Find Remainder with Fermat's Theorem

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In summary, Fermat's Theorem, also known as Fermat's Little Theorem, is a mathematical theorem that states that if p is a prime number, then for any integer a, a^p is congruent to a (mod p). This theorem is used to find remainders by simplifying the calculation, making it faster and easier. It differs from Euclidean Division in that it only applies to prime numbers and involves raising a number to a smaller power. Some real-world applications of Fermat's Theorem include cryptography, number theory, and computer science.
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jeedoubts
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How to use fermit's thereom in finding remainder of a number when divided by another number ?

(eg remainder of 52005 when divided by 4010 ?)
 
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How did you arrive at such a problem? Fermat's (little) theorem deals prime powers.
 
  • #3
I'm assuming you don't know or don't want to use Euler's theorem.

Note 4010 = 2*5*401.

Can you find integers a,b,c such that
[tex]\begin{align*}
5^{2005} &\equiv a \pmod 2 \\
5^{2005} &\equiv b \pmod 5 \\
5^{2005} &\equiv c \pmod {401}
\end{align*}[/tex]
? (perhaps using Fermat's little theorem)

If you can, then you can use these results and the Chinese remainder theorem to find 5^2005 modulo 2*5*401.
 

What is Fermat's Theorem?

Fermat's Theorem, also known as Fermat's Little Theorem, is a mathematical theorem that states that if p is a prime number, then for any integer a, a^p is congruent to a (mod p). This means that when a prime number is raised to a power, the remainder of that power divided by the prime number will always be the original number.

How is Fermat's Theorem used to find remainders?

Fermat's Theorem is used to find remainders by simplifying the calculation. Instead of dividing a large number by another number to find the remainder, Fermat's Theorem allows us to raise the large number to a smaller power and still get the same remainder. This makes the calculation much easier and faster.

What is the difference between Fermat's Theorem and Euclidean Division?

Fermat's Theorem and Euclidean Division are two different methods used to find remainders. While Euclidean Division involves multiple steps of division and subtraction, Fermat's Theorem simplifies the calculation by raising the number to a smaller power. Additionally, Euclidean Division can be used for any number, while Fermat's Theorem only applies to prime numbers.

Can Fermat's Theorem be used for non-prime numbers?

No, Fermat's Theorem can only be used for prime numbers. This is because the theorem relies on the property of prime numbers that any number raised to a prime number will always have a remainder of the original number when divided by the prime number.

What are some real-world applications of Fermat's Theorem?

Fermat's Theorem has various applications in fields such as cryptography, number theory, and computer science. It is used in algorithms for encryption and decryption, as well as in the generation of pseudorandom numbers. It is also used in the study of prime numbers and their properties.

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