Exercise · ZW-SUM-OF-TWO-SQUARES-006 · ★★☆ Intermediate

Decide whether 37 is a sum of two squares using Fermat's criterion.

Choose one option.

Show answer
  • A. Yes, because \(37 \equiv 1 \pmod{4}\)

Explanation

Since \(37 = 36 + 1\) leaves remainder 1 upon division by 4, 37 is a sum of two squares: \(37 = 1^2 + 6^2\).

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Review the concept: Sum of two squares

An integer \(n\) is a sum of two squares if it can be written as the sum of the squares of two integers.

\[n = x^{2} + y^{2}\]

More practice problems: sum of two squares

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