An easy question that seems hard

My friend Culver Kwan asks me a question that he suddenly think of which is pretty hard when he thinks at first. However, it has a easy solution. I want to share this problem. The question is like that:

Does nϕ(mn1) n|\phi\left({m}^{n}-1\right) where m,nm, n are positive integers and m>1m>1? Prove or give a counter example.

Notation meaning: ϕ(n)\phi\left(n\right) is Euler’s totient function means that the number of positive integers less than nn that is co-prime with nn

#NumberTheory

Note by Isaac Yiu Math Studio
1 year, 10 months ago

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Comments

It's clear that nn is the multiplicative order of mm modulo mn1m^n-1; that is, it's the smallest positive integer xx such that mx1(modmn1).m^x \equiv 1 \pmod{m^n-1}.

And mϕ(mn1)1(modmn1)m^{\phi(m^n-1)} \equiv 1 \pmod{m^n-1} by Euler's theorem. So nn must divide ϕ(mn1)\phi(m^n-1) by the standard division algorithm argument.

Patrick Corn - 1 year, 9 months ago

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Yeah that's my solution

Isaac YIU Math Studio - 1 year, 9 months ago

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victor bradford - 1 year, 2 months ago
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