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Exercise 1653Number theory › Divisibility and gcdOlympiadAdded 3 Nov 2026

Divisors of Mersenne numbers

#Mersenne#divisors#congruences

Statement

Let pp be prime and qq a prime divisor of Mp=2p−1M_p=2^p-1. Show that q≡1(modp)q\equiv1\pmod p and q≡±1(mod8)q\equiv\pm1\pmod8.

Hint

Use Fermat's little theorem: 2q−1≡1(modq)2^{q-1}\equiv1\pmod q, and 2p≡1(modq)2^p\equiv1\pmod q. So ordq(2)∣gcd⁡(p,q−1)_q(2)\mid\gcd(p,q-1).

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Solution

Order. 2p≡1(modq)2^p\equiv1\pmod q, so ordq(2)∣p_q(2)\mid p, hence ordq(2)∈{1,p}_q(2)\in\{1,p\} (since pp prime). If ord =1=1, q∣1q\mid1, impossible. So ord =p=p.

Fermat. ordq(2)∣q−1_q(2)\mid q-1, so p∣q−1p\mid q-1, i.e. q≡1(modp)q\equiv1\pmod p.

Mod 8. qq odd prime, q≡1,3,5,7(mod8)q\equiv1,3,5,7\pmod8. Since q∣2p−1q\mid2^p-1 and 2p≡1(modq)2^p\equiv1\pmod q with pp odd: qq must be ±1(mod8)\pm1\pmod8 (by quadratic reciprocity / Euler's criterion, 2(q−1)/2≡(q/2)(modq)2^{(q-1)/2}\equiv(q/2)\pmod q).

Conclusion. q≡1(modp)q\equiv1\pmod p and q≡±1(mod8)q\equiv\pm1\pmod8.