Alphabeta Math
How statement and proof provenance work

The first chip identifies the source of the statement or construction; the second identifies the source of its local proof or verification.

  • Literature-sourced: the exact statement appears in a cited source; only wording and notation differ.
  • AI-adapted: a semantically identical restatement of literature-sourced material, modulo indexing, notation, and boundary cases adopted by the library.
  • AI-generated: a genuinely novel statement formulated by AI, with no source for the claim itself.

These labels describe origin, not correctness: citations and verification chips remain separate evidence.

✓ 10 results · all verified · 1 also independently AI-judged
Every result on this page is machine-checked by a proof checker and read in full and owner-audited; the judge is an additional, independent cross-model AI review of the proofs. The 9 not AI-judged were verified by owner audit (typically over a confirmed judge false positive), not failures.

Congruences and Modular Arithmetic: Examples and Counterexamples

1 · Prerequisites

2 · Summary

3 · Logical flowchart

4 · Definitions, theorems and proofs

None yet.

5 · Examples, counterexamples and false statements

ExampleConstruction: Literature-sourcedVerification: AI-adaptedprecheck passaudited 2026-07-31Open item page →

The system x≡2(mod3), x≡3(mod5), x≡2(mod7) has the unique solution x≡23(mod105)

Example

The system

x≡2(mod3),x≡3(mod5),x≡2(mod7)

has exactly the solutions x≡23(mod105).

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The three displayed congruences.

Verification

technique · constructive
1.1

The numbers 3,5,7 are pairwise coprime and have product 105. The complementary products 35,21,15 satisfy 2⋅35≡1(mod3), 21≡1(mod5), and 15≡1(mod7), while each is divisible by the other two moduli.

L2
2.1

Therefore x:=2(2⋅35)+3(21)+2(15)=233 has the prescribed three residues, and 233=23+2⋅105 gives x≡23(mod105).

constructstep 1.1L2
3.1

By [L1], all simultaneous solutions form one class modulo 3⋅5⋅7=105; since step 2.1 exhibits 23 in that class, it is exactly [23]105.

step 2.1L1discharge-construct∎
ExampleConstruction: Literature-sourcedVerification: AI-adaptedprecheck passaudited 2026-07-31Open item page →

The congruence 14x≡30(mod100) has exactly the two solutions x≡45,95(mod100)

Example

The congruence 14x≡30(mod100) has exactly the solution classes

[45]100and[95]100.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The congruence 14x≡30(mod100).

[L1]

A linear congruence ax≡b(modn) is solvable exactly when gcd⁡(a,n)∣b, and then has exactly gcd⁡(a,n) solution classes modulo n (For n≥1, ax≡b(modn) is solvable exactly when gcd⁡(a,n)∣b, and then has exactly gcd⁡(a,n) solution classes modulo n).

Verification

technique · direct
1.1

The Euclidean algorithm gives gcd⁡(14,100)=2, and 2∣30. Cancelling the common factor reduces the congruence to 7x≡15(mod50).

L1L2L3
1.2

Since 7⋅43=301≡1(mod50), multiplication by 43 gives x≡43⋅15=645≡45(mod50).

L3
1.3

The two lifts of this class modulo 100 are 45 and 45+50=95, and both verify the original congruence: 14⋅45−30=600 and 14⋅95−30=1300 are divisible by 100.

L3
2.1

By [L1] there are exactly two solution classes modulo 100, so the two distinct classes in step 1.3 exhaust them.

step 1.1step 1.2step 1.3L1∎
ExampleConstruction: AI-adaptedVerification: AI-adaptedprecheck passaudited 2026-07-31Open item page →

(Z/12)×={[1],[5],[7],[11]} and φ(12)=4

Example

(Z/12)×={[1]12,[5]12,[7]12,[11]12},φ(12)=4.

Every displayed unit is its own inverse.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The quotient Z/12 and its unit group.

[F1]

Equality of residue classes is congruence of representatives (The congruence class [a]n and the quotient set Z/n), and congruence means divisibility of their difference (Congruence modulo an integer: a≡b(modn) when n∣(a−b), including the moduli 0 and 1).

[F2]

Products of residue classes are computed by multiplying representatives: [a]12[b]12=[ab]12 (Addition and multiplication on Z/n by [a]n+[b]n=[a+b]n and [a]n[b]n=[ab]n).

Verification

technique · direct
1.1

Among 0,…,11, exactly 1,5,7,11 have gcd 1 with 12: every other representative is divisible by 2 or 3. Thus [L1] and [L2] give the displayed unit group and φ(12)=4.

L1L2
1.2

The congruences 52=25≡1, 72=49≡1, and 112=121≡1(mod12) show that the three nonidentity units, as well as [1]12, are self-inverse.

L2F1F2
2.1

Since 12=22⋅3, [L3] independently gives φ(12)=(22−2)(3−1)=2⋅2=4, agreeing with the list.

step 1.1L3∎
ExampleConstruction: AI-adaptedVerification: AI-generatedprecheck passaudited 2026-07-31Open item page →

The Chinese remainder bijection Z/12→Z/3×Z/4 computed on all standard representatives

Example

For standard representatives, the Chinese remainder map is

a([a]3,[a]4)a([a]3,[a]4)
0([0]3,[0]4)6([0]3,[2]4)
1([1]3,[1]4)7([1]3,[3]4)
2([2]3,[2]4)8([2]3,[0]4)
3([0]3,[3]4)9([0]3,[1]4)
4([1]3,[0]4)10([1]3,[2]4)
5([2]3,[1]4)11([2]3,[3]4)

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The map Φ([a]12):=([a]3,[a]4).

[L3]

Modular addition and multiplication are computed by adding and multiplying representatives (Addition and multiplication on Z/n by [a]n+[b]n=[a+b]n and [a]n[b]n=[ab]n).

Verification

technique · direct
1.1

Reducing each integer 0,…,11 modulo 3 and modulo 4 gives the displayed table. Its entries are all distinct, and [L1] shows that they exhaust the domain and codomain standard pairs, in agreement with [L2].

L1L2
1.2

For a nontrivial addition check, [7]12+[8]12=[3]12, and the table gives ([1]3,[3]4)+([2]3,[0]4)=([0]3,[3]4).

L3
1.3

For a nontrivial multiplication check, [5]12[7]12=[11]12, and the table gives ([2]3,[1]4)([1]3,[3]4)=([2]3,[3]4).

L3
2.1

The table computes the whole bijection, while steps 1.2 and 1.3 instantiate its componentwise arithmetic preservation.

step 1.1step 1.2step 1.3L2∎
ExampleConstruction: Literature-sourcedVerification: AI-adaptedprecheck passaudited 2026-07-31Open item page →

(Z/8)×={[1],[3],[5],[7]} is not cyclic because every element squares to [1]

Example

(Z/8)×={[1]8,[3]8,[5]8,[7]8}

is not cyclic: every element has square [1]8.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The unit group (Z/8)×.

[L3]

Natural powers in a group satisfy g0=e and g2=gg (Powers gn: natural exponents in a monoid and integer exponents in a group, with g0=e).

[F1]

Equality of residue classes is congruence of representatives (The congruence class [a]n and the quotient set Z/n), and congruence means divisibility of their difference (Congruence modulo an integer: a≡b(modn) when n∣(a−b), including the moduli 0 and 1).

Verification

technique · direct
1.1

The odd standard representatives 1,3,5,7 are precisely those coprime to 8, giving the displayed unit group by [L1].

L1
1.2

Their squares are 12=1, 32=9≡1, 52=25≡1, and 72=49≡1(mod8). Hence every element has order at most 2.

L3F1
2.1

The group has cardinality 4 by step 1.1, but no element has order 4 by step 1.2. Therefore no element generates it, and [L2] shows that it is not cyclic.

step 1.1step 1.2L2∎
ExampleConstruction: AI-adaptedVerification: AI-generatedprecheck passjudge pass (deepseek-v4-pro + gpt-5.6-terra)verified 2026-08-04 (gpt-5.6-sol-codex-subscription)Open item page →

φ(360)=96 by both inclusion-exclusion and the prime-power product formula

Example

Euler's totient at 360 is 96, obtained either by excluding multiples of 2,3,5 or by multiplying the prime-power contributions.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The positive integer 360.

[L2]

Euler's formula gives φ(n)=∏i<r(piki−piki−1) over the distinct prime divisors of n and, after carrying the natural numbers into Q, the equivalent form φ(n)=n∏i<r(1−1pi) (Euler's product formula φ(n)=n∏p∣n(1−1/p)=∏pk∥n(pk−pk−1) for n≥1, stated through a finite injective list of its prime divisors). Multiplying out that second product over the subsets of {p0,…,pr−1} is the inclusion-exclusion display used below; the cited theorem states the two products, not that display.

Verification

technique · direct
1.1

Inclusion-exclusion over the multiples of 2,3,5 gives φ(360)=360−180−120−72+60+36+24−12=96.

L1L2
1.2

The product form gives φ(360)=(23−22)(32−3)(5−1)=4⋅6⋅4=96.

L1L2
2.1

Both computations therefore give the same value, φ(360)=96.

step 1.1step 1.2∎
CounterexampleConstruction: AI-adaptedVerification: AI-generatedprecheck passaudited 2026-07-31Open item page →

The system x≡1(mod2), x≡2(mod4) has no solution, so coprimality in the Chinese remainder theorem cannot be dropped

Statement refuted

Refuted claim: prescribed residue classes always determine a simultaneous class even when the positive moduli are not coprime.

The system x≡1(mod2), x≡2(mod4) is a counterexample.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The two displayed congruences with moduli 2 and 4.

Counterexample

technique · direct
1.1

If x≡1(mod2), then x−1 is even and x is odd. If x≡2(mod4), then x−2 is divisible by 4 and x is even. No integer is both odd and even, so the system has no solution.

L1
1.2

Equivalently, gcd⁡(2,4)=2 does not divide 1−2=−1, so the compatibility criterion in [L2] fails.

L2
2.1

The claim without coprimality admits the unsolvable system in step 1.1 and is therefore false.

step 1.1step 1.2∎
ExampleConstruction: Literature-sourcedVerification: AI-adaptedprecheck passaudited 2026-07-31Open item page →

A modulus n>1 is composite exactly when two nonzero classes in Z/n have product [0]n

Example

For every integer n>1, the following are equivalent:

  1. n is composite.
  2. There are nonzero classes u,v∈Z/n with uv=[0]n.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: An integer n>1.

[L1]

A positive integer greater than 1 is composite exactly when it has a divisor d with 1<d<n; otherwise it is prime (Prime and composite integers: p is prime when p>1 and its only positive divisors are 1 and p).

[L3]

A class [a]n is a unit exactly when gcd⁡(a,n)=1, and the gcd is a nonnegative common divisor that is positive when its arguments are not both zero (For n≥1, [a]n is a unit if and only if gcd⁡(a,n)=1, Common divisor, and the greatest common divisor gcd⁡(a,b), with the convention gcd⁡(0,0):=0).

Verification

technique · direct
1.1

If n is composite, write n=ab with 1<a<n and 1<b<n. Then [a]n and [b]n are nonzero standard classes, but [a]n[b]n=[ab]n=[n]n=[0]n.

L1L2
1.2

Conversely, suppose nonzero classes have product zero and choose their standard representatives a,b, so 0<a,b<n and n∣ab. The class [a]n cannot be a unit, because multiplying an equation [a]n[b]n=[0]n by its inverse would give [b]n=[0]n. Hence d:=gcd⁡(a,n)>1 by [L3]. Since d∣a and 0<a<n, one also has d<n, so d is a nontrivial divisor of n and n is composite by [L1].

L1L2L3
2.1

Steps 1.1 and 1.2 prove the equivalence.

step 1.1step 1.2∎
False statementConstruction: AI-adaptedVerification: AI-generatedprecheck passaudited 2026-07-31Open item page →

False: [a]n[b]n=[0]n always implies [a]n=[0]n or [b]n=[0]n

Statement

False claim: for every natural modulus n,

[a]n[b]n=[0]n⟹[a]n=[0]n or [b]n=[0]n.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The quotient Z/6 and the classes [2]6,[3]6.

Refutation

technique · direct
1.1

In Z/6, [2]6[3]6=[6]6=[0]6 by [L1].

L1
1.2

Neither 6∣2 nor 6∣3, so [2]6≠[0]6 and [3]6≠[0]6.

L2
2.1

Thus the antecedent of the claimed implication holds while both alternatives in its conclusion fail, so the claim is false.

step 1.1step 1.2∎
CounterexampleConstruction: Literature-sourcedVerification: AI-adaptedprecheck passaudited 2026-07-31Open item page →

Z/1 has one element and satisfies [0]1=[1]1, so it is not a field

Statement refuted

The modular operations do not make Z/n a field for every positive modulus n: the boundary modulus n=1 is a counterexample.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The quotient Z/1 with its modular operations.

[L2]

Its modular operations satisfy the abelian-group, commutative-monoid and distributive identities, with additive identity [0]1 and multiplicative identity [1]1 (For every natural n, (Z/n,+) is an abelian group, multiplication is a commutative monoid operation, and both distributive laws hold).

[L3]

A field must have distinct additive and multiplicative identities (Field).

Counterexample

technique · direct
1.1

By [L1], all integers determine the same class modulo 1, so in particular [0]1=[1]1.

L1
2.1

Although the other algebraic identities hold by [L2], the equality in step 1.1 violates the distinct-identities clause [L3]. Hence Z/1 is not a field.

step 1.1L2L3∎

Sources