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number properties

Expert replies
Source: — Problem Solving |

by Anurag@Gurome » Wed Jan 25, 2012 8:23 pm
sud21 wrote:If x is unit digit, y is tenth digit of a certain number, what x and y of (123,456,789)^2?
I guess it should be tens digit.

As the number ends with 9, the square of the number will end with 1. Hence, x = 1.

Now, we have to calculate the tens digit of 123456789².

123456789² = (123456780 + 9)² = (123456780² + 2*123456780*9 + 9²)
Now the underlined term in the above expression will end with 00. Hence, it won't contribute in determining the tens digit or y of the given term.

Hence, y of 123456789² = y of (2*123456780*9 + 9²) = y of (18*123456780 + 81) = y of (...40 + 81) = y of (...21) = 2

The correct answer is D.
Anurag Mairal, Ph.D., MBA
GMAT Expert, Admissions and Career Guidance
Gurome, Inc.
1-800-566-4043 (USA)

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