To what number b/w 0 and 4 inclusive

[zazisr]

Q1) To what number b/w 0 and 4 inclusive is the sum 1+2+2^2+...+2^19 congruent mod 5?

Thank You.

 

[zazisr]

I am reading the book What is mathematics and I am stuck on this question. If anybody could help me understand better, they would be very kind. Thankyou.

 

[LukeD]

One thing that might help is this:
2^0 \equiv 1 \pmod 5
2^1 \equiv 2 \pmod 5
2^2 \equiv -1 \pmod 5
2^3 \equiv -2 \pmod 5
2^4 \equiv 1 \pmod 5
2^5 \equiv 2 \pmod 5
2^6 \equiv -1 \pmod 5
2^7 \equiv -2 \pmod 5
see a pattern?

You should also know something about a nice way to simplify 2^0 + 2^1 + \cdots + 2^n

 

[zazisr]

oh ok . i see now. then the answer is 0 to that.
Thank You.