- #1
cwatki14
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Prove this converse of Wilson’s Theorem: if m > 4 is a composite number then (m − 1)! ≡ 0 (mod m). (Note: This isn’t true for m = 4, so make sure that this fact is reflected in your proof.)
My train of thought...:
If m is composite, which has a prime factors r and s such that r does not equal s, then m divides (m-1)! then (m-1)! is congruent to 0 (mod m).
Now consider the case of m=p^2 where p is a prime.
If m> 2p then px2p divides (m-1)! therefore (m-1)! is congruent to 0 (mod m).
If m<= 2p then 2p>= p^2 by dividing each side by p we show that 2 >=p. The only case that exists when p=2. We can note the 3! is congruent to 2 (mod4).
Thus we have proven that (m-1)! is not congruent to -1 (mod m) is m is composite. In fact, when m is any composite besides 4, (m-1)! is congruent to 0 (mod m)
Also, we can note if m is composite that it has prime factors such that p<m. Hence if n divides (m-1)!+1 then p also divides (m-1)! +1. This is impossible because p divides (m-1)! and it can not divide (m-1)!+1
Does this suffice for the proof?
My train of thought...:
If m is composite, which has a prime factors r and s such that r does not equal s, then m divides (m-1)! then (m-1)! is congruent to 0 (mod m).
Now consider the case of m=p^2 where p is a prime.
If m> 2p then px2p divides (m-1)! therefore (m-1)! is congruent to 0 (mod m).
If m<= 2p then 2p>= p^2 by dividing each side by p we show that 2 >=p. The only case that exists when p=2. We can note the 3! is congruent to 2 (mod4).
Thus we have proven that (m-1)! is not congruent to -1 (mod m) is m is composite. In fact, when m is any composite besides 4, (m-1)! is congruent to 0 (mod m)
Also, we can note if m is composite that it has prime factors such that p<m. Hence if n divides (m-1)!+1 then p also divides (m-1)! +1. This is impossible because p divides (m-1)! and it can not divide (m-1)!+1
Does this suffice for the proof?