Monday, 13 April 2026

Exercise (6.2).2

Determine the order of the following:

(a) $2 \pmod {11}$

(b) $3 \pmod {11}$

(c) $5 \pmod {11}$

(d) $7 \pmod {11}$


(a) $\gcd(11,2)=1$ and so the order exists.

The order is a factor of $\phi{11}=10$. These factors are 1, 2, 5, 10.

  • $2^2 \equiv 4 \not \equiv 1 \pmod {11}$
  • $2^5 \equiv 10 \not \equiv 1 \pmod {11}$
  • $2^{10} \equiv 1 \pmod {11}$

The order of 2 modulo 11 is 10.


(b) $\gcd(3,11)=1$ and so the order exists.

The order is a factor of $\phi{11}=10$. These factors are 1, 2, 5, 10.

  • $3^2 \equiv 9 \not \equiv 1 \pmod {11}$
  • $3^5 \equiv 1 \pmod {11}$

The order of 3 modulo 11 is 5.


(c) $\gcd(5,11)=1$ and so the order exists.

The order is a factor of $\phi{11}=10$. These factors are 1, 2, 5, 10.

  • $5^2 \equiv 3 \not \equiv 1 \pmod {11}$
  • $5^5 \equiv 1\equiv 1 \pmod {11}$

The order of 5 modulo 11 is 5.


(d) $\gcd(7,11)=1$ and so the order exists.

The order is a factor of $\phi{11}=10$. These factors are 1, 2, 5, 10.

  • $7^2 \equiv 5 \not \equiv 1 \pmod {11}$
  • $7^5 \equiv 10 \not \equiv 1 \pmod {11}$
  • $7^{10} \equiv 1 \pmod {11}$

The order of 7 modulo 11 is 10.