Browse · harp
Printsmc
counting and probability senior
Problem
For how many three-element sets of distinct positive integers is it true that ?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
Solution
. We wish to figure out the number of ways to distribute these prime factors amongst 3 different integers, without over counting triples which are simply permutations of one another. We can account for permutations by assuming WLOG that contains the prime factor 2. Thus, there are ways to position the other 4 prime numbers. Note that, with the exception of when all of the prime factors belong to , we have over counted each case twice, as for when we put certain prime factors into and the rest into , we count the exact same case when we put those prime factors which were in into . Thus, our total number of cases is
Final answer
C