Exercise · ZW-MULTIPLICATIVE-ORDER-006 · ★★☆ Intermediate

Compute \( \operatorname{ord}_9(2) \).

Choose one option.

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  • D. 6

Explanation

The powers of 2 modulo 9 are 2, 4, 8, 7, 5, and 1, so the order is 6. Stopping at \( 2^3 \equiv 8 \) because it looks sufficient is a frequent error.

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Review the concept: Multiplicative order

The multiplicative order of \( a \) modulo \( n \), \( \operatorname{ord}_n(a) \), is the smallest positive exponent that returns \( a \) to the unit class modulo \( n \).

\[\operatorname{ord}_n(a)=\min\{k\ge 1: a^k\equiv 1 \pmod{n}\}\]

More practice problems: multiplicative order

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