Test Today Quick Number Theory Question

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around number theory, specifically focusing on proving a congruence involving an odd integer and its powers. The original poster attempts to use mathematical induction to establish that a²ⁿ is congruent to 1 modulo 2ⁿ⁺².

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the steps of mathematical induction, including base cases and induction hypotheses. Questions arise regarding the congruence manipulation and specific terms in the expressions. There is also an exploration of a separate problem involving factorials and modular arithmetic.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing feedback on the original poster's attempts and raising further questions about specific congruences. Some guidance has been offered regarding the manipulation of terms, but no consensus has been reached on the overall approach or solution.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention constraints such as the timing of an impending test and the need to clarify concepts that may have been forgotten since their last engagement with number theory topics.

trap101
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Test Today...Quick Number Theory Question

Let "a" be an odd integer. Prove that a2n (is congruent to) 1 (mod 2n+2)

Attempt: By using induction:
Base Case of 1 worked.

IH: Assume a2k (is congruent to) 1 (mod 2k+2)

this can also be written: a2k = 1 + (l) (2k+2) for some "l"

IS: a2k+1 = a2k°2 = (a2k)2

Now I took 1 + (l) (2k+2) and substituted it into (a2k)2 and expanded:

1 + l ( 2k+3+ (l) 22k+4) is what I obtained after expanding and then simplifying it. But I know this isn't what I have to obtain when I try and show the K+1 case. What am I missing?
 
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You've probably already had your test, but everything you have done so far is correct. Now you just need to show that 1 + l(2k + 3) + l2(22k + 4) is congruent to 1 (mod 2k + 3), which it is as far as I can tell...
 


Nope. Test is 6pm my time, so I'm just tying up a few loose ends.
Ansatz7 said:
You've probably already had your test, but everything you have done so far is correct. Now you just need to show that 1 + l(2k + 3) + l2(22k + 4) is congruent to 1 (mod 2k + 3), which it is as far as I can tell...
How is : 1 + l(2k + 3) + l2(22k + 4) congruent to 1 (mod 2k + 3)?

i tried breaking it up: 1 + l(2k + 3) + l2(2k + 2)2...so it's this last term that's giving me a problem. I also had one other short question if you don't mind?
 


trap101 said:
i tried breaking it up: 1 + l(2k + 3) + l2(2k + 2)2...so it's this last term that's giving me a problem. I also had one other short question if you don't mind?

What is 22k+4 divided by 2k+3? Feel free to ask another question, though I can't guarantee that I'll be able to respond.
 


The little things...smh.

Well this one is easier I think:

Find the remainder when (17!(15) - (22)542)2343 divided by 19

Attempt: I started it like this: (let's just call this ≈ congruent for now (I don't know how to get it in this program)

1518 ≈ 1 (mod 19) (By Fermat's little)

17!(15)18 ≈ 1 (17!) (mod 19) => 17! ≈ 17! (mod 19)

Also:

22 ≈ 3 (mod 19) => 22542 ≈ 3542 (mod 19)

So altogether I have: (17! - 3542)2343

Now there is a factorial so I figure I'm going to have to use Wilson's Thm, but I can't see how to squeeze it in
 


trap101 said:
The little things...smh.

Well this one is easier I think:

Find the remainder when (17!(15) - (22)542)2343 divided by 19

Attempt: I started it like this: (let's just call this ≈ congruent for now (I don't know how to get it in this program)

1518 ≈ 1 (mod 19) (By Fermat's little)

17!(15)18 ≈ 1 (17!) (mod 19) => 17! ≈ 17! (mod 19)

Also:

22 ≈ 3 (mod 19) => 22542 ≈ 3542 (mod 19)

So altogether I have: (17! - 3542)2343

Now there is a factorial so I figure I'm going to have to use Wilson's Thm, but I can't see how to squeeze it in

I wasn't familiar with Wilson's theorem (I last did number theory more than 2 years ago, and I haven't used it since) but from what I can see it tells you that 18! is congruent to -1 mod 19. 18! = 18 * 17!, so I believe you can use this to simplify 17!.
 


Ansatz7 said:
I wasn't familiar with Wilson's theorem (I last did number theory more than 2 years ago, and I haven't used it since)

and here I was thinking that I might have some grandiose use for this in the future, maybe I'll figure some use for it. Thanks though, you've been a help.
 

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