Monday, 17 November 2025

Exercise (3.2).7

Prove Proposition 3.14 (b).


Proposition 3.14(b) states that if $p$ is prime, then $a^2 ≡ b^2 \pmod p \iff a ≡ ±b \pmod p$.


($\implies$)

We first note that  $a^2 ≡ b^2 \pmod p$ means, for some integer $k$

$$ \begin{align} kp & =  a^2 - b^2 \\ \\  & = (a+b)(a-b) \end{align}$$

Applying Proposition 2.2 to $p \mid (a+b) \times (a-b)$ means either $p \mid (a+b)$ or $p \mid (a-b)$. Let's consider these two cases in turn.

$p \mid (a+b)$ means $a + b \equiv 0 \pmod p$ which is equivalent to $a \equiv -b \pmod p$.

$p \mid (a-b)$ measn $a - b \equiv 0 \pmod p$ which is equivalent to $a \equiv b \pmod p$.

So we have, for prime $p$,  $a^2 ≡ b^2 \pmod p \implies a ≡ ±b \pmod p$.


($\impliedby$)

This time we start with $a  \equiv \pm b \pmod p$. This gives us two cases to consider, $a  \equiv b \pmod p$ and $a  \equiv -b \pmod p$. Let's consider these in turn.

$a \equiv b \pmod p$ means $p \mid (a -b)$

$a \equiv -b \pmod p$ means $p \mid (a +b)$

Since at least one of these cases is true, we have $p \mid (a-b) \times (a+b)$, which gives us $p \mid a^2 - b^2$. That is, $a^2 \equiv b^2 \pmod p$.


By showing both implications, we have proved Proposition 3.14(b).