Number theory problem about Fermat 's little theorem

yeland404
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Homework Statement



let n be an integer . Prove the congruence below.
n^21 \equiv n mod 30

Homework Equations



n^7 \equiv n mod 42

n^13 \equiv n mod 2730

The Attempt at a Solution



to prove 30| n^21-n,it suffices to show 2|n^21-n,3|n^21-n,5|n^21-n
and how to prove them?
 
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yeland404 said:

Homework Statement



let n be an integer . Prove the congruence below.
n^21 \equiv n mod 30

Homework Equations



n^7 \equiv n mod 42

n^13 \equiv n mod 2730

The Attempt at a Solution



to prove 30| n^21-n,it suffices to show 2|n^21-n,3|n^21-n,5|n^21-n
and how to prove them?

2|n^21-n should be pretty easy. Just think about odd and even. To start on the second one n^3=n mod 3. n^(21)=(n^3)^7. Now keep going.
 
then n^21-n = n(n^20-1), suppose n is even , then 2|n^21-n
if n is odd, n^20 is odd, so n^20-1 is even;

to 3, it means n^21=(n^3)^7=n^7=(n^3)^2*n
then how is the next to prove 3|n(n^20-1)
 
yeland404 said:
then n^21-n = n(n^20-1), suppose n is even , then 2|n^21-n
if n is odd, n^20 is odd, so n^20-1 is even;

to 3, it means n^21=(n^3)^7=n^7=(n^3)^2*n
then how is the next to prove 3|n(n^20-1)

You are almost there with this line, "to 3, it means n^21=(n^3)^7=n^7=(n^3)^2*n". Think about it a little more and you will get it.
 
Dick said:
You are almost there with this line, "to 3, it means n^21=(n^3)^7=n^7=(n^3)^2*n". Think about it a little more and you will get it.

Keeping thinking n^3=n, n^3=n.
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...

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