Exercise · ZW-MULTIPLICATIVE-ORDER-007 · ★★☆ Intermediate

If \( \operatorname{ord}_{13}(a)=6 \), what is \( \operatorname{ord}_{13}(a^2) \)?

Choose one option.

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  • C. 3

Explanation

Squaring divides the order by \( \gcd(6,2)=2 \), giving 3. Assuming the order stays the same 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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