! 3!)(4! 5!)⋯(14! 15!)⋅16!.(2!\,3!)(4!\,5!)\cdots(14!\,15!)\cdot 16!. Since (2k)!(2k+1)!(2k)!(2k+1)! =((2k)!)2(2k+1),= \bigl((2k)!\bigr)^2(2k+1), each pair is a perfect square times an odd number. Those odd numbers 3,5,7,9,11,13,153, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 multiply to 34⋅52⋅7⋅11⋅13,3^4 \cdot 5^2 \cdot 7 \cdot 11 \cdot 13, with squarefree part 7⋅11⋅13.7 \cdot 11 \cdot 13. And 16!=215365372⋅11⋅1316! = 2^{15} 3^6 5^3 7^2 \cdot 11 \cdot 13 has squarefree part 2⋅5⋅11⋅13.2 \cdot 5 \cdot 11 \cdot 13. Multiply the two: the squarefree part of the whole thing is 2⋅5⋅7.2 \cdot 5 \cdot 7. That’s the smallest m,m, namely 2⋅5⋅7=70.2 \cdot 5 \cdot 7 = 70. Thus, C is the correct answer.
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Tagged: perfect square · prime factorization · factorial · pairing and grouping

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