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jmc

number theory senior

Problem

Two numbers and share exactly three positive divisors. What is the greatest of these three common divisors?
Solution
Recall that the common divisors of two integers are precisely the divisors of the greatest common divisor. So, for two numbers to have exactly three positive divisors in common, those divisors must be , , and such that is prime. We now look at the prime factorization of : . Since is the only perfect square divisor of , the divisors that and share must be , , and . The largest of these three numbers is .
Final answer
9