Indian Statistical Institute B.Math & B.Stat : Combinatorics

What is the number of ordered triplets $(a,b,c)$ where $a,b,c$ are positive integers ( not necessarily distinct ) such that $abc=1000.$ $$$$ Since $1000=2^3 5^3$ any ordered triplet $(a,b,c)$ must be of the form \((2^i5^p,2^j5^q,2^k5^r)\) where $i+j+k=3$, $p+q+r=3$ and $i,j,k,p,q,r$ are non-negative integers. Number of solutions to the equation $i+j+k=3$ and $p+q+r=3$ is given by \( \binom{3+3-1}{3-1} =10 \). Now for each set of values of $i,j,k$ there are $10$ possible combinations of $p,q,r$. Thus giving a total of \(10 \times 10 =100\) ordered triplets. $$$$ Note the number of solutions to the equation \(x_1+x_2+\dots+x_r=n, n \in \mathbb{N}\) in positive integers is \( \binom {n-1}{r-1} \) and in non-negative integers is \( \binom {n+r-1}{r-1} \).