Unit Digit

The unit digit of a number is the digit in the rightmost position of that number. It
represents the value of that number in the unit place (i.e., the one's place).

Examples:

●​ For the number 446, the unit digit is 6.

●​ For the number 1254, the unit digit is 4.

●​ For the number 7310, the unit digit is 0.

How to find the Unit digit?

The unit digit of any number can be 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. Here are some
methods to find the unit digit:

Case 1: If the last digit of any number is 0,1,5, 6 and whatever its power
,then the unit digit of this number will remain the same.

Example 1:

(240)39 = unit digit is 0

(341)45 = unit digit is 1

(225)21 = unit digit is 5

(216)10 = unit digit is 6

Example 2:

(20)19+ (31)43 + (25)30 + (36)13

↓ ↓ ↓ ↓

0 + 1 + 5 + 6 = 12, Unit digit is 2

Example 3:

230 × 141 × 125 × 236

↓ ↓ ↓ ↓

0 × 1 × 5 × 6 = Unit digit is 0

Case 2: If the last digit of any number is 4 and its power is odd then the
unit digit of this number is 4 and its power is even then the unit digit of this
number is 6.

Example 4:

Solution:

(234)31 = unit digit is 4 [ power odd ]

(144)42 = unit digit is 6 [ power even ]

Case 3: If the last digit of any number is 9 and its power is odd then the
unit digit of this number is 9 and its power is even then the unit digit of this
number is 1.

Example 5:

Solution:

(79)23 = unit digit is 9 [ power odd ]

(59)26 = unit digit is 1 [ power even ]

Cyclicity
The unit digits of the powers of a number form a cycle after a certain point,
repeating the same digits in a specific order.

●​ 21 = 2 → Unit digit is 2

●​ 22 = 4 → Unit digit is 4

●​ 23 = 8 → Unit digit is 8

●​ 24 = 16 → Unit digit is 6
 ●​ 25 = 32 → Unit digit is 2 (and the pattern repeats)

Cyclicity of 2: The unit digits repeat every 4 powers: 2, 4, 8, 6. i.e cyclicity of 2

is 4

➢​ Similarly, the cyclicity of 3,7 and 8 is 4.

Case 4: If the last digit of any number is 2,3,7,8 and whatever its power then
the unit digit of this number is
𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟
Step 1 → 4

Step 2 → (unit digit of a number )Remainder

Step 3 → If the remainder is zero then (unit digit of a number )4.

Example 6: (42)23

Solution:
𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟
Step 1 → 4
= 23/4 = remainder = 3

Step 2 → (unit digit of a number )Remainder = 23 = 8

i.e. unit digit of (42)23 is 8.

∴ The correct answer is 8.

Example 7: (23)17

Solution:
𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟
Step 1 → 4
= 17/4 = remainder = 1

Step 2 → (unit digit of a number )Remainder = 31 = 3

i.e. unit digit of (23)17 is 3.

∴ The correct answer is 3.

Example 8: (27)14

Solution:
𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟
Step 1 → 4
= 14/4 = remainder = 2

Step 2 → (unit digit of a number )Remainder = 72 = 49

i.e unit digit of (27)14 is 9.

∴ The correct answer is 9.

Example 9: (58)30

Solution:
𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟
Step 1 → 4
= 30/4 = remainder = 2

Step 2 → (unit digit of a number )Remainder = 82 = 64

i.e unit digit of (58)30 is 4.

∴ The correct answer is 4.

Example 10: (142)20

Solution:
𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟
Step 1 → 4
= 20/4 = remainder = 0 [ if remainder is zero then step 3 apply
]

Step 3 → If remainder is zero then (unit digit of a number )4.

(2)4 = 16

i.e. unit digit of (142)20 is 6.

∴ The correct answer is 6.

Case 5: If the last digit of any number is 5 and multiply with an odd number
then the unit digit of this number is 5 and multiply with an even number
then the unit digit of this number is 0.

Example 11: 135 × 123 = unit digit is 5

135 × 124 = unit digit is 0

Concept of Factorial
Factorial is a mathematical operation that represents the product of all positive
integers from 1 up to a given number n. It is denoted by the symbol n!

The factorial of a non-negative integer n is defined as:

➢​ n! = n × (n − 1) × (n − 2) × …× 3 × 2 × 1

The factorial of 0 is defined as:

➢​ 0! = 1

Calculating Factorials:

●​ 1!:

○​ 1! = 1

●​ 2!:

○​ 2! = 2×1 = 2

●​ 3!:

○​ 3! = 3×2×1 = 6

●​ 4!:

○​ 4! = 4×3×2×1 = 24

●​ 5!:

○​ 5!=5×4×3×2×1 = 120

●​ 6!:

○​ 6!=6×5×4×3×2×1 = 720
Note 1: The unit digit of the factorial of any number after 4! (four factorials)
is zero.

Example 12: Find a unit digit of 124!

Solution:

124! = 124 × 123 × 122 × …………..5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1

Unit digit is 0 ( Because 5 × 2 )

∴ The correct answer is 0.

Note 2: If the power of any number is greater than 4! (four factorials) then
we will find the unit digit by taking the power of 4! (four factorials) of the
number.

Example 13: Find a unit digit of 724!

Solution:

724! = 74! = 724

𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟
Step 1 → 4
= 24/4 = remainder = 0 [ if remainder is zero then step 3 apply
]

Step 3 → If remainder is zero then(unit digit of a number )4

(7)4 = 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 2401

∴ The correct answer is 1.

Example 14: Find the unit digit of the expression

(1!) +(2!) +(3!) +(4!) +.........(10!)10.
1 2 3 4

Solution:

(1!)1+(2!)2+(3!)3+(4!)4+.........(10!)10

(1)1+(2 × 1 )2+(3 × 2 × 1 )3+(4 × 3 × 2 × 1)4 + 0

(1)1+(2)2+(6)3+(24)4 + 0

↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓

1+ 4+6+6 Because the unit digit of 5! is zero

17 i.e unit is 7

Example 15: If P = (164)169 + (333)337 - (727)726 what is the unit digit of P ?

Solution:

P = (164)169 + (333)337 - (727)726

𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝑤𝑜 𝑑𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑡
Step 1 → 4

(164)69/4 + (333)37/4 - (727)26/4

Step 2 → (unit digit of a number )Remainder

(4)1 + (3)1 - (7)2

4 + 3 - 49

7 - 9 = 8 ( Because we take carry 1 i.e 17 - 9 = 8 )

∴ The correct answer is 8.

Example 16: The unit digit of (((5)11)13)18 is

Solution:

Given:

(((5)11)13)18

Concept used:

The power at number 5 has always a unit digit of 5.

Calculation:

⇒ (((5)11)13)18 [ using (km)n = kmn ]

⇒ (5)2474

The unit digit is 5.

∴ The correct answer is 5.

Example 17: If the unit digit of 9676 × 432N × 1562 × 5699 is (N – 7), then,
what is the value of 5𝑁 + 4?

Solution:

Given:

The unit digit of 9676 × 432N × 1562 × 5699 is (N – 7).

Calculation:

9676 × 432N × 1562 × 5699 = (N – 7)

⇒ 6 × N × 2 × 9 = (N – 7)

⇒N×8=N–7

We have to put N = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and check for which value of it is

satisfying.

So, for N = 9, the unit digit of the given expression is satisfied.

According to question,

√(5N + 4) = √[(5 × 9) + 4]

⇒ √(45 + 4)

⇒ √49

⇒7

∴ The correct answer is 7.

256
128
Example 18: What is the unit digit of 64

Solution:

Given:
256
128
The given expression is 64

Concept Used:

Concept of unit digit

Calculation:

The given expression can be written as 64128 × 128 × 128………… × 256 times
Again the expression can be simplified as 64128 × (128 × 128 × 128………… × 255 times)

64128 × (128 × 128 × 128………… × 255 times) = 644 × 32 × (128 × 128 × 128………… × 255 times)

Now, let 32 × (128 × 128 × 128………… × 255 times) = n

644 × 32 × (128 × 128 × 128………… × 255 times) = 644 × n

Now, unit digit of 644 × n

644 × n = (4)4 × n

For any value of n 44 × n always gives the unit digit as 6

∴ The correct answer is 6.