Wednesday, 12 November 2025

Exercise (3.1).14

Let $n$ be a natural number. Prove that $6^n ≡ 6 \pmod {10}$. 

What conclusion can you draw about the last digit of powers of 6?


We'll prove this by induction.


Let the statement $P(n)$ mean that $6^n \equiv 6 \pmod {10}$.

We need to prove the base case $P(1)$, and the inductive step $P(n) \implies P(n+1)$.


Base Case

The base case $P(1)$ is that $6^1 \equiv 6 \pmod {10}$. This is trivially true.


Induction Step

We assume $P(n)$ and aim to show $P(n+1)$.

$P(n+1)$ is

$$ \begin{align} 6^{n+1} & \equiv 6^n \times 6 \pmod{10} \\ \\ & \equiv 6 \times 6 \pmod {10} \tag{*} \\ \\ & \equiv 36 \pmod {10} \\ \\ & \equiv 6 \pmod {10}  \end{align}$$

Line (*) uses the induction hypothesis that $6^n \equiv 6 \pmod {10}$.

We have shown that $P(n) \implies P(n+1)$.


We have shown, by induction, that $6^n \equiv 6 \pmod {10}$. We conclude that the last digit of powers of 6 is always 6.