Difference between revisions of "1961 AHSME Problems/Problem 28"

(SOLUTION 2)
(SOLUTION 2)
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   .      .
 
   .      .
 
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   <math>U</math>(<math>7^4)= </math>1<math></math>
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   <math>U</math>(<math>7^4)= </math>1<math> </math>
  
 
and we can see by Fermat's Theorem that this cycle repeats with the cyclicity of <math>4</math>.  
 
and we can see by Fermat's Theorem that this cycle repeats with the cyclicity of <math>4</math>.  
  
Now <math>753</math> = <math>4k</math> + <math>1</math>  \Rightarrow <math>U(</math>7<math>^753</math>)<math> = </math>7<math>.
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Now <math>753</math> = <math>4k</math> + <math>1</math>  \Rightarrow <math>U(</math>7<math>^{753}</math>)<math> = </math>7<math>.
 
   
 
   
 
</math> ~GEOMETRY-WIZARD $
 
</math> ~GEOMETRY-WIZARD $

Revision as of 08:02, 31 December 2023

Problem 28

If $2137^{753}$ is multiplied out, the units' digit in the final product is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 1\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 3\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 5\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 7\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 9$

Solution

$7^1$ has a unit digit of $7$. $7^2$ has a unit digit of $9$. $7^3$ has a unit digit of $3$. $7^4$ has a unit digit of $1$. $7^5$ has a unit digit of $7$.

Notice that the unit digit eventually cycles to itself when the exponent is increased by $4$. It also does not matter what the other digits are in the base because the units digit is found by multiplying by only the units digit. Since $753$ leaves a remainder of $1$ after being divided by $4$, the units digit of $2137^{753}$ is $7$, which is answer choice $\boxed{\textbf{(D)}}$.

SOLUTION 2

  • $Lemma$ ($Fermat's$ $Theorem$): If $p$ is a prime and $a$ is an integer prime to $p$ then we have $a^{p-1} \equiv 1\ (\textrm{mod}\ p)$.


  • Let's define $U$($x$) as units digit funtion of $x$.

We can clearly observe that,

  $U$($7^1$)= $7$
  .      .
  .      .
  .      .
  $U$($7^4)=$1$$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg)

and we can see by Fermat's Theorem that this cycle repeats with the cyclicity of $4$.

Now $753$ = $4k$ + $1$ \Rightarrow $U($7$^{753}$)$=$7$.$ ~GEOMETRY-WIZARD $

See Also

1961 AHSC (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 27
Followed by
Problem 29
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
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