+0  
 
+13
725
5
avatar+680 

In the prime factorization of \(24!\), what is the exponent of \(3\)? (Source: Aops Staff)

 Jun 13, 2020
 #1
avatar+310 
+4

First of all, let's find the multiples of 3 in 24!.

1*3, 2*3 ---> 8*3 = 8 multiples

But we can't forget about the multiples of 32. These have an extra 3.

9*1, 9*2 = 2 multiples

8 + 2 = 10

The exponent is 10: 310.

 Jun 13, 2020
 #3
avatar+680 
+2

thx a lot

amazingxin777  Jun 13, 2020
 #2
avatar+315 
+1

it has something to do with number theory because I did it before and I forgot the answer

 Jun 13, 2020
 #4
avatar+9673 
+1

First, notice that 24! is an enormous number, and it is the product of 24 consecutive integers, so it has a lot of factors.

 

Also, notice that if we omit numbers that aren't divisible by 3, we have \(3\times 6 \times 9 \times \cdots \times 24\) as a factor of 24!.

 

We will find the exponent of 3 in this expression because other terms are not divisible by 3.

 

\(3\times 6 \times 9 \times \cdots \times 24 = (3\times 1) \times (3\times 2) \times (3\times 3) \times \cdots \times (3\times 8)\)

You may notice that the product every 3 consecutive terms is divisible by \(3^4\).

 

We have 

\((3^4)^2 \times 3^2 | 24!\)

Simplify to get 

\(3^{10} | 24!\)

 

And we cannot find any other multiple of 3. So the exponent of 3 is 10.

 Jun 13, 2020
 #5
avatar+680 
+4

nice solution thanks too!

amazingxin777  Jun 13, 2020

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