Browse · MATH
Printjmc
number theory senior
Problem
Natural numbers of the form are called Fermat numbers. In 1640, Fermat conjectured that all numbers , where , are prime. (The conjecture was later shown to be false.) What is the units digit of ?
Solution
Let's first try to find the cycle of units digits of , starting with : . The cycle of units digits of is 4 digits long: 2, 4, 8, 6. To find the units digit of , for any positive integer , we simply need to find the remainder, , when is divided by 4 ( corresponds to the units digit 2, corresponds to the units digit 4, etc.) Since without remainder, the units digit of is 6. Therefore, the units digit of is .
Final answer
7