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can someone help with this math problem, please?!?
Let Fp = Z/pZ be the field of p elements, where p is an odd prime. Label the
elements of Fp as 0,1,2, . . . , p−1 modulo p. Prove Wilson’s Theorem:
(p−1)! ≡ −1 (mod p)
as follows: observe that, by Fermat’s Theorem, the polynomial
f(x) = x^(p−1)− 1
in Fp[x] has 1,2, . . . , p − 1 as roots. Apply the Root Theorem to get a complete
factorization of
x^(p−1)−1 into linear factors, and then compare the constant term of
the product of the factors with the constant term of f(x).
1 Answer
- BenLv 79 years agoFavorite Answer
start with
f(x) = x^(p-1) - 1
By the root theorem, we have
f(x) = (x - 1)(x - 2)(x - 3)...(x - (p-1))
the constant of the above is -1.
the constant term of the bottom is
(-1)*(-2)*...*(-(p-1)) =
(-1)^(p-1) * (p - 1)! = ...since p is an odd prime...
(p - 1)!
Since the constant terms are equal, Wilson's theorem holds.