Let p be a prime. What is the remainder of (p−1)!, when divided by p? In other words: find a simple formula for (p−1)!∈Z_p (find a simple formula for the integer in {0,1,...,p−1} that is equivalent to (p−1)! modulo p). Do the computation out for small examples p=2,3,5,7, and try and spot a pattern. It might help to observe that for for p prime and for all a∈{0,1,...,p}, there is a unique x∈{0,1,...,p−1} so that ax≡1modp (though you will need to prove this fact).
Let p be a prime. What is the remainder of (p−1)!, when divided by p? In other words: find a simple formula for (p−1)!∈Z_p (find a simple formula for the integer in {0,1,...,p−1} that is equivalent to (p−1)! modulo p). Do the computation out for small examples p=2,3,5,7, and try and spot a pattern. It might help to observe that for for p prime and for all a∈{0,1,...,p}, there is a unique x∈{0,1,...,p−1} so that ax≡1modp (though you will need to prove this fact).
Algebra & Trigonometry with Analytic Geometry
13th Edition
ISBN:9781133382119
Author:Swokowski
Publisher:Swokowski
Chapter1: Fundamental Concepts Of Algebra
Section1.2: Exponents And Radicals
Problem 85E
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Let p be a prime. What is the remainder of (p−1)!, when divided by p? In other words: find a simple formula for (p−1)!∈Z_p (find a simple formula for the integer in {0,1,...,p−1} that is equivalent to (p−1)! modulo p).
Do the computation out for small examples p=2,3,5,7, and try and spot a pattern. It might help to observe that for for p prime and for all a∈{0,1,...,p}, there is a unique x∈{0,1,...,p−1} so that ax≡1modp (though you will need to prove this fact).
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