Find the remainder from congruence relations

66 Views Asked by At

Find the remainder ($x$) $a\equiv x\pmod{73}$ where

$a^{100}\equiv 2\pmod {73}$

$a^{101}\equiv 69\pmod{73}$

$a^{100}\equiv 2\pmod {73}\Rightarrow \phi(73)=72\Rightarrow 100x+72y=(100,72)=4$

This Diophantine equation doesn't have a solution.

Is it necessary to change the base (modulo)?

1

There are 1 best solutions below

0
On BEST ANSWER

We know $$a^{101}\equiv 69\pmod{73},$$ and since $a^{101}\equiv a^{100}a\equiv 2a\pmod{73}$, we have the equation

$$2a\equiv 69\pmod{73}$$

This isn't too hard to just solve, but to make it a little easier, we can note $$69\equiv-4\pmod{73}$$ Hence $$2a\equiv-4\pmod{73}$$ and so finally $$a\equiv -2\pmod{73}$$

Since $-2\equiv 71\pmod{73}$, we have $71$ as the solution.