MOD DifferentBase AIME Intermediate
2018


Problem - 4111

Find the least positive integer $n$ such that when $3^n$ is written in base $143$, its two right-most digits in base $143$ are $01$.


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Answer     195

Solution 1

Note that the given condition is equivalent to $3^n \equiv 1 \pmod{143^2}$ and $143=11\cdot 13$. Because $gcd(11^2, 13^2) = 1$, the desired condition is equivalent to $3^n \equiv 1 \pmod{121}$ and $3^n \equiv 1 \pmod{169}$.

If $3^n \equiv 1 \pmod{121}$, one can see the sequence $1, 3, 9, 27, 81, 1, 3, 9...$ so $5|n$.

Now if $3^n \equiv 1 \pmod{169}$, it is harder. But we do observe that $3^3 \equiv 1 \pmod{13}$, therefore $3^3 = 13a + 1$ for some integer $a$. So our goal is to find the first number $p_1$ such that $(13a+1)^ {p_1} \equiv 1 \pmod{169}$. In other words, the $p_1 \equiv 0 \pmod{13}$. It is not difficult to see that the smallest $p_1=13$, so ultimately $3^{39} \equiv 1 \pmod{169}$. Therefore, $39|n$.

The first $n$ satisfying both criteria is thus $5\cdot 39=\boxed{195}$.


Solution 2

Note that Euler's Totient Theorem would not necessarily lead to the smallest $n$ and that in this case that $n$ is greater than $1000$.

We wish to find the least $n$ such that $3^n \equiv 1 \pmod{143^2}$. This factors as $143^2=11^{2}*13^{2}$. Because $gcd(121, 169) = 1$, we can simply find the least $n$ such that $3^n \equiv 1 \pmod{121}$ and $3^n \equiv 1 \pmod{169}$.

Quick inspection yields $3^5 \equiv 1 \pmod{121}$ and $3^3 \equiv 1 \pmod{13}$. Now we must find the smallest $k$ such that $3^{3k} \equiv 1 \pmod{13}$. Euler's gives $3^{156} \equiv 1 \pmod{169}$. So $3k$ is a factor of $156$. This gives $k=1,2, 4, 13, 26, 52$. Some more inspection yields $k=13$ is the smallest valid $k$. So $3^5 \equiv 1 \pmod{121}$ and $3^{39} \equiv 1 \pmod{169}$. The least $n$ satisfying both is $lcm(5, 39)=\boxed{195}$.

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