Why Does RSA Encryption Return the Original Number?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the RSA encryption process, specifically addressing why the original number appears as the encrypted number in the participant's calculations. The scope includes theoretical understanding and practical application of RSA encryption, with a focus on the encryption and decryption steps.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes their RSA setup, including values for A, p, q, n, z, and k, and expresses confusion over obtaining the original number as the encrypted output.
  • Another participant questions the validity of obtaining a non-integer value for the private key j, suggesting that all numbers involved should be integers.
  • Participants discuss the calculation of the private key and express uncertainty about the modulus operation, indicating a potential misunderstanding of how it should be applied.
  • One participant provides examples of modulus calculations to clarify that mod should not yield fractions, emphasizing that it finds the remainder.
  • Another participant suggests trying different integer values to solve for j in the equation 7j = 1 (mod 8) and expresses uncertainty about the meaning of z in the context of the equation kj = 1 (mod z).

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the calculations should yield integers and express confusion over the introduction of fractions. However, there is no consensus on the correct approach to resolving the issues with the private key calculation or the modulus operation.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge limitations in their understanding of the modulus function and its application in RSA encryption, which may affect their calculations and reasoning.

James...
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Struggling to put a number through this as I keep getting my original number as the encrypted number too.

A = 11
p = 3 q = 5
n = pq = 15
z = (p-1)(q-1) = 2*4 = 8
k = co-prime of z = 7

So,

A=11
n=15
z=8 (Public key)
k=7(Public key)

kj = 1 (mod z)
7j = 1 (mod 8)

for which I am getting j = 9/7 (private key)

Start of encryption...

A^k = E (mod n)
11^7 = E (mod 15)

19487171/15 = 1299144.733...

1299144 * 15 = 19487160

E = 19487171 - 19487160 = 11 (which is what I started with)Tried using the decrypting part anyway and got...

E^j = A (mod n)

11^(9/7) = A (mod 15)

21.8239547419283/15 = 1.45493031612855

1 * 15 = 15

21.8239547419283 - 15 = 6.8239547419283 (which obviously isn't what I started with)

Any help where I am going wrong would be appreciated, I assume it is where mod is brought in as I haven't used that function before 2 hours ago but it may be somewhere else.

Cheers
james
 
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James... said:
for which I am getting j = 9/7 (private key)

Shouldn't all number involved be integers?
 
I'm not sure. Thats where I think I have gone wrong though.

Think I messed up at

kj = 1 (mod z)
7j = 1 (mod 8)

trying to work out the private key as I have tried to teach myself how to do this from an example on a website without really knowing how to do it.

James
 
Can anyone help with this? Will ask my math/physics teacher tomorrow but wouldn't mind having another go at it first.

Cheers
James
 
I am sure these should be all integers, but I have not played with RSA for several years.
 
I think you are right but I am getting fractions when the modulus function is introduced as I'm unsure how it works.

James
 
mod never gives fractions, mod is about finding remainder.

10 mod 3 = 1
12 mod 5 = 2

and so on.
 
James... said:
I'm not sure. Thats where I think I have gone wrong though.

Think I messed up at

kj = 1 (mod z)
7j = 1 (mod 8)

Just try some possibilities: 7(1)= 7, 7(2)= 14= 8+ 6, 7(3)= 21= 2(8)+ 5, 7(4)= 28= 3(8)+ 4, 7(5)= 35= 4(8)+ 7, 7(6)= 42= 5(8)+ 2, 7(7)= 49= 6(8)+ 1. 7j= 1 (mod 8) if and only if u= 7 (mod 8). I can't speak for "kj= 1 (mod z)" because I don't know what z is!

trying to work out the private key as I have tried to teach myself how to do this from an example on a website without really knowing how to do it.

James
 

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