Essentials of Number Theory

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Essentials of Number Theory Daniel A. Klain Essentials of Number Theory Essentials of Number Theory by Daniel A. Klain Daniel A. Klain Essentials of Number Theory Preliminary Edition last updated March 22, 2020 Theory Essentials of Number by Daniel A. Klain Copyright c 2018 by Daniel A. Klain Permission is granted to copy or distribute this work for non-commercial purposes, without adaptation or modification, as long as credit is given to the original author. The original book title, author credit, and this copyright notice must be retained in all copies. Contents Preface 6 1 What is number theory? 7 2 Integers and arithmetic 9 3 Some useful algebraic identities 15 4 Divisibility 19 5 Representations of numbers 23 6 Common divisors 27 7 Relatively prime integers 32 8 Solving linear Diophantine equations 36 9 Prime numbers and unique factorization 44 10 Modular arithmetic 53 11 The Chinese remainder theorem Theory 62 12 Divisibility tests 67 13 Checksums 70 14 Pollard’sEssentials Rho of Number 73 15 Zp and Fermat’s theorem 78 16 Units in Zn and Euler’s function 82 17 Elementary cryptography 90 18 Lagrange’s root theorem by Daniel A. Klain101 19 Polynomial equations and Hensel’s lemma 104 20 Primitive roots 109 21 The existence of primitive roots 115 22 Quadratic residues 120 23 The law of quadratic reciprocity 126 24 Proof of quadratic reciprocity 129 25 Quadratic residues over composite moduli 133 3 26 Jacobi symbols 140 27 Computing square roots mod p 145 28 Sums of squares 152 29 Pseudorandom numbers 160 30 Elementary primality testing 167 31 Advanced primality testing 170 32 Continued fractions 176 33 Infinite continued fractions 186 34 Recommended reading 192 35 Answers, hints, and solutions to selected exercises 194 References 201 Index 202 Theory Essentials of Number by Daniel A. Klain 4 Kein’ Musik ist ja nicht auf Erden, Die uns’rer verglichen kann werden. Essentials of Number Theory by Daniel A. Klain Preface This is an undergraduate level introduction to classical number theory, covering traditional topics (from discoveries of the ancient Greeks, to the work of Fermat, Euler, and Gauss), along with a few sections that outline newer applications of number theory made possible by 20th century computer science. While familiarity with calculus and linear algebra may be helpful for reasons of mathematical maturity, most of the material in this book is accessible to read- ers having a solid background in high school level mathematics. Sections are kept sufficiently short and focused for single session of reading. The first 26 sections (omitting sections 13, 14, and 17 with no loss of continuity) form a core introduction to the subject, providing the basic tools needed for further study. Selections can be made from among the remaining sections (13, 14, 17, 27–33) for applications and further topics. The book is also designed with extracurricular readers in mind: a student using this textbook for a reading course can read every section in the order provided. As with all mathematical studies, the exercises are of paramount importance. Section 35 contains hints, simple answers, and, in some cases, full solutions to selected exercises. Theory The first edition of any textbook is likely to want correction and refinement. I hope to find and correct errors and to fill some omissions for a more polished future edition. Comments are most welcome. I am gratefulEssentials to my students at UMass of Lowell Number for their patience with earlier drafts of this book, as well as for their comments and corrections. I am also very grateful to Tanya Khovanova for carefully proofreading several sections and for making many detailed and helpful suggestions. Finally, I am grateful to Michael Artin, for introducing me to this subject, and to Glenn Stevens, for showing me that classical number theory is a deep, exciting, and accessible part of mathematics that every studentby of the sciences Daniel can enjoy. A. Klain Dan Klain June 2017 6 1 What is number theory? At first glance the term “number theory” seems mysteriously broad. Isn’t all of mathematics about numbers? Is this just another name for mathematics in general? A more cautious reader might note that geometry and logic (for ex- ample) aren’t really about numbers, even if numbers are sometimes used. But even leaving out these topics, the “study of numbers” still sounds overly broad. Indeed, the term number theory is traditional, and refers exclusively to the study of whole numbers; that is, the numbers we count with: 1, 2, 3, 4, . along with the daring addition of 0, and, when convenient, the negative integers. Excluded from consideration are fractions, real numbers, and complex numbers. Those abstractions, while called numbers in ordinary language, are traditionally studied in courses on Analysis. While the whole numbers have their origins in counting, number theory is not about counting either. The study of advanced techniques in counting1 is a field of mathematics all its own, called CombinatoricsTheory. Number theory then is the pure study of whole numbers and their relations to one another, especially with regards to addition and multiplication, both of which will always transform whole numbers into whole numbers. For a sense of what this means,Essentials consider the following questions of about Number whole numbers: • Is the sum of two odd numbers even or odd? What about the product? • If we divide n by 3, we have 2 left over. If we divide the same number n by 17, we have 9 leftover. What are the possible values for n? • Can a power of two ever end in the digits “...324”? • When can a positive integer n be written as a sum of two integer squares? • + 1 + 1 + ··· +by1 Daniel> A. Klain Is the number 1 2 3 n ever a whole number if n 1? • Does the equation 12x − 57y = 39 have integer solutions x and y? What if 39 is replaced with 38? Number theory, as described so far, may seem a rather abstract topic to spend months (years?) studying. Indeed, because of its ostensible purity and great dis- tance from industrial or scientific applications, number theory was once known as the “Queen of Mathematics.” 1For example, if four married couples are seated at a round table, how many ways can they be arranged, alternating by gender, so that no one sits next to his or her spouse? 7 8 1 What is number theory? This is no longer the case. While still considered an exemplar of abstract math- ematical elegance, number theory now provides concrete applications to infor- mation theory and computer science, including cryptography, data compression, error-correcting codes, and pseudorandom number generation, to name just a few examples. All the same, the most compelling reason to study number theory is for its unique combination of simplicity and mystifying complexity, which provides a setting for mathematical beauty, surprise, and the sudden clarity that can be so thrilling to those who enjoy mathematics. Theory Essentials of Number by Daniel A. Klain 2 Integers and arithmetic Our primary setting is the set Z of integers; that is, whole numbers, positive and negative: Z = f..., −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, . .g. It is also convenient to denote by N the set of natural numbers; that is, the positive integers: N = f1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, . .g. We will assume familiarity with properties of the integers that the reader should recall from grade school. In particular, the integers have an ordering, and they are closed under addition, subtraction, and multiplication. Moreover, we will also assume that N is closed under addition and multiplication. The following identities summarize the algebraic properties of the integers. Theorem 2.1 (Basic properties of integer arithmetic). Let a, b, c 2 Z. • a + b = b + a Theory(addition is commutative) • a + (b + c) = (a + b) + c (addition is associative) • a + 0 = a (zero is the additive identity) • a + (−a) = 0 (every integer has an additive inverse) • abEssentials= ba of Number(multiplication is commutative) • a(bc) = (ab)c (multiplication is associative) • a · 1 = a (1 is the multiplicative identity) • a(b + c) = ab + ac (distributive law) • If ab = 0 then either a = 0 or bby= 0 (or both).Daniel(integral A. domain) Klain The last property in the list above implies the following Cancellation Law. Proposition 2.2. Let a, b, c 2 Z, and suppose that a 6= 0. If ab = ac then b = c. Proof. Since ab = ac, we have ab − ac = 0, so that a(b − c) = 0. Since a 6= 0, the last property in Theorem 2.1 implies that b − c = 0, so that b = c. q Notice what we did not say in the proof above. We did not talk about “dividing both sides by a”. Instead, the proof used properties of addition, subtraction, 9 10 2 Integers and arithmetic and multiplication, without any direct reference to division. The reason for this circumlocution will become evident as the theory unfolds. § For a, b 2 Z we write a < b if a is less than b. Denote a ≤ b if either a is less than b or a = b. The following identities summarize some of the order properties of the integers. Theorem 2.3 (Order properties of Z). Let a, b, c 2 Z. • a ≤ a (reflexive property) • If a ≤ b and b ≤ a then a = b (antisymmetric property) • If a ≤ b and b ≤ c then a ≤ c (transitive property) • If a, b 2 Z then a ≤ b or b ≤ a (total ordering) • If a ≥ b then a + c ≥ b + c. • If a ≥ b and c ≥ 0 then ac ≥ bc.
Recommended publications
  • Quadratic Reciprocity and Computing Modular Square Roots.Pdf
    12 Quadratic reciprocity and computing modular square roots In §2.8, we initiated an investigation of quadratic residues. This chapter continues this investigation. Recall that an integer a is called a quadratic residue modulo a positive integer n if gcd(a, n) = 1 and a ≡ b2 (mod n) for some integer b. First, we derive the famous law of quadratic reciprocity. This law, while his- torically important for reasons of pure mathematical interest, also has important computational applications, including a fast algorithm for testing if an integer is a quadratic residue modulo a prime. Second, we investigate the problem of computing modular square roots: given a quadratic residue a modulo n, compute an integer b such that a ≡ b2 (mod n). As we will see, there are efficient probabilistic algorithms for this problem when n is prime, and more generally, when the factorization of n into primes is known. 12.1 The Legendre symbol For an odd prime p and an integer a with gcd(a, p) = 1, the Legendre symbol (a j p) is defined to be 1 if a is a quadratic residue modulo p, and −1 otherwise. For completeness, one defines (a j p) = 0 if p j a. The following theorem summarizes the essential properties of the Legendre symbol. Theorem 12.1. Let p be an odd prime, and let a, b 2 Z. Then we have: (i) (a j p) ≡ a(p−1)=2 (mod p); in particular, (−1 j p) = (−1)(p−1)=2; (ii) (a j p)(b j p) = (ab j p); (iii) a ≡ b (mod p) implies (a j p) = (b j p); 2 (iv) (2 j p) = (−1)(p −1)=8; p−1 q−1 (v) if q is an odd prime, then (p j q) = (−1) 2 2 (q j p).
    [Show full text]
  • The Pseudoprimes to 25 • 109
    MATHEMATICS OF COMPUTATION, VOLUME 35, NUMBER 151 JULY 1980, PAGES 1003-1026 The Pseudoprimes to 25 • 109 By Carl Pomerance, J. L. Selfridge and Samuel S. Wagstaff, Jr. Abstract. The odd composite n < 25 • 10 such that 2n_1 = 1 (mod n) have been determined and their distribution tabulated. We investigate the properties of three special types of pseudoprimes: Euler pseudoprimes, strong pseudoprimes, and Car- michael numbers. The theoretical upper bound and the heuristic lower bound due to Erdös for the counting function of the Carmichael numbers are both sharpened. Several new quick tests for primality are proposed, including some which combine pseudoprimes with Lucas sequences. 1. Introduction. According to Fermat's "Little Theorem", if p is prime and (a, p) = 1, then ap~1 = 1 (mod p). This theorem provides a "test" for primality which is very often correct: Given a large odd integer p, choose some a satisfying 1 <a <p - 1 and compute ap~1 (mod p). If ap~1 pi (mod p), then p is certainly composite. If ap~l = 1 (mod p), then p is probably prime. Odd composite numbers n for which (1) a"_1 = l (mod«) are called pseudoprimes to base a (psp(a)). (For simplicity, a can be any positive in- teger in this definition. We could let a be negative with little additional work. In the last 15 years, some authors have used pseudoprime (base a) to mean any number n > 1 satisfying (1), whether composite or prime.) It is well known that for each base a, there are infinitely many pseudoprimes to base a.
    [Show full text]
  • On Terms of Generalized Fibonacci Sequences Which Are Powers of Their Indexes
    mathematics Article On Terms of Generalized Fibonacci Sequences which are Powers of their Indexes Pavel Trojovský Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Králové, 500 03 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic, [email protected]; Tel.: +42-049-333-2860 Received: 29 June 2019; Accepted: 31 July 2019; Published: 3 August 2019 (k) Abstract: The k-generalized Fibonacci sequence (Fn )n (sometimes also called k-bonacci or k-step Fibonacci sequence), with k ≥ 2, is defined by the values 0, 0, ... , 0, 1 of starting k its terms and such way that each term afterwards is the sum of the k preceding terms. This paper is devoted to the proof of the fact that the (k) t (2) 2 (3) 2 Diophantine equation Fm = m , with t > 1 and m > k + 1, has only solutions F12 = 12 and F9 = 9 . Keywords: k-generalized Fibonacci sequence; Diophantine equation; linear form in logarithms; continued fraction MSC: Primary 11J86; Secondary 11B39. 1. Introduction The well-known Fibonacci sequence (Fn)n≥0 is given by the following recurrence of the second order Fn+2 = Fn+1 + Fn, for n ≥ 0, with the initial terms F0 = 0 and F1 = 1. Fibonacci numbers have a lot of very interesting properties (see e.g., book of Koshy [1]). One of the famous classical problems, which has attracted a attention of many mathematicians during the last thirty years of the twenty century, was the problem of finding perfect powers in the sequence of Fibonacci numbers. Finally in 2006 Bugeaud et al. [2] (Theorem 1), confirmed these expectations, as they showed that 0, 1, 8 and 144 are the only perfect powers in the sequence of Fibonacci numbers.
    [Show full text]
  • Number Systems and Radix Conversion
    Number Systems and Radix Conversion Sanjay Rajopadhye, Colorado State University 1 Introduction These notes for CS 270 describe polynomial number systems. The material is not in the textbook, but will be required for PA1. We humans are comfortable with numbers in the decimal system where each po- sition has a weight which is a power of 10: units have a weight of 1 (100), ten’s have 10 (101), etc. Even the fractional apart after the decimal point have a weight that is a (negative) power of ten. So the number 143.25 has a value that is 1 ∗ 102 + 4 ∗ 101 + 3 ∗ 0 −1 −2 2 5 10 + 2 ∗ 10 + 5 ∗ 10 , i.e., 100 + 40 + 3 + 10 + 100 . You can think of this as a polyno- mial with coefficients 1, 4, 3, 2, and 5 (i.e., the polynomial 1x2 + 4x + 3 + 2x−1 + 5x−2+ evaluated at x = 10. There is nothing special about 10 (just that humans evolved with ten fingers). We can use any radix, r, and write a number system with digits that range from 0 to r − 1. If our radix is larger than 10, we will need to invent “new digits”. We will use the letters of the alphabet: the digit A represents 10, B is 11, K is 20, etc. 2 What is the value of a radix-r number? Mathematically, a sequence of digits (the dot to the right of d0 is called the radix point rather than the decimal point), : : : d2d1d0:d−1d−2 ::: represents a number x defined as follows X i x = dir i 2 1 0 −1 −2 = ::: + d2r + d1r + d0r + d−1r + d−2r + ::: 1 Example What is 3 in radix 3? Answer: 0.1.
    [Show full text]
  • Cheat Sheet of SSE/AVX Intrinsics, for Doing Arithmetic Ll F(Int Ind, Int K) { Return Dp[Ind][K]; } on Several Numbers at Once
    University of Bergen Garbage Collectors Davide Pallotti, Jan Soukup, Olav Røthe Bakken NWERC 2017 Nov 8, 2017 UiB template .bashrc .vimrc troubleshoot 1 tan v + tan w Contest (1) Any possible infinite recursion? tan(v + w) = Invalidated pointers or iterators? 1 − tan v tan w template.cpp Are you using too much memory? v + w v − w 15 lines Debug with resubmits (e.g. remapped signals, see Various). sin v + sin w = 2 sin cos #include <bits/stdc++.h> 2 2 using namespace std; Time limit exceeded: v + w v − w Do you have any possible infinite loops? cos v + cos w = 2 cos cos #define rep(i, a, b) for(int i = a; i < (b); ++i) What is the complexity of your algorithm? 2 2 #define trav(a, x) for(auto& a : x) Are you copying a lot of unnecessary data? (References) #define all(x) x.begin(), x.end() How big is the input and output? (consider scanf) (V + W ) tan(v − w)=2 = (V − W ) tan(v + w)=2 #define sz(x) (int)(x).size() Avoid vector, map. (use arrays/unordered_map) typedef long long ll; What do your team mates think about your algorithm? where V; W are lengths of sides opposite angles v; w. typedef pair<int, int> pii; typedef vector<int> vi; Memory limit exceeded: a cos x + b sin x = r cos(x − φ) What is the max amount of memory your algorithm should need? int main() { Are you clearing all datastructures between test cases? a sin x + b cos x = r sin(x + φ) cin.sync_with_stdio(0); cin.tie(0); cin.exceptions(cin.failbit); p 2 2 } Mathematics (2) where r = a + b ; φ = atan2(b; a).
    [Show full text]
  • Composite Numbers That Give Valid RSA Key Pairs for Any Coprime P
    information Article Composite Numbers That Give Valid RSA Key Pairs for Any Coprime p Barry Fagin ID Department of Computer Science, US Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO 80840, USA; [email protected]; Tel.: +1-719-339-4514 Received: 13 August 2018; Accepted: 25 August 2018; Published: 28 August 2018 Abstract: RSA key pairs are normally generated from two large primes p and q. We consider what happens if they are generated from two integers s and r, where r is prime, but unbeknownst to the user, s is not. Under most circumstances, the correctness of encryption and decryption depends on the choice of the public and private exponents e and d. In some cases, specific (s, r) pairs can be found for which encryption and decryption will be correct for any (e, d) exponent pair. Certain s exist, however, for which encryption and decryption are correct for any odd prime r - s. We give necessary and sufficient conditions for s with this property. Keywords: cryptography; abstract algebra; RSA; computer science education; cryptography education MSC: [2010] 11Axx 11T71 1. Notation and Background Consider the RSA public-key cryptosystem and its operations of encryption and decryption [1]. Let (p, q) be primes, n = p ∗ q, f(n) = (p − 1)(q − 1) denote Euler’s totient function and (e, d) the ∗ Z encryption/decryption exponent pair chosen such that ed ≡ 1. Let n = Un be the group of units f(n) Z mod n, and let a 2 Un. Encryption and decryption operations are given by: (ae)d ≡ (aed) ≡ (a1) ≡ a mod n We consider the case of RSA encryption and decryption where at least one of (p, q) is a composite number s.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendices A. Quadratic Reciprocity Via Gauss Sums
    1 Appendices We collect some results that might be covered in a first course in algebraic number theory. A. Quadratic Reciprocity Via Gauss Sums A1. Introduction In this appendix, p is an odd prime unless otherwise specified. A quadratic equation 2 modulo p looks like ax + bx + c =0inFp. Multiplying by 4a, we have 2 2ax + b ≡ b2 − 4ac mod p Thus in studying quadratic equations mod p, it suffices to consider equations of the form x2 ≡ a mod p. If p|a we have the uninteresting equation x2 ≡ 0, hence x ≡ 0, mod p. Thus assume that p does not divide a. A2. Definition The Legendre symbol a χ(a)= p is given by 1ifa(p−1)/2 ≡ 1modp χ(a)= −1ifa(p−1)/2 ≡−1modp. If b = a(p−1)/2 then b2 = ap−1 ≡ 1modp,sob ≡±1modp and χ is well-defined. Thus χ(a) ≡ a(p−1)/2 mod p. A3. Theorem a The Legendre symbol ( p ) is 1 if and only if a is a quadratic residue (from now on abbre- viated QR) mod p. Proof.Ifa ≡ x2 mod p then a(p−1)/2 ≡ xp−1 ≡ 1modp. (Note that if p divides x then p divides a, a contradiction.) Conversely, suppose a(p−1)/2 ≡ 1modp.Ifg is a primitive root mod p, then a ≡ gr mod p for some r. Therefore a(p−1)/2 ≡ gr(p−1)/2 ≡ 1modp, so p − 1 divides r(p − 1)/2, hence r/2 is an integer. But then (gr/2)2 = gr ≡ a mod p, and a isaQRmodp.
    [Show full text]
  • The Distribution of Pseudoprimes
    The Distribution of Pseudoprimes Matt Green September, 2002 The RSA crypto-system relies on the availability of very large prime num- bers. Tests for finding these large primes can be categorized as deterministic and probabilistic. Deterministic tests, such as the Sieve of Erastothenes, of- fer a 100 percent assurance that the number tested and passed as prime is actually prime. Despite their refusal to err, deterministic tests are generally not used to find large primes because they are very slow (with the exception of a recently discovered polynomial time algorithm). Probabilistic tests offer a much quicker way to find large primes with only a negligibal amount of error. I have studied a simple, and comparatively to other probabilistic tests, error prone test based on Fermat’s little theorem. Fermat’s little theorem states that if b is a natural number and n a prime then bn−1 ≡ 1 (mod n). To test a number n for primality we pick any natural number less than n and greater than 1 and first see if it is relatively prime to n. If it is, then we use this number as a base b and see if Fermat’s little theorem holds for n and b. If the theorem doesn’t hold, then we know that n is not prime. If the theorem does hold then we can accept n as prime right now, leaving a large chance that we have made an error, or we can test again with a different base. Chances improve that n is prime with every base that passes but for really big numbers it is cumbersome to test all possible bases.
    [Show full text]
  • QUADRATIC RECIPROCITY Abstract. the Goals of This Project Are to Have
    QUADRATIC RECIPROCITY JORDAN SCHETTLER Abstract. The goals of this project are to have the reader(s) gain an appreciation for the usefulness of Legendre symbols and ultimately recreate Eisenstein's slick proof of Gauss's Theorema Aureum of quadratic reciprocity. 1. Quadratic Residues and Legendre Symbols Definition 0.1. Let m; n 2 Z with (m; n) = 1 (recall: the gcd (m; n) is the nonnegative generator of the ideal mZ + nZ). Then m is called a quadratic residue mod n if m ≡ x2 (mod n) for some x 2 Z, and m is called a quadratic nonresidue mod n otherwise. Prove the following remark by considering the kernel and image of the map x 7! x2 on the group of units (Z=nZ)× = fm + nZ :(m; n) = 1g. Remark 1. For 2 < n 2 N the set fm+nZ : m is a quadratic residue mod ng is a subgroup of the group of units of order ≤ '(n)=2 where '(n) = #(Z=nZ)× is the Euler totient function. If n = p is an odd prime, then the order of this group is equal to '(p)=2 = (p − 1)=2, so the equivalence classes of all quadratic nonresidues form a coset of this group. Definition 1.1. Let p be an odd prime and let n 2 Z. The Legendre symbol (n=p) is defined as 8 1 if n is a quadratic residue mod p n < = −1 if n is a quadratic nonresidue mod p p : 0 if pjn: The law of quadratic reciprocity (the main theorem in this project) gives a precise relation- ship between the \reciprocal" Legendre symbols (p=q) and (q=p) where p; q are distinct odd primes.
    [Show full text]
  • Quadratic Reciprocity Laws*
    JOURNAL OF NUMBER THEORY 4, 78-97 (1972) Quadratic Reciprocity Laws* WINFRIED SCHARLAU Mathematical Institute, University of Miinster, 44 Miinster, Germany Communicated by H. Zassenhaus Received May 26, 1970 Quadratic reciprocity laws for the rationals and rational function fields are proved. An elementary proof for Hilbert’s reciprocity law is given. Hilbert’s reciprocity law is extended to certain algebraic function fields. This paper is concerned with reciprocity laws for quadratic forms over algebraic number fields and algebraic function fields in one variable. This is a very classical subject. The oldest and best known example of a theorem of this kind is, of course, the Gauss reciprocity law which, in Hilbert’s formulation, says the following: If (a, b) is a quaternion algebra over the field of rational numbers Q, then the number of prime spots of Q, where (a, b) does not split, is finite and even. This can be regarded as a theorem about quadratic forms because the quaternion algebras (a, b) correspond l-l to the quadratic forms (1, --a, -b, ub), and (a, b) is split if and only if (1, --a, -b, ub) is isotropic. This formulation of the Gauss reciprocity law suggests immediately generalizations in two different directions: (1) Replace the quaternion forms (1, --a, -b, ub) by arbitrary quadratic forms. (2) Replace Q by an algebraic number field or an algebraic function field in one variable (possibly with arbitrary constant field). While some results are known concerning (l), it seems that the situation has never been investigated thoroughly, not even for the case of the rational numbers.
    [Show full text]
  • Arxiv:1608.06086V1 [Math.NT]
    POWER OF TWO AS SUMS OF THREE PELL NUMBERS JHON J. BRAVO, BERNADETTE FAYE AND FLORIAN LUCA Abstract. In this paper, we find all the solutions of the Diophantine equation a Pℓ +Pm +Pn =2 , in nonnegative integer variables (n,m,ℓ,a) where Pk is the k-th term of the Pell sequence Pn n≥0 given by P0 = 0, P1 = 1 and Pn+1 =2Pn+Pn−1 for all n 1. { } ≥ MSC: 11D45, 11B39; 11A25 Keywords: Diophantine equations, Pell numbers, Linear forms in logarithm, reduction method. 1. Introduction The Pell sequence P is the binary reccurent sequence given by P = 0, P =1 { n}n≥0 0 1 and Pn+1 = 2Pn + Pn−1 for all n 0. There are many papers in the literature dealing with Diophantine equations≥ obtained by asking that members of some fixed binary recurrence sequence be squares, factorials, triangular, or belonging to some other interesting sequence of positive integers. For example, in 2008, A. Peth˝o[18] found all the perfect powers (of exponent larger than 1) in the Pell sequence. His result is the following. Theorem 1 (A. Peth˝o, [18]). The only positive integer solutions (n, q, x) with q 2 of the Diophantine equation ≥ q Pn = x are (n, q, x) = (1, q, 1) and (7, 2, 13). That is, the only perfect powers of exponent larger than 1 in the Pell numbers are 2 P1 =1 and P7 = 13 . The case q = 2 had been treated earlier by Ljunggren [13]. Peth˝o’s result was rediscovered by J. H.
    [Show full text]
  • On Types of Elliptic Pseudoprimes
    journal of Groups, Complexity, Cryptology Volume 13, Issue 1, 2021, pp. 1:1–1:33 Submitted Jan. 07, 2019 https://gcc.episciences.org/ Published Feb. 09, 2021 ON TYPES OF ELLIPTIC PSEUDOPRIMES LILJANA BABINKOSTOVA, A. HERNANDEZ-ESPIET,´ AND H. Y. KIM Boise State University e-mail address: [email protected] Rutgers University e-mail address: [email protected] University of Wisconsin-Madison e-mail address: [email protected] Abstract. We generalize Silverman's [31] notions of elliptic pseudoprimes and elliptic Carmichael numbers to analogues of Euler-Jacobi and strong pseudoprimes. We inspect the relationships among Euler elliptic Carmichael numbers, strong elliptic Carmichael numbers, products of anomalous primes and elliptic Korselt numbers of Type I, the former two of which we introduce and the latter two of which were introduced by Mazur [21] and Silverman [31] respectively. In particular, we expand upon the work of Babinkostova et al. [3] on the density of certain elliptic Korselt numbers of Type I which are products of anomalous primes, proving a conjecture stated in [3]. 1. Introduction The problem of efficiently distinguishing the prime numbers from the composite numbers has been a fundamental problem for a long time. One of the first primality tests in modern number theory came from Fermat Little Theorem: if p is a prime number and a is an integer not divisible by p, then ap−1 ≡ 1 (mod p). The original notion of a pseudoprime (sometimes called a Fermat pseudoprime) involves counterexamples to the converse of this theorem. A pseudoprime to the base a is a composite number N such aN−1 ≡ 1 mod N.
    [Show full text]