2012 AMC 8 Problem 12

Attempt Problem 12 of the 2012 AMC 8 below, then check your answer against the video solution and professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2012 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

12.

What is the units digit of 132012?13^{2012}?
1 1
3 3
5 5
7 7
9 9
Answer: A
Concepts:units digitmodular arithmetic
Small hint:
Only the units digit of the base matters.
Big hint:
Powers of 33 have a units-digit cycle of length 44.
Video solution:
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Written solution:
We have to find 132012mod  10.13^{2012} \mod 10. The following is true:
132012≡32012mod  10≡81503mod  10≡1503mod  10≡1mod  10\begin{align*}13^{2012} &\equiv 3^{2012} \mod 10\\&\equiv 81^{503} \mod 10\\&\equiv 1^{503} \mod 10\\&\equiv 1 \mod 10\end{align*}
This means 13201213^{2012} has the same units digit as 1,1, so the units digit of 13201213^{2012} is 1.1.
Thus, the answer is A .
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