1982 AHSME Problems/Problem 30

Problem

Find the units digit of the decimal expansion of $\left(15 + \sqrt{220}\right)^{19} + \left(15 + \sqrt{220}\right)^{82}.$

$\textbf{(A)}\ 0\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 2\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 5\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 9\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ \text{none of these}$

Solution

Let $A=15+\sqrt{220}$ and $B=15-\sqrt{220}.$ Note that $A^{19}+B^{19}$ and $A^{82}+B^{82}$ are both integers: When we expand (Binomial Theorem) and combine like terms for each expression, the rational terms are added and the irrational terms are canceled. We have $\begin{align*} A^{19}+B^{19} &= \left[\binom{19}{0}15^{19}\sqrt{220}^0+\binom{19}{1}15^{18}\sqrt{220}^1+\cdots+\binom{19}{19}15^0\sqrt{220}^{19}\right] + \left[\binom{19}{0}15^{19}\sqrt{220}^0-\binom{19}{1}15^{18}\sqrt{220}^1+\cdots-\binom{19}{19}15^0\sqrt{220}^{19}\right] \\ &= 2\left[\binom{19}{0}15^{19}\sqrt{220}^0+\binom{19}{2}15^{17}\sqrt{220}^2+\cdots+\binom{19}{18}15^1\sqrt{220}^{18}\right]. \end{align*}$

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1982 AHSME Problems/Problem 30

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