Exercise 1834Number theory › PrimesL1Added 3 Nov 2026
Fermat test detects compositeness
#Fermat test#witness#compositeness
Statement
Use the Fermat test to show is composite.
Hint
Try : if , then is composite.
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Solution
Compute. (since ). So .
Conclusion. , so is composite.
Remark. This is the Fermat primality test: if for some coprime to , then is definitely composite.