Wednesday, 15 July 2026

Exercise (7.2).2

Determine whether the following integers are quadratic residues of 47:

(a) 46

(b) 95

(c) 90

(d) 58

(e) 90 × 58


(a) Using Proposition (7.9) we have

$$ (\frac{46}{47}) = (\frac{-1}{47}) = (-1)^{\frac{47-1}{2}} = (-1)^{23} = -1 $$

By Definition (7.7) of the Legendre Symbol, 46 is not a quadratic residue of 47.


(b) Using Proposition (7.9) we have

$$ (\frac{95}{47}) = (\frac{1}{47}) = 1 $$

And so 95 is a quadratic residue of 47.


(c) Using Proposition (7.9) we have

$$ (\frac{90}{47}) = (\frac{-1 \times 4}{47}) = (\frac{-1}{47}) \times (\frac{2^2}{47}) = -1 \times 1 = -1   $$

And so 90 is not a quadratic residue of 47.


(d) Using Proposition (7.9) we have

$$ (\frac{58}{47}) = (\frac{11}{47}) \equiv (11)^{23} \equiv (11^4)^5 \times 11^3 \equiv (24)^5 \times 15 \equiv 25 \times 15 \equiv -1 \pmod {47}$$

And so 58 is not a quadratic residue of 47.


(e) Using Proposition (7.9) we have

$$ (\frac{90 \times 58}{47}) = (\frac{90}{47})  \times (\frac{58}{47}) = -1 \times -1 = 1$$

And so $90 \times 58$ is a quadratic residue of 47.