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Solution



To find
We need to determine
    • The units digit of the expression \(15^9 – 16^6\)

Approach and Working
From our learning of units digit, we can say that
    • If a number is ending with 0, 1, 5 or 6, then the units digit remains same when the number is raised to a positive integer

Hence, units digit of
    • \(15^9 = 5\)
    • \(16^6 = 6\)
    • Therefore, units digit of \((15^9 – 16^6) = x5 – y6 = 9 \) (where x and y represent the remaining parts of the respective numbers)

Thus, option E is the correct answer.

Correct Answer: Option E
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Shouldn't we here first be comparing 15^9 to 16^6 before deciding to deduct 6 of 5? What if 16^6 was greater than 15^9 (which I know is not the case), wouldn't we be deducting 5 of 6 which equals 1?
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i think questions like these can be done much easier and faster way,once you get familiar with the number cyclicity.
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HoudaSR
Shouldn't we here first be comparing 15^9 to 16^6 before deciding to deduct 6 of 5? What if 16^6 was greater than 15^9 (which I know is not the case), wouldn't we be deducting 5 of 6 which equals 1?

Correct. For example, if it were What is the units digit of 15^9 -16^16?, the answer would be 1 not 9 because 16^16 > 15^9.

Check questions which exploit this trick:
https://gmatclub.com/forum/what-is-the- ... 51159.html
https://gmatclub.com/forum/m26-184441.html

Hope it helps.
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