Sequences and Patterns

Algebra Level pending

If S n S_n = 3 n 3^n + 6 n 6^n - 5, what is the unit digit of S 66 S_{66} ?


The answer is 0.

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1 solution

Ha Nhat
Jul 10, 2017

The units digits of the powers of 3 follow a repeating pattern: 3 , 9 , 2 7 , 8 1 , 24 3 , 72 9 , 218 7 , 656 1 , etc. Thus, The pattern P3 = {3, 9, 7, 1}

The units digits of the powers of 6 follow a repeating pattern: 6 , 3 6 , 21 6 , 129 6 , 777 6 , 4665 6 , 27993 6 , 167961 6 , etc (always 6). Thus, The pattern P6 = {6}

There are 16 repeats of the patterns from S 1 S_1 to S 64 S_{64} , inclusive. The patterns begin again on S 65 S_{65} . Thus, 3 66 3^{66} has the same units digit as 3 2 3^2 , which is 9 , 6 66 6^{66} has the same units digit as 6 2 6^2 which is 6 . Hence, 9 + 6 - 5 = 10

So, the units digit of S 66 S_{66} is 0

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