abc is a three-digit number in which a is the hundreds digit
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19 Jan 2024, 20:14
Given \(&(abc)& = (2^a)(3^b)(5^c)\)
Since \(2,3,5\) are primes, the only way we can get primes by multiplying \(2^a,3^b\) and \(5^c\) is when only one of \(a,b\) and \(c\) is \(1\) and the rest are \(zero\).
\(&(001)& = (2^0)(3^0)(5^1) = (1)(1)(5) = 5\)
\(&(010)& = (2^0)(3^1)(5^0) = (1)(3)(1) = 3\)
\(&(100)& = (2^1)(3^0)(5^0) = (2)(1)(1) = 2\)
Clearly, the three numbers are \(001,010\) and \(100\), that is \(1,10\) and \(100\). Of these \(100\) is the only three-digit number.
Therefore, for only one three-digit number \(abc\), the function \(&(abc)&\) yields a prime number.
The answer is Choice B.