2003 AMC 10A Problem 16

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 16 of the 2003 AMC 10A, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2003 AMC 10A solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:units digitmodular arithmeticpattern recognition

Difficulty rating: 1350

16.

What is the units digit of 132003?13^{2003}?

11

33

77

88

99

Solution:

The units digit of 13200313^{2003} matches that of 32003.3^{2003}.

Powers of 33 have units digits cycling 3,9,7,13, 9, 7, 1 with period 4.4.

Since 2003=4500+3,2003 = 4 \cdot 500 + 3, the units digit is the third in the cycle, which is 7.7.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

Problem 16 in Other Years