The complete residue system of 74 can be represented as
x=x0+x1⋅7+x2⋅72+x3⋅73−3⩽xj⩽3,0⩽j⩽3
We solve the congruence equations sequentially
(x0+x1⋅7+⋯+xj⋅7j)2≡2(mod7j+1),0⩽j⩽3
to find x0,x1,x2,x3. When j=0, solve
x02≡2(mod7)
we get x0=±3. When j=1, solve
(±3+x1⋅7)2≡2(mod72)
we have
9±6⋅7x1≡2(mod72)±6x1≡−1(mod7)
we get x1=±1. When j=2, solve
(±3±1⋅7+x2⋅72)2≡2(mod73)
we have
(±3±1⋅7)2+2⋅(±3)⋅72x2≡2(mod73)±6x2≡−2(mod7)
we get x2=±2. When j=3, solve
(±3±1⋅7±2⋅72+x3⋅73)2≡2(mod74)
we have
(±3±1⋅7±2⋅72)2±6⋅73x3≡2(mod74)100+40⋅72±6⋅73x3≡2(mod74)±6⋅7x3≡−2−40(mod72)±6x3≡−6(mod7)
we get x3=∓1. Thus, the congruence equation has two solutions:
x1≡3+1⋅7+2⋅72−73≡−235(mod74)x2≡−3−1⋅7−2⋅72+73≡235(mod74)
The solution method in Example 6 is to use the k-ary representation of integers to solve congruence equations modulo kl, where k does not necessarily have to be a prime number.