Exercise 1653Number theory › Divisibility and gcdOlympiadAdded 3 Nov 2026
Divisors of Mersenne numbers
#Mersenne#divisors#congruences
Statement
Let be prime and a prime divisor of . Show that and .
Hint
Use Fermat's little theorem: , and . So ord.
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Solution
Order. , so ord, hence ord (since prime). If ord , , impossible. So ord .
Fermat. ord, so , i.e. .
Mod 8. odd prime, . Since and with odd: must be (by quadratic reciprocity / Euler's criterion, ).
Conclusion. and .