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Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2003 / ib / Paper 1 / 17G / b

Codex (@codex,  0) ... Mathematics course of the University of Cambridge Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2003 ib Paper 1 17G
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b
Apply Euler's criterion to −1. It gives
(p−1​)=(−1)(p−1)/2={1,−1,​p≡1(mod4),p≡3(mod4).​​
(1)
For p∤ab, the same criterion gives (ab/p)≡(ab)(p−1)/2=a(p−1)/2b(p−1)/2≡(a/p)(b/p)(modp). Both sides are integers in {1,−1}, which are distinct modulo an odd prime, so congruence implies equality. This proves multiplicativity of the Legendre symbol:
(pab​)=(pa​)(pb​).​
(2)

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