MHB Odd Composite Property 1: A Unique Factorization Rule

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For any odd composite number 'N', the relationship between u = (N-1)/2 and v = u+1 establishes that u^2 ≡ v^2 (mod p) if and only if p is a factor of N. This is derived from the equivalence 0 ≡ 2u + 1 (mod p), leading to the conclusion that N = kp for some integer k. Conversely, if N = kp, the calculations show that u^2 and v^2 also satisfy the modular equivalence. The discussion emphasizes that p cannot be 2, highlighting the unique properties of odd composites. This unique factorization rule provides insights into the behavior of odd composite numbers in modular arithmetic.
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Hi,

For any odd composite 'N', let u = (N-1)/2, v = u+1, then u^2(mod p) = v^2(mod p) if and only if 'p' is a factor of 'N'.
 
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Re: Odd composite property1

suppose that:

$u^2 \equiv v^2\ (\text{mod }p)$

since $v = u+1$ this is the same as saying:

$0 \equiv 2u + 1\ (\text{mod }p)$

that is:

$2u + 1 = kp$ for some integer $k$.

recalling that $u = \frac{N-1}{2}$, we see that:

$2u + 1 = N = kp$, in which case $p$ divides (is a factor of) $N$.

on the other hand, suppose that $N = kp$.

then:

$u^2 = \frac{N^2 - 2N + 1}{4}$ while:

$v^2 = \left(\frac{N+1}{2}\right)^2 = \frac{N^2 + 2N + 1}{4}$

so:

$v^2 - u^2 = \frac{4N}{4} = N = kp$ thus:

$u^2 \equiv v^2\ (\text{mod }p)$

(it might be instructive to see why p cannot be 2).
 
I have been insisting to my statistics students that for probabilities, the rule is the number of significant figures is the number of digits past the leading zeros or leading nines. For example to give 4 significant figures for a probability: 0.000001234 and 0.99999991234 are the correct number of decimal places. That way the complementary probability can also be given to the same significant figures ( 0.999998766 and 0.00000008766 respectively). More generally if you have a value that...

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