THE UNITS DIGIT OF A POWERHow to Determine the Units (last) Digit of \((xyz)^n\):1. Last digit of \((xyz)^n\) is the same as that of \(z^n\);
2. Determine the cyclicity number \(c\) of \(z\);
3. Find the remainder \(r\) when \(n\) divided by the cyclisity;
4. When \(r>0\), then last digit of \((xyz)^n\) is the same as that of \(z^r\) and when \(r=0\), then last digit of \((xyz)^n\) is the same as that of \(z^c\), where \(c\) is the cyclisity number.
• Integer ending with 0, 1, 5 or 6, in the integer power k>0, has the same last digit as the base.
• Integers ending with 2, 3, 7 and 8 have a cyclicity of 4.
• Integers ending with 4 (eg. \((xy4)^n\)) have a cyclisity of 2. When n is odd \((xy4)^n\) will end with 4 and when n is even \((xy4)^n\) will end with 6.
• Integers ending with 9 (eg. \((xy9)^n\)) have a cyclisity of 2. When n is odd \((xy9)^n\) will end with 9 and when n is even \((xy9)^n\) will end with 1.
Example: What is the last digit of \(127^{39}\)?
Solution: Last digit of \(127^{39}\) is the same as that of \(7^{39}\). Now we should determine the cyclisity of \(7\):
1. 7^1=7 (last digit is 7)
2. 7^2=9 (last digit is 9)
3. 7^3=3 (last digit is 3)
4. 7^4=1 (last digit is 1)
5. 7^5=7 (last digit is 7 again!)
...
So, the cyclisity of 7 is 4.
Now divide 39 (power) by 4 (cyclisity), remainder is 3.So, the last digit of \(127^{39}\) is the same as that of the last digit of \(7^{39}\), is the same as that of the last digit of \(7^3\), which is \(3\).
Find below links to units digits, exponents, remainders, cyclicity problems.Problem Solving:
650+
https://gmatclub.com/forum/what-is-the-t ... 27023.htmlhttps://gmatclub.com/forum/if-you-divide ... 83350.htmlhttps://gmatclub.com/forum/if-n-is-a-pos ... 05067.htmlhttps://gmatclub.com/forum/what-is-the-u ... 01015.htmlhttps://gmatclub.com/forum/if-n-is-a-pos ... 96262.htmlhttps://gmatclub.com/forum/what-is-the-r ... 41050.htmlhttps://gmatclub.com/forum/find-the-ones ... 41071.htmlhttps://gmatclub.com/forum/m12-72970.htmlhttps://gmatclub.com/forum/if-a-and-b-ar ... 87301.html700+
https://gmatclub.com/forum/when-51-25-is ... 30220.htmlhttps://gmatclub.com/forum/m25-73474.htmlhttps://gmatclub.com/forum/which-of-the- ... 68179.htmlhttps://gmatclub.com/forum/what-is-the-r ... 34778.htmlhttps://gmatclub.com/forum/what-is-the-r ... 54889.htmlhttps://gmatclub.com/forum/if-n-33-43-43 ... 40037.html750+
https://gmatclub.com/forum/what-is-the-u ... 26681.htmlhttps://gmatclub.com/forum/what-is-the-r ... 26493.htmlhttps://gmatclub.com/forum/what-is-the-r ... 00316.htmlhttps://gmatclub.com/forum/algebra-m26-145109.htmlhttps://gmatclub.com/forum/what-is-the-r ... 56379.htmlhttps://gmatclub.com/forum/what-is-the-r ... 99724.htmlData Sufficiency:
600+
https://gmatclub.com/forum/if-k-is-a-pos ... 26478.htmlhttps://gmatclub.com/forum/if-r-s-and-t- ... 87298.html650+
https://gmatclub.com/forum/if-x-is-a-pos ... 09075.htmlhttps://gmatclub.com/forum/if-243-x-463- ... 02054.htmlhttps://gmatclub.com/forum/if-r-s-and-t- ... 36746.htmlhttps://gmatclub.com/forum/if-x-and-y-ar ... 87302.html700+
https://gmatclub.com/forum/tough-and-tri ... l#p1029239https://gmatclub.com/forum/if-x-and-y-ar ... 09636.html