Integer chosen uniformly from 1 to 100. What is the probability that it is relatively prime to 100?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: 2/5

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
“Relatively prime to 100” means gcd(n, 100) = 1. Euler’s totient φ(100) counts such integers in {1, …, 100}.



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • 100 = 2^2 × 5^2.
  • φ(n) = n × ∏(1 − 1/p) over distinct prime factors p of n.


Concept / Approach:
Compute φ(100) and divide by 100 to obtain the desired probability.



Step-by-Step Solution:
φ(100) = 100 × (1 − 1/2) × (1 − 1/5) = 100 × (1/2) × (4/5) = 40.Probability = φ(100)/100 = 40/100 = 2/5.



Verification / Alternative check:
Numbers divisible by 2 or 5 are not coprime to 100; inclusion–exclusion gives the same count.



Why Other Options Are Wrong:
61/100 overcounts; 17/100 and 19/100 undercount; 3/5 is the complement of 2/5 among multiples of 2 or 5, not the coprime share.



Common Pitfalls:
Confusing “not divisible by 2 or 5” with “coprime to 100” (these notions coincide here but must be handled carefully with inclusion–exclusion).



Final Answer:
2/5

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