Practice30Create account

Written in base six, how many zeros does 20! end with?

Competition practiceNumber & Arithmetic
  • A8
  • B4
  • C6
  • D18

Step-by-Step Solution

A trailing zero in base six needs a factor , so count both primes inside 20!. Threes: ⌊20/3⌋ + ⌊20/9⌋ = 6 + 2 = 8. Twos: ⌊20/2⌋ + ⌊20/4⌋ + ⌊20/8⌋ + ⌊20/16⌋ = 10 + 5 + 2 + 1 = 18. Each 6 uses one of each, so the number of zeros is the smaller count, 8 — dividing 20! by 6 eight times in a row leaves a whole number, a ninth time does not. The trap is 4: that is how many zeros 20! ends with in base TEN, where the scarce prime is 5 rather than 3. Stopping at ⌊20/3⌋ gives 6.
Answer: A) 8

Master this topic in 30 minutes a day.

Don't just memorise the answer — build a daily practice habit.

Practice 5 Similar Questions Free →

All Number & Arithmetic practice questions

More Number & Arithmetic practice

Casting out nines is a quick check on a multiplication, because a number and its digit…For every integer n the number n⁵ − n is a multiple of a fixed number. What is the…A number is divided by 4; the quotient is then divided by 5; and that quotient is…The product of two numbers is 4107 and their HCF is 37. What is the larger of the two…What is the longest rod that can measure each of the lengths 2 1/2 m, 3 3/4 m and 5 m an…