How many factors does the number 19 x 29 x 59 x 79 have?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around determining the number of factors of the product of the primes 19, 29, 59, and 79, specifically excluding 1 and the number itself. Participants explore various methods to calculate the total number of factors, including the use of formulas and combinatorial reasoning.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose using the formula for the number of factors, stating that if \( n = p_1^{a_1} p_2^{a_2} \dots p_k^{a_k} \), then the number of factors \( \tau(n) \) is given by \( (a_1+1)(a_2+1) \dots (a_k+1) \).
  • Others argue that since the number is a product of four distinct primes, each prime contributes two choices (either included or not), leading to \( 2^4 = 16 \) total factors, including 1 and itself.
  • A later reply confirms that excluding 1 and the number itself results in 14 factors.
  • Some participants emphasize the multiplicative property of \( \tau \) for coprime integers, noting that since the primes are pairwise coprime, the calculation simplifies to \( \tau(19) \cdot \tau(29) \cdot \tau(59) \cdot \tau(79) = 2^4 \).
  • There is a discussion about the combinatorial interpretation of the problem, likening it to selecting from boxes containing the factors of each prime.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the total number of factors being 16, but there is some contention regarding the exclusion of 1 and the number itself, with different interpretations of how to arrive at the final count of 14 factors.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions regarding the definitions of factors and the treatment of primes are implicit in the discussion. The mathematical steps leading to the conclusion are not fully resolved, particularly in the context of excluding specific factors.

justinepark
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Having trouble with this problem, appreciate help.

Excluding 1 and itself, how many factors does the number 19 x 29 x 59 x 79 have?
 
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justinepark said:
Having trouble with this problem, appreciate help.

Excluding 1 and itself, how many factors does the number 19 x 29 x 59 x 79 have?

$$n=p_1^{a_1} p_2^{a_2} \dots p_k^{a_k}$$
where $p_i$ are primes ($p_i \neq p_j$) and $a_i >0$.

The number of factors of $n$ is equal to $$\tau(n)=(a_1+1)(a_2+1) \dots (a_k+1)$$
 
justinepark said:
Having trouble with this problem, appreciate help.

Excluding 1 and itself, how many factors does the number 19 x 29 x 59 x 79 have?

the number $19 *29 *59 * 79$ is product of 4 primes and for each factor there is choice of 2 for each prime so 2^4 ot 16 factors as per How to Find How Many Factors Are in a Number: 4 Steps

to illustrate the factors are

1 $19^0*29^0*59^0*79^0$ or 1
2 $19^1*29^0*59^0*79^0$ or 19
3 $19^0*29^1*59^0*79^0$ or 29
4 $19^1*29^1*59^0*79^0$ or 19 * 29
5 $19^0*29^0*59^1*79^0$ or 59
6 $19^1*29^0*59^1*79^0$ or 19 * 59
7 $19^0*29^1*59^1*79^0$ or 29 * 59
8 $19^1*29^1*59^1*79^0$ or 19 * 29 * 79

and 8 product of the above combinations and 79

if one has to exclude 1and itself then 14 factors
 
kaliprasad said:
the number $19 *29 *59 * 79$ is product of 4 primes and for each factor there is choice of 2 for each prime so 2^4 ot 16 factors as per How to Find How Many Factors Are in a Number: 4 Steps

to illustrate the factors are

1 $19^0*29^0*59^0*79^0$ or 1
2 $19^1*29^0*59^0*79^0$ or 19
3 $19^0*29^1*59^0*79^0$ or 29
4 $19^1*29^1*59^0*79^0$ or 19 * 29
5 $19^0*29^0*59^1*79^0$ or 59
6 $19^1*29^0*59^1*79^0$ or 19 * 59
7 $19^0*29^1*59^1*79^0$ or 29 * 59
8 $19^1*29^1*59^1*79^0$ or 19 * 29 * 79

and 8 product of the above combinations and 79

if one has to exclude 1and itself then 14 factors

That's right!

Using the formula I wrote in my previous post, we have the following:

$$n=19^1 \cdot 29^1 \cdot 59^1 \cdot 79^1$$

$$\tau{(19 \cdot 29 \cdot 59 \cdot 79)}=2 \cdot 2 \cdot 2 \cdot 2=2^4=16$$

At the $16$ factors, $1$ and itself are included.

Therefore, the number of factors excluding $1$ and itself is equal to $14$.
 
Well, it's more or less enough to note that $\tau$ is multiplicative instead of using that formula : elts of $\{19, 29, 59, 79\}$ are pairwise coprime. Indeed, they are all primes.

$$\tau(19 \cdot 29 \cdot 59 \cdot 79) = \tau(19) \cdot \tau(29) \cdot \tau(59) \cdot \tau(79) = 2 \cdot 2 \cdot 2 \cdot 2 = 2^4$$

In an "english" translation, if $p$ is a prime then there are only two factors of $p$ : $\{1, p\}$. For $p_1 \cdot p_2 \cdot p_3 \cdot p_4$, $p_i$s being prime, looking for number of factors is essentially equivalent to finding how many ways one can pick a single ball from each box, given 4 boxes with 2 balls inside marked as $1$ and $p$. It's an easy exercise in combinatorics to show that there are indeed $2^4$ ways to do it.
 
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