If a and b are positive integers and x = 4^a and y = 9^b, which of the

Question

If a and b are positive integers and x = 4^a and y = 9^b, which of the following is a possible units digit of xy?

A. 1 
B. 4 
C. 5 
D. 7 
E. 8

manpreetsingh86 · Accepted Answer

unit digit of x=4^a will either be 4 or 6 (4 if a is odd and 6 if a is even)
and unit digit of y=9^b will either be 1 or 9 (9 if b is odd and 1 if b is even)
now we have total 4 possible combinations

1) a=odd, b=odd
unit digit=9*4=6
2)a=odd, b=even
unit digit=4*1=4
3) a=even,b=odd
unit digit=6*9=4
4)a=even, b=even
unit digit=6*1=6

thus, only two values are possible for the unit digits (4 or 6). out of these values only 4 is mentioned in the given choices. hence answer must be B.

Ashishmathew01081987 · Answer

Only Units digit of X and Y contribute to the Units digit of XY .

Finding all values of "X" for positive values of "a"

When,
a=1; X=4
a=2; X=16
a=3; X=64........ Units digit repeat in a cycle of 4,6,4,6......

Similarly, Finding all values of "Y" for positive values of "b"

When,
b=1; Y=9
b=2; Y= 81
b=3; Y= 729....... Units digit repeat in cycle of 9,1,9,1....

So, possible value of Units digit of XY can be found by considering all possibilities of Units digit of X and Y

When X=4 and Y=9: Units digit of XY = 6
When X=4 and Y=1: Units digit of XY = 4
When X=6 and Y=9: Units digit of XY = 4
When X=6 and Y=1: Units digit of XY = 6

Only two possibilities for Units digit of XY i.e. 4 and 6.

Only 4 is given in answer choices, therefore answer is B

Bunuel · Answer

Check  Units digits, exponents, remainders problems directory  in our  Special Questions Directory .

WoundedTiger · Answer

Cyclicity of 4=2

4^1=4
4^2=1 6 
4^3=64
Cycicity of 9 is 2
9^1=9
9^2=81
9^3=729

So possible options 4*9 =3 6  or 1*4=4

Ans B

PareshGmat · Answer

4^1 =   4   .......................... 9^1 =   9

4^2 = 1  6   ......................... 9^2 = 8  1

4^3 = 6  4   ........................... 9^3 = 72  9

Total combinations possible are four which are (4*9)   (4*1)   (6*9) (6*1)

Answer = 4 = B

tapabrata · Answer

x=4^a where a is a positive integer will have a units digit of 4 or 6

4^1 = 4 -> units digit 4
4^2 =16 -> units digit 6
4^3 = 64 -> units digit 4

y=9^b where b is a positive integer will have a units digit of 9 or 1.

9^1 = 9 -> units digit 9
9^2 = 81 -> units digit 1
9^3 =729 -> units digit 9

Product of xy will have units digit of 4*9=36=units digit 6 , 4*1=4=units digit 4 , 6*9=54=units digit 4 or 6*1=6=units digit 6.

So xy can have either units digit 4 or 6.

Answer B

kanusha · Answer

a, b are positive integers
x = 4^a ; y = 9^b
a = 4 or 6
b = 1 or 9
xy = 4 or 6
B

Khan98 · Answer

XY = 2^2a x 3^2b
 = Even X Odd = Even 
 
Mean XY divisible by 2 and XY divisible by 2 its unit digit shall be multiple of 2

Also we we have prime factorized XY and it's power is even mean the number will be perfect square

Posted from my mobile device

bumpbot · Answer

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If a and b are positive integers and x = 4^a and y = 9^b, which of the

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