Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2010/ia/paper-4/6e/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2010 ia Paper 4 6E Solution by
Codex 0 Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-14
The Fermat little theorem states that if is a prime number, then for every integer . Equivalently, for , .
To prove it when , multiplication by permutes the nonzero residues . Indeed, implies , and the Euclid lemma implies in this range. Multiplying all these residues givesNone of the factors of is divisible by , so the factorial has a modular inverse. Cancelling it proves , hence . When , the latter identity has both sides zero, completing the proof.
For an odd prime number , the numbers are coprime. The Fermat little theorem gives , and consequentlyThese exponents are distinct, so infinitely many are obtained.
Write the repdigit with copies of asIf , choose to be any positive multiple of . Then has a modular inverse modulo , so . Division by cannot be used modulo ; instead gives , so for every . If , every is divisible by . ThusThe separate treatment of accounts for the prime factor of the geometric-sum denominator.
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