Browse · MATH
Printjmc
prealgebra senior
Problem
Let A = 1, B = 2, C = 3, ..., Z = 26. The product value of a word is equal to the product of the values of its letters. For example, CAB has a product value of 3 1 2 = 6. What common English word has a product value of 715? It does not have to be of length 3.
Solution
Prime factorize 715 to find . The only ways to write 715 as a product of positive integers greater than 1 are the distinct ways of grouping the prime factors: where the last one is a product with only one factor. Since the letters cannot represent numbers greater than 26, only could come from calculating the product value of a word. The 5th, 11th, and 13th letters of the alphabet are E, K, and M. Since E, K, and M do not form a word, we introduce the letter A (which doesn't affect the product since its value is 1) to form the word .
Final answer
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