For how many integral values of is the above expression an integer?
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First we break the expression into prime factors.
3 5 2 a − 9 1 5 a + 3 2 8 8 − a = 3 a + 3 5 a + 3 − 2 a + 9 2 1 6 − 2 a 7 8 − a − 2 a + 9 = 2 1 6 − 2 a 3 a + 3 5 1 2 − a 7 1 7 − 3 a
Since primes do not divide one another, the expression is not an integer when any of the powers of the prime factor is negative. For the powers to be ≥ 0 , we have:
⎩ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎨ ⎪ ⎪ ⎪ ⎧ 1 6 − 2 a ≥ 0 a + 3 ≥ 0 1 2 − a ≥ 0 1 7 − 3 a ≥ 0 ⟹ a ≤ 8 ⟹ a ≥ − 3 ⟹ a ≤ 1 2 ⟹ a ≤ 5
The acceptable range is − 3 ≤ a ≤ 5 , 9 integral values.