Last visit was: 29 Jun 2025, 10:43 It is currently 29 Jun 2025, 10:43

Close

GRE Prep Club Daily Prep

Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GRE score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.

Close

Request Expert Reply

Confirm Cancel
Verbal Expert
Joined: 18 Apr 2015
Posts: 32528
Own Kudos [?]: 38693 [2]
Given Kudos: 26377
Send PM
Verbal Expert
Joined: 18 Apr 2015
Posts: 32528
Own Kudos [?]: 38693 [1]
Given Kudos: 26377
Send PM
Intern
Intern
Joined: 08 Sep 2024
Posts: 48
Own Kudos [?]: 41 [0]
Given Kudos: 126
Send PM
Verbal Expert
Joined: 18 Apr 2015
Posts: 32528
Own Kudos [?]: 38693 [0]
Given Kudos: 26377
Send PM
Re: The units place of the number 7^95-3^58 [#permalink]
Expert Reply
The official explanation is a hoax- Bogus in the sense that it is correct but is too short

Here a better understanding

1. Units digit of $\(7^{95}\)$ :

The units digits of powers of 7 follow a cycle:
- $\(7^1=7\)$
- $\(7^2=49 \Longrightarrow 9\)$
- $\(7^3=343 \Longrightarrow 3\)$
- $\(7^4=2401 \Longrightarrow 1\)$
- $\(7^5=16807 \Longrightarrow 7\)$

The cycle is ( $\(7,9,3,1\)$ ), which has a length of 4.
To find the units digit of $\(7^{95}\)$, we divide the exponent 95 by the cycle length 4 : $\(95 \div 4=23\)$ with a remainder of 3 .
The units digit of $\(7^{95}\)$ is the same as the 3rd digit in the cycle, which is 3 .

2. Units digit of $\(3^{58}\)$ :

The units digits of powers of 3 follow a cycle:
- $\(3^1=3\)$
- $\(3^2=9\)$
- $\(3^3=27 \Longrightarrow 7\)$
- $\(3^4=81 \Longrightarrow 1\)$
- $\(3^5=243 \Longrightarrow 3\)$

The cycle is $(\(3,9,7,1)\)$, which has a length of 4 .

To find the units digit of $\(3^{58}\)$, we divide the exponent 58 by the cycle length 4 :
$\(58 \div 4=14\)$ with a remainder of 2 .
The units digit of $\(3^{58}\)$ is the same as the 2 nd digit in the cycle, which is 9 .

3. Units digit of $\(7^{95}-3^{58}\)$ :

Quote:
We need to find the units digit of (Units digit of $\(7^{95}\)$ ) - (Units digit of $\(3^{58}\)$ ).
This is units digit of $\(3-9\)$.
When you subtract a larger units digit from a smaller units digit, you "borrow" from the tens place.
So, we effectively calculate $\(13-9=4\)$.


Therefore, the units digit of $\(7^{95}-3^{58}$ is $\mathbf{4}\)$.
Compare Quantity A and Quantity B:
Quantity A: 4
Quantity B: 4

Therefore, Quantity A is equal to Quantity B.
The final answer is The two quantities are equal.
Verbal Expert
Joined: 18 Apr 2015
Posts: 32528
Own Kudos [?]: 38693 [0]
Given Kudos: 26377
Send PM
Re: The units place of the number 7^95-3^58 [#permalink]
Expert Reply
I hope this really helps you out
Intern
Intern
Joined: 08 Sep 2024
Posts: 48
Own Kudos [?]: 41 [0]
Given Kudos: 126
Send PM
Re: The units place of the number 7^95-3^58 [#permalink]
Carcass this is my explanation using the concepts explained by brushmyquant from here https://gre.myprepclub.com/forum/how-to ... 34657.html

7^95 - 3^58

95/4 gives 3 as reminder and 7^3 gives 43 for the tenths and units digit

3^58 = ((3^4)^14) * (3^2) = 81^14 * 9 = 21 * 9 = 89 which is the tenths and units digits for 3^58

43 - 89 = -46



6 is greater than 4 so it should be option A


am i missing something?
Verbal Expert
Joined: 18 Apr 2015
Posts: 32528
Own Kudos [?]: 38693 [0]
Given Kudos: 26377
Send PM
The units place of the number 7^95-3^58 [#permalink]
Expert Reply
Hi

we are not dealing with tenth and unit digits but units digit only.

My explanation above is quite extensive , please read sir

You need to find the cycle of seven. The cycle of 3

And because the

Quote:
We need to find the units digit of (Units digit of $\(7^{95}\)$ ) - (Units digit of $\(3^{58}\)$ ).
This is units digit of $\(3-9\)$.
When you subtract a larger units digit from a smaller units digit, you "borrow" from the tens place.
So, we effectively calculate $\(13-9=4\)$.


it is pretty simple. and whenever you need to find the unit digit of a \( N^n\) is pretty similar on the GRE

You should read this post by brushmyquant https://gre.myprepclub.com/forum/how-to ... ml#p113694

The one you suggested is a bit different what is tested in the question

All this theory is in our Handout for quant sir also https://gre.myprepclub.com/forum/gre-ma ... 29264.html

We did a lot of efforts to provide to stedunts ALL the theory for the GRE
Intern
Intern
Joined: 08 Sep 2024
Posts: 48
Own Kudos [?]: 41 [1]
Given Kudos: 126
Send PM
Re: The units place of the number 7^95-3^58 [#permalink]
1
Carcass
i got it now, i missed a crucial detail
thanks for explanation
Prep Club for GRE Bot
Re: The units place of the number 7^95-3^58 [#permalink]
Moderators:
GRE Instructor
118 posts
GRE Forum Moderator
37 posts
Moderator
1136 posts
GRE Instructor
234 posts
Moderator
24 posts

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne