Prime Divisibility Property: Proving p^2 divides a^p - b^p for Integers a and b

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The discussion centers on proving that if p is a prime that divides a - b, then p^2 divides a^p - b^p for integers a and b. The initial poster initially struggled with the problem but later found a solution using the binomial theorem, suggesting that p does not necessarily need to be prime. However, it was clarified that the binomial coefficient properties only hold for primes, as demonstrated by counterexamples with composite numbers. The conversation also touched on the implications of Fermat's Little Theorem and the necessity of p being prime for certain modular arithmetic properties to apply. Ultimately, the consensus is that the original statement holds true specifically for prime p, with additional considerations for odd integers.
  • #31
Landau said:
Ah, I missed that, sorry.

don't worry

anyway, I was thinking on a similar problem, to prove (or disprove) the statement:p^5 never divides a^p+b^p, that is, the contrary proplem (a superior limit), ohh, and gcd(a,p)=(b,p)=1
 
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  • #32
Another way to approach this whole thing depends upon using the Taylor Theorem, but in a very truncated form. I will give an example:

F(x) = 2^5 + x^5 == 0. Mod 5. In this case, x=3. It is very easy to move to the case Modulus=25, which has already been show, first by lpetnich, and then by me: Using the Taylor method we arrive at:

F(x+hp) = F(x) +hpF'(x) +(hp)^2(F''(x)) ++++ But in this case we don't even need the term (hp)^2(F''(x)).

BUT since F'(x) =5x^4, we already have arrive at the p^2 = 25 situation, and we are left with just F(3) = 2^5+3^5 ==0 Mod 25.

However to give this proof some legitimacy, let's look at raising the example to Modulus 5^3 = 125, and using only the form 5kF'(x).
F(x+hp) = F(x) + hpF'(x) \equiv 0 Mod 125.
hpF'(3) \equiv -(2^5+3^5) Mod 125
Since F'(3) =5*3^4, and dividing out 25 from the numerator, we have: h=\frac{-2^5-3^5}{25*81} = -11/81=-1 Mod 5,.

Thus h=-1 and 3+(-1)*5 = =-2==123 Mod 125.

Thus moving up in p as an exponent, we have: 2^{25}+123^{25} \equiv 0 Mod 125.

But since again we get the simplist case as before for Mod 25, the above case works for
2^{25}+123^{25}\equiv 0 Mod 625.

While it might look pulling a rabbit out of the hat, if we always raise by F(x)+h(p^k)F'(x) Modulus p^(k+1), which would have been the normal expectation for a higher power,we get always the simplist case; so that nothing is need but to raise the exponent:2+3==0 Mod5. 2^5+3^5 == 0 Mod 25, 2^25+3^25 ==0 Mod 125, 2^125+3^125 ==0 Mod 625, 2^625+3^625 ==0 Mod 3125.

Remember all these cases involve division by powers of p, they do not handle the case (a-b)^(p^k)==a^(p^k)-b^(p^k) Mod p^(k), as the first part of the Freshman's Dream indicates. The last part of the Freshman's Dream is nothing but a generalization of Fermat's Little Theorem. I thought I handled that by indicating proof by induction 1^p==1 Mod p, (k+1)^p ==k^p + 1 Mod p, because all middle terms in the binominal expansion contain p. Thus x^p==x Mod p for the multiplicative group mod p.
 
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  • #33
Check me out page 2.

frowdow said:
This is a weird coincidence since i was trying to solve a similar problem which is:

Prove that if a ^ p + b ^p = 0 (mod p) then a ^ p + b ^p = 0 (mod p ^ 2)

The logic is exactly similar i guess except that p as to be odd & greater than 2. Can somebody please look into & give me clues to solving the problem i posted a couple of days back with the subject line similar to "reduced residues" involving the Euler phi function? I would really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance,
--
Sachin
 

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