Unit Digit, Cyclicity & Last Two Digits
The unit digit of a large power usually repeats in a short cycle. By identifying this cycle, even expressions involving extremely large exponents can often be solved without calculating the full number. Similar modular ideas can be extended to determine the last two digits.
1. What is the Unit Digit?
The unit digit is the rightmost digit of an integer.
Examples:
- Unit digit of 327 is 7.
- Unit digit of 12,540 is 0.
- Unit digit of 98,765 is 5.
2. Why Only the Last Digit of the Base Matters
For finding the unit digit of a positive integral power, only the unit digit of the base matters.
Example: The unit digit of 37n is the same as the unit digit of 7n.
This is because:
37 ≡ 7 (mod 10)
3. Meaning of Cyclicity
As powers of a number increase, their unit digits often repeat after a fixed number of steps. This repeating sequence is called the unit-digit cycle or cyclicity.
4. Numbers with Cycle Length 1
Bases ending in 0, 1, 5 or 6 always retain the same unit digit for every positive integral power.
| Base Ends In | Unit Digit of Every Positive Power | Cycle Length |
| 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 5 | 5 | 1 |
| 6 | 6 | 1 |
5. Example: Power Ending in 6
Find the unit digit of 126999.
The base ends in 6, and every positive power of a number ending in 6 also ends in 6.
Therefore, the unit digit is 6.
6. Unit-Digit Cycle of 2
Powers of 2 have the unit-digit pattern:
2, 4, 8, 6
Then the pattern repeats.
Hence cycle length = 4.
7. Unit-Digit Cycle of 3
Powers of 3:
3, 9, 7, 1
Cycle length = 4.
8. Unit-Digit Cycle of 4
Powers of 4:
4, 6
Cycle length = 2.
9. Unit-Digit Cycle of 7
Powers of 7:
7, 9, 3, 1
Cycle length = 4.
10. Unit-Digit Cycle of 8
Powers of 8:
8, 4, 2, 6
Cycle length = 4.
11. Unit-Digit Cycle of 9
Powers of 9:
9, 1
Cycle length = 2.
12. Complete Unit-Digit Cycle Table
| Unit Digit of Base | Cycle | Cycle Length |
| 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 2, 4, 8, 6 | 4 |
| 3 | 3, 9, 7, 1 | 4 |
| 4 | 4, 6 | 2 |
| 5 | 5 | 1 |
| 6 | 6 | 1 |
| 7 | 7, 9, 3, 1 | 4 |
| 8 | 8, 4, 2, 6 | 4 |
| 9 | 9, 1 | 2 |
13. How to Use a Cycle of Length 4
For bases ending in 2, 3, 7 or 8, divide the exponent by 4 and use its remainder.
- Exponent remainder 1 → first cycle term.
- Exponent remainder 2 → second cycle term.
- Exponent remainder 3 → third cycle term.
- Exponent remainder 0 → fourth cycle term.
Important: When exponent mod 4 = 0, do not use a “zeroth” term. Use the 4th term of the cycle.
14. Example: Unit Digit of 7103
Cycle of 7:
7, 9, 3, 1
Now:
103 ÷ 4 leaves remainder 3
Therefore use the third term of the cycle.
Unit digit = 3.
15. Example: Unit Digit when Exponent Remainder is Zero
Find the unit digit of 21000.
Cycle:
2, 4, 8, 6
1000 is divisible by 4, so use the fourth cycle term.
Unit digit = 6.
16. How to Use a Cycle of Length 2
For bases ending in 4 or 9:
- Odd exponent → first term.
- Even exponent → second term.
17. Example: Unit Digit of 457
Cycle of 4:
4, 6
57 is odd.
Therefore, unit digit = 4.
18. Example: Unit Digit of 9202
Cycle of 9:
9, 1
202 is even.
Therefore, unit digit = 1.
19. Large Base with a Simple Unit Digit
Find the unit digit of 123,457222.
Only the last digit 7 matters.
Cycle of 7:
7, 9, 3, 1
222 mod 4 = 2.
Therefore, unit digit = second term = 9.
20. Unit Digit of a Product
To find the unit digit of a product:
- Find the unit digit of each factor.
- Multiply those unit digits.
- Keep only the final unit digit.
21. Example: Product of Powers
Find the unit digit of:
2317 × 1411
2317 has the same unit digit as 317.
17 mod 4 = 1 → unit digit = 3.
1411 has the same unit digit as 411.
Odd exponent → unit digit = 4.
Product unit digit:
3 × 4 = 12
Required unit digit = 2.
22. Unit Digit of a Sum
Find the unit digit of each term separately, add them, and retain only the unit digit.
Example:
221 + 318
221: 21 mod 4 = 1 → unit digit 2.
318: 18 mod 4 = 2 → unit digit 9.
2 + 9 = 11.
Required unit digit = 1.
23. Unit Digit of a Difference
Find the individual unit digits and subtract. If the result is negative, convert it to its corresponding digit modulo 10.
Example:
320 − 711
320 → fourth term = 1.
711: 11 mod 4 = 3 → unit digit 3.
1 − 3 = −2.
Standard unit digit = 8.
24. Product Ending in Zero
If a product contains enough factors to provide both a factor 2 and a factor 5, the product is divisible by 10 and therefore has unit digit 0.
Example: 8 × 15 × 37 has unit digit 0 because 8 × 15 contains a factor 10.
25. Product Containing a Multiple of 10
If any factor itself ends in 0, the entire product ends in 0.
Example:
3712 × 250 × 197
Since 250 ends in 0, the complete product has unit digit 0.
26. Powers Ending in 5
Any positive integral power of a number ending in 5 also ends in 5.
5n ends in 5 for every n ≥ 1.
27. Powers Ending in 6
Any positive integral power of a number ending in 6 also ends in 6.
6n ends in 6 for every n ≥ 1.
28. Unit Digit of a Square
The square of an integer can have only the following unit digits:
0, 1, 4, 5, 6 or 9
Exam Use: A perfect square can never end in 2, 3, 7 or 8.
29. Why Squares Cannot End in 2, 3, 7 or 8
Squaring each possible unit digit 0–9 produces only:
| Unit Digit | Square's Unit Digit |
| 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 4 |
| 3 | 9 |
| 4 | 6 |
| 5 | 5 |
| 6 | 6 |
| 7 | 9 |
| 8 | 4 |
| 9 | 1 |
30. Unit Digit of a Perfect Cube
Unlike perfect squares, perfect cubes may end in any digit from 0 to 9.
In fact, the unit digit of the cube determines the possible unit digit of its integer cube root uniquely.
31. Cube Unit-Digit Mapping
| Number Ends In | Cube Ends In |
| 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 8 |
| 3 | 7 |
| 4 | 4 |
| 5 | 5 |
| 6 | 6 |
| 7 | 3 |
| 8 | 2 |
| 9 | 9 |
32. Unit Digit of Factorial
For n ≥ 5, n! contains at least one factor 2 and one factor 5, so it contains a factor 10.
Therefore:
Unit digit of n! = 0 for every n ≥ 5
Scope Note: Detailed counting of trailing zeros in factorials is reserved for Topic 1.14.
33. What are the Last Two Digits?
The last two digits of an integer are determined by its remainder upon division by 100.
If:
N ≡ r (mod 100)
then r, written using two digits when necessary, gives the last two digits.
Example: If N ≡ 7 (mod 100), the last two digits are 07.
34. Why Modulo 100 Works
Every integer may be written:
N = 100q + r
with 0 ≤ r < 100.
The term 100q contributes only zeros to the final two positions, so r determines the last two digits.
35. Only the Last Two Digits of the Base Matter
For positive powers modulo 100, a base may first be replaced by its last two digits.
Example:
12,347n ≡ 47n (mod 100)
36. Last Two Digits of a Sum
Add only the last two digits of the terms and reduce modulo 100.
Example: Find the last two digits of 1,247 + 8,986.
47 + 86 = 133
Last two digits = 33.
37. Last Two Digits of a Difference
Subtract the last-two-digit residues and reduce modulo 100.
Example:
4,032 − 1,978
Using last two digits:
32 − 78 = −46 ≡ 54 (mod 100)
Therefore, the difference ends in 54.
38. Last Two Digits of a Product
Multiply only the last two digits and reduce modulo 100.
Example: Find the last two digits of 237 × 146.
37 × 46 = 1702
Therefore, last two digits = 02.
39. Repeated Reduction in Products
For a long product, reduce modulo 100 after each multiplication.
Example:
23 × 47 × 68
23 × 47 = 1081 ≡ 81 (mod 100).
81 × 68 = 5508 ≡ 8 (mod 100).
Therefore, the product ends in 08.
40. Last Two Digits of a Power
To find the last two digits of an:
- Reduce a modulo 100.
- Compute powers efficiently.
- Reduce modulo 100 after every multiplication.
41. Repeated Squaring Method
Repeated squaring is especially useful for large exponents.
Example: Find the last two digits of 710.
72 = 49
74 ≡ 492 = 2401 ≡ 1 (mod 100)
Therefore:
78 ≡ 1
and:
710 = 78 × 72 ≡ 1 × 49 = 49
Last two digits = 49.
42. Last Two Digits when a Power Reaches 01
If some power satisfies:
ak ≡ 1 (mod 100)
then exponents may be reduced using that cycle length k.
Exam Strategy: Search for a short cycle before attempting a very large exponent.
43. Example: Last Two Digits of 7202
We know:
74 ≡ 1 (mod 100)
Now:
202 ≡ 2 (mod 4)
Therefore:
7202 ≡ 72 = 49 (mod 100)
Last two digits = 49.
44. Numbers Ending in 01
Any positive power of a number ending in 01 also ends in 01.
Example:
101500
ends in 01.
45. Numbers Ending in 25
Every positive integral power of a number ending in 25 also ends in 25.
Example:
12537
ends in 25.
46. Numbers Ending in 76
Every positive integral power of a number ending in 76 also ends in 76.
This is because:
762 = 5776 ≡ 76 (mod 100)
Hence further multiplication by 76 continues to give remainder 76 modulo 100.
47. Numbers Ending in 99
Since:
99 ≡ −1 (mod 100)
powers alternate:
- Odd exponent → last two digits 99.
- Even exponent → last two digits 01.
48. Example: 2992025
299 ≡ 99 ≡ −1 (mod 100).
2025 is odd.
Therefore:
2992025 ≡ −1 ≡ 99 (mod 100)
Last two digits = 99.
49. Numbers Ending in 50
A number ending in 50 has first power ending in 50, but every power from the second onward ends in 00.
Because:
502 = 2500
and subsequent powers continue to contain the factor 100.
50. Example: 35023
Since exponent 23 ≥ 2 and the base ends in 50:
Last two digits = 00.
51. Numbers Ending in 00
Every positive power of a number ending in 00 also ends in 00.
52. Last Two Digits of Squares
To find the last two digits of N2, it is enough to square the last two digits of N and reduce modulo 100.
Example: Last two digits of 3472:
472 = 2209
Therefore, last two digits = 09.
53. Last Two Digits of a Product of Powers
Reduce each power modulo 100, multiply the resulting residues and reduce again.
Example: Find the last two digits of 76 × 34.
74 ≡ 1, so:
76 ≡ 72 = 49
34 = 81.
Therefore:
49 × 81 = 3969
Last two digits = 69.
54. Last Two Digits of a Sum of Powers
Find each power modulo 100 and then add.
Example: Find the last two digits of 710 + 34.
710 ≡ 49 (mod 100).
34 = 81.
Therefore:
49 + 81 = 130
Last two digits = 30.
55. A Useful Short Cycle: Powers of 24
Modulo 100:
241 ≡ 24
242 ≡ 76
243 ≡ 24
244 ≡ 76
Therefore, the last two digits alternate:
24, 76, 24, 76, ...
- Odd exponent → 24.
- Even exponent → 76.
56. Example: Last Two Digits of 124501
124 ≡ 24 (mod 100).
The exponent 501 is odd.
Using the 24, 76 cycle:
Last two digits = 24.
57. Do Not Confuse Unit-Digit Cycle with Last-Two-Digit Cycle
A number may have a short unit-digit cycle but a different cycle modulo 100.
Important: For the unit digit work modulo 10. For the last two digits work modulo 100. Do not automatically reuse the mod-10 cycle.
58. Unit Digit versus Last Two Digits
| Question Asks For | Use | Main Modulus |
| Unit digit / last digit | Unit-digit cycle | 10 |
| Last two digits | Modulo-100 calculation/cycle | 100 |
59. Solved Example: Large Unit-Digit Power
Find the unit digit of 82027.
Cycle of 8:
8, 4, 2, 6
2027 mod 4 = 3.
Third cycle term = 2.
60. Solved Example: Unit Digit of Mixed Expression
Find the unit digit of:
751 + 842 + 917
751: 51 mod 4 = 3 → unit digit 3.
842: 42 mod 4 = 2 → unit digit 4.
917: odd exponent → unit digit 9.
Sum:
3 + 4 + 9 = 16
Required unit digit = 6.
61. Solved Example: Last Two Digits
Find the last two digits of 99100 + 257.
99100: even exponent → last two digits 01.
257 → last two digits 25.
Therefore:
01 + 25 = 26
Last two digits = 26.
62. Common Exam Traps
Trap 1: For unit-digit questions, only the unit digit of the base matters.
Trap 2: Bases ending in 2, 3, 7 and 8 have a unit-digit cycle of length 4.
Trap 3: When exponent mod 4 = 0, use the fourth term of a four-term cycle.
Trap 4: Bases ending in 4 and 9 have cycle length 2; exponent parity is enough.
Trap 5: Bases ending in 0, 1, 5 or 6 have cycle length 1.
Trap 6: For a product, find the final digit of each factor before multiplying.
Trap 7: A perfect square cannot end in 2, 3, 7 or 8.
Trap 8: For n ≥ 5, n! has unit digit 0, but detailed trailing-zero counting is a separate topic.
Trap 9: Last-two-digit questions require modulo 100, not merely the ordinary unit-digit cycle.
Trap 10: When a remainder modulo 100 is a single digit, write a leading zero if the question asks for the last two digits; e.g. remainder 7 means last two digits 07.
63. Quick Revision
- For unit digit, reduce the base modulo 10.
- 0, 1, 5 and 6 have unit-digit cycle length 1.
- 4 and 9 have unit-digit cycle length 2.
- 2, 3, 7 and 8 have unit-digit cycle length 4.
- Cycle of 2: 2, 4, 8, 6.
- Cycle of 3: 3, 9, 7, 1.
- Cycle of 4: 4, 6.
- Cycle of 7: 7, 9, 3, 1.
- Cycle of 8: 8, 4, 2, 6.
- Cycle of 9: 9, 1.
- For a four-term cycle, exponent remainder 0 means use the fourth term.
- For 4 and 9, exponent parity determines the unit digit.
- Unit digit of a product depends only on the unit digits of its factors.
- Unit digit of a sum can be obtained by adding the unit digits of the terms.
- A perfect square may end only in 0, 1, 4, 5, 6 or 9.
- Perfect cubes may end in any digit from 0 to 9.
- For n ≥ 5, unit digit of n! is 0.
- For last two digits, work modulo 100.
- Only the last two digits of a base matter when computing positive powers modulo 100.
- Reduce after every multiplication to keep calculations small.
- Repeated squaring is useful for large powers modulo 100.
- A number ending in 01 keeps last two digits 01 under every positive power.
- A number ending in 25 keeps last two digits 25 under every positive power.
- A number ending in 76 keeps last two digits 76 under every positive power.
- Powers of a number ending in 99 alternate between 99 and 01 according to exponent parity.
- A number ending in 50 has last two digits 00 from its second positive power onward.
- Do not confuse a unit-digit cycle modulo 10 with a last-two-digit cycle modulo 100.
Practice these verified previous-year questions based on unit-digit cycles, powers, sums and products, factorials and last-two-digit properties. Try each question before opening the answer and explanation.
Practice these exam-oriented questions covering unit-digit cycles, sums and products of powers, negative differences, factorials, modulo-100 cycles and last-two-digit calculations.