A number theory problem by A Former Brilliant Member

We are given 175 positive integers, none of which have a prime divisor greater than 10.

What is the minimum integer n n , such that we are guaranteed to be able to find n n integers whose product is a perfect cube?


The answer is 3.

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1 solution

Each number is of the form 2 a 3 b 5 c 7 d 2^a 3^b 5^c 7^d . If we look at the exponents ( a , b , c , d ) (a,b,c,d) mod 3, there are 3 4 = 81 3^4 = 81 possibilities. So by the pigeonhole principle, there is at least one 4-tuple ( a , b , c , d ) { 0 , 1 , 2 } 4 (a,b,c,d) \in \{0,1,2\}^4 with three of the 175 numbers (since 175 > 81 2 175 > 81*2 ). Multiply those three together and you get a perfect cube. Showing that n = 1 , 2 n=1,2 is straightforward.

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