Can You solve this in 30 seconds?

3 ! 5 ! 7 ! . . . 2013 ! \LARGE 3!^{5!^{7!^{.^{.^{.^{2013!}}}}}}

Find the remainder when the number above is divided by 11.

This is another PMO problem.


The answer is 1.

This section requires Javascript.
You are seeing this because something didn't load right. We suggest you, (a) try refreshing the page, (b) enabling javascript if it is disabled on your browser and, finally, (c) loading the non-javascript version of this page . We're sorry about the hassle.

4 solutions

Chew-Seong Cheong
Apr 29, 2015

We note that 3 ! 10 = 6 10 1 ( m o d 11 ) 3!^{10} = 6^{10} \equiv 1 \pmod{11} . We also note that since 5 ! 5! is a multiple of 10 10 , 5 ! n 5!^n is also a multiple of 10 10 , therefore,

3 ! 5 ! 7 ! . . . 6 10 ( m o d 11 ) 1 ( m o d 11 ) 3!^{5!^{7!^{...}}} \equiv 6^{10} \pmod {11} \equiv \boxed{1} \pmod{11}

Similarly, 3 ! 5 ! = 6 120 1 ( m o d 13 ) 3 ! 5 ! 7 ! . . . 1 ( m o d 13 ) 3!^{5!} = 6^{120} \equiv 1 \pmod{13} \quad \Rightarrow 3!^{5!^{7!^{...}}} \equiv 1 \pmod{13}

Moderator note:

That's right. For clarity, you should mention you used Fermat's Little Theorem.

why you use mod 11 and mod 13? how did it came up? why you don't use mod 3 or 4 ?? pls explain

Ardianto Kurniawan - 6 years ago
Jun Arro Estrella
Apr 28, 2015

3! = 6 then 6^5 mod 11 = -1 mod 11 or 10 mod 11 so it becomes (-1)^ even or 1mod 11 = 1

Moderator note:

Simple and straight to the point! There's a simpler method to this, can you find it? What would be the remainder if it's divided by 13 instead?

If it was divided by thirteen, using Fermat's Little theorem, 6^12 mod 13 will be 1 . Hence the remainder is 1

Chandar Siddarth - 6 years, 1 month ago

Why did you only use 6^5? And why 6^5mod11=-1? Plus how it becomes 1mod11?

Hafizh Ahsan Permana - 6 years, 1 month ago

Log in to reply

She wants to find 6 5 ! . . . 6^{5!^{...}} modulo 11 11 . and because 5 ! = 120 = 5 × 24 5! = 120 = 5\times 24 , then apply modular arithmetic properties: ( 6 5 ) some integer ( 6 5 m o d 11 ) the same integer ( 1 ) the same integer (6^5)^{\text{some integer}} \equiv (6^5 \bmod \ 11 )^{\text{the same integer}} \equiv (-1)^{\text{the same integer}} .

And because she has proved that "the same integer" is an even number, we are left with ( 1 ) even = ( 1 ) 2 = 1 (-1)^{\text{even}} = (-1)^2 = 1 .

Pi Han Goh - 6 years, 1 month ago

Log in to reply

Im a he. Not a she. My profile pic is a she.. But for clarrity, Im a he.

Jun Arro Estrella - 6 years, 1 month ago
Andrea Palma
May 10, 2015

3 ! = 6 3! = 6

6 1 = 6 6 6^1 = 6 \equiv 6 mod 11 11

6 2 = 36 3 6^2 = 36 \equiv 3 mod 11 11

6 3 18 7 6^3 \equiv 18 \equiv 7 mod 11 11

6 5 3 7 = 21 1 6^5 \equiv 3*7 = 21 \equiv -1 mod 11 11

6 10 ( 1 ) 2 = 1 6^{10} \equiv (-1)^2 = 1 mod 11 11 .

Now the exponent of 3 ! = 6 3! = 6 is a (LARGE) power of 5 ! 5! that is clearly a multiple of 5 5 and 2 2 , hence a multiple of 10 10 . So

3 ! 5 ! 7 ! . . . 2013 ! = 6 ( 10 n ) m = 6 1 0 m n m = \Large3!^{5!^{7!^{.^{.^{.^{2013!}}}}}} = 6^{(10n)^m}= 6^{10^m n^m} = = ( ( 6 10 ) 1 0 m 1 ) n m ( ( 1 ) 1 0 m 1 ) n m = 1 mod 11 \Large = \left((6^{10})^{10^{m-1}}\right)^{n^m} \equiv \left((1)^{10^{m-1}}\right)^{n^m} = 1 \quad \textrm{ mod }11

We know that 3!^5!^7!....^2013! = (3!)^(5!.7!....2013!) = (3)^(5!.7!....2013!) *(2)^(5!.7!....2013!) Now the trick is to first find the power of 3 that when divided by 11 leaves maximum possible or least possible reminder. Similarly for 2. In this case it is 10 or 1. We see 3^5 = 243 when divided by 11 leaves a reminder 1 and 2^5 = 32 when divided by 11 leaves a reminder 10 (which can be taken as -1) .

So [(3)^(5!.7!....2013!) *(2)^(5!.7!....2013!)]/11= [(3^5)^(4!.7!....2013!)/11 *(2^5)^(4!.7!....2013!)/11]

Per reminder theorem, The reminder is: (1)^(4!7!...2013!)*(-1)^4!7!...2013!) Since 4!.7!....2013! is always even (since it ends with zero) , the remainder is 1

0 pending reports

×

Problem Loading...

Note Loading...

Set Loading...