What's the least positive integer,
n, having the following properties:
- n = (a^2)/2
- n = (b^3)/3
- n = (c^5)/5
(where a, b, and c are integers)
- n = (a^2)/2
- n = (b^3)/3
- n = (c^5)/5
implies that n is divisible by 2, 3, and 5. The smallest n should only be divisible by these three factors or else it's not smallest. So let n=(2^r)(3^s)(5^t)
The first equation implies a^2=2n=(2^(r+1))(3^s)(5^t), thus
2|r+1, 2|s, 2|t
Similarly, b^3=(2^r)(3^(s+1))(5^t) implies
3|r, 3|s+1, 3|t
and c^5=(2^r)(3^s)(5^(t+1)) implies
5|r, 5|s, 5|t+1
Combining them, we get
2|r+1, 3|r, 5|r
2|s, 3|s+1, 5|s
2|t, 3|t, 5|t+1
Smallest n corresponds to the smallest r, s, t. And the smallest values are r=15, s=20, t=24
so n = (2^15)(3^20)(5^24)
that's pretty big.
|
Posted by Bon
on 2004-11-27 18:29:31 |