Divisor/Factor

Factors of a number N means all the numbers which divide N completely.

Multiples of a number N means all the numbers which are exactly divisible by N.

Now onwards factors/multiple will represent only +ve factors/multiple.

e.g. factors of 18 are = 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 18.

Multiples of 18 are = 18, 36, 54, 72…..

No. of divisors of a number:

 Question: find the numbers of divisors of 432?

432=24*33

To make a factor of 432, either we will choose 2’s power or 3’s power or combination of both.

432=24*33

Now 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 divides 432 (we cannot take 25 or higher
powers b’coz then it will no longer be a factors of 432).
Similarly 30, 31, 32, 33 divides 432.

If we take any combination of 2’s power with 3’s power, it will also be a factor of 432.

Now 2’s power can be chosen in 5 ways and 3’s power can be chosen in 4 ways.

So, number of divisors = 5*4=20

 find the sum of divisors of 72.

As we have discussed in above question, we know permissible power of 2 and 3 for being a
factor of 72=23*32 are

(20+21+22+23)*(30+31+32)

If we take multiplication of sum of 2’s permissible power and 3’s permissible power, we will
get all factors listed with + sign among them
i.e.

(20+21+22+23)*(30+31+32)= (1+21+22+23) (1+31+32)

=1(1+3+32) +2(1+3+32)+22(1+3+32)+23(1+3+32)

=1+3+9+2+6+18+4+12+36+8+24+72= Sum of factors of 72

That’s what we are looking for.

(24 – 1) (33 – 1)
So, Sum = ---------------------- (Formula for G.P)
(2 – 1) (3 – 1)
So, we can say,

for any number N= pa qb rc……..where p, q, r are distinct primes.

No. of factors = (a+1)(b+1)(c+1)

(Pa+1-1)(qb+1-1)(rc+1-1)
Sum of factors = -----------------------------
(p-1) (q-1)(r-1)

 N=23*32*53. Find
(i) No. of Factors
(ii) Sum of factors

Solution: We will go by formula only

(i) 20 30 50
21 31 51
22 32 52
23 53

Any combination of 2’s, 3’s or 5’s power will give me required factor. So, there are 4*3*4=48

(ii) By the same logic

Sum= (20+21+22+23)(30+31+32)(50+51+52+53)

(24 -1)(33 -1)(54 -1)

= -------------------------
(2-1)(3-1)(5-1)

 How many factors of N= 22*33*51 are odd factors. Find their sum?
Soln: For factor of N, we will consider following powers,

20 30 50
21 31 51
22 32
33

But factor should be odd also. (I.e. it does not have any power of 2 in it) So, we will neglect
power of 2. So, we will take

30 50
31 51
32
33

4 X 2=8

To find sum, we will apply again the same logic:

Multiplication of sum of permissible power

30 50
31 51
32
33

(30+31+32+33) (50+51)

(34 -1)(52 -1)

= ----------------
(3-1)(5-1)

Let N=24*32*53.Find
 No. of even factors and their sum?
 No. of factors which are perfect squares and their sum?
 No. of factors which are perfect cube and their sum?
 No. of factors which are ending with zero and their sum
 No. of factors which are multiples of 12.

Soln: (i) For even factors, it should always contain at least one time 2. i.e. 2 1, 22, 23 and
so on. In this case so, permissible powers are

21 30 50
22 31 51
23 32 52
24 53 (we will not take 20 because, in that case, it will no
longer be an even number)
 4 x 3 x 4=48 Ans.

Sum = (21+22+23+24)(30+31+32)(50+51+52+53)

2(24 -1) (33 -1) (54 -1)

= -------- * ------ *--------
(2-1) (3-1) (5-1)

(ii) Pa is perfect square (p is prime) if a is even. Now to be a factor of N, permissible

are following powers:-

But for a perfect square, we will choose only

incircled terms i.e.(entries with even powers)

So, ans = 3*2*2=12 Ans.

Sum= (20+22+24) (30+32) (50+52)

(iii) Pa is perfect cube if a=0, 3, 6, 9……(i.e. multiple of 3)

So, we will choose only encircled entries

So Ans. = 2*1*2=4

Sum= (20+23)(30)(50+53)

(iv) Factor is ending with zero. i.e. it is a multiple of 10=5*2

It means we need at least one 5 and one 2. So, we will neglect
So
 20 30 50
21 31 51
22 32 52
23 53
24

=4*3*3=36 Ans.

Sum = (21+22+23+24)(30+31+32)(51+52+53)

(v) 12=3*22. It means we will neglect 30, 20, 21

20 30 50
21 31 51
22 32 52
23 53
24
=3*2*4=24 Ans.

 Que: in how many ways 360 can be written as product of two factors?

Ans. obviously we will not calculate every factor of 360. Let us solve the same sum by taking
a smaller no. 72
72=1*72
2*36
3*24
4*18
6*12
8*9
So, ans. Is 6.instead of calculating, we can observe
72=23*32 has 4*3=12 factors
In the above arrangement, all the 12 factors are written by taking two at a time.
12
So, we one getting. 2 =6 ways
Total no. of factors of 72
So, ans.= -------------------------------
2

 Que: Find product of factors of 72?

Obviously since number is small, we can find the product by taking each factor. But I have
taken this number intentionally. So, that we can deduct a formula.
Now required product is
=(1*2*3*4*6*8*9*12*18*24*36*72)
=(1*72)(2*36)(3*24)(4*18)(6*12)(8*9)
=1*72 (=72)
*2*36 (=72)
*3*24 (=72)
*4*18 (=72)
*6*12 (=72)
*8*9 (=72)
Now see the miracle, every product is giving 72 and by last sum 72 can be written as product
of two factors in 6ways. So, Ans = (72)6 and formula becomes

Total no. of factors/2

Product of two factors of N = (N)