Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2008/ii/paper-4/1h/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2008 ii Paper 4 1H Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
Choose an integer whose reduction is a primitive root modulo . At least one of satisfies , because the binomial theorem givesand the added coefficient is nonzero modulo . Both choices still generate the multiplicative group modulo . Choose such a and write with .
For and , another binomial expansion showsThe intermediate binomial coefficients are divisible by , and the final term also has valuation at least because is odd. Induction therefore givesThus has order exactly modulo . The order of itself is divisible by , by reduction modulo , and divides the number of invertible residue classes. Its order must consequently be precisely that number. This proves the lifting a primitive root to odd prime powers result andFor the requested example choose . Modulo , and , excluding the proper divisors of ten, so its order is ten. Also , which is not divisible by . Hence
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