What is the value of $2^{100} \mod 5$?
4
Let's compute the first few powers of 2 modulo 5:
21 mod 5 = 2
22 mod 5 = 4
23 mod 5 = 3
24 mod 5 = 1
We observe that the remainders repeat every 4 powers:
Cycle: 2, 4, 3, 1, 2, 4, 3, 1, ...
Since the cycle length is 4, we find:
100 mod 4 = 0
This means 2100 corresponds to the 4th term in the cycle.
From the cycle (2, 4, 3, 1), the 4th term is 1.
2100 mod 5 = 1
For any natural number $k$, let $a_k = 3^k$. The smallest natural number $m$ for which \[ (a_1)^1 \times (a_2)^2 \times \dots \times (a_{20})^{20} \;<\; a_{21} \times a_{22} \times \dots \times a_{20+m} \] is: