Updates
UPSC Prelims 2023CSATQuantitative AptitudeNumber System (Unit Digit)

Q38. What is the unit digit in the expansion of (57242) 9×7×5×3×1 ?

A. 2✓ Correct
B. 4
C. 6
D. 8

Detailed Solution

✓ Correct Answer: Option A

To find the unit digit of a number raised to a power, we only need to consider the unit digit of the base number and the cyclicity of its powers. The unit digit of the base number (57242) is 2.

The exponent is 9 × 7 × 5 × 3 × 1 = 945. The cyclicity of the unit digit of powers of 2 is: 2^1 = 2, 2^2 = 4, 2^3 = 8, 2^4 = 16 (unit digit 6), 2^5 = 32 (unit digit 2). The cycle length is 4 (2, 4, 8, 6).

To find the unit digit, we divide the exponent (945) by the cycle length (4) and use the remainder. 945 ÷ 4 gives a remainder of 1 (since 945 = 4 × 236 + 1). Therefore, the unit digit of (57242)^945 will be the same as the unit digit of 2^1, which is 2.

This question assesses knowledge of number properties, specifically unit digits and cyclicity, a common topic in CSAT.

Ace UPSC with AI-powered Practice

LearnPro's test series adapts to your weak topics and shows real analytics.

Explore Courses →

Our Courses

72+ Batches

Our Courses
Contact Us