Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 ia Paper 4 5D a Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-05
The Fermat-Euler theorem states that for an integer and a positive integer with ,where the Euler totient function counts the residue classes coprime to . For , choose a reduced residue system . Multiplication by the unit modulo n preserves coprimality and is injective on these residue classes: implies , because has a multiplicative inverse modulo . It therefore permutes the reduced residue system, givingThe product is also a unit modulo n, so it can be cancelled. This proves the Fermat-Euler theorem. For every modular congruence is automatic; one may use .
For a prime number , the Euler totient function has value . Thus whenever . Multiplying by , and treating separately, gives the all-integer version of Fermat's little theorem:Finally, Wilson theorem states that for every prime number , . Its converse is also true: an integer is prime exactly when . For the converse, any proper divisor would divide both and , contradicting that congruence.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2017 ia Paper 4 5D b Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-05
Suppose . Then is a unit modulo n for modulus , and Fermat's little theorem impliesSince is an odd prime number, and are distinct residue classes. Therefore is even, and .
Conversely, put . Pair each integer with in the factorial. Wilson theorem yieldsWhen , is even, so satisfies . This proves the first supplementary law for quadratic reciprocity without assuming a primitive root. HenceThe two solutions are and modulo : their difference is nonzero, and factoring shows that a degree-two polynomial over the field of residues modulo has no further roots.
Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2019 ia Paper 4 6E c Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-09-29
Assume and choose as in part (b). Put . Multiplying by and using givesSimilarly, multiplication by gives .
Moreover, is a unit modulo n: if a prime divided both and , the two congruences would make it divide , contrary to . Thus means precisely that two pairs differ by multiplication by a unit modulo . Reflexivity, symmetry using , and transitivity using products of units now show that is an equivalence relation.
Reduced residue system 2026-10-05
For a positive modulus , a reduced residue system contains exactly one representative of each residue class coprime to . Its size is the Euler totient function . Multiplication by any unit modulo n permutes these classes, which proves the Fermat-Euler theorem after multiplying and cancelling their unit product.