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What is the ones digit in the number 3^2091?

User Dinre
by
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1 Answer

5 votes

Answer:

7

Explanation:

Let's look at powers of 3 and if a pattern forms for the ones digit.

3^0 = 1

3^1 = 3

3^2 = 9

3^3 = 27

3^4 = 81

3^5 = 243

3^6 = 729

3^7 = 2187

3^8 = 6561

3^9 = 19683

3^10 = 59049

3^11 = 177147

etc.

Using the table above, we see a repeating pattern for the ones digit:

1, 3, 9, 7, 1, 3, 9, 7, 1, 3, 9, 7, etc.

Now let's look at the exponent of 3 compared to the ones digit.

exponent, ones digit

0, 1

1, 3

2, 9

3, 7

4, 1

5, 3

6, 9

7, 7

etc.

Let's write the exponent of 3 as a multiple of 4 plus an integer followed by the ones digit.

4 × 0 + 0, 1

4 × 0 + 1, 3

4 × 0 + 2, 9

4 × 0 + 3, 7

4 × 1 + 0, 1

4 × 1 + 1, 3

4 × 1 + 2, 9

4 × 1 + 3, 7

etc.

When the exponent is a multiple of 4, the ones digit is 1.

When the exponent is 1 added to a multiple of 4, the ones digit is 3.

When the exponent is 2 added to a multiple of 4, the ones digit is 9.

When the exponent is 3 added to a multiple of 4, the ones digit is 7.

Now let's look at out exponent, 2091.

2091/4 = 522.75

2091 = 4 × 522 + 3

2091 is 3 added to a multiple of 4, so the ones digit is 7.

User Derrick Mar
by
7.3k points