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Questions on Math Challenge II-A Number Theory

 
 
LensmireJohn的头像
Re: Questions on Math Challenge II-A Number Theory
LensmireJohn - 2022年02月18日 Friday 10:42
 

For 6.7, let's look at a smaller example to see if we can find a pattern.

Suppose we have the same recursive definition, except now we want to just find $a_4$. This is small enough that we can write out the definition (even if it is messy): $$a_4 = 3^{a_3} = 3^{\displaystyle 3^{a_2}} = 3^{\displaystyle 3^{\displaystyle 3^{a_1}}} = 3^{\displaystyle 3^{\displaystyle 3^{1}}}$$ Now, let's ignore the fact that these numbers are small enough to calculate directly to try to see how we could approach the problem in general.

Using patterns or Fermat's Little Theorem, we know that $3^6\equiv 1 \pmod{7}$. Therefore, we know that only the remainder when we divide by $6$ matters for the exponent when we are working mod 7. We can write: $$3^{\displaystyle 3^{\displaystyle 3^{1}}} \equiv \displaystyle 3^{\displaystyle 3^{\displaystyle 3^{1}}\pmod{6}} \pmod{7}.$$ So we need to find the remainder when $3^{\displaystyle 3^{1}}$ is divided by $6$. Is there a pattern in the powers of $3$ working mod 6?

JinTina的头像
Re: Questions on Math Challenge II-A Number Theory
JinTina - 2022年02月1日 Tuesday 16:15
 

Thank you so much! I know it was a lot of problems, and thank you for replying to them! Thank you again!