Monday, 9 February 2026

Exercise (5.1).17

Prove that

$$ \phi ( \phi (p^k)) = p^{k−2} \phi [p(p− 1)] $$

where $p$ is prime and $k \ge 2$.


We proceed as follows

$$  \phi(p^k) = p^{k-1}(p-1)$$

Since $p^{k-1}$ and $(p-1)$ are coprime, we can use the multiplicity of $\phi$ 

$$ \phi(\phi(p^k)) = p^{k-2}(p-1) \phi (p-1) $$

Similarly, $p$ and $(p-1)$ are coprime, we can again use the multiplicity of $\phi$

$$ \phi(\phi(p^k)) = p^{k-2} \phi [p(p-1)] $$