Question

An integer $N$ is selected at random in the range $1\leq N \leq 2020$ . What is the probability that the remainder when $N^{16}$ is divided by $5$ is $1?$

$\dfrac{1}{5}$

$\dfrac{2}{5}$

$\dfrac{3}{5}$

$\dfrac{4}{5}$

$1$

Answer: D

Concepts:Fermat’s Little Theorem modular exponentiation basic probability

Difficulty rating: 1370

Solution:

By Fermat's Little Theorem, $N^4\equiv1\pmod5$ whenever $N$ is not divisible by $5.$ Therefore, $N^{16}\equiv(N^4)^4\equiv1\pmod5.$

There are $2020/5=404$ multiples of $5,$ so there are $2020-404=1616$ allowable values of $N.$

A multiple of $5$ has $N^{16}\equiv0\pmod5,$ so no other values work. Thus the probability is $\dfrac{1616}{2020}=\dfrac45.$

Thus, the correct answer is D .

2017 AMC 10B Problem 14

Answer: D

Difficulty rating: 1370

Solution:

Problem 14 in Other Years