Proof Involving mod 5
Date: 10/27/2002 at 15:35:58
From: Marjorie Preston
Subject: Proof involving mod 5
I have a Discrete Math assignment, to prove the following:
Prove n^2 mod 5 = 1 or 4 when n is an integer not divisible by 5.
I can see that it's true, but don't know how to prove it. I know that
the possible remainders for mod 5 are 0-4; I know that multiples of 5
all end in 0 or 5... It's interesting that the only squares less than
5 are 0, 1, and 4; and 5 divides 0, so we're left with 1 and 4....
What's the formula I'm missing? Does it have anything to do with
primes?
Any insight would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Date: 10/27/2002 at 19:49:11
From: Doctor Paul
Subject: Re: Proof involving mod 5
You've already done the problem...
Given an integer n, there are five possibilities:
n = 0 mod 5
n = 1 mod 5
n = 2 mod 5
n = 3 mod 5
n = 4 mod 5
If n = 0 mod 5, then 5 divides n. We discard this case since it is
the noted exception given above.
Now we proceed just as you noted above:
if n = 1 mod 5, then n^2 = 1^1 = 1 mod 5
if n = 2 mod 5, then n^2 = 2^2 = 4 mod 5
if n = 3 mod 5, then n^2 = 3^2 = 9 = 4 mod 5
if n = 4 mod 5, then n^2 = 4^2 = 16 = 1 mod 5
Thus when 5 does not divide n, n^2 = 1 mod 5 or n^2 = 4 mod 5.
That's all there is to it...
I hope this helps. Please write back if you'd like to talk about
this some more.