Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2019 / ii / Paper 4 / 10D / a / Solution

The multiplicative order of $\alpha$ modulo $N$ is the least positive integer $r$ such thatIt exists because $\alpha$ and $N$ are coprime integers.

Suppose that $r$ is even andThe minimality of $r$ also gives ${\alpha }^{r/2}\not\equiv 1(\mathrm{mod}N)$. Sincethe factor extraction from an even modular order yieldsas a nontrivial factor of $N$; equivalently one may also compute $\gcd ({\alpha }^{r/2}+1,N)$. Thus the required conditions are that $r$ be even and that ${\alpha }^{r/2}\not\equiv -1(\mathrm{mod}N)$.