PET 2026 · CSAT

Count divisors using prime exponents

Every positive divisor is formed by choosing an exponent for each prime factor

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MINDMAPS FOR UPSCPET 2026 · VISUAL REVISION

Count divisors using prime exponents

Every positive divisor is formed by choosing an exponent for each prime factor

Concept map
Counting positive divisors of n

Prime factorisation first

  • For a positive integer n > 1, write n = pᵃ × qᵇ × rᶜ … using distinct primes.
  • All bases p, q, r must be distinct primes; composite bases miscount divisors.
  • Check completeness by multiplying the prime powers back to recover n.

Exponent-choice formula

  • A prime power pᵃ offers (a + 1) exponent choices: 0, 1, 2, …, a.
  • Choosing exponent 0 contributes p⁰ = 1, which keeps 1 and other combinations included.
  • Total positive divisors d(n) = (a + 1)(b + 1)(c + 1)… by independent multiplication.

Worked check on 840

  • Split step by step: 840 = 84 × 10 = (4 × 21) × (2 × 5) = 2³ × 3¹ × 5¹ × 7¹.
  • Add 1 to each prime exponent: (3 + 1), (1 + 1), (1 + 1) and (1 + 1).
  • Multiply the counts: 4 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 32 positive divisors in total.

Factor pairs and squares

  • Divisors pair up as (d, n/d), so non-squares always have an even number of divisors.
  • A number is a perfect square if and only if every prime exponent is even.
  • When every exponent a, b, c is even, every factor (a + 1) is odd, giving an odd divisor count.
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25 Oct · Shift 1 · 2026

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