Show that m has to be even if for every integer $a$, $a^m\equiv1\pmod{n}$.

78 Views Asked by At

Let $n$ be a positive integer, and let $m$ be an integer such that $a^m\equiv1\pmod{n}$ for every integer $a\ \epsilon\ (\mathbb Z/n\mathbb Z)^*$. Show that $m$ is even.

I know that $a^{\phi(n)}\equiv1\pmod n$ by Euler's Theorem, so is this question then just about showing that $\phi(n)$ is even?

1

There are 1 best solutions below

2
On BEST ANSWER

As has been said in the comments, $a\equiv -1$ suffices. Because, modular arithmetic, obeys normal arithmetic rules mostly (otherwise it would be useless in diophantine equation analysis). $$(-1)^{2x+1}=-1$$ is one such rule. So m can't be odd, and work in this case. No need to get anything else involved.

Exception n=2 and n=1 though. Because then 1 and -1 are congruent.