Exercise · ZW-LEGENDRE-SYMBOL-003 · ★☆☆ Basic

If \(p\) is an odd prime and \(p\mid a\), what is \(\left(\frac{a}{p}\right)\)?

Choose one option.

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  • B. \(0\)

Explanation

When \(p\) divides \(a\), the symbol is defined to be zero, distinct from the two possible values for nonzero classes.

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Review the concept: Legendre symbol

The Legendre symbol \(\left(\frac{a}{p}\right)\) for an odd prime \(p\) and an integer \(a\) with \(p \nmid a\) equals \(1\) if \(a\) is a quadratic residue modulo \(p\), and \(-1\) if it is not.

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

More practice problems: legendre symbol

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