Exercise · ZW-EULER-S-CRITERION-008 · ★★☆ Intermediate

What is \(2^{(5-1)/2}\bmod 5\), and what does it indicate about \(2\)?

Choose one option.

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  • D. \(4\), so 2 is not a residue

Explanation

Since \(2^{2}=4\), the value is \(4\equiv -1\pmod 5\), so 2 is not a quadratic residue modulo 5.

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Review the concept: Euler's criterion

Criterion that decides whether an integer \(a\) is a quadratic residue modulo an odd prime \(p\) by means of a modular power.

\[\left(\frac{a}{p}\right) \equiv a^{\frac{p-1}{2}} \pmod{p}\]

More practice problems: euler's criterion

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