Roots and Exponents Simplification

XAT 2019 · Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation · Medium · Algebra

If 7a×35b+1×20c+23\sqrt[3]{7^a \times 35^{b+1} \times 20^{c+2}} is a whole number then which one of the statements below is consistent with it?

  1. A.

    a = 2, b = 1, c = 1

  2. B.

    a = 1, b = 2, c = 2

  3. C.

    a = 2, b = 1, c = 2

  4. D.

    a = 3, b = 1, c = 1

  5. E.

    a = 3, b = 2, c = 1

Answer

E

Explanation

Express in terms of prime factors: 7a×(5×7)b+1×(22×5)c+2=22c+4⋅5b+c+3⋅7a+b+17^a \times (5 \times 7)^{b+1} \times (2^2 \times 5)^{c+2} = 2^{2c+4} \cdot 5^{b+c+3} \cdot 7^{a+b+1}. For the cube root to be a whole number, powers of 2, 5, 7 must be multiples of 3:

  • 2c+42c+4 divisible by 3
  • b+c+3b+c+3 divisible by 3
  • a+b+1a+b+1 divisible by 3

Testing option E (a=3,b=2,c=1a=3, b=2, c=1):

  • 2(1)+4=62(1)+4 = 6 (divisible by 3)
  • 2+1+3=62+1+3 = 6 (divisible by 3)
  • 3+2+1=63+2+1 = 6 (divisible by 3) All are multiples of 3, so option E is consistent.

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