Question

Difficulty: MediumUnit Digit and Cyclicity

What is the unit digit of the value obtained from the numerical expression N=(512160+737203)×434116618140N = (512^{160} + 737^{203}) \times 434^{116} - 618^{140}?

  1. A
    3
  2. B
    2
  3. 8Answer
  4. D
    4

Answer

8
Evaluating each term using cyclicity rules gives 5121606512^{160} \rightarrow 6, 7372033737^{203} \rightarrow 3, 4341166434^{116} \rightarrow 6, and 6181406618^{140} \rightarrow 6. The composite expression evaluates to (6+3)×66=546(6 + 3) \times 6 - 6 = 54 - 6. Performing the unit digit subtraction 464 - 6 with borrowing yields 146=814 - 6 = 8.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the unit digits of the terms inside the parentheses: 512160512^{160} and 737203737^{203}
Unit digit of 512160512^{160} is 66; unit digit of 737203737^{203} is 33.
For 512512, the base unit digit is 22 (cyclicity pattern 2, 4, 8, 6). Exponent 160÷4160 \div 4 leaves remainder 00, indicating the 4th4^{\text{th}} power in cyclicity: 24=1662^4 = 16 \rightarrow 6. For 737737, the base unit digit is 77 (cyclicity pattern 7, 9, 3, 1). Exponent 203÷4203 \div 4 leaves remainder 33, indicating 73=34337^3 = 343 \rightarrow 3.
2
Add the unit digits inside the parentheses and multiply by the unit digit of 434116434^{116}
Unit digit of the product term is 44.
Sum inside parentheses: 6+3=96 + 3 = 9. For 434116434^{116}, the base unit digit is 44 (cyclicity pattern 4, 6). An even exponent 116116 gives 42=1664^2 = 16 \rightarrow 6. The product is 9×6=5449 \times 6 = 54 \rightarrow 4.
3
Subtract the unit digit of 618140618^{140} from the product's unit digit
The final unit digit is 88.
For 618140618^{140}, base unit digit is 88 (cyclicity pattern 8, 4, 2, 6). Exponent 140÷4140 \div 4 leaves remainder 00, giving 84=409668^4 = 4096 \rightarrow 6. Subtracting gives 464 - 6. Since 4<64 < 6, add 1010 to borrow from the tens place: 146=814 - 6 = 8.

Key Concept

Cyclicity of Unit Digits and Modular Subtraction
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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