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11 results · all verified · 4 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 7 not AI-judged were verified by owner audit (typically over a confirmed judge false positive), not failures.

Primitive Roots and Unit Groups Modulo N — Examples

1 · Prerequisites

2 · Summary

3 · Logical flowchart

4 · Definitions, theorems and proofs

None yet.

5 · Examples, counterexamples and false statements

ExampleConstruction: AI-adaptedVerification: AI-adaptedprecheck passaudited 2026-08-16Open item page →

The primitive roots modulo 17 are 3,5,6,7,10,11,12,14

Example

The primitive roots modulo 17 are

3,5,6,7,10,11,12,14.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The prime modulus 17.

[L1]

A unit is a primitive root modulo n when its order is φ(n) (Primitive roots modulo n).

[L3]

If g generates a cyclic group of order m, its generators are ga for the exponent classes coprime to m (The generators of a cyclic group of order m are the ga with gcd(a,m)=1, so there are φ(m) of them).

Verification

technique · direct
1.1

The successive powers of 3 modulo 17 for exponents 1 through 16 are 3,9,10,13,5,15,11,16,14,8,7,4,12,2,6,1, with no earlier 1. Thus 3 has order 16=φ(17) and is primitive by [L1].

L1L2algebra
2.1

The exponent classes coprime to 16 are 1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15; selecting these entries from step 1.1 gives 3,10,5,11,14,7,12,6, which is the displayed set after sorting.

step 1.1L3algebra
ExampleConstruction: AI-adaptedVerification: AI-adaptedprecheck passjudge pass (deepseek-v4-pro + gpt-5.6-terra)audited 2026-08-16Open item page →

An index table modulo 17 turns multiplication into addition modulo 16

Example

Relative to the primitive root 3 modulo 17, the powers for exponents 0 through 15 are

1,3,9,10,13,5,15,11,16,14,8,7,4,12,2,6.

Thus, for example, ind3(5)=5, ind3(7)=11, and ind3(6)=15.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The displayed power table modulo 17.

[L1]

The index is the unique exponent class relative to a primitive root (The index indg(a) of a unit relative to a primitive root).

[L2]

Products add indices and powers multiply indices modulo φ(n) (Index calculus: products become sums and powers become scalar multiples modulo φ(n)).

[L3]

A unit of order φ(n) is a primitive root modulo n (Primitive roots modulo n).

Verification

technique · direct
1.1

Multiplying each displayed residue by 3 modulo 17 gives the next one and returns 6 to 1, so the table is correct and contains every nonzero class exactly once. In particular, 3 has order 16=φ(17) and is primitive by [L3].

L3L4algebra
2.1

Since 571(mod17), [L2] gives 5+110(mod16) for their indices; and 536(mod17) gives 3515(mod16). Both agree with the entries read using [L1].

step 1.1L1L2L4algebra
ExampleConstruction: AI-adaptedVerification: AI-adaptedprecheck passaudited 2026-08-16Open item page →

2 is a primitive root modulo 13 by testing the prime divisors of 12

Example

The class of 2 is a primitive root modulo 13.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The prime modulus 13 and the unit class of 2.

[L1]

A unit is a primitive root modulo n when its order is φ(n) (Primitive roots modulo n).

Verification

technique · direct
1.1

Direct calculation gives 243≢1 and 261≢1(mod13); in particular 2121(mod13).

algebra
2.1

By step 1.1 and [L3], the order divides 12. Every proper divisor of 12 divides either 12/2=6 or 12/3=4, so step 1.1 and [L3] exclude every proper divisor. The order is therefore 12=φ(13) by [L2], and [L1] makes 2 primitive.

step 1.1L1L2L3
ExampleConstruction: AI-adaptedVerification: AI-adaptedprecheck passaudited 2026-08-16Open item page →

2 is primitive modulo every power of 5

Example

For every k1, the class of 2 is a primitive root modulo 5k.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The integer 2 and powers of the odd prime 5.

[L1]

For an odd prime p, an integer u with pu, and k1, the class of 1+pu has order pk1 modulo pk (For odd prime p, pu, and k1, the class of 1+pu has order pk1 modulo pk).

[L2]

If an element has order r, then its fourth power has order r/gcd(r,4) (In a cyclic group of order m, ga has order m/gcd(a,m)).

[L5]

A class modulo n is a unit exactly when its representative is coprime to n, and a primitive root is a unit of order φ(n) (For n1, [a]n is a unit if and only if gcd(a,n)=1, Primitive roots modulo n).

Verification

technique · direct
1.1

Modulo 5, 21,22,23,24 are 2,4,3,1, so 2 has order 4. This settles k=1.

L3L4L5algebra
1.2

Let k2 and let r be the order of 2 modulo 5k. Since 24=1+53, [L1] says that 24 has order 5k1. Hence [L2] gives r/gcd(r,4)=5k1.

L1L2
2.1

Reduction modulo 5 and step 1.1 show that 4r by [L3]. Therefore gcd(r,4)=4, and step 1.2 yields r=45k1=φ(5k) by [L4]. Since 2 is a unit by [L5], it is primitive by the definition in [L5].

step 1.1step 1.2L3L4L5
ExampleConstruction: AI-generatedVerification: AI-generatedprecheck passaudited 2026-08-16Open item page →

The unit group modulo 240 decomposes as C22×C42

Example

The unit group modulo 240 has the decomposition

(Z/240)×C22×C42.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The factorisation 240=1635.

[L1]

The unit-group structure theorem decomposes a modulus into its prime-power unit groups (The unit group modulo n is the product of its odd-prime cyclic factors and its explicit 2-power factor).

Verification

technique · direct
1.1

By [L1], U(16)C2×C4, U(3)C2, and U(5)C4.

L1algebra
2.1

Their product is C22×C42. Its order is 2242=64, agreeing with φ(240)=φ(16)φ(3)φ(5)=824=64 by [L2].

step 1.1L2algebra
ExampleConstruction: AI-generatedVerification: AI-generatedprecheck passaudited 2026-08-16Open item page →

λ(561)=80 and every integer coprime to 561 has eightieth power congruent to one

Example

One has λ(561)=80 and φ(561)=320. Consequently every a coprime to 561 satisfies a801(mod561).

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The factorisation 561=31117.

[L1]

Carmichael's function is the least common multiple of its prime-power values (Carmichael's function on prime powers and its least-common-multiple formula).

[L2]

If gcd(a,n)=1, then aλ(n)1(modn) (If gcd(a,n)=1, then aλ(n)1(modn)).

Verification

technique · direct
1.1

By [L1], λ(561)=lcm(2,10,16)=80, while [L3] gives φ(561)=21016=320.

L1L3algebra
2.1

Apply [L2] to the value in step 1.1 to obtain a801(mod561) for every a coprime to 561.

step 1.1L2
ExampleConstruction: AI-adaptedVerification: AI-adaptedprecheck passaudited 2026-08-16Open item page →

λ(1729)=36 although φ(1729)=1296

Example

The number 1729 satisfies

λ(1729)=36andφ(1729)=1296.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The factorisation 1729=71319.

[L1]

Carmichael's function is the least common multiple of its prime-power values (Carmichael's function on prime powers and its least-common-multiple formula).

Verification

technique · direct
1.1

By [L1], λ(1729)=lcm(6,12,18)=36.

L1algebra
2.1

By [L2], φ(1729)=61218=1296, which is strictly larger than the value in step 1.1.

step 1.1L2algebra
CounterexampleConstruction: AI-adaptedVerification: AI-adaptedprecheck passaudited 2026-08-16Open item page →

(Z/15Z)× has order 8 but is not cyclic

Statement refuted

The order of a unit group need not be the order of one of its elements: (Z/15)× has order 8 but is not cyclic.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The modulus 15=35.

[L1]

The unit-group structure theorem gives the product of the prime-power factors (The unit group modulo n is the product of its odd-prime cyclic factors and its explicit 2-power factor).

Counterexample

technique · direct
1.1

By [L1], (Z/15)×C2×C4, which has 8 elements.

L1algebra
2.1

For every pair (x,y)C2×C4, [L2] gives x4=1 and y4=1, so (x,y)4=(1,1). Another application of [L2] shows its order divides 4. Thus no element has order 8 and the group is not cyclic.

step 1.1L2algebra
CounterexampleConstruction: AI-adaptedVerification: AI-adaptedprecheck passjudge pass (deepseek-v4-pro + gpt-5.6-terra)audited 2026-08-16Open item page →

φ(8)=4 but every unit modulo 8 has square one

Statement refuted

Euler's totient need not equal the exponent of the unit group: φ(8)=4, but λ(8)=2.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The modulus 8.

[L1]

λ(n) is the exponent of the unit group (Carmichael's function λ(n) as the exponent of (Z/nZ)×).

Counterexample

technique · direct
1.1

The four units are 1,3,5,7, and each square is congruent to 1 modulo 8.

algebra
2.1

Thus their group has four elements but exponent 2 by [L1]; this also agrees with [L2]. Hence φ(8)=42=λ(8).

step 1.1L1L2
ExampleConstruction: AI-adaptedVerification: AI-adaptedprecheck passjudge pass (deepseek-v4-pro + gpt-5.6-terra)audited 2026-08-16Open item page →

The four square roots of one modulo 128 are 1,63,65,127

Example

The solutions of x21(mod128) are

x1,63,65,127(mod128).

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The modulus 128=27.

[L1]

Every unit modulo 27 has a unique form (1)ε5j with ε{0,1} and j modulo 32 (For k3, (Z/2kZ)×C2×C2k2, generated uniquely as (1)ε5j).

Verification

technique · direct
1.1

Any solution of x2=1 is a unit, with inverse x. It therefore has the unique form in [L1]. Squaring that form gives 52j, which is 1 exactly when 322j, equivalently j0 or 16(mod32).

L1algebra
1.2

Repeated squaring gives 51665(mod128).

algebra
2.1

Combining the two values of j from step 1.1 with the two signs gives 1,1,65,65, namely 1,127,65,63 modulo 128; uniqueness in [L1] shows there are no others.

step 1.1step 1.2L1
ExampleConstruction: AI-generatedVerification: AI-generatedprecheck passjudge pass (deepseek-v4-pro + gpt-5.6-terra)audited 2026-08-16Open item page →

The positive moduli below 20 admitting primitive roots are 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9,10,11,13,14,17,18,19

Example

The positive integers below 20 that admit primitive roots are

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9,10,11,13,14,17,18,19.

Facts & Assumptions

Given: The positive integers n<20.

[L1]

A modulus admits a primitive root exactly when it is 1, 2, 4, an odd prime power, or twice an odd prime power (A positive integer admits a primitive root exactly when it is 1, 2, 4, pk, or 2pk for an odd prime p).

Verification

technique · direct
1.1

Below 20, the odd prime powers are 3,5,7,9,11,13,17,19, and twice such a power gives 6,10,14,18; together with 1,2,4 this is the displayed list.

L1algebra
2.1

The omitted positive integers are 8,12,15,16: 8 and 16 are powers 2a with a3, 12=43, and 15 has two odd prime factors, so [L1] excludes each.

step 1.1L1algebra

Sources