GMAT Practice Question: If s and t are integers greater than 1 and each is a factor of the integer n...
Question
If s and t are integers greater than 1 and each is a factor of the integer n, which of the following must be a factor of n^{s t} ? I. s^{t} II. (s t)^{2} III. s+t
- None
- I only
- II only
- III only
- I and II
Topics: divisibility, exponents, number theory
Solution
Step 1
Express n in terms of s since s divides n.
n = s\times k
Step 2
Raise both sides to the power st to relate n^{st} to s^{st}.
n^{st} = (s\times k)^{st} = s^{st}\times k^{st}
Step 3
Since st\ge t, the factor s^{t} appears in s^{st}, so s^{t} divides n^{st}.
s^{st} = s^{t}\times s^{st - t}
Step 4
Because s>1 and t>1, we have st\ge 2. Hence both s^{2} and t^{2} divide n^{st}, and their product (st)^{2} divides n^{st}.
(st)^{2} = s^{2}\times t^{2}
Step 5
Provide a counterexample to show s+t need not divide n^{st}.
s = 2,\ t = 3,\ n = 6 6^{6} will end in 6, so s+t=5 does not divide 6^{6}.
Answer
I and II (E)
