3.II.11F

Number Theory | Part II, 2007

State the Chinese remainder theorem. Let nn be an odd positive integer. If nn is divisible by the square of a prime number pp, prove that there exists an integer zz such that zp1(modn)z^{p} \equiv 1(\bmod n) but z≢1(modn)z \not \equiv 1(\bmod n).

Define the Jacobi symbol

(an)\left(\frac{a}{n}\right)

for any non-zero integer aa. Give a numerical example to show that

(an)=+1\left(\frac{a}{n}\right)=+1

does not imply in general that aa is a square modulo nn. State and prove the law of quadratic reciprocity for the Jacobi symbol.

[You may assume the law of quadratic reciprocity for the Legendre symbol.]

Assume now that nn is divisible by the square of a prime number. Prove that there exists an integer aa with (a,n)=1(a, n)=1 such that the congruence

an12(an)(modn)a^{\frac{n-1}{2}} \equiv\left(\frac{a}{n}\right) \quad(\bmod n)

does not hold. Show further that this congruence fails to hold for at least half of all relatively prime residue classes modulo nn.

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