# Math Help - Find last two digit of a number

1. ## Find last two digit of a number

Find the last two digits of $3^{83} + 21^{401}$

so:

$3^{83} \equiv M (mod 100)$
$21^{401} \equiv N (mod 100)$

So last two digits is M+ N

I dont really know how to continue...

Any help would be appreciated

2. By calculating $3^{20}$ and $21^5$ we can see that

$3^{20} \equiv 1 \mod 100$ and

$21^5 \equiv 1 \mod 100$.

Therefore,

$3^{83} = 3^{80} \cdot 3^3 \equiv 3^3 \mod 100$

$21^{401} = 21^{400} \cdot 21 \equiv 21 \mod 100$

$27 + 21 = 48 \equiv 48 \mod 100$

3. Originally Posted by icemanfan
$27 \cdot 21 = 567 \equiv 67 \mod 100$

thanks

But answer should be $27 + 21 = 48$?

Is there any simpler way to compute this without calculating 3^20?

4. Originally Posted by firebio
thanks

But answer should be $27 + 21 = 48$?

Is there any simpler way to compute this without calculating 3^20?
You are correct, I made a silly mistake at the end. If you can determine that $3^{20} \equiv 1 \mod 100$ without actually calculating $3^{20}$, then yes. Personally, I don't know how you would do it. In most of these types of problems, the cycle is much shorter than 20.

5. Originally Posted by icemanfan
You are correct, I made a silly mistake at the end. If you can determine that $3^{20} \equiv 1 \mod 100$ without actually calculating $3^{20}$, then yes. Personally, I don't know how you would do it. In most of these types of problems, the cycle is much shorter than 20.
i see.. i asked because this was a test question and calculating 3^20 seems a bit harsh.

Thanks so much.