Question

Difficulty: HardDivisibility Rules and Remainder Theorem

Calculate the true positive remainder obtained upon dividing the numerical expression 67953×534267^{95} - 3 \times 53^{42} by 1717.

Answer: 4

Answer

The correct positive remainder is 4.
By evaluating the expression under modulo 1717, we first simplify the base numbers: 671(mod17)67 \equiv -1 \pmod{17} and 532(mod17)53 \equiv 2 \pmod{17}. This reduces the overarching expression to (1)953×242(-1)^{95} - 3 \times 2^{42}. The first term trivially becomes 1-1. For the second term, we can utilize the fact that 24=161(mod17)2^4 = 16 \equiv -1 \pmod{17}. Therefore, 2422^{42} can be broken down into (24)10×22(1)10×44(mod17)(2^4)^{10} \times 2^2 \equiv (-1)^{10} \times 4 \equiv 4 \pmod{17}. Substituting these simplified values back into the expression yields 13(4)=13-1 - 3(4) = -13. Because standard remainders must be positive, we adjust the negative result by adding the divisor 1717 to 13-13, which gives the true positive remainder of 44.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Reduce the base numbers 6767 and 5353 to smaller equivalent values modulo 1717.
67=17×41    671(mod17)67 = 17 \times 4 - 1 \implies 67 \equiv -1 \pmod{17}. And 53=17×3+2    532(mod17)53 = 17 \times 3 + 2 \implies 53 \equiv 2 \pmod{17}.
To drastically simplify large exponentiations by substituting smaller, manageable equivalent bases.
2
Evaluate the remainder of the first term, 6795(mod17)67^{95} \pmod{17}.
(1)95=1(mod17)(-1)^{95} = -1 \pmod{17}.
An odd exponent applied to a base of 1-1 preserves the negative sign.
3
Simplify the second term's exponentiation, 242(mod17)2^{42} \pmod{17}, by identifying a nearby power of 22 that relates to 1717.
Observe that 24=161(mod17)2^4 = 16 \equiv -1 \pmod{17}.
Finding a power that equals 11 or 1-1 modulo 1717 creates a highly efficient shortcut for reducing massive exponents.
4
Break down 2422^{42} using the established property of 242^4.
242=(24)10×22(1)10×41×4=4(mod17)2^{42} = (2^4)^{10} \times 2^2 \equiv (-1)^{10} \times 4 \equiv 1 \times 4 = 4 \pmod{17}.
To substitute the 1-1 equivalence and systematically compute the modular value of the second term.
5
Combine both simplified terms into the original arithmetic expression.
The expression evaluates to 13×4=112=13(mod17)-1 - 3 \times 4 = -1 - 12 = -13 \pmod{17}.
To find the overall aggregate modular value of the complete mathematical expression.
6
Convert the negative result into the equivalent true positive remainder.
13+17=4-13 + 17 = 4.
By definition, a valid remainder must be a non-negative integer strictly less than the divisor.

Key Concept

Modular Arithmetic, Exponent Rules, and Negative Remainders
Estimated Time:3m 0s
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