Solving an equation mod $n$












0














Part of a solution, I'm trying to calculate $(n-1)^2$ in $mod n$ when $ninmathbb{N}$. What I tried to do:



$$ (n-1)^2=(n^2-2n+1) (mod n)$$



But I'm not sure what to do next. How should I approach this?










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    0














    Part of a solution, I'm trying to calculate $(n-1)^2$ in $mod n$ when $ninmathbb{N}$. What I tried to do:



    $$ (n-1)^2=(n^2-2n+1) (mod n)$$



    But I'm not sure what to do next. How should I approach this?










    share|cite|improve this question



























      0












      0








      0







      Part of a solution, I'm trying to calculate $(n-1)^2$ in $mod n$ when $ninmathbb{N}$. What I tried to do:



      $$ (n-1)^2=(n^2-2n+1) (mod n)$$



      But I'm not sure what to do next. How should I approach this?










      share|cite|improve this question















      Part of a solution, I'm trying to calculate $(n-1)^2$ in $mod n$ when $ninmathbb{N}$. What I tried to do:



      $$ (n-1)^2=(n^2-2n+1) (mod n)$$



      But I'm not sure what to do next. How should I approach this?







      modular-arithmetic






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      share|cite|improve this question













      share|cite|improve this question




      share|cite|improve this question








      edited Nov 20 '18 at 22:25









      Jean Marie

      28.8k41949




      28.8k41949










      asked Nov 20 '18 at 21:08









      vesii

      906




      906






















          2 Answers
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          3














          $n-1equiv -1 pmod n$



          So $(n-1)^2 equiv (-1)^2 equiv 1pmod n$.



          ....



          Or $n^2= n*n equiv 0 pmod n$. And $-2nequiv (-2)*nequiv 0 pmod n$. ANd $1 equiv 1pmod n$.



          So $n^2 - 2n + 1 equiv 0 + 0 + 1 equiv 1 pmod n$.



          ...



          You just need to keep is mind for $aequiv alpha pmod n$ and $b equiv beta pmod n$



          That $a pm bequiv alpha pm beta pmod n$ and $ab equiv alpha beta pmod n$ and $maequiv malpha pmod n$ and $a^k equiv alpha^k pmod n$ and that $n equiv 0 pmod n$.



          EVERYTHING falls from that exceedingly nicely.



          (In other words nearly all arithmetic distributes over modulus, and that $n$ is equivalent to $0$.)



          (So $(n-1)^2$ is over modulus then, under $mod n$ arithmetic, the same thing as $(-1)^2$.)



          (A few things to watch out for. Division doesn't distribute unless divisor and modulus are relatively prime. And the powers of exponents are not actually arithmetic so they don't distribute.)






          share|cite|improve this answer































            0














            Since $${n^2}equiv 0pmod n$$ $$-2nequiv 0pmod n$$
            You have $${(n-1)^2}equiv ({n^2}-2n+1)equiv 0+0+1equiv1 pmod n$$






            share|cite|improve this answer





















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              2 Answers
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              2 Answers
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              active

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              active

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              active

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              3














              $n-1equiv -1 pmod n$



              So $(n-1)^2 equiv (-1)^2 equiv 1pmod n$.



              ....



              Or $n^2= n*n equiv 0 pmod n$. And $-2nequiv (-2)*nequiv 0 pmod n$. ANd $1 equiv 1pmod n$.



              So $n^2 - 2n + 1 equiv 0 + 0 + 1 equiv 1 pmod n$.



              ...



              You just need to keep is mind for $aequiv alpha pmod n$ and $b equiv beta pmod n$



              That $a pm bequiv alpha pm beta pmod n$ and $ab equiv alpha beta pmod n$ and $maequiv malpha pmod n$ and $a^k equiv alpha^k pmod n$ and that $n equiv 0 pmod n$.



              EVERYTHING falls from that exceedingly nicely.



              (In other words nearly all arithmetic distributes over modulus, and that $n$ is equivalent to $0$.)



              (So $(n-1)^2$ is over modulus then, under $mod n$ arithmetic, the same thing as $(-1)^2$.)



              (A few things to watch out for. Division doesn't distribute unless divisor and modulus are relatively prime. And the powers of exponents are not actually arithmetic so they don't distribute.)






              share|cite|improve this answer




























                3














                $n-1equiv -1 pmod n$



                So $(n-1)^2 equiv (-1)^2 equiv 1pmod n$.



                ....



                Or $n^2= n*n equiv 0 pmod n$. And $-2nequiv (-2)*nequiv 0 pmod n$. ANd $1 equiv 1pmod n$.



                So $n^2 - 2n + 1 equiv 0 + 0 + 1 equiv 1 pmod n$.



                ...



                You just need to keep is mind for $aequiv alpha pmod n$ and $b equiv beta pmod n$



                That $a pm bequiv alpha pm beta pmod n$ and $ab equiv alpha beta pmod n$ and $maequiv malpha pmod n$ and $a^k equiv alpha^k pmod n$ and that $n equiv 0 pmod n$.



                EVERYTHING falls from that exceedingly nicely.



                (In other words nearly all arithmetic distributes over modulus, and that $n$ is equivalent to $0$.)



                (So $(n-1)^2$ is over modulus then, under $mod n$ arithmetic, the same thing as $(-1)^2$.)



                (A few things to watch out for. Division doesn't distribute unless divisor and modulus are relatively prime. And the powers of exponents are not actually arithmetic so they don't distribute.)






                share|cite|improve this answer


























                  3












                  3








                  3






                  $n-1equiv -1 pmod n$



                  So $(n-1)^2 equiv (-1)^2 equiv 1pmod n$.



                  ....



                  Or $n^2= n*n equiv 0 pmod n$. And $-2nequiv (-2)*nequiv 0 pmod n$. ANd $1 equiv 1pmod n$.



                  So $n^2 - 2n + 1 equiv 0 + 0 + 1 equiv 1 pmod n$.



                  ...



                  You just need to keep is mind for $aequiv alpha pmod n$ and $b equiv beta pmod n$



                  That $a pm bequiv alpha pm beta pmod n$ and $ab equiv alpha beta pmod n$ and $maequiv malpha pmod n$ and $a^k equiv alpha^k pmod n$ and that $n equiv 0 pmod n$.



                  EVERYTHING falls from that exceedingly nicely.



                  (In other words nearly all arithmetic distributes over modulus, and that $n$ is equivalent to $0$.)



                  (So $(n-1)^2$ is over modulus then, under $mod n$ arithmetic, the same thing as $(-1)^2$.)



                  (A few things to watch out for. Division doesn't distribute unless divisor and modulus are relatively prime. And the powers of exponents are not actually arithmetic so they don't distribute.)






                  share|cite|improve this answer














                  $n-1equiv -1 pmod n$



                  So $(n-1)^2 equiv (-1)^2 equiv 1pmod n$.



                  ....



                  Or $n^2= n*n equiv 0 pmod n$. And $-2nequiv (-2)*nequiv 0 pmod n$. ANd $1 equiv 1pmod n$.



                  So $n^2 - 2n + 1 equiv 0 + 0 + 1 equiv 1 pmod n$.



                  ...



                  You just need to keep is mind for $aequiv alpha pmod n$ and $b equiv beta pmod n$



                  That $a pm bequiv alpha pm beta pmod n$ and $ab equiv alpha beta pmod n$ and $maequiv malpha pmod n$ and $a^k equiv alpha^k pmod n$ and that $n equiv 0 pmod n$.



                  EVERYTHING falls from that exceedingly nicely.



                  (In other words nearly all arithmetic distributes over modulus, and that $n$ is equivalent to $0$.)



                  (So $(n-1)^2$ is over modulus then, under $mod n$ arithmetic, the same thing as $(-1)^2$.)



                  (A few things to watch out for. Division doesn't distribute unless divisor and modulus are relatively prime. And the powers of exponents are not actually arithmetic so they don't distribute.)







                  share|cite|improve this answer














                  share|cite|improve this answer



                  share|cite|improve this answer








                  edited Nov 20 '18 at 21:27









                  zwim

                  11.5k729




                  11.5k729










                  answered Nov 20 '18 at 21:14









                  fleablood

                  68.3k22685




                  68.3k22685























                      0














                      Since $${n^2}equiv 0pmod n$$ $$-2nequiv 0pmod n$$
                      You have $${(n-1)^2}equiv ({n^2}-2n+1)equiv 0+0+1equiv1 pmod n$$






                      share|cite|improve this answer


























                        0














                        Since $${n^2}equiv 0pmod n$$ $$-2nequiv 0pmod n$$
                        You have $${(n-1)^2}equiv ({n^2}-2n+1)equiv 0+0+1equiv1 pmod n$$






                        share|cite|improve this answer
























                          0












                          0








                          0






                          Since $${n^2}equiv 0pmod n$$ $$-2nequiv 0pmod n$$
                          You have $${(n-1)^2}equiv ({n^2}-2n+1)equiv 0+0+1equiv1 pmod n$$






                          share|cite|improve this answer












                          Since $${n^2}equiv 0pmod n$$ $$-2nequiv 0pmod n$$
                          You have $${(n-1)^2}equiv ({n^2}-2n+1)equiv 0+0+1equiv1 pmod n$$







                          share|cite|improve this answer












                          share|cite|improve this answer



                          share|cite|improve this answer










                          answered Nov 20 '18 at 21:15









                          Dr. Mathva

                          919316




                          919316






























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