Till 2015

201 5 201 4 201 3 . . . 1 \Large{2015^{2014^{2013^{.^{.^.{1}}}}}}

Find the last three digits of the number above.


The answer is 625.

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3 solutions

Mathh Mathh
Jun 20, 2015

1000 = 2 3 5 3 1000=2^3\cdot 5^3 . We're solving 201 5 ( m o d 1000 ) 2015^{\ldots}\pmod{\! 1000} .

201 5 0 ( m o d 5 3 ) 2015^{\ldots}\equiv 0\pmod{\! 5^3} and 201 5 201 4 ( 1 ) 201 4 1 ( m o d 2 3 ) 2015^{2014^{\ldots}}\equiv (-1)^{2014^{\ldots}}\equiv 1 \pmod{\! 2^3} .

Now you just use Chinese remainder theorem or other things.

1) 201 5 625 0 ( m o d 5 3 ) 2015^{\ldots}\equiv 625\equiv 0\pmod{\! 5^3} ; 201 5 625 1 ( m o d 2 3 ) 2015^{\ldots}\equiv 625\equiv 1\pmod{\! 2^3} ,

so 201 5 625 ( m o d 1000 ) 2015^{\ldots}\equiv 625\pmod{\! 1000} , because

2 3 , 5 3 201 5 625 2 3 5 3 201 5 625 2^3,5^3\mid 2015^{\ldots}-625\iff 2^35^3\mid 2015^{\ldots}-625 (since ( 2 3 , 5 3 ) = 1 (2^3,5^3)=1 ).

2) Let 201 5 = 125 k 2015^{\ldots}=125k . Then

125k\equiv 1\iff -3k\equiv 9\stackrel{:(-3)}\iff k\equiv -3\equiv 5\pmod{\! 8} .

k = 8 m + 5 \iff k=8m+5 and 201 5 = 125 ( 8 m + 5 ) = 1000 m + 625 2015^{\ldots}=125(8m+5)=1000m+625 .

Moderator note:

Since you already know the answer is 625 = 5 4 625 = 5^4 , can you solve this without knowing the value of N N modulo 8 where N N is the large number given in the question.

In first place, I'm going to prove that n N { 1 } , 4 201 4 n \forall n\in \mathbb{N}\setminus \{1\}, 4|2014^{n} .

Let X = { n N { 1 } : 4 201 4 n } X= \{ n\in \mathbb{N}\setminus \{1\}: 4|2014^{n} \} . We have that 201 4 2 = 4046196 2014^2=4046196 and 4046196 4 = 1014049 \frac{4046196}{4}=1014049 , therefore, 4 201 4 2 4|2014^{2} and 2 X 2\in X .

Let's suppose, of induction hypothesis, that n X n \in X . In these conditions we have that, 4 201 4 n 4|2014^{n} , therefore, k N : 201 4 n = 4 k \exists k\in \mathbb{N}: 2014^{n}=4k . Let k N k \in \mathbb{N} be in that conditions. We have that 201 4 n + 1 = 201 4 n 2014 = 4 k 2014 = 4 ( 2014 k ) 2014^{n+1}=2014^{n}\cdot 2014= 4k\cdot 2014=4\cdot(2014k) , which means that 4 201 4 n + 1 4| 2014^{n+1} , and so, ( n + 1 ) X (n+1)\in X .

So X = N { 1 } X=\mathbb{N}\setminus \{1\} , as wanted.

Let's prove now that n 4 N \forall n\in 4\mathbb{N} , the three last digits of 201 5 n 2015^n are 625.

Let Y = { n 4 N : the three last digits of 201 5 n are 625 } Y= \{ n\in 4\mathbb{N}:\textrm{the three last digits of} 2015^n \textrm{are} 625 \} .

We have that 201 5 4 = 16485427050625 2015^4=16485427050625 , therefore, 4 Y 4\in Y .

Let's suppose, of induction hypothesis, that n Y n \in Y . These means that v N : n = 4 v \exists v\in \mathbb{N}: n=4v . Let v N v\in \mathbb{N} be in that conditions.

We have that 201 5 4 ( v + 1 ) = 201 5 4 v 201 5 4 = 201 5 n 201 5 4 2015^{4(v+1)}=2015^{4v} \cdot 2015^4=2015^n \cdot 2015^4 . These means that the last three digits of 201 5 4 ( v + 1 ) 2015^{4(v+1)} are the last three digits of 62 5 2 625^2 . but we know that 62 5 2 = 390625 625^2=390625 , therefore, the last three digits of 201 5 4 ( v + 1 ) 2015^{4(v+1)} are 625, and so 4 ( v + 1 ) Y 4(v+1) \in Y .

So Y = 4 N Y= 4 \mathbb{N} .

Knowing these, we can conclude that 4 201 4 201 3 . . . 1 4|2014^{2013^{{ ...}^1} } . So, the last three digits of 201 5 201 4 201 3 . . . 1 2015^{2014^{2013^{{ ...}^1} }} are 625, as wanted.

Anuj Mishra
Jun 21, 2015

I solved it as follows.. It is obvious that the last 3 digit of a no., let's say 2015, raise to a large power is only dependent on 5 raise to that large power. And by observing that
5^(odd power >= 3 )= 125 (mod.1000) and 5^(even power >= 4 )=625(mod. 1000). And since power of 5 in the question is an even no. obviously hence the answer is 625.
I hope it helped. Let me know if you have any doubts. :)

Moderator note:

You got the right idea, but it's still incomplete. You should prove that

5 n 625 ( m o d 1000 ) , even n 4 5^n \equiv { 625 \pmod{1000} \quad,\quad \text{ even } n \geq 4}

but if the question starts with 2014 instead of 2015 then what we will do???applying 1000 modulo is very typical......... @mathh mathh you're always a genius

sakshi rathore - 5 years, 10 months ago

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