2011 AMC 8 Problem 22

Attempt Problem 22 of the 2011 AMC 8 below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2011 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

22.

What is the tens digit of 72011?7^{2011}?
00
11
33
44
77
Answer: D
Concepts:modular arithmeticmodular exponentiation
Small hint:
The last two digits of powers of 77 repeat every 44 powers.
Big hint:
Work modulo 100100, since the tens digit depends on the last two digits.
Solution:
To find the tens digit, it is enough to track powers of 77 modulo 100100. Since 74=2401≡1(mod100)7^4=2401\equiv1\pmod{100}, the last two digits repeat every four powers.
Because 2011=4⋅502+32011=4\cdot502+3, we have 72011≡73=343≡43(mod100)\begin{aligned}7^{2011}&\equiv7^3=343\\&\equiv43\pmod{100}\end{aligned} Thus the tens digit is 44.
Thus, D is the correct answer.
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