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Bunuel
What is the remainder when 3^7 is divided by 8?

(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 5
(E) 7

3^7 = 9*3^5
3^5 = cyclicity we get 3
and 9 divided by 8 gives remainder 1
1*3 = 3
IMO C
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Bunuel
What is the remainder when 3^7 is divided by 8?

(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 5
(E) 7

3^1/8 has a remainder of 3.

3^2/8 has a remainder of 1.

3^3/8 has a remainder of 3.

3^4/8 has a remainder of 1.

We see that when 3 raised to an odd power is divided by 8, the remainder is 3.

Answer: C
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I did it in pure cyclist, 3^7 gives unit value of 7, and when 7/8 gives 7 as remainder? can any expert please tell me where I went wrong?
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I did it in pure cyclist, 3^7 gives unit value of 7, and when 7/8 gives 7 as remainder? can any expert please tell me where I went wrong?

Just units digit may not give you the remainder. For example, will you get the same remainder everytime when 7, 17, 27, 37 etc are divided by 8?

So, in case you are trying to determine the remainder by 7, just considering the units digit of the number is not the correct approach.
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Bunuel
What is the remainder when 3^7 is divided by 8?

(A) 1
(B) 2
(C) 3
(D) 5
(E) 7


Why am I failing to apply the cyclicity formula 4? The cyclicity of 2,3,7 and 8 is 4
So I am dividing \(\frac{7}{4}\) and getting the remainder 3
\(3^3 \) the unit digit is 7
So \(\frac{7}{8} \)the remainder is 7 but, it is wrong. May I know why? Bunuel
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CONCEPT: Remainders.

-Try to reach a 1 or a –1 by grouping the individual remainders.

SOLUTION: Group three 3s as one group giving you two 27s(3x3x3) and one 3 that remains
ungrouped.
Every 27 gives a (-1) on dividing by 7.
Thus, 3^7/ 7 -> 27x27x3/7 -> (-1) x (-1) x 3 /7
->3/7 = +3 as remainder. (c)
Hope this helps. Keep studying and growing. :)

All the Best! :thumbsup:

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We need to find What is the remainder when \(3^7\) is divided by 8

Theory: Remainder of a * b by a number say 8 is same as remainder of a by 8 * remainder of b by 8

\(3^7\) = \(3^{(2 + 2 + 2 + 1)}\) = \(3^2 * 3^2 * 3^2 * 3^1\) = 3 * \(3^2 * 3^2 * 3^2\)

=> Remainder of \(3^7\) by 8 is same as Remainder of 3 by 8 * Remainder of \(3^2\) by 8 * Remainder of \(3^2\) by 8 * Remainder of \(3^2\) by 8

= 3 * 1 * 1 * 1 = 3

So, Answer will be C
Hope it helps!

Watch following video to MASTER Remainders by 2, 3, 5, 9, 10 and Binomial Theorem

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