1.II.17G

Quadratic Mathematics | Part IB, 2003

(a) Suppose pp is an odd prime and aa an integer coprime to pp. Define the Legendre symbol (ap)\left(\frac{a}{p}\right) and state Euler's criterion.

(b) Compute (−1p)\left(\frac{-1}{p}\right) and prove that

(abp)=(ap)(bp)\left(\frac{a b}{p}\right)=\left(\frac{a}{p}\right)\left(\frac{b}{p}\right)

whenever aa and bb are coprime to pp.

(c) Let nn be any integer such that 1⩽n⩽p−21 \leqslant n \leqslant p-2. Let mm be the unique integer such that 1⩽m⩽p−21 \leqslant m \leqslant p-2 and mn≡1( mod p)m n \equiv 1(\bmod p). Prove that

(n(n+1)p)=(1+mp)\left(\frac{n(n+1)}{p}\right)=\left(\frac{1+m}{p}\right)

(d) Find

∑n=1p−2(n(n+1)p)\sum_{n=1}^{p-2}\left(\frac{n(n+1)}{p}\right)

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