Problem:
Calculate, with proof, the last digit of
Solution
Solution:
When is raised to the successive powers , the units digits are From then on, since the digit has been reached, the units digits will repeat in this cycle of four elements. So it is necessary to find the remainder when
is divided by .
When powers of are divided by , the remainders are Here the number appears after two steps, and the remainders therefore repeat in a two-element cycle. So it is necessary to find the remainder when
is divided by .
But is clearly odd, so has a remainder of when divided by and the original number has a last digit of .
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