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Number theory Difficulty 5.1 AIME, harder Prove it Romania

Determine the integers n2n \ge 2 such that a2a+2=0a^2 - a + 2 = 0 in Zn\mathbb{Z}_n for a unique aa in Zn\mathbb{Z}_n.

Solution

We show that 77 is the sole integer satisfying the required conditions. If aZna \in \mathbb{Z}_n and a2a+2=0a^2 - a + 2 = 0 in Zn\mathbb{Z}_n, then (1a)2(1a)+2=a2a+2=0(1-a)^2 - (1-a) + 2 = a^2 - a + 2 = 0 in Zn\mathbb{Z}_n, so uniqueness forces a=1aa = 1-a, i.e., 2a=12a = 1. In particular, 22 is invertible in Zn\mathbb{Z}_n and a=21a = 2^{-1}. Hence 2221+2=02^{-2} - 2^{-1} + 2 = 0, or 12+8=01 - 2 + 8 = 0, i.e., 7=07 = 0 in Zn\mathbb{Z}_n. Consequently, nn divides 77, and since the latter is prime, it follows that n=7n = 7. It is readily checked that a=21=4a = 2^{-1} = 4 is the unique element of Z7\mathbb{Z}_7 satisfying a2a+2=0a^2 - a + 2 = 0.

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