11/9/2017 Number System: Factors and Coprimes

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Number System: Factors and Coprimes

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Number system is a very important chapter and you can find good number of questions in various competitive
exams. Important formulas are the following. Author: Ramakrishna Salagrama (RK)
(IIM - Indore, CAT - 99.78%)
A number can be written in its prime factorization format. For example 100 = 22 x 52 Director, Excel Institute, Kakinada
Ph: +91 9553 66 7774
Email: ramakrishna.salagrama@gmail.co
Formula 1: The number of factors of a number

(p+1).(q+1).(r+1)... where N = ap x bq x cr ... Submit placement questions Click H

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Example: Find the number of factors of 100.
Join our discussion forum: Click Here
Ans: We know that 100 = 22 x 52
So number of factors of 100 = (2 +1 ).(2 +1) = 9.
Infact the factors are 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100

Formula 2: The sum of factors of a number

p+1 q+1 r+1
a 1 b 1 c 1
... where N = a
p
b
q r
c . . .
a 1 b 1 c 1

Example: Find the sum of the factors of 72

Ans: 72 can be written as (2 3
3 ).
2

3+1 2+1
2 1 3 1
Sum of all the factors of 72 = ( ) = 15 x 13= 195
2 1 3 1

Formula 3: The number of ways of writing a number as a product of two number

1
[(p + 1). (q + 1). (r + 1). . .] (if the number is not a perfect square)
2

If the number is a perfect square then two conditions arise:

1. The number of ways of writing a number as a product of two distinct numbers =
1
[(p + 1). (q + 1). (r + 1). . . 1]
2

2. The number of ways of writing a number as a product of two numbers and those numbers need not be
1
distinct= [(p + 1). (q + 1). (r + 1). . . +1]
2

Example: Find the number of ways of writing 140 as a product of two factors
Ans: The prime factorization of 140 = 2 2
5 7

1
So number of ways of writing 140 as a product of two factors = [(p + 1). (q + 1). (r + 1). . .] =
2
1
[(2+1). (1+1). (1+1).] = 6
2

Example: Find the number of ways of writing 144 as a product of two factors subjected to the following conditions a.
Both factors should be different b. Both factors need not be different.
Ans: The prime factorization of 144 = 2 4
3
2

1 1
a. If both factors are different, then total ways = [(p + 1). (q + 1). (r + 1). . . 1] = [(4+1). (2+1)1] =7
2 2

1 1
If both factors need not be different, then total ways = [(p + 1). (q + 1). (r + 1). . . +1] = [(4+1). (2+1)+1] =
2 2

Formula 4: The number of co-primes of a number

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11/9/2017 Number System: Factors and Coprimes
1 1 1
N=(N ) = a p q
.b .c ...
r
can be written as N (1 ) (1 ) (1 )...
a b c

Example: Find the number of co-primes to 144 which are less than that of it
Ans: The prime factorization of 144 = 2 4
3
2

1 1
The number of co-primes which are less than that of 144 = 144 (1 ) (1 ) = 48
2 3

Formula 5: The sum of co-primes of a number

N
N= (N )
2

Example: Find the sum of all the co-primes of 144

N 144
Ans: The sum of co-primes of the 144 = (N ) = 48 x = 3456
2 2

Formula 6: The number of ways of writing a number N as a product of two co-prime numbers

=2 n1
where n=the number of prime factors of a number.

Example: Find the number of ways of writing 60 as a product of two co - primes

Ans: The prime factorization of 60 = 2 2
3 5

The number of ways of writing 60 as a product of two co - primes = 2 31

=4

Formula 7: Product of all the factors

Number of factors (p + 1). (q + 1). (r + 1). . . .

2 2
=N =N

Example: Find the product of all the factors of 50

Ans: Prime factorization of 50 = 2 5 2

(1 + 1). (2 + 1)

Product of all the factors of 50 = 50 2 = 50

3

Level - 2

1. P is the product of all the factors of 15552. If P = 12 N

M , where M is not a multiple of 12, then find the value of
M. [M and N are positive Integers]
Ans: 15552 = 2 6
3
5

(6 + 1). (5 + 1)

Product of all the factors of 15552 = (2 6

3 )
5
2 = 2
126
3
105

63
(2 )
2
3
63
3
42
= 12 63
3
42

So M = 3 42

2. Let M be the set of all the distinct factors of the number N=6 5
5
2
10 ,Which are perfect squares. Find the
product of the elements contained in the set M.
N=6 5
5
2
10 =2 6
3
5
5
3

Even powers of 2 available: 2 0 2

,2 ,2 ,2
4 6

Even powers of 3 available: 3 0

,3 ,3
2 4

Even powers of 5 available: 5 0

,5
2

Therefore number of factors of the number N that are perfect squares = 4 x 3 x 2 = 24

Product of the elements contained in M
=2 (2+4+6)6
3
(2+4)8
5
212
= 2
72
3
48
5
24

3. In a hostel there are 1000 students in 1000 rooms. One day the hostel warden asked the student living in room 1
to close all the doors of the 1000 rooms. Then he asked the person living in room 2 to go to the rooms which are
multiples of his room number 2 and open them. After he ordered the 3rd student to reverse the condition of the doors
which are multiples of his room number 3. If He ordered all the 1000 students like the same, Finally how many doors
of those 1000 rooms are in open condition?

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We understand that a door is in open or in close condition depends on how many people visited the room.
If a door is visited by odd number of persons it is in close condition, and is visited by even number of persons it is in
open condition.
The number of people who visit a certain door is the number of factors of that number. Let us say room no: 24 is
visited by 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24 which are all factors of 24. Since the number of factors are even this door is in open
condition.
we know that the factors of a number N=a p q
.b .c ...
r
are (p+1).(q+1).(r+1)...
From the above formula the product is even if any of p, q, r... are odd, but the product is odd when all of p, q, r are
even numbers.
If p, q, r ... are all even numbers then N=a p q
.b .c ...
r
is a perfect square.
So for all the perfect squares below 1000 the doors are in closed condition.
There are 31 perfect squares below 1000 so total doors which are in open condition are (1000-31)= 969

4. What is the product of all factors of the number N = 6 4

10
2
which are divisible by 5?
Sol: N = 6 4
10
2
=2 6
3
4
5
2

(6 + 1) . (4 + 1) . (2 + 1) 105

Total product of the factors = (2 6

3
4
5 )
2
2 = (2 6
3
4 2
5 ) 2

So total product of the factors N which are not multiples of 5 =

(6 + 1) . (4 + 1) 35

(2
6
3 )
4
2 = (2 6 4
3 ) 2

105

6 4 2
(2 3 5 ) 2

So, total product of the factors of N which are multiples of 5 = =2 210

3
140
5
105

35

6 4
(2 3 ) 2

5. Let N = 2 3
3
17
5
6
7
4
and M = 2 12
3
5
5
4
7
8
. P is total number of even factors of N such that they are
not factors of M. Q is the total number of even factors of M such that they are not factors of N. Then 2P -Q = ?
Sol:
N=2 3
3
17
5
6
7
4

M=2 12
3
5
5
4
7
8

Calculation of P:
Number of powers of 2 available are 3. i.e., 2 to 2 (all these powers are even) 1 3

Since P is the total number of even factors of N such that they are not factors of M, the number of powers of 3
available are 17 - 5 = 12
For combination with each of these 12 powers of 3( i.e., 3 to 3 6 17
, number of powers of 5 are 7 ( i.e., 5 to 5 ) and 0 6

number of powers of 7 are 5 ( i.e.,7 to 7 ) available respectively. 0 4

Therefore there are 3 x 12 x 7 x 5 = 1260 factors

Now consider powers of 5 that are in N but not in M: 5 5

,5
6

So, for these two powers of 5, the number of powers of 2, 3, and 7 that are available are 3, 6, and 5 respectively.
(Powers of 3 are only 6 (3 to 3 ), not 18 as we have already used 3 to 3
0 5 6 17
in caclulating P)
Therefore, there are 2 x 3 x 6 x 5 = 180 factors
P = 1260 + 180 = 1440
Calculation of Q:
Consider powers of 2 that are in M but not in N: 2 4 5 6
, 2 , 2 . . . . .2
12

So for these 9 powers of 2, number of even factors of M such that they are not factors of N = 9 x 6 x 5 x 9 = 2430
Consider powers of 7 that are in M but not in N: 7 5
,7 ,7
6 7
and 7 8

So for these 4 powers of 7, number of powers of 2, 3, and 5 that are available are 3, 6 and 5.
(Powers of 3 are only 6 (3 to 3 ), not 18 as we have already used 3 to 3
0 5 6 17
in calculating Q and (Powers of 5 are only
5 (5 to 5 ), not 7 as we have already used 5 to 5 in calculating Q))
0 4 5 6

So number of such factors = 4 x 3 x 6 x 5 = 360

Q = 2430 + 360 = 2790
Therefore, 2P - Q = 2880 - 2790 = 90

Alternative Method:
Many a student asked me to explain this question elaborately. I think if we use sets this question is easily done.
N=2 3
3
17
5
6
7
4

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11/9/2017 Number System: Factors and Coprimes

M=2 12
3
5
5
4
7
8

So by the above diagram, we can see that P is the number of even factors of N which are not factors of M and Q is
number of even factors of M which are not factors of N.
Now to calculate common even factors of N and M, we take HCF of N and M which is 2 3
3
5
5
4
7
4
( take
minimum powers of both numbers).
Even factors of above number = 3 (5 + 1) (4 + 1) (4 + 1) = 450 ( We have to include atleast one multiple of 2
to make it even number.
Even factors of P = 3 18 7 5 = 1890
Even factors of Q = 12 6 5 9 = 3240

So 2P - Q = 90

Aptitude

40 Comments Campusgate
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Shubham Bhaduri 4 months ago

Sir,Plz explain Q no.5 of level 2.
Its not clearly said
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Lucky bajaj a year ago

sir what if the answer to this
1/2[(p+1).(q+1).(r+1)] is in fraction
for eg for it is 4.5
then what is the answer?
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SUJEET KUMAR a year ago

hope u got the answer.

http://www.campusgate.co.in/2011/10/number-system-factors-and-coprimes.html 4/7
11/9/2017 Number System: Factors and Coprimes

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Dolly Buddi a year ago

sir 2nd qstn plz explain clearly in level 2
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Pradeep Tiwari a year ago

= 2^((2+4+6)6)3^((2+4)8)5^(212)=2^723^485^24 can anyone explain it how it come in
level@2 question 2
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Sindhu 2 years ago

solve 12 X^2 + 30 X + 2
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shruti 2 years ago

plzz explain level2 question 2
sir...
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puzzler 2 years ago

sir, plz explain solution of question 2, the last line 2^(2+4+6)*6
why 6 is multiplied with the power of 2?
8 multiplied with the power of 3?
and 12 with the power of 5?
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aqnthill 2 years ago

sir,can u explain the last step of 2nd question?
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Samadhi Ghosh 2 years ago

Can anyone please explain Q.2 of level 2. i didn't get the last part where they calculated "product of
the elements contained in M"
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TRANQUIL ZEN 2 years ago

hmm
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vamsi priyanka 2 years ago

is this site useful for tech Mahindra???
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Ketan 2 years ago

Sir , Preparation of all exercises is enough for TCS Written ?
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Ramakrishna Salagrama Admin > Ketan 2 years ago

Very much enough.
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Ketan > Ramakrishna Salagrama 2 years ago

Would u please tell me the Order of TCS placement drive ? Sir
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Ramakrishna Salagrama Admin > Ketan 2 years ago

I did not get you. What do you mean by Order?
1 Reply Share

Ketan > Ramakrishna Salagrama 2 years ago

Order means rounds in sequence like 1st round , 2nd round ......
1 Reply Share

Ramakrishna Salagrama Admin > Ketan 2 years ago

Written test followed by Technical Round, Managerial Round, and HR round.
http://www.campusgate.co.in...
1 Reply Share

http://www.campusgate.co.in/2011/10/number-system-factors-and-coprimes.html 5/7
11/9/2017 Number System: Factors and Coprimes
Ketan > Ramakrishna Salagrama 2 years ago
What is Managerial Round ???
1 Reply Share

Kalaivanan 2 years ago

What are the important and new topics for TCS Aptitude Test.
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Ramakrishna Salagrama Admin > Kalaivanan 2 years ago

Please read this.http://www.campusgate.co.in/2015/0...
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Arun Krishnamoorthy 2 years ago

need more clarification on question no.5 ...pls
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Ramakrishna Salagrama Admin > Arun Krishnamoorthy 2 years ago

Hi, an alternate solution has been written. This is easy to understand. Check this out!!
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Palanikumar murugesan 3 years ago

sir is tcs change its placement question database 2015
sir i have tcs interview on feb 20 off campus is enough to study above question becaze i dont attend
campus this my first so pls give some instruction for tcs written exam
14 Reply Share

happy girl 3 years ago

i have a month nearly to prepare.iv started from this site..once i gain speed il start technical.bt
basically firstly preparing for apti..please help
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happy girl 3 years ago

is this site enough for Tcs prep?
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Ramakrishna Salagrama Admin > happy girl 3 years ago

Many students got 7 to15 ques from this site in tcs aptitude test
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happy girl > Ramakrishna Salagrama 3 years ago

ok u mean the chapters should be studies and then tcs placement papers?
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Ramakrishna Salagrama Admin > happy girl 3 years ago

Yes.
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Arun Krishnamoorthy > Ramakrishna Salagrama 2 years ago

cant understand question no 5 pls give some more clarification on it...
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komal 3 years ago

For TCS LEVEL 2 ques. Are Asks in appti.?
1 Reply Share

Ramakrishna Salagrama Admin > komal 3 years ago

No. These are only for your learning
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Anup 3 years ago

Is this campusgate is enough to prepare for the campus interviews??
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Ramakrishna Salagrama Admin > Anup 3 years ago

Almost. But you have to read and practice other topics also.
2 Reply Share

Anup > Ramakrishna Salagrama 3 years ago

For TCS which topics are mandatory to refer??
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Ramakrishna Salagrama Admin > Anup 3 years ago

http://www.campusgate.co.in/2011/10/number-system-factors-and-coprimes.html 6/7
11/9/2017 Number System: Factors and Coprimes
Ramakrishna Salagrama Admin > Anup 3 years ago
Numbersystem, Permutations and combinations, probability, percentages, time
and work, Ratio n proportion, time n distance, averages
5 Reply Share

sanjeev kumar > Ramakrishna Salagrama 3 years ago

Thank you sir u clear doubt me also..
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Anup > Ramakrishna Salagrama 3 years ago

okie.. Thank u sir
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madhuri 3 years ago

please correct that Math processing Error,because of that we are unable to understand the concepts
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Ramakrishna Salagrama Admin > madhuri 3 years ago

You get this error when your Internet connection is either too slow or getting disconnected.
Refresh the page and mostly math equations will be displayed properly.
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