Past exam of the options II course of the University of Oxford / 2011 / C / C2 / a / i / Solution

For an odd prime number $p$, a nonzero class $a(\mathrm{mod}p)$ is a quadratic residue if $a\equiv x^2(\mathrm{mod}p)$ for some integer $x$ not divisible by $p$. The Legendre symbol isWhen discussing solvability of $x^2\equiv a(\mathrm{mod}p)$ without a coprimality assumption, zero is also a square. This convention matters in the final local characterization of integer squares.