Wednesday, 8 April 2026

Exercise (6.1).12

Let $p$ be prime. If the order of $a$ modulo $p$ is $k$, show that

$$ k \mid (p− 1) $$


We're given

$$ a^k \equiv 1 \pmod p $$

Since $\gcd(p,a)=1$, because the order exists, Euler's Theorem tells us

$$ a^{\phi(p)} \equiv a^{p-1} \equiv 1 \pmod p $$

Since $k$ is the smallest positive integer such that $a^k \equiv 1 \pmod n$, then $(p-1)$ is a multiple of $k$. 

That is,

$$ k \mid (p-1) $$