Solve congruence

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Solve:$$ \underbrace{2 ^ {2 ^ { {...} ^ 2 }}}_\text{2016} \pmod {2016}$$

So $ 2016 = 2^5 \cdot 3^2 \cdot 7$

And $$ \underbrace{2 ^ {2 ^ { {...} ^ 2 }}}_\text{2016} \pmod{2^5} \rightarrow \underbrace{2 ^ {2 ^ { {...} ^ 2 }}}_\text{2016} \pmod{2016} $$

$$ \underbrace{2 ^ {2 ^ { {...} ^ 2 }}}_\text{2016} \pmod{3^2} \rightarrow \underbrace{2 ^ {2 ^ { {...} ^ 2 }}}_\text{2016} \pmod{2016} $$

$$ \underbrace{2 ^ {2 ^ { {...} ^ 2 }}}_\text{2016} \pmod 7 \rightarrow \underbrace{2 ^ {2 ^ { {...} ^ 2 }}}_\text{2016} \pmod{2016} $$

What now?

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The lambda-function : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmichael_function

helps us to find a quick answer. Because of $\lambda(2016)=24$ and considering $2016=2^5\cdot 3^2\cdot 7$, we can conclude $a^k=a^{k+m\cdot 24}$ for all $a$ and $m$, when $k\ge 5$.

The given number can be written by $2^M$, where $M$ is a power tower of $2's$ with height $2015$. Obviously , $M$ is divisble by $8$ and the remainder modulo $3$ is $1$.

Applying the chinese remainde theorem , we get $M=16$ modulo $24$.

So, we can conclude $2^M=2^{16}=1024$ modulo $2016$.

Another approach :

The given number is obviously divisble by $2^5$. With induction, you can prove that $2^{2^m}=7$ modulo $9$ for every even $m\ge 2$.

The base case $m=2$ is easy to verify. Then , $2^{2^{m+2}}=(2^{2^m})^4=7^4=7$ mod $9$ is the induction step.

Finally, you can show $2^{2^m}=2$ modulo $7$ for every even $m\ge 2$ analogue to the proof for $9$ (I will leave it to you as an exercise).

So, your number is congruent

$0$ modulo $32$

$7$ modulo $9$

$2$ modulo $7$

Now, apply the chinese remainder theorem.