I was not sure it was out of pure convenience. Thanks!fresh_42 said:Other generators would work as well, but ##1## is especially easy to handle:
$$\varphi(a)=\varphi(a\cdot 1)=\varphi (\underbrace{1+\ldots +1}_{a\text{ times }})=\underbrace{\varphi(1)+\ldots +\varphi(1)}_{a\text{ times }}=a\cdot \varphi(1)$$
Now convince me with such a calculation by the use of ##\varphi(7)##.