Originally posted by = Jennifer =
hey everyone
my brother is in year 8 and he cannot find out these answers maybe with your mathematical minds you could figure this out:
a) 35^2004
b)16^2004
c) 67^2005
thanks
METHOD I:
keep dividing the number by 2, or subtracting 1 if odd.
so 2004 = 1002/2 = 501 - 1 = 500/2 = 250/2 = 125 - 1 = 124/2 = 62/2 = 31 - 1 = 30/2 = 15 - 1 = 14/2 = 7.
so 35^2004 = (((((((((35^7)^2 * 35)^2 * 35)^2)^2 * 35)^2)^2) * 35)^2)^2
METHOD II (WORONG!!!!!!!!!):
A good trick is to square the number a lot of times.
ie: 2^8 = 256 = ((((2)^2)^2)^2
so we find the highest power of 2 that fits in 2004.
2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048 ...
so its 1024 (ie: 2^10)
so 35^2004 = 35^1024*35^980
so we can find 35^1024 by squaring 35 ten times (long multiplication).
now do the same with 980.
so highest power is 512 (2^9)
so 35^2004 = 35^1024*35^512*35^468
and 468 fits in 256
212 in 128
84 in 64
20 in 16
and you can find 35^4
so 35^2004 = 35^1024*35^512*35^256*35^128*35^64*35^16*35^4.
Also not that in finding 35^1024 you already have the other answers.
Similarily for other questions.
Is there a better way?
EDIT: Note that 35^a = 7^a*5^a.
so this question is better done using that trick (far smaller numbers).
I also realised that 5^1024 is rather large, so there may be a better answer ...