Proving operations of congruence modulo m

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In summary, the conversation discusses the relationship between congruence and exponents. It is stated that if a, b, and m are positive integers such that a is congruent to b modulo m, then a to the power of n is congruent to b to the power of n modulo m for all positive integers n. The conversation suggests using induction to prove this relationship and prompts the use of the binomial theorem to expand the expression.
  • #1
toni07
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If a, b and m > 0 are integers such that a % b (mod m), then a^n % b^n (mod m) for all positive integers n. I don't know how to go about it, any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
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  • #2
By '%', do you mean congruent? That's typically written
$$a \equiv b \;( \text{mod} \; m),\qquad \text{and}
\qquad a^{n} \equiv b^{n} \;( \text{mod} \; m).$$
Use induction on $n$ to prove this. What will you need to show the inductive step?
 
  • #3
Welcome to MHB, crypt50! :)

Assuming you meant what Ackbach suggested, here's an alternative way.

The expression $a \equiv b \pmod m$ means that there is a $k \in \mathbb Z$ such that $a=b+km$.
This implies that $a^n=(b+km)^n$.
Can you expand the right hand side with the binomial theorem?
If so, what can you conclude?
 

FAQ: Proving operations of congruence modulo m

What is congruence modulo m?

Congruence modulo m is a mathematical concept that describes the relationship between two numbers when they have the same remainder when divided by m. In other words, two numbers are congruent modulo m if they have the same remainder when divided by m.

How do you prove the operations of congruence modulo m?

To prove the operations of congruence modulo m, we use the properties of modular arithmetic such as the distributive, associative, and commutative properties. We also use the fact that two numbers are congruent modulo m if and only if their difference is divisible by m.

What is the difference between congruence modulo m and equality?

Congruence modulo m and equality are two different mathematical concepts. Congruence modulo m compares the remainders of two numbers when divided by m, while equality compares the values of two numbers. Congruence modulo m is a more specific and restricted relationship between two numbers compared to equality.

Can congruence modulo m be applied to non-integer numbers?

No, congruence modulo m is only defined for integer numbers. This is because the concept of congruence involves dividing the numbers and looking at their remainders, which is not possible for non-integer numbers.

How is congruence modulo m used in cryptography?

Congruence modulo m is used in cryptography to encrypt messages and ensure their security. It is used in algorithms such as the RSA algorithm, which relies on the difficulty of factoring large numbers. The concept of congruence modulo m plays a crucial role in the mathematical foundations of these algorithms.

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