2019 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 11

Problem

How many positive integer divisors of $201^9$ are perfect squares or perfect cubes (or both)? $\textbf{(A) }32 \qquad \textbf{(B) }36 \qquad \textbf{(C) }37 \qquad \textbf{(D) }39 \qquad \textbf{(E) }41$

Solution 1 (PIE)

Prime factorizing $201^9$, we get $3^9\cdot67^9$. A perfect square must have even powers of its prime factors, so our possible choices for our exponents to get a perfect square are $0, 2, 4, 6, 8$ for both $3$ and $67$. This yields $5\cdot5 = 25$ perfect squares.

Perfect cubes must have multiples of $3$ for each of their prime factors' exponents, so we have either $0, 3, 6$, or $9$ for both $3$ and $67$, which yields $4\cdot4 = 16$ perfect cubes, for a total of $25+16 = 41$.

Subtracting the overcounted powers of $6$ ($3^0\cdot67^0$ , $3^0\cdot67^6$ , $3^6\cdot67^0$, and $3^6\cdot67^6$), we get $41-4 = \boxed{\textbf{(C) }37}$.

~ Continuous_Pi

Solution 2

Observe that $201 = 67 \cdot 3$. Now divide into cases:

Case 1: The factor is $3^n$. Then we can have $n = 2$, $3$, $4$, $6$, $8$, or $9$.

Case 2: The factor is $67^n$. This is the same as Case 1.

Case 3: The factor is some combination of $3$s and $67$s.

This would be easy if we could just have any combination, as that would simply give $6 \cdot 6$. However, we must pair the numbers that generate squares with the numbers that generate squares and the same for cubes. In simpler terms, let's organize our values for $n$.

$n = 2$ is a "square" because it would give a factor of this number that is a perfect square. More generally, it is even.

$n = 3$ is a "cube" because it would give a factor of this number that is a perfect cube. More generally, it is a multiple of $3$.

$n = 4$ is a "square".

$n = 6$ is interesting, since it's both a "square" and a "cube". Don't count this as either because this would double-count, so we will count this in another case.

$n = 8$ is a "square"

$n = 9$ is a "cube".

Now let's consider subcases:

Subcase 1: The squares are with each other.

Since we have $3$ square terms, and they would pair with $3$ other square terms, we get $3 \cdot 3 = 9$ possibilities.

Subcase 2: The cubes are with each other.

Since we have $2$ cube terms, and they would pair with $2$ other cube terms, we get $2 \cdot 2 = 4$ possibilities.

Subcase 3: A number pairs with $n=6$.

Since any number can pair with $n=6$ (as it gives both a square and a cube), there would be $6$ possibilities. Remember however that there can be two different bases ($3$ and $67$), and they would produce different results. Thus, there are in fact $6 \cdot 2 = 12$ possibilities.

Finally, summing the cases gives $6+6+9+4+12 = \boxed{\textbf{(C) }37}$.

Solution 3 (Quick)

We first prime factorize $201^9 = 3^9 \cdot 67^9$. Then, to get a perfect square, we must have an even number in the exponent. To get an odd cube, we must have a multiple of $3$ in the exponent. The largest square for $3$ can be $3^8$, so there must be $\dfrac {8}{2} = 4$ ways. The largest cube is $3^9$, so there must be $\dfrac{9}{3} = 3$. Minus one $3^6$ due to overlapping and we get $4 + 3 -1 = 6$ ways for $3$ to be a cube/square. We can see that this same thing happens for $67^9$ due to the same exponent. Adding $0$ as a case, we have our answer; $6 \cdot 6 + 1 = \boxed{\textbf{(C) }37}$

~Wiselion

Solution 4 (A Little Long)

Notice that $201=3 \cdot 67$. We factorize $201^9$ to get $3^9 \cdot 67^9$. We then list perfect squares and cubes. $3^2$, $3^4$, $3^6$, $3^8$. $3^3$, $3^6$, $3^9$. $67^2$, $67^4$, $67^6$, $67^8$. $67^3$, $67^6$, $67^9$. Notice that the powers of $6$ overlap. We must not forget $1$ though. Of course, all of these factors already work. This gives us $15-2=3$. Next, we count the perfect squares. Since there are $4$ options we have $4 \cdot 4=16$. We do the same for the perfect cubes except with 3 options this time, and we have $3 \cdot 3=9$. However, we accidentally overcounted $3^6 \cdot 67^6$. We add our answers and subtract $1$ to get $13+16+9-1 = \boxed{\textbf{(C) }37}$

~ PerseverePlayer

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/JR1LpMc3Ntg

~savannahsolver

Video Solution by OmegaLearn

https://youtu.be/ZhAZ1oPe5Ds?t=2402

~ pi_is_3.14

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/XZiO19KNiYA

Education, the Study of Everything


See Also

2019 AMC 10A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 10
Followed by
Problem 12
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
All AMC 10 Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png