How many positive integers are not divisible by 2, 3, or 5 up to 120?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on determining how many positive integers up to 120 are not divisible by 2, 3, or 5. Participants explore various methods for solving this problem, including prime factorization and the Sieve of Eratosthenes, as well as the inclusion-exclusion principle.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests using prime factorization of 120 to find the number of multiples of 2, 3, and 5, and then subtracting this from 120.
  • Another participant mentions the Sieve of Eratosthenes as a comfortable method for this exercise.
  • A later reply provides a detailed breakdown of counting multiples of 2, 3, and 5, including corrections for overlaps using the inclusion-exclusion principle.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about the correct counting of multiples and whether their methods are appropriate.
  • One participant acknowledges a mistake in their counting of multiples and refers to another participant's method as proper.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best method to solve the problem, and there are multiple competing views on how to count the integers not divisible by 2, 3, or 5.

Contextual Notes

Some participants' methods depend on the correct application of the inclusion-exclusion principle, and there are unresolved questions about the counting of specific multiples.

evinda
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Hi! (Smile)

I am looking at this exercise:

How many positive integers,that are not greater that $120$, do not get divided by $2,3 \text{ and } 5$?

I thought to write $120$ as a product of prime numbers ($120=2^3 \cdot 3 \cdot 5^2$),and then find the number of multiples of $2,3,5$ and subtract their sum from $120$. (Blush)

Is it right? And...how can I find the number of multiples of $2,3 \text{ and } 5$ ? :confused:
 
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evinda said:
Hi! (Smile)

I am looking at this exercise:

How many positive integers,that are not greater that $120$, do not get divided by $2,3 \text{ and } 5$?

I thought to write $120$ as a product of prime numbers ($120=2^3 \cdot 3 \cdot 5^2$),and then find the number of multiples of $2,3,5$ and subtract their sum from $120$. (Blush)

Is it right? And...how can I find the number of multiples of $2,3 \text{ and } 5$ ? :confused:

In this case the Sieve of Heratosthenes is a relatively comfortable method...

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$
 
chisigma said:
In this case the Sieve of Heratosthenes is a relatively comfortable method...

Kind regards

$\chi$ $\sigma$


But...is my idea right or could we also do it in an other way? :confused:
 
evinda said:
Hi! (Smile)

I am looking at this exercise:

How many positive integers,that are not greater that $120$, do not get divided by $2,3 \text{ and } 5$?

I thought to write $120$ as a product of prime numbers ($120=2^3 \cdot 3 \cdot 5^2$),and then find the number of multiples of $2,3,5$ and subtract their sum from $120$. (Blush)

Is it right?

Yep! That is right! (Sun)

And...how can I find the number of multiples of $2,3 \text{ and } 5$ ? :confused:

Well, in these number the factor 2 occurs 0 up to 3 times, the factor 3 occurs 0 to 1 times, etcetera... (Thinking)
 
I like Serena said:
Yep! That is right! (Sun)
Well, in these number the factor 2 occurs 0 up to 3 times, the factor 3 occurs 0 to 1 times, etcetera... (Thinking)

So,there are $4$ multiples of $2$, $2$ of $3$ and $3$ of $5$? (Thinking)
 
Hello, evinda!

How many integers from 1 to 120 are not divisible by 2, 3 or 5?
Let's find the number of integers which are divisible by 2, 3, or 5.

Every second integer is divisible by 2.
.. 2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18\text{ . . .}
Hence: .n(2) \:=\:\tfrac{120}{2} \:=\: 60 multiples of 2.

Every third integer is divisible by 3.
. . 3,6,9,12,15,18,\text{ . . .}
Hence: .n(3) \:=\:\tfrac{120}{3} \:=\:40 multiples of 3.

But both these lists contain 6, 12, 18, . . .
. . The mutiples of 6 are counted twice.
Hence: .n(2,3) \:=\:\tfrac{120}{6} \:=\:20 multiples of 6.Every fifth integer is divisible by 5.
. . 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30,\text{ . . .}
Hence: .n(5) \:=\:\tfrac{120}{5} \:=\:24 multiples of 5.

But we counted the multiples of 10, and 15 twice.
There are: .\tfrac{120}{10} = 12 multiples of 10, n(2,5) = 12
. . . . and: .\tfrac{120}{15} = 8 multiples of 15, n(3,5) = 8

Also, there are: .\tfrac{120}{30} = 4 multiples of 2, 3 and 5.

\begin{array}{cccc}\text{Formula:}\\<br /> n(A \cup B \cup C) &amp;=&amp; n(A) + n(B) + n(C) \\ &amp;&amp; -n(A\cap B) -n(B\cap C) - n(A\cap C) \\ &amp;&amp; + n(A\cap B\cap C) \end{array}

\begin{array}{ccccc}n(2 \cup 3 \cup 5) &amp;=&amp; n(2) + n(3) + n(5) \\ &amp;&amp; -n(2\cap3) - n(3\cap5) - n(2\cap 5) \\ &amp;&amp; + n(2\cap3\cap5)\end{array}

n(2\cup3\cup5)\:=\:60 + 40 + 24 - 20 - 8 - 12 + 4 \:=\:88There are: .120-88 \,=\,32 numbers not divisible by 2, 3 or 5.
 
evinda said:
So,there are $4$ multiples of $2$, $2$ of $3$ and $3$ of $5$? (Thinking)

Wait! (Wait)
I was counting the wrong numbers.

Anyway, Soroban gave a proper method, which also matches chisigma's suggestion. (Emo)
 

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