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Number theory Difficulty 4.8 AIME Find the answer

Find the minimum positive integer kk such that f(n+k)f(n)(mod23)f(n+k) \equiv f(n)(\bmod 23) for all integers nn.

A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.

Solution

Note that ϕ(23)=22\phi(23)=22 and ϕ(22)=10\phi(22)=10, so if lcm(23,22,10)=2530k\operatorname{lcm}(23,22,10)=2530 \mid k then f(n+k)f(n)(mod23)f(n+k) \equiv f(n)(\bmod 23) is always true. We show that this is necessary as well. Choosing n0(mod23)n \equiv 0(\bmod 23), we see that k0(mod23)k \equiv 0(\bmod 23). Thus n+kn(mod23)n+k \equiv n(\bmod 23) always, and we can move to the exponent by choosing nn to be a generator modulo 23 : (n+k)n+knn(mod22)(n+k)^{n+k} \equiv n^{n}(\bmod 22) The choice of nn here is independent of the choice (mod23)(\bmod 23) since 22 and 23 are coprime. Thus we must have again that 22k22 \mid k, by choosing n0(mod22)n \equiv 0(\bmod 22). But then n+kn(mod11)n+k \equiv n(\bmod 11) always, and we can go to the exponent modulo ϕ(11)=10\phi(11)=10 by choosing nn a generator modulo 11 : n+kn(mod10)n+k \equiv n(\bmod 10) From here it follows that 10k10 \mid k as well. Thus 2530k2530 \mid k and 2530 is the minimum positive integer desired.

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