# Difference between revisions of "2003 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 8"

## Problem

What is the probability that a randomly drawn positive factor of $60$ is less than $7$?

$\mathrm{(A) \ } \frac{1}{10}\qquad \mathrm{(B) \ } \frac{1}{6}\qquad \mathrm{(C) \ } \frac{1}{4}\qquad \mathrm{(D) \ } \frac{1}{3}\qquad \mathrm{(E) \ } \frac{1}{2}$

## Solution 1

For a positive number $n$ which is not a perfect square, exactly half of the positive factors will be less than $\sqrt{n}$.

Since $60$ is not a perfect square, half of the positive factors of $60$ will be less than $\sqrt{60}\approx 7.746$.

Clearly, there are no positive factors of $60$ between $7$ and $\sqrt{60}$.

Therefore half of the positive factors will be less than $7$.

So the answer is $\frac{1}{2} \Rightarrow E$.

## Solution 2

Testing all numbers less than $7$, numbers $1, 2, 3, 4, 5$, and $6$ divide $60$. The prime factorization of $60$ is $2^2\cdot 3 \cdot 5$. Using the formula for the number of divisors, the total number of divisors of $60$ is $(3)(2)(2) = 12$. Therefore, our desired probability is $\frac{6}{12} = \frac{1}{2} \Rightarrow E$