rec.puzzles Archive

What are the least significant digits of 9^(8^(7^(6^(5^(4^(3^(2^1))))))) ?

arithmetic/digits/least.significant/tower.of.power

Problem

What are the least significant digits of 9^(8^(7^(6^(5^(4^(3^(2^1))))))) ?
Show solution
9^11 = 9 (mod 100), so we need to find 8^...^1 (mod 10).
8^5 = 8 (mod 10), so we need to find 7^...^1 (mod 4).
7^3 = 7 (mod 4), so we need to find 6^...^1 (mod 2), but
this is clearly 0, so 7^...^1 = 1 (mod 4) ==>
8^...^1 = 8 (mod 10) ==> 9^...^1 = 9^8 (mod 100) = 21 (mod 100).