R3

Last Digit Cycle

末位数字循环

Remainder / 余数与循环
Grades G5 - G8
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What It Looks Like

Recognition signals — when you see these, think of this structure:

  • 1Very large exponent
  • 2Question asks for the last digit
  • 3Power of a specific number
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What It Really Tests

The core mathematical idea behind this structure:

The last digit of powers follows a short repeating cycle.

幂的末位数字遵循一个短循环。

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Why Students Get Stuck

Common mistakes to watch out for:

  • Trying to compute the entire large number
  • Not noticing the cycle length
  • Starting the cycle at the wrong point
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Your First Step

How to begin thinking about problems with this structure:

Write out the first 4-6 powers and look for where the last digit repeats.

写出前 4-6 个幂, 观察末位数字何时开始重复。

Related Structures

These structures share similar patterns or thinking approaches: