Cats and mice

Several cats (more than one) together killed exactly 999919999919 mice. Each cat killed the same number of mice, each killed more than one mouse, and each cat killed more mice than there were cats. How many mice did each cat kill?

Show hints (2)+
  1. Cats ×\times mice-per-cat =999919= 999919, both >1>1. So factor 999919999919.
  2. It's 991×1009991\times1009 (both prime). Since each cat killed more mice than there were cats, mice-per-cat is the larger factor.

Answer

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1009

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Asked at: Jane Street, Optiver

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