This standalone topic accounts for some of the trickiest questions on standardised tests. We will discuss the concept with the help of an example since it will be easier to see that will make it easier to see what we mean by “highest power in factorials”.
Example: If is a factor of (10!), what is the greatest possible value of ?
is a factor of 10! We need to find the maximum value of . This means we need to find the total number of 2s in 10!
Let’s begin by writing down 10! to understand the question:
Of the numbers above, the following numbers have 2 as a factor: 2, 4 (two of them), 6, 8 (three of them) and 10
Total number of 2s in 10! Is 1 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 1 = 8
Easy enough, right? Yes, it is! Problems arise when we are dealing with relatively bigger numbers, say number of 2s in 40! or 80! etc.
I will now give you the method of solving any such question quickly. Subsequently, I will discuss the logic behind the method.
Example: If is a factor of (10!), what is the greatest possible value of ?
METHOD:
Step 1: (Divide 10 (obtained from 10!) by 2 (obtained from ))
Step 2: (Divide 5 (obtained from step 1) by 2 and ignore everything after the decimal)
Step 3: (Divide 2 (obtained from step 2) by 2)
Now, the quotient of this step i.e. 1 is less than the divisor i.e. 2, hence stop dividing
Step 4: Add all the quotients obtained: 5 + 2 + 1 = 8
The greatest possible value of is 8.
LOGIC:
Each alternate number in the product above will have a 2. Out of 10 numbers, 5 numbers will have a 2. Hence Step 1:
These 5 numbers are 2, 4, 6, 8, 10. Each of these numbers give us a 2, therefore we have five 2s as of now.
Now out of these 5 numbers, every alternate number will have another 2 since it will be a multiple of 4 Hence Step 2:
These 2 numbers are 4 and 8. Both of these numbers give us another 2, therefore we have two more 2s.
Out of these 2 numbers, every alternate number will have yet another 2 because it will be a multiple of 8.
Hence Step 3:
This single number is 8. It gives us one more 2.
Now, all 2s are accounted for. Just add them 5 + 2 + 1 = 8 (Hence Step 4)
These are the number of 2s in 10!.
Similarly, you can find maximum power of any prime number in any factorial.
Let’s quickly run through a few questions to grasp the concept properly.
Question: If is a factor of (122!), what is the greatest possible value of ?
Solution:
Step 1:
Step 2:
Step 3:
Step 4:
Step 5: 40 + 13 + 4 + 1 = 58
Greatest possible value of is 58.
Question: If is a factor of (122!), what is the greatest possible value of ?
Solution: 4 is not a prime number but to get the number of 4s in 122!, we can find the number of 2s and half it.
Step 1:
Step 2:
Step 3:
Step 4: 30 + 7 + 1 = 38
Total number of 2s is 38 so total number of 4s is 19. Greatest possible value of is 19.
Question: If is a factor of (40!), what is the greatest possible value of ?
Solution: 6 is not a prime number but we make a 6 by multiplying 2 with 3. To get the number of 6s in 40!, we just need to find the number of 3s because the number of 3s will be fewer than the number of 2s. If you are a little confused, don’t worry. Look at the solution given below.
Let’s find the number of 2s in 40!
Step 1:
Step 2:
Step 3:
Step 4:
Step 5:
Step 6: 20 + 10 + 5 + 2 + 1 = 38
Total number of 2s is 38.
Let’s find the number of 3s now.
Step 1:
Step 2:
Step 3:
Step 4: 13 + 4 + 1 = 18
Total number of 3s is 18.
To make a 6, you need one 2 and one 3. In 40!, you have 38 2s but only 18 3s. So you can make only 18 6s. Therefore, maximum value of is 18. It is obvious that the total number of a higher prime will be less than the total number of a smaller prime. Hence you didn’t even need to find the number of 2s here.
Usually, the greatest prime number will be the limiting condition, but not always.
Think what happens when we need to find the greatest power of 12 in 30!
Total number of 3s = 14
Total number of 2s = 26
But to make a 12, we need two 2s and one 3. Hence, out of 26 2s, we can make only 13 12’s.
Therefore, the maximum power of 12 in 30! is 13.