emmak wrote:
A Mersenne number is a positive integer that is one less than any power of 2. A Mersenne prime is a Mersenne number that also happens to be prime. The largest known prime number, ((2^[43112609])-1), is a Mersenne prime. If the largest known Mersenne prime were multiplied by the smallest Mersenne prime, which of the following would represent the units digit of the product?
a) 2
b) 3
c) 4
d) 6
e) 8
First of all, think which is the smallest Mersenne prime?
The smallest prime 1 less than a power of 2 is 3.
We need the last digit of 2^{43112609} - 1. What will be the last digit of 2^{43112609}?
Recall cyclicity of last digits. After every 4 powers, the last digit repeats itself. Let's look at the last digits of powers of 2.
2^1 = 2
2^2 = 4
2^3 = 8
2^4 = 6
2^5 = 2
2^6 = 4
and so on...
When 43112609 is divided by 4, you get remainder 1 (divide just the last two digits by 4. Whatever remainder you get will be the remainder when you divide the actual number by 4)
So the last digit of 2^{43112609} is 2
Last digit of 2^{43112609} - 1 is 1
Product of the last digits is 1*3 = 3
Answer (B)
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