Bunuel wrote:
Financier wrote:
What is the remainder when (18^22)^10 is divided by 7 ?
А 1
B 2
C 3
D 4
E 5
I think this question is beyond the GMAT scope. It can be solved with Fermat's little theorem,
which is not tested on GMAT. Or another way:
\((18^{22})^{10}=18^{220}=(14+4)^{220}\) now if we expand this all terms but the last one will have 14 as multiple and thus will be divisible by 7. The last term will be \(4^{220}\). So we should find the remainder when \(4^{220}\) is divided by 7.
\(4^{220}=2^{440}\).
2^1 divided by 7 yields remainder of 2;
2^2 divided by 7 yields remainder of 4;
2^3 divided by 7 yields remainder of 1;
2^4 divided by 7 yields remainder of 2;
2^5 divided by 7 yields remainder of 4;
2^6 divided by 7 yields remainder of 1;
...
So the remainder repeats the pattern of 3: 2-4-1. So the remainder of \(2^{440}\) divided by 7 would be the same as \(2^2\) divided by 7 (440=146*
3+
2). \(2^2\) divided by 7 yields remainder of 4.
Answer: D.
Just remember that
all terms in the expression (a+b)^n are divisible by a except for the last term i.e b^n. My solution uses just this much.
(18^22)^10 = (3*3*2)^22^10 = ((7-1)* 3 )^22^10 = [(7-1)^22 * 3^22]^10
(7-1)^10 divided by 7 will have Remainder = 1 --->
ANow for 3^22 =9^11= (7+2)^11 , the whole term will be divisible by 7 except 2^11
2^11= 2*2* 8^3
2*2* (7+1)^3 or, Remainder =4 ---->
BFrom statement A and B ,
18^22^10 = (Remainder 1*Remainder4)^10
4^10 = 4 * 64^3 = 4* (63+1)^3
4* remainder 1
Answer D
I need someone to validate this approach or did I just go absolutely berserk