AMC 10 Step by Step

Topics / Number Theory

Divisibility & Factors

Divisors, number/sum of divisors, factorization, divisibility rules

52
primary-topic problems (4.0% of all)
47
more as a secondary topic
Where it appears
21
P1-10
9
P11-15
11
P16-20
11
P21-25

What you need to know

  • Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic: every integer n>1n > 1 factors uniquely as n=p1a1p2a2pkakn = p_1^{a_1} p_2^{a_2} \cdots p_k^{a_k} with distinct primes pip_i.
  • Number of divisors: d(n)=(a1+1)(a2+1)(ak+1)d(n) = (a_1+1)(a_2+1)\cdots(a_k+1). Sum of divisors: σ(n)=i(1+pi++piai)\sigma(n) = \prod_i \left(1 + p_i + \cdots + p_i^{a_i}\right).
  • Divisors come in pairs (d,n/d)(d, n/d); nn has an odd number of divisors exactly when nn is a perfect square.
  • Divisibility rules: 2,5,102, 5, 10 from the last digit; 4,254, 25 from the last two; 88 from the last three; 3,93, 9 from the digit sum; 1111 from the alternating digit sum.
  • The number of multiples of kk in {1,2,,N}\{1, 2, \ldots, N\} is N/k\lfloor N/k \rfloor.
  • If aba \mid b and aca \mid c, then a(bx+cy)a \mid (bx + cy) for any integers x,yx, y.

How AMC 10 tests it

  • Early problems (1–8) factor the contest year and ask for a sum or digit fact about its factors.
  • Middle problems (10–18) ask "how many positive divisors of NN are ..." (even, perfect squares, multiples of 66), which is d(n)d(n) with constrained exponents.
  • "How many integers up to NN are divisible by aa or bb but not cc" combines floor counting with inclusion–exclusion.
  • Products of consecutive integers: which number must divide n(n+1)(n+2)n(n+1)(n+2)? The trick is a single counterexample.
  • Late problems reverse the direction: given d(n)d(n) or σ(n)\sigma(n), find the smallest such nn or count the possibilities.

Standard approaches

  1. Prime factorize immediately; almost every divisor question becomes a question about exponents.
  2. Count divisors with a property by restricting each exponent to allowed values and multiplying the counts.
  3. To find the smallest nn with a given d(n)d(n), write d(n)d(n) as a product of factors (ai+1)(a_i+1) and assign the largest exponents to the smallest primes; compare all factorizations.
  4. Count multiples with floors and correct for overlaps using lcm\operatorname{lcm}.
  5. For "must divide" claims, test one small example such as 5675 \cdot 6 \cdot 7.

Worked example

Let NN be the smallest positive integer with exactly 2020 positive divisors. What is the sum of the digits of NN?

(A) 44 (B) 66 (C) 88 (D) 99 (E) 1212

Write 2020 as a product of factors each at least 22, in non-increasing order: 2020, 10210 \cdot 2, 545 \cdot 4, 5225 \cdot 2 \cdot 2. Each factorization gives exponents one less, assigned to the primes 2,3,52, 3, 5 in decreasing order:

219,293=1536,2433=432,2435=240. 2^{19}, \qquad 2^{9}\cdot 3 = 1536, \qquad 2^{4}\cdot 3^{3} = 432, \qquad 2^{4}\cdot 3 \cdot 5 = 240.

The smallest is N=240N = 240, whose digit sum is 2+4+0=62 + 4 + 0 = 6. The answer is (B) 6\boxed{\textbf{(B)}\ 6}.

Pitfalls

  • Forgetting the +1+1: 24332^4 \cdot 3^3 has 54=205 \cdot 4 = 20 divisors, not 1212.
  • Counting 11 and nn inconsistently ("proper divisors" excludes nn; check the wording).
  • Assuming the smallest nn with d(n)=kd(n) = k always comes from the factorization with the most factors; you must compare all of them.
  • Applying inclusion–exclusion with abab instead of lcm(a,b)\operatorname{lcm}(a, b) when aa and bb share a factor.

Traps that recur

  • Counting only the 15 primes as failures (answer 35) and missing that n = 4 also fails, or forgetting that n = 1 works. (2019 AMC 10A #25)
  • Counting only the n with d(n) = 6 (eight of them) and missing 36 and 48, whose f_1 values 18 and 20 also feed into the fixed point 12. (2021 AMC Fall 10A #23)
  • Trying to compute C(52,10) exactly, or using divisibility by 11 (which every choice satisfies) and getting nowhere. (2020 AMC 10B #19)
  • Answering 121 by forgetting the word 'distinct', or subtracting only the two obvious cases 1 and 10^10 to get 119. (2019 AMC 10B #19)

Problems, easiest first

2021 AMC 10B · #5Divisibility & Factors

The ages of Jonie's four cousins are distinct single-digit positive integers. Two of the cousins' ages multiplied together give 2424 , while the other two multiply to 3030 . What is the sum of the ages of Jonie's four cousins?

2019 AMC 10A · #2Divisibility & Factors

What is the hundreds digit of (20!15!)?(20!-15!)?

2008 AMC 10A · #3Divisibility & Factors

For the positive integer nn , let n\langle n\rangle denote the sum of all the positive divisors of nn with the exception of nn itself. For example, 4=1+2=3\langle 4\rangle=1+2=3 and 12=1+2+3+4+6=16\langle 12 \rangle =1+2+3+4+6=16 . What is 6\langle\langle\langle 6\rangle\rangle\rangle ?

2000 AMC 10 · #1Divisibility & Factors

In the year 20012001 , the United States will host the International Mathematical Olympiad. Let I,M,I,M, and OO be distinct positive integers such that the product IMO=2001I \cdot M \cdot O = 2001 . What is the largest possible value of the sum I+M+OI + M + O ?

2024 AMC 10B · #8Divisibility & Factors

Let NN be the product of all the positive integer divisors of 4242 . What is the units digit of NN ?

2024 AMC 10A · #7Divisibility & Factors

The product of three integers is 6060 . What is the least possible positive sum of the three integers?

2024 AMC 10B · #6Divisibility & Factors

A rectangle has integer length sides and an area of 2024. What is the least possible perimeter of the rectangle?

2023 AMC 10A · #12Divisibility & Factors

How many three-digit positive integers NN satisfy the following properties? - The number NN is divisible by 77 . - The number formed by reversing the digits of NN is divisible by 55 .

2022 AMC 10B · #8Divisibility & Factors

Consider the following 100100 sets of 1010 elements each: \begin{align} &\{1,2,3,\ldots,10\}, \\ &\{11,12,13,\ldots,20\},\\ &\{21,22,23,\ldots,30\},\\ &\vdots\\ &\{991,992,993,\ldots,1000\}. \end{align} How many of these sets contain exactly two multiples of 77 ?

2021 AMC Fall 10B · #6Divisibility & Factors

The least positive integer with exactly 20212021 distinct positive divisors can be written in the form m6km \cdot 6^k , where mm and kk are integers and 66 is not a divisor of mm . What is m+k?m+k?

2020 AMC 10A · #9Divisibility & Factors

A single bench section at a school event can hold either 77 adults or 1111 children. When NN bench sections are connected end to end, an equal number of adults and children seated together will occupy all the bench space. What is the least possible positive integer value of N?N?

2017 AMC 10A · #16Divisibility & Factors

There are 10 horses, named Horse 1, Horse 2, \ldots , Horse 10. They get their names from how many minutes it takes them to run one lap around a circular race track: Horse kk runs one lap in exactly kk minutes. At time 0 all the horses are together at the starting point on the track. The horses start running in the …

2014 AMC 10B · #12Divisibility & Factors

The largest divisor of 2,014,000,0002,014,000,000 is itself. What is its fifth largest divisor?

2013 AMC 10B · #9Divisibility & Factors

Three positive integers are each greater than 11 , have a product of 2700027000 , and are pairwise relatively prime. What is their sum?

2012 AMC 10B · #10Divisibility & Factors

How many ordered pairs of positive integers (M,N)(M,N) satisfy the equation M6=6N?\frac{M}{6}=\frac{6}{N}?

2011 AMC 10B · #5Divisibility & Factors

In multiplying two positive integers aa and bb , Ron reversed the digits of the two-digit number aa . His erroneous product was 161161 . What is the correct value of the product of aa and bb ?

2011 AMC 10A · #10Divisibility & Factors

A majority of the 30 students in Ms. Deameanor's class bought pencils at the school bookstore. Each of these students bought the same number of pencils, and this number was greater than 1. The cost of a pencil in cents was greater than the number of pencils each student bought, and the total cost of all the pencils was …

2010 AMC 10B · #8Divisibility & Factors

A ticket to a school play cost xx dollars, where xx is a whole number. A group of 9th graders buys tickets costing a total of $48\$48 , and a group of 10th graders buys tickets costing a total of $64\$64 . How many values for xx are possible?

2009 AMC 10B · #6Divisibility & Factors

Kiana has two older twin brothers. The product of their three ages is 128. What is the sum of their three ages?

2008 AMC 10A · #9Divisibility & Factors

Suppose that 2x3x6\frac{2x}{3}-\frac{x}{6} is an integer. Which of the following statements must be true about xx ?

2004 AMC 10B · #4Divisibility & Factors

A standard six-sided die is rolled, and PP is the product of the five numbers that are visible. What is the largest number that is certain to divide PP ?

2003 AMC 10A · #8Divisibility & Factors

What is the probability that a randomly drawn positive factor of 6060 is less than 77 ?

2003 AMC 10A · #15Divisibility & Factors

What is the probability that an integer in the set {1,2,3,...,100}\{1,2,3,...,100\} is divisible by 22 and not divisible by 33 ?

2001 AMC 10 · #12Divisibility & Factors

Suppose that nn is the product of three consecutive integers and that nn is divisible by 77 . Which of the following is not necessarily a divisor of nn ?

2025 AMC 10B · #8Divisibility & Factors

Emmy says to Max, "I ordered 3636 math club sweatshirts today." Max asks, "How much did each shirt cost?" Emmy responds, "I'll give you a hint. The total cost was $A B B.B A\$ \underline A~\underline B~\underline B.\underline B~\underline A , where AA and BB are digits and $A \neq 0 …

2021 AMC 10B · #12Divisibility & Factors

Let N=343463270N = 34 \cdot 34 \cdot 63 \cdot 270 . What is the ratio of the sum of the odd divisors of NN to the sum of the even divisors of NN ?

2021 AMC 10B · #16Divisibility & Factors

Call a positive integer an uphill integer if every digit is strictly greater than the previous digit. For example, 13571357 , 8989 , and 55 are all uphill integers, but 3232 , 12401240 , and 466466 are not. How many uphill integers are divisible by 1515 ?

2020 AMC 10A · #15Divisibility & Factors

A positive integer divisor of 12!12! is chosen at random. The probability that the divisor chosen is a perfect square can be expressed as mn\frac{m}{n} , where mm and nn are relatively prime positive integers. What is m+nm+n ?

2019 AMC 10A · #11Divisibility & Factors

How many positive integer divisors of 2019201^9 are perfect squares or perfect cubes (or both)?

2019 AMC 10B · #14Divisibility & Factors

The base-ten representation for 19!19! is 121,6T5,100,40M,832,H00121,6T5,100,40M,832,H00 , where TT , MM , and HH denote digits that are not given. What is T+M+HT+M+H ?

2019 AMC 10A · #9Divisibility & Factors

What is the greatest three-digit positive integer nn for which the sum of the first nn positive integers is not\underline{\text{not}} a divisor of the product of the first nn positive integers?

2018 AMC 10A · #17Divisibility & Factors

Let SS be a set of 66 integers taken from {1,2,,12}\{1,2,\dots,12\} with the property that if aa and bb are elements of SS with a<ba<b , then bb is not a multiple of aa . What is the least possible value of an element in SS ?

2017 AMC 10B · #20Divisibility & Factors

The number 21!=51,090,942,171,709,440,00021!=51,090,942,171,709,440,000 has over 60,00060,000 positive integer divisors. One of them is chosen at random. What is the probability that it is odd?

2016 AMC 10B · #18Divisibility & Factors

In how many ways can 345345 be written as the sum of an increasing sequence of two or more consecutive positive integers?

2014 AMC 10B · #17Divisibility & Factors

What is the greatest power of 22 that is a factor of 101002450110^{1002} - 4^{501} ?

2009 AMC 10A · #19Divisibility & Factors

Circle AA has radius 100100 . Circle BB has an integer radius r<100r<100 and remains internally tangent to circle AA as it rolls once around the circumference of circle AA . The two circles have the same points of tangency at the beginning and end of circle BB 's trip. How many possible values can rr have?

2005 AMC 10A · #21Divisibility & Factors

For how many positive integers nn does 1+2++n1+2+\dotsb+n evenly divide 6n6n ?

2005 AMC 10A · #15Divisibility & Factors

How many positive cubes divide 3!5!7!3! \cdot 5! \cdot 7! ?

2003 AMC 10B · #18Divisibility & Factors

What is the largest integer that is a divisor of (n+1)(n+3)(n+5)(n+7)(n+9)(n+1)(n+3)(n+5)(n+7)(n+9) for all positive even integers nn ?

2021 AMC Fall 10A · #23Divisibility & Factors

For each positive integer nn , let f1(n)f_1(n) be twice the number of positive integer divisors of nn , and for j2j \ge 2 , let fj(n)=f1(fj1(n))f_j(n) = f_1(f_{j-1}(n)) . For how many values of n50n \le 50 is f50(n)=12?f_{50}(n) = 12?

2020 AMC 10B · #19Divisibility & Factors

In a certain card game, a player is dealt a hand of 1010 cards from a deck of 5252 distinct cards. The number of distinct (unordered) hands that can be dealt to the player can be written as 158A00A4AA0158A00A4AA0 . What is the digit AA ?

2019 AMC 10B · #19Divisibility & Factors

Let SS be the set of all positive integer divisors of 100,000.100,000. How many numbers are the product of two distinct elements of S?S?

2018 AMC 10B · #19Divisibility & Factors

Joey and Chloe and their daughter Zoe all have the same birthday. Joey is 11 year older than Chloe, and Zoe is exactly 11 year old today. Today is the first of the 99 birthdays on which Chloe's age will be an integral multiple of Zoe's age. What will be the sum of the two digits of Joey's age the next time his age …

2018 AMC 10B · #21Divisibility & Factors

Mary chose an even 44 -digit number nn . She wrote down all the divisors of nn in increasing order from left to right: 1,2,,n2,n1,2,\ldots,\dfrac{n}{2},n . At some moment Mary wrote 323323 as a divisor of nn . What is the smallest possible value of the next divisor written to the right of 323323 ?

2016 AMC 10A · #22Divisibility & Factors

For some positive integer nn , the number 110n3110n^3 has 110110 positive integer divisors, including 11 and the number 110n3110n^3 . How many positive integer divisors does the number 81n481n^4 have?

2015 AMC 10B · #23Divisibility & Factors

Let nn be a positive integer greater than 4 such that the decimal representation of n!n! ends in kk zeros and the decimal representation of (2n)!(2n)! ends in 3k3k zeros. Let ss denote the sum of the four least possible values of nn . What is the sum of the digits of ss ?

2013 AMC 10A · #21Divisibility & Factors

A group of 1212 pirates agree to divide a treasure chest of gold coins among themselves as follows. The kthk^{\text{th}} pirate to take a share takes k12\frac{k}{12} of the coins that remain in the chest. The number of coins initially in the chest is the smallest number for which this arrangement will allow each pirate …

2013 AMC 10B · #24Divisibility & Factors

A positive integer nn is nice if there is a positive integer mm with exactly four positive divisors (including 11 and mm ) such that the sum of the four divisors is equal to nn . How many numbers in the set {2010,2011,2012,,2019}\{ 2010,2011,2012,\dotsc,2019 \} are nice?

2009 AMC 10A · #25Divisibility & Factors

For k>0k > 0 , let Ik=10064I_k = 10\ldots 064 , where there are kk zeros between the 11 and the 66 . Let N(k)N(k) be the number of factors of 22 in the prime factorization of IkI_k . What is the maximum value of N(k)N(k) ?

2006 AMC 10B · #25Divisibility & Factors

Mr. Jones has eight children of different ages. On a family trip his oldest child, who is 9, spots a license plate with a 4-digit number in which each of two digits appears two times. "Look, daddy!" she exclaims. "That number is evenly divisible by the age of each of us kids!" "That's right," replies Mr. Jones, "and …

2005 AMC 10B · #22Divisibility & Factors

For how many positive integers nn less than or equal to 2424 is n!n! evenly divisible by 1+2++n?1 + 2 + \cdots + n?

2019 AMC 10A · #25Divisibility & Factors

For how many integers nn between 11 and 5050 , inclusive, is (n21)!(n!)n\frac{(n^2-1)!}{(n!)^{n}} an integer? (Recall that 0!=10!=1 .)