Number theoryDifficulty 7.0National olympiadProve it
Let N be the set of those positive integers n for which n∣kk−1 implies n∣k−1 for every positive integer k. Prove that if n1,n2∈N, then their greatest common divisor is also in N.
Solution
1. **Define the Set S:** S={n∈Z>0: for each prime p∣n and prime q∣(p−1) we have q∣n} We aim to show that S=N.
2. **Prove S⊆N:** - Let n∈S and k be a positive integer such that n∣kk−1. We need to show n∣k−1, i.e., k≡1(modn). - Consider a prime p such that pe∥n (i.e., pe∣n and pe+1∤n). - Let o be the order of k modulo pe. By Euler's theorem, o∣φ(pe), and since n∣kk−1, we have o∣k, so o∣gcd(k,φ(pe)). - Since gcd(k,n)=1, it follows that p∤k. Therefore, o∣gcd(k,p−1). - If there is a prime q∣o, then q∣gcd(k,p−1), which implies q∣p−1 and q∣k. Since n∈S, we get q∣n and q∣k, contradicting gcd(n,k)=1. Thus, o=1 and n∣k−1.
3. **Prove N⊆S:** - Assume for contradiction that there exists n∈N such that n∈/S. Then there is a prime p∣n and a prime q∣p−1 such that q∤n. - Let v>0 such that pv∥n. Since p and q are primes and q∤n, q, n/pv, and pv are pairwise coprime. - By the Chinese Remainder Theorem, we can choose a positive integer k such that: ⎩⎨⎧k≡0(modq)k≡1(modn/pv)k≡gφ(pv)/q(modpv) where g is a primitive root modulo pv. - Since g is a primitive root and qφ(pv)<φ(pv), it follows that k≡gφ(pv)/q≡1(modpv), so pv∤k−1, implying: n∤k−1(1) - Since q∣k, we can write k=ℓq for some positive integer ℓ. By Euler's theorem: kk=(gφ(pv)/q)ℓq=(gq)φ(pv)≡1(modpv) and since kk≡1k≡1(modn/pv), we get kk≡1(modn), implying n∣kk−1. From this and (1), it follows that n∈/N, a contradiction. Therefore, S=N.
4. **Show gcd(n1,n2)∈S for n1,n2∈S:** - Let p∣gcd(n1,n2) and q∣p−1. Since p∣ni and ni∈S, we get q∣ni. Thus, q∣gcd(n1,n2). Therefore, gcd(n1,n2)∈S.
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