Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2021 ii Paper 1 1I Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-25
Euler's criterion states that for an odd prime number and ,where the right-hand side is the Legendre symbol.
Let be a primitive root modulo . Its multiplicative order is , so . This power has square , and the only roots of modulo the odd prime are . ThereforeEuler's criterion now gives , so every primitive root is a quadratic nonresidue.
Now let be a Fermat prime, with . The number of primitive roots modulo isThere are also exactly quadratic nonresidues. Since every primitive root is a nonresidue, these equally large sets coincide. Thus every quadratic nonresidue modulo is a primitive root, as summarized by Quadratic nonresidues modulo a Fermat prime.
Finally, and . Quadratic reciprocity therefore givesHence is a quadratic nonresidue modulo , and consequently