Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2019/ii/paper-1/1i/b/solution

An odd composite number with is a Fermat pseudoprime to base when
For , the Chinese remainder theorem for unit groups reduces this condition to congruences modulo and . Modulo , Fermat's little theorem gives
so exactly when . Modulo , the unit group has order , so
The equation in the cyclic group has solutions, namely .
Combining the two independent sign choices by the Chinese remainder theorem gives
and hence

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