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MA257 Introduction to Number Theory

J. E. Cremona

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MA257:INTRODUCTIONTONUMBERTHEORY LECTURENOTES2018

J.E.CREMONA

Contents

0.Introduction:WhatisNumberTheory?2 BasicNotation3 1.Factorization4

1.1.Divisibilityin Z 4

1.2.GreatestCommonDivisorsin Z 5

1.3.TheEuclideanAlgorithmin Z 6

1.4.Primesanduniquefactorization7

1.5.UniqueFactorizationDomains9

2.Congruencesandmodulararithmetic14

2.1.DefinitionandBasicProperties14

2.2.Thestructureof Z/mZ 15

2.3.Euler’s,Fermat’sandWilson’sTheorems16

2.4.SomeApplications18

2.5.TheChineseRemainderTheoremorCRT19

2.6.Thestructureof Um 21

3.QuadraticReciprocity23

3.1.QuadraticResiduesandNonresidues23

3.2.LegendreSymbolsandEuler’sCriterion23

3.3.TheLawofQuadraticReciprocity24

4.DiophantineEquations28

4.1.GeometryofNumbersandMinkowski’sTheorem28

4.2.Sumsofsquares28

4.3.Legendre’sEquation30

4.4.PythagoreanTriples32

4.5.Fermat’sLastTheorem33

4.6.ProofofMinkowski’sTheorem35

5. p-adicNumbers37

5.1.Motivatingexamples37

5.2.Definitionof Zp 38

5.3.Thering Zp 39

5.4.Thefield Qp 42

5.5.Squaresin Zp 45

5.6.Hensellifting47 c 2018CreativeCommonsAttribution-ShareAlike(CCBY-SA)

0. Introduction:WhatisNumberTheory?

NumberTheoryis(ofcourse)primarilytheTheoryofNumbers:ordinarywholenumbers (integers).Itis,arguably,theoldestbranchofmathematics.IntegersolutionstoPythagoras’s equation

havebeenfound,systematicallylistedwithallthearithmeticcarriedoutinbase 60,onancient Babylonianclaytablets.ThereareseveraldifferentflavoursofNumberTheory,distinguished morebythemethodsusedthanbytheproblemswhosesolutionsaresought.Theseare

• Elementary NumberTheory:usingelementarymethodsonly;

• Analytic NumberTheory:usinganalysis(realandcomplex),notablytostudythe distributionofprimes;

• Algebraic NumberTheory:usingmoreadvancedalgebra,andalsostudying algebraic numbers suchas 1+ 3 √2+ 17 √17;

• Geometric NumberTheory:usinggeometric,algebraicandanalyticmethods;also knownas arithmeticalgebraicgeometry

AndrewWilesusedavastarrayofnewtechniquesandpreviouslyknownresultsinarithmetic algebraicgeometrytosolveFermat’sLastTheorem,whosestatementisentirelyelementary (seebelow).ThisistypicalofprogressinNumberTheory,wheretherehavebeenmany casesofentirelynewmathematicaltheoriesbeingcreatedtosolvespecific,andoftenquite elementary-seemingproblems.

Thismoduleismostlyelementarywithsomeanalyticandalgebraicparts.ThealgebraicapproachispursuedfurtherinthemoduleMA3A6(AlgebraicNumberTheory).Thegeometric approachispursuedfurtherinthemoduleMA426(EllipticCurves).

NumberTheorystartsoutwithsimplequestionsaboutintegers:simpletostate,ifnotto answer.Herearethreetypesofquestion:

• DiophantineEquations areequationstowhichoneseeksintegerssolutions(orsometimesrationalsolutions).Forexample,

(1) x2 +y2 = z2 hasinfinitelymanyintegralsolutions(so-calledPythagoreantriples); later,wewillseehowtofindthemall.

(2) xn + yn = zn has no nonzerointegersolutionswhen n ≥ 3.ThisisFermat’s LastTheorem,whichwewillcertainlynotbeprovingintheselectures,though wewillprovethecase n =4.

(3) y2 = x3 +17 hasexactly 8 integersolutions (x,y), x =

, 43, 52 andonefurthervaluewhichyoucanfindforyourselves.Provingthatthereare nomoresolutionsisharder;using Sage youcansolvethisasfollows: sage:EllipticCurve([0,17]).integral points()

,

,

,

(4) Everypositiveinteger n canbewrittenasasumoffoursquares(including 0), forexample

butnotallmaybewrittenasasumof2or3squares.Which?

sage:sum of k squares(4,47)

Wewillanswerthetwo-andfour-squareproblemslater,withapartialanswer forthreesquares.

• Questionsaboutprimes,forexample

(1) Thereareinfinitelymanyprimes(anancientresultprovedinEuclid.)

(2) Iseveryevennumber(greaterthan 2)expressibleasthesumoftwoprimes? ThiswasconjecturedbyGoldbachin1746andstillnotproved,thoughithas beenverifiedfornumbersupto 4 × 1018;the“weakform”oftheconjecture, thateveryoddnumbergreaterthan 5 isasumofthreeprimes,wasprovedin 2013bythePeruvianHaraldHelfgott.

(3) ArealltheFermatnumbers Fn =22n +1 prime(asFermatalsoclaimed)?Certainlynot:thefirstfourare(F1 =5, F2 =17, F3 =257, F4 =65537)butthen F5 =641×6700417, F6 =274177×67280421310721, F7 =59649589127497217× 5704689200685129054721,andnomoreprimevalueshavebeendiscoveredin thesequence.

sage:[(2ˆ2ˆn+1).factor() for n inrange (9)]

(4) Howmanyprimesendinthedigit 7?Infinitelymany?Ofthe664579primesless than10million,thenumberwhichendinthedigits 1, 3, 7 and 9 respectively are 166104, 166230, 166211,and 166032 (thatis, 24.99%, 25.01%, 25.01% and 24 98%).Whatdoesthissuggest?

sage:pc=dict ([(d,0) for d inrange (10)]) sage: for p in prime range(10ˆ7):pc[p%10]+=1 sage:[(d,pc[d],100.0 ∗ pc[d]/ sum(pc.values())) for d in [1,3,7,9]]

(5) Arethereinfinitelymanyso-called primepairs:primeswhichdifferbyonly 2, suchas (3, 5), (71, 73) or (1000000007, 1000000009)?

• Efficientalgorithmsforbasicarithmetic:manymodernapplicationsofNumberTheory areinthefieldofcryptography(securecommunicationofsecrets,suchastransmitting confidentialinformationovertheInternet).Theseapplicationrelyonthefactthat thefollowingtwoquestions,whichseemtrivialfromthetheoreticalpointsofview, arenotatalltrivialwhenaskedaboutverylargenumberswithdozensorhundreds ofdigits:

(1) PrimalityTesting:givenapositiveinteger n,determinewhether n isprime; (2) Factorization:givenapositiveinteger n,determinetheprimefactorsof n

Inthismodule,wewillstudyavarietyofsuchproblems,mainlyofthefirsttwotypes, whilealsolayingthetheoreticalfoundationstofurtherstudy.

BasicNotation. Z, Q, R, C willdenote,asusual,thesetsofintegers,rationalnumbers, realnumbersandcomplexnumbers.Theintegersformaring,theotherssetsarefields.

N = {n ∈ Z | n ≥ 1} isthesetof naturalnumbers (positiveintegers).

N0 = {n ∈ Z | n ≥ 0} isthesetofnon-negativeintegers.

P willdenotethesetof(positive)primenumbers:integers p> 1 whichhavenofactorization p = ab with a,b> 1

Divisibility:for a,b ∈ Z wewrite a|b,andsay a divides b,when b isamultipleof a: a|b ⇐⇒∃c ∈ Z : b = ac.

If a doesnotdivide b wewrite a |b.Thedivisibilityrelationgivesapartialorderon N with 1 asthe“least”elementandno“greatestelement”.

Congruence:for a,b,c ∈ Z with c =0 wewrite a ≡ b (mod c) andsaythat a iscongruent to b modulo c if c|(a b): a ≡ b (mod c) ⇐⇒ c|(a b) Divisibilityandcongruencewillbestudiedindetaillater.

1.1. Divisibilityin Z.

1. Factorization

Definition1.1.1. Let a,b ∈ Z.Thenwesaythat a divides b andwrite a|b if b = ac for some c ∈ Z: a|b ⇐⇒∃c ∈ Z : b = ac.

Alternatively,wemaysaythat“b isamultipleof a”.If a =0 thisisequivalenttothe statementthattherationalnumber b/a isaninteger c.If a doesnotdivide b wewrite a |b Lemma1.1.2. [Easyfactsaboutdivisibility]Forall a, b, ... ∈ Z:

(1) a|b =⇒ a|kb (∀k ∈ Z);

(2) a|b1, a|b2 =⇒ a|b1 ± b2;henceif b1 and b2 aremultiplesof a,thensoareallintegers oftheform k1b1 + k2b2

(3) a|b, b|c =⇒ a|c;

(4) a|b, b|a ⇐⇒ a = ±b;

(5) a|b, b =0=⇒|a|≤|b|;sononzerointegershaveonlyafinitenumberofdivisors;

(6) If k =0 then a|b ⇐⇒ ka|kb;

(7) Specialpropertiesof ±1: ±1|a (∀a ∈ Z),and a|± 1 ⇐⇒ a = ±1;

(8) Specialpropertiesof 0: a|0(∀a ∈ Z),and 0|a ⇐⇒ a =0

Proposition1.1.3 (DivisionAlgorithmin Z). Let a,b ∈ Z with a =0.Thereexistunique integers q,r suchthat b = aq + r with 0 ≤ r< |a|

Proof. Either:Take r tobetheleastnon-negativeintegerintheset S = {b aq | q ∈ Z}, whichcertainlycontainspositiveintegers.Then r< |a|,asotherwise r −|a| wouldbea smallernon-negativeelementof S

Or:if a> 0,take q =[b/a],the integerpart of b/a,so q ≤ b/a<q +1,andset r = b aq.Then 0 ≤ r<a.If a< 0,similarlywith q = [ b/a]

Uniqueness:if b = aq1 + r1 = aq2 + r2 with 0 ≤ r1,r2 < |a| then a(q1 q2)= r2 r1 Nowif q1 = q2 then |q1 q2|≥ 1,so |a| > |r1 r2| = |a||q1 q2|≥|a|,contradiction. Hence q1 = q2,andthen r1 = r2 also.

Notation: thesetofallmultiplesofafixedinteger a isdenoted (a) or aZ: (a)= aZ = {ka | k ∈ Z}.

Thenwehave a|b ⇐⇒ b ∈ (a) ⇐⇒ (a) ⊇ (b):“tocontainistodivide”.From Lemma1.1.2(4)wehave (a)=(b) ⇐⇒ a = ±b

An ideal inacommutativering R isasubset I of R satisfying

(i) 0 ∈ I; (ii) a,b ∈ I =⇒ a ± b ∈ I; (iii) a ∈ I, r ∈ R =⇒ ra ∈ I

Notation: I R.Forexample,thesetofallmultiplesofafixedelement a of R isthe principalideal denoted (a) or aR.Wesaythat a generates theprincipalideal (a).Theother generatorsof (a) arethe associates of a:elements b = ua where u isaunitof R

Proposition1.1.4. Everyidealin Z isprincipal.

Proof. Let I Z.If I = {0} then I =(0) andsoisprincipal.Otherwise I containspositive integers,since a ∈ I ⇐⇒−a ∈ I byproperty(iii);let a betheleastpositiveelementin I Byproperty(iii)wehave (a) ⊆ I.Conversely,let b ∈ I;write b = aq + r with 0 ≤ r<a, then r = b qa ∈ I,sobyminimalityof a wehave r =0,so b = qa ∈ (a).So I =(a)

Definition1.1.5. A PrincipalIdealDomain orPIDisa(nonzero)commutativering R such that

(i) ab =0 ⇐⇒ a =0 or b =0;

(ii) everyidealof R isprincipal.

So Z isaprincipalidealdomain.Everynonzeroidealof Z hasauniquepositivegenerator.

1.2. GreatestCommonDivisorsin Z.

Theorem1.2.1. Let a,b ∈ Z

(1) Thereexistsauniqueinteger d satisfying

(i) d|a and d|b;

(ii) if c|a and c|b then c|d;

(iii) d ≥ 0

(2) Theinteger d canbeexpressedintheform d = au + bv with u,v ∈ Z.

Definition1.2.2. For a,b ∈ Z wedefinethe GreatestCommonDivisor (orGCD)of a and b tobetheinteger d withthepropertiesgiveninthetheorem.Notation: gcd(a,b), orsometimesjust (a,b).Integers a and b aresaidtobe coprime (orrelativelyprime)if gcd(a,b)=1

Sointegersarecoprimeiftheyhavenocommonfactorsotherthan ±1.Theidentity gcd(a,b)= au + bv issometimescalled Bezout’sidentity

ProofofTheorem1.2.1. Let I = {ax + by | x,y ∈ Z};then I isanidealof Z,so I =(d) forsomeinteger d ≥ 0.Now d hastheform d = au + bv since d ∈ I,and d|a and d|b since a,b ∈ I =(d).Lastly,if c|a and c|b then c|au + bv = d.

Corollary1.2.3. [BasicPropertiesof gcd]Forall a,b,k,m ∈ Z:

(1) a and b arecoprimeiffthereexist u,v ∈ Z suchthat au + bv =1;

(2) gcd(a,b)=gcd(b,a)=gcd(|a|, |b|);

(3) gcd(ka,kb)= |k| gcd(a,b);

(4) gcd(a, 0)= |a|; gcd(a, 1)=1;

(5) gcd(a,b)=gcd(a,b + ka) forall k ∈ Z;

(6) if gcd(a,m)=gcd(b,m)=1 then gcd(ab,m)=1; (7) if gcd(a,b)=1 then gcd(ak,bl)=1 forall k,l ∈ N.

Lemma1.2.4. [Euler’sLemma]If a|bc and gcd(a,b)=1 then a|c

Proof. Write 1= au + bv;then c = a(uc)+(bc)v so a|c

If a1, a2, , an isanyfinitesequenceofintegersthenwesimilarlyfindthattheideal theygenerate, I =(a1,a1,...,an)= {k1a1 + k2a2 + ··· + knan | k1,k2,...,kn ∈ Z} isan idealof Z,hence I =(d) foraunique d ≥ 0,andwedefine d =gcd(a1,a2,...,an).Wesay that a1, a2, ... , an are coprime if gcd(a1,a2,...,an)=1.Thisisweakerthanthecondition that gcd(ai,aj )=1 forall i = j:forexample, gcd(6, 10, 15)=1 since 6+10 15=1, butnopairof 6, 10, 15 iscoprime.When gcd(ai,aj )=1 forall i = j,wesaythatthe ai are pairwisecoprime.

Ourproofshavebeennon-constructive.AveryimportantcomputationaltoolistheEuclideanAlgorithm,whichcomputes d =gcd(a,b) given a and b ∈ Z,anditsextendedform whichalsocomputesthe(non-unique) u,v suchthat d = au + bv

1.3. TheEuclideanAlgorithmin Z TheEuclideanAlgorithmisanefficientmethodof computing gcd(a,b) foranytwointegers a and b,withouthavingtofactorizethem.Itmay alsobeusedtocomputethecoefficients u and v intheidentity d =gcd(a,b)= au + bv. Thebasicideaisthis.Wemayassume b>a> 0 (seetheBasicPropertiesabove).Write r = b aq with 0 ≤ r<a;then gcd(a,b)=gcd(r,a) andwehavereducedtheproblemto asmallerone.Afterafinitenumberofstepswereach 0,andthelastpositiveintegerinthe sequence a,b,r,... isthe gcd Example: (963, 657)=(657, 963)=(306, 657)=(45, 306)=(36, 45)=(9, 36)= (0, 9)=9.Herewehaveused 963 657=306, 657 2 306=45, 306 6 45=36, 45 36=9. Tosolve 9=963u +657v wecanback-substituteintheseequations: 9=45 36= 45 (306 6 · 45)=7 · 45 306=7 · (657 2 · 306) 306=7 · 657 15 · 306= 7 657 15(963 657)=22 657 15 963,so u = 15 and v =22

Thereisasimplerwayofkeepingtrackofallthesecoefficientswhilereducingtheamount whichneedstobewrittendown,usingsomeauxiliaryvariables,whichleadstotheEuclidean algorithm.Wegiveitinaformwhichkeepsalltheauxiliaryvariablespositivewhichiseasier tocarryoutinpractice.

ExtendedEuclideanAlgorithm: Givenpositiveintegers a and b,thisalgorithmcomputes (d,u,v) suchthat d =gcd(a,b)= au + bv:

(1) Set a

(2) Let q =[a1/a2]

(3) Set a3 = a1 qa2; x3 = x

(4) Set a1 = a2,

(5) If a2 > 0 loopbacktoStep2.

(6) If ax1 by1 > 0 return (d,u,v)=(a1,x1, y1),elsereturn (d,u,v)=(a1, x1,y1)

Proofofthealgorithm. Itisclearthatthesequence ai isjustthesequenceofsuccessive termsintheordinaryEuclideanAlgorithm,starting a,b,... ,inwhichthelastnonzeroterm is gcd(a,b).Eachnewtermofthissequenceisfirstcalled a3 andthenthe ai moveupby one.Thisshowsthatthealgorithmterminateswiththecorrectvalueof d Initially, ax1 by1 = a1 and ax2 by2 = a2.Ifatageneralstagewehave ax1 by1 = εa1 and ax2 by2 = εa2 with ε = ±1,thenacalculationshowsthatthesamewillholdatthe nextstagewiththeoppositevalueof ε.Sincethelastnonzerovalueof a1 (when a2 =0) is d,attheendwehave ax1 by1 = ±d,andthesignisadjustedifnecessary(whichwill dependonwhetherthenumberofstepsisevenorodd).

Example: Inthepreviousexample,the ai sequenceis 963, 657, 306, 45, 36, 9, 0

usingquotients

Sothe xi sequenceis

andthe yi sequenceis

q =1, 2, 6, 1, 4

1, 0, 1, 2, 13, 15, 73

0, 1, 1, 3, 19, 22, 107

Usingthelast xi and yi providesacheck:

73a 107b =73 · 963 107 · 657=0

andtheprecedingvaluesgivethesolution: 15a 22b =15 963 22 657= 9

Sowemaytake u = 15, v =22

1.4. Primesanduniquefactorization.

Definition1.4.1. A primenumber (or prime forshort)isaninteger p> 1 whoseonly divisorsare ±1 and ±p;thesetofprimesisdenoted P:

Forexample 2, 3, 5, 7, 11 areprimes.Integers n> 1 whicharenotprimearecalled composite.If a isanyintegertheneither p|a,inwhichcase gcd(p,a)= p,or p |a,inwhich case gcd(p,a)=1

Lemma1.4.2. Let p beaprimeand a,b ∈ Z.If p|ab theneither p|a or p|b (orboth).

Proof. SpecialcaseofEuler’sLemma1.2.4:if p|ab and p |a then gcd(p,a)=1 so p|b

Thispropertyofprimesisveryimportant,andtheuniquenessofprimefactorizationrelies onit.(Itiseasytoseethatcompositenumbersdonothavethisproperty.)Moregenerally:

Corollary1.4.3. Let p beaprimeand a1,a2,...,an ∈ Z.Then p|a1a2 ...an =⇒ p|ai forsome i.

Theorem1.4.4 (FundamentalTheoremofArithmetic) Everypositiveinteger n isaproduct ofprimenumbers,anditsfactorizationintoprimesisuniqueuptotheorderofthefactors.

Notethatthisincludes n =1 whichisan“empty”product,andprimesthemselveswith onlyonefactorintheproduct.Collectingtogetheranypowersofprimeswhichoccurina primefactorization,weobtain

Corollary1.4.5. Everypositiveinteger n maybeexpresseduniquelyintheform

where p1,...,pk areprimeswith p1 <p2 < ··· <pk andeach ei ≥ 1.Alternatively,every positiveinteger n maybeexpresseduniquelyintheform

wheretheproductisover all primes,each

,butonlya finite numberof ep > 0

Theexponent ep whichappearsinthisstandardfactorizationof n isdenotedordp(n);it ischaracterizedbythefollowingproperty: e = ordp(n) ⇐⇒ pe|n and pe+1 |n.

Forexample, 700=22 ·52 ·7,soord2(700)= ord5(700)=2,ord7(700)=1,andordp(700)= 0 forprimes p =2, 5, 7.Everypositiveinteger n isuniquelydeterminedbythesequenceof exponentsordp(n)

Thisstandardfactorizationofpositiveintegersintoprimesmaybeextendedtonegative integersbyallowingafactor ±1 infrontoftheproduct,andtononzerorationalnumbersby allowingtheexponentstobenegative.Wemayaccordinglyextendthefunctionordp to Q∗ , bysettingordp( n)= ordp(n) andordp(n/d)= ordp(n) ordp(d) fornonzerorationals n/d [Youshouldcheckthatthisiswell-defined,independentoftherepresentationofthefraction n/d.]Thenwehavethefollowingextensionofthemaintheoremonuniquefactorization:

Corollary1.4.6. Everynonzerorationalnumber x maybeuniquelyexpressedintheform x = ± p∈P p ordp (x)

Forexample, 72/91= 23327 113 1

ProofoftheFundamentalTheorem. Existence(usingstronginduction):Let n ≥ 1 andsupposetrueforall m<n;either n =1 (OK,emptyproduct)or n isprime(OKwithone factor),or n = ab with a,b<n,inwhichcasebyinductionboth a and b areproductsof primes,hencesois n

Uniqueness:Suppose n = p1p2 ...pr = q1q2 ...qs where r,s ≥ 0 andallthe pi and qj areprimes.Weuseinductionon r.If r =0 then s =0 (andviceversa)sincethen n =1 whichhasnoprimedivisors.Sosuppose r,s ≥ 1.Now p1|q1q2 ...qs,so p1|qj forsome j, so p1 = qj since p1 and qj arebothprime.Byreorderingthe qswemayassume j =1,so p1 = q1.Dividingbothsidesby p1 gives p2p3 ...pr = q2q3 ...qs.Thelefthandsidenowhas r 1 primefactors,sobyinduction r 1= s 1,so r = s,andtheremaining pi areequal totheremaining qj insomeorder.

Manyfactsaboutintegersmayeasilybeprovedusingtheiruniquefactorizationintoprimes.

Forexample:

Proposition1.4.7. Let m,n ∈ Z benonzero.Then m = ±n ⇐⇒ ordp(m)= ordp(n) ∀p ∈ P.

Thefunctionordp worksratherlikealogarithm.Thefollowingiseasytocheck:

Proposition1.4.8. Let m,n ∈ Z benonzero.Thenordp(mn)= ordp(m)+ ordp(n)

Proof. Exercise.

Thepreviousresultlookselementaryenough,butitissufficienttoimplytheuniqueness ofprimefactorization:forif n = pep is any factorizationof n intoprimes,applyingordq tobothsides(where q issomefixedprime)andusingthePropositiongives

q (n)= ep

q (p)= eq , sinceordq (q)=1 andordq (p)=0 when p = q.Itfollowsthattheexponents ep areuniquely determined.

Proposition1.4.9. Let n ∈ Z benonzero.Then n isaperfectsquareifandonlyif n> 0 andordp(n) isevenforallprimes p

Proof. If n = m2 thenclearly n> 0,andordp(n)=2ordp(m) whichiseven.

Conversely,ifallordp(n) areeven,set m =

n (not n since n> 0).

WeendthissectionwithafamousandancientresultofEuclid.

Theorem1.4.10. [Euclid]Thenumberofprimesisinfinite.

Proof. Let p1, p2, , pk beafinitesetofprimes.Set n = p1p2 ...pk +1.Then n ≥ 2,so n hasaprimefactor q,and q isnotequaltoanyofthe pi sincetheyclearlydonotdivide n Sothereexistsaprimeoutsidethefiniteset.Hencethesetofallprimescannotbefinite.

Notethatthisproofactuallyshowshowtoconstructa“new”primefromanygivenfinite setofknownprimes.Variationsofthisproofcanshowthatthereareinfinitelymanyprimes ofvariousspecialforms:seetheExercises.

1.5. UniqueFactorizationDomains. Theorem1.4.4(extendedtoincludenegativeintegers)maybeexpressedsuccinctlybythestatementthat Z isa UniqueFactorizationDomain orUFD.Roughlyspeaking,aUFDisaringinwhicheveryelementhasanessentiallyunique factorizationasaunittimesaproductof“prime”elements.EveryPIDisaUFD(butnot conversely: Z[X] isaUFDbutnotaPID),andanimportantsourceofPIDsisringswhich havea“divisionalgorithm”similartotheonefor Z.SuchringsarecalledEuclideanDomains, andwestartbydefiningthese.

Definition1.5.1. (a) Anonzeroring R isan IntegralDomain if,for a,b ∈ R, ab =0 ⇐⇒ (a =0 or b =0)

(b) Anonzeroring R isa EuclideanDomain orEDifitisanintegraldomainequipped withafunction λ : R −{0}→ N0 suchthat,for a,b ∈ R with a =0,thereexist q,r ∈ R suchthat

b = aq + r witheither r =0 or λ(r) <λ(a)

Examples:

• Z isanEDwith λ(n)= |n|:thisiswhatProposition1.1.3states(thoughnotethat thedefinitionofanEDdoesnotrequire q and r tobeunique).

• Anyfield F isanEDwith λ(x)=0 forall x =0;thisisadegenerateexamplesince wemayalwaystake r =0 indivision.

• If F isafieldthenthepolynomialring F [X] isanED,usingthedegreefunction λ(f (X))=deg(f (X)).Therequireddivisionpropertyiswell-known,beingjustthe usuallongdivisionforpolynomials.

Itisimportantthat F isafieldhere:forexample, Z[X] is not Euclidean(exercise).

• Thering Z[i] of GaussianIntegers isdefinedas

Z[i]= {a + bi | a,b ∈ Z}; itisasubringof C.Wewillstudythisinsomedetailasitgivesanotherexample ofaEuclideanDomainwhichisofinterestinnumbertheory,bothforitsownsake andalsoforprovingsomepropertiesoftheordinaryor“rational”integers Z.The Euclideanfunction λ on Z[i] isusuallycalledthe norm anddenoted N : N (α)= αα = a 2 + b2 for α = a + bi ∈ Z[i].

Theorem1.5.2. Thering Z[i] ofGaussianIntegersisaEuclideanDomain.

Lemma1.5.3. Thenormfunction N on Z[i] hasthefollowingproperties:

(1) Multiplicativity:forall α, β ∈ Z[i], N (αβ)= N (α)N (β); (2) Positivity: N (0)=0, N (α) ≥ 1 for α =0; (3) Units: N (α)=1 ⇐⇒ α ∈ U (Z[i])= {±1, ±i}

Recallthatforaring R,thegroupof units (invertibleelements)isdenoted U (R).Elements ofanintegraldomainarecalled associate ifoneisaunittimestheother,or(equivalently)if eachdividestheother.

Proof. 1. N (αβ)=(αβ)(αβ)=(αα)(ββ)= N (α)N (β)

2.For a,b ∈ Z, a2 + b2 ≥ 0 withequalityiff a = b =0

3.Let α = a + bi,so N (α)= a2 + b2.Then N (α)=1 ⇐⇒ a2 + b2 =1 ⇐⇒ (a,b) ∈ {(±1, 0), (0, ±1)}⇐⇒ α ∈{±1, ±i}.Theseelementsareunitssince αα =1=⇒ α 1 = α ∈ Z[i].Conversely,if α isaunitwith αβ =1 then 1= N (1)= N (αβ)= N (α)N (β),so N (α)= N (β)=1 sincebotharepositiveintegers.

ProofofTheorem. Firstofall, Z[i] isanintegraldomain,asitisasubringof C

Nowlet α = a + bi,β = c + di ∈ Z[i] with α =0.Then N (α)= a2 + b2 =0,and β α = c + di a + bi = (c + di)(a bi) N (α) = ac + bd N (α) + ad bc N (α) i.

Let e and f bethenearestintegerstotherationalnumbers ac+bd N (α) and ad bc N (α) respectively, andset γ = e + fi ∈ Z[i] and δ = β αγ.Then β/α γ = x + yi with |x|, |y|≤ 1/2, so x2 + y2 ≤ 1/4+1/4=1/2.Hence N (δ)= N (α)(x2 + y2) ≤ 1 2 N (α) <N (α) as required.

Example: Take α =3+4i and β =10+11i.Then 10+11i 3+4i = (10+11i)(3 4i) 25 = 74 7i 25 =3+ 1 7i 25 , sothequotientis 3 andremainder (10+11i) 3(3+4i)=1 i.Check: N (1 i)=2 is lessthan N (3+4i)=25

Justaswedidfor Z,wecannowprovethateveryEDisaPID:

Theorem1.5.4. Let R beaEuclideanDomain.Then R isaPrincipalIdealDomain.

Proof. Let I R.If I = {0} then I iscertainlyprincipal(I =(0))soassumethat I is nonzero.Let a ∈ I beanonzeroelementwithminimalvalueof λ(a).Then (a) ⊆ I Conversely,if b ∈ I,write b = aq + r with r =0 or λ(r) <λ(a).Thesecondpossibilityis notpossiblebyminimalityof λ(a),since r = b aq ∈ I,so r =0 and b = aq ∈ (a).Thus I =(a) isprincipal.

InaPIDwehave gcdsjustasin Z,andBezout’sidentity.Ingeneralwedonothave uniquenessof gcds,onlyuniquenessuptoassociates(multiplicationbyaunit).(In Z we avoidedthisnon-uniquenessbyinsistingthatall gcdswerenon-negative.)

Definition1.5.5. Inaring R,a gcd oftwoelements a and b isanelement d satisfying (i) d|a and d|b; (ii) if c|a and c|b then c|d

Lemma1.5.6. If gcd(a,b) existsthenitisuniqueuptoassociates.

Proof. If d1 and d2 bothsatisfytheconditionsofDefinition1.5.5,thenwehaveboth d1|d2 and d2|d1,so d1 and d2 areassociate.

Becauseofthisnon-uniquenesswecannottalkabout the gcd,only a gcd of a and b.In specificrings,onemayimposeanextraconditiontoensureuniqueness:in Z weinsisted that gcd(a,b) ≥ 0;inthepolynomialring F [X] (with F afield)oneusuallyinsiststhat gcd(a(X),b(X)) is monic (withleadingcoefficient 1).

Proposition1.5.7. InaPID,the gcd oftwoelements a and b exists,andmaybeexpressed intheform au + bv

Proof. Let a,b ∈ R whichisaPID.Let I =(a,b)= {ra + sb | r,s ∈ R} betheidealthey generate,andlet d ∈ R besuchthat I =(d).Then d = au + bv forsome u,v ∈ R by construction; a,b ∈ (d) so d|a and d|b;andif c|a and c|b then (d)=(a,b) ⊆ (c) so c|d

SoinaPID,whetherEuclideanornot,the gcd alwaysexists.However,itisonlyinaED thatcomputing gcdsiseasilypossibleviatheEuclideanAlgorithm.

Example: Take α =3+4i and β =10+11i.Thenfromthepreviousexamplewehave β 3α =1 i.Similarly, α 3i(1 i)= i,andlastly 1 i = i( 1 i) withzero remainder.Thelastnonzeroremainderwas i whichisthereforea gcd of α and β;onewould

normallyadjustthissince i isaunitandsaythat gcd(α,β)=1.Back-substitutiongives i = α 3i(β 3α)=(1+9i)α 3iβ,sofinally 1=(9 i)α 3β

ThenextstepistoshowthateveryPIDisalsoauniquefactorizationdomain.Inthecase of Z,weusedtheEuclideanpropertyagain,andnotjustthePIDproperty,forthisstep,but sincethereareringswhicharePIDsbutnotEuclideanwegiveaproofwhichworksforall PIDs.

Definition1.5.8. Inanintegraldomain R,anelement p iscalled irreducible ifitisneither 0 noraunitand p = ab impliesthateither a or b isaunit; p iscalled prime ifitisneither 0 noraunitand p|ab impliesthateither p|a or p|b

Lemma1.5.9. Everyprimeisirreducible.InaPID,everyirreducibleisprime.

Proof. Let p beprimeandsupposethat p = ab.Then p|ab so p|a (say).Write a = pc,then p = ab = pcb,so p(1 cb)=0,andsince p =0 and R isanintegraldomain, 1 cb =0 so bc =1 and b isaunit.

InaPID,let p beirreducibleandsupposethat p|ab.If p |a thentheonlycommondivisors of p and a areunits,so gcd(p,a)=1.Hencewecanwrite 1= pu + av,so b = p(ub)+(ab)v whichisamultipleof p

Thelastpropertywillbecrucialinprovingtheuniquenessoffactorizationsintoirreducibles, butfortheexistenceweneedtodosomemorepreparation.Thefollowinglemmaiscalled the“ascendingchaincondition”orACCforidealsinaPID.

Lemma1.5.10. Let R beaPID.Let (ai)i∈N beasequenceofelementsof R with (a1) ⊆ (a2) ⊆ (a3) ⊆ ... .(Soeach ai isamultipleofthenext).Thenthereexists k suchthat (ak)=(ak+1)=(ak+2)= ,sothechainofidealsstabilizes.Henceanystrictlyascending chainofideals (a1) ⊂ (a2) ⊂ (a3) ⊂ ... mustbefinite.

Proof. Let I = ∪i∈N(ai).Aneasycheckshowsthat I isanideal,hence I =(a) forsome a ∈ R.But a ∈ I = ∪i∈N(ai) impliesthat a ∈ (ak) forsome k,so I =(a) ⊆ (ak) ⊆ I.It followsthat I =(a)=(ak)=(ak+1)=

Thislemmaisusedtoreplaceinductionintheproofoftheexistenceoffactorizationsinto irreducibles,whichwasusedfor Z

Proposition1.5.11. Let R beaPID.Everyelementof R whichisneither 0 noraunitisa productofirreducibles.

Proof. Firstweshowthateverynonzeronon-unitof R hasanirreduciblefactor.Let a ∈ R beneither 0 noraunit.If a isirreduciblethereisnothingmoretodo.Otherwisethereisa factorization a = a1b1 withneitherfactoraunit.If a1 isnotirreduciblethen a1 = a2b2 with neitherfactoraunit.Continuinginthiswaywehave (a) ⊂ (a1) ⊂ (a2) ⊂ withstrict inclusionssince b1 = a1/a, b2 = a1/a2, ... arenon-units.BytheACClemmathesequence mustbefinite,soeventuallysome ak isirreducible.

Nowweshowthat a isaproductofirreducibles.If a itselfisirreducible,thereisnothing todo;otherwise,bythefirststep, a = p1c1 with p1 irreducibleand c1 notaunit.If c1 is irreducible,stop,else c1 = p2c2 with p2 irreducibleand c2 notaunit.Continuinginthisway, theprocessmuststopsince (a) ⊂ (c1) ⊂ (c2) ⊂

Finally,weusethefactthatinaPIDirreduciblesareprimetoprovethatthefactorizations ofanygivennonzeronon-unitareessentiallythesame,uptoreorderingthefactorsand replacingirreduciblesbyassociates.

Definition1.5.12. AnIntegralDomain R isa UniqueFactorizationDomain orUFDif (i) everynonzeroelementmaybeexpressedasaunittimesaproductofirreducibles;

(ii) thefactorizationin(i)isuniqueuptotheorderofthefactorsandreplacingthe irreduciblesbyassociates;thatis,if a ∈ R isnonzeroand a = up1p2 ...pr = vq1q2 ...qs with u,v unitsandall pi, qj irreducibles,then r = s,andafterpermutingthe qj if necessary,thereareunits vj for 1 ≤ j ≤ r suchthat qj = vj pj and u = vv1v2 ...vr

Theorem1.5.13. Let R beaPID.Then R isaUFD.

Proof. Theexistenceoffactorizationsintoirreducibleshasalreadybeenshownfornon-units; unitsareincludedbyallowinganemptyproductofirreduciblesandanextraunitfactor.

Uniqueness:Supposethat a = up1p2 ...pr = vq1q2 ...qs with u,v unitsandall pi, qj irreducibles.If r =0 then a isaunit,hencealso s =0 (sinceaunitcannotbedivisible byanyirreducible),andconversely.Sosupposethat r,s ≥ 1,anduseinductionon r.Now p1|vq1q2 ...qs,soprimalityof p1 impliesthat p1|qj forsome j (wecannothave p1|v since v isaunit).Permutingifnecessary,wemayassumethat j =1 so p1|q1.Hence q1 = v1p1 for some v1 whichmustbeaunitsince q1 isirreducible.Dividinggives up2 ...pr =(vv1)q2 ...qs, withonly r 1 irreduciblesontheleft,sobyinductionwehave r 1= s 1,so r = s,and units vj for j ≥ 2 suchthat qj = vj pj and u =(vv1)v2 ...vr asrequired.

Example(continued): Sincethering Z[i] ofGaussianIntegersisEuclidean,itisaPID andaUFD.Wehavealreadydeterminedthatitsunitsarethefourelements ±1 and ±i,but whatareitsprimes/irreducibles?

(1) If π ∈ Z[i] isprimethen π dividessomeordinary“rational”prime p,sinceif n = N (π)= ππ then π|n sobyprimalityof π, π dividesatleastoneprimefactor p of n

(2) If N (π)= p isprime,then π isirreducible:forif π = αβ then p = N (π)= N (α)N (β),sooneof α, β hasnorm 1 andisaunit.Forexample, 1+ i, 2+ i, 3+2i, 4+ i areprimesincetheirnormsare 2, 5, 13, 17.

(3) Ifarationalprime p isasumoftwosquares, p = a2 + b2,thensetting π = a + bi gives p = N (π)= N (π),so π and π arebothGaussianprimes.Wewillprovelater, inTheorem2.4.2,thateveryrationalprime p oftheform 4k +1 canbeexpressedin thisway;thefactors π and π arenotassociate(exercise).

(4) However,rationalprimes q oftheform 4k +3 can not beexpressedassumsof twosquares,sincesquaresallleaveremainderof 0 or 1 whendividedby 4,soall numbersoftheform a2 + b2 leavearemainderof 0, 1 or 2 ondivisionby 4.Such primes q remainprimein Z[i].Forif q = αβ withneither α nor β aunit,then q2 = N (α)N (β) withboth N (α), N (β) > 1,so(byuniquefactorizationin Z)we musthave N (α)= N (β)= q,so q wouldbeasumoftwosquares. Wesumupthisexampleasfollows;wehaveprovedeverythingstatedhereexceptforthe factthatallprimesoftheform 4k +1 aresumsoftwosquares(Theorem2.4.2),andthe remarkaboutassociates(exercise).

Theorem1.5.14. Thering Z[i] ofGaussianIntegersisaEuclideanDomainandhencealso aPrincipalIdealDomainandaUniqueFactorizationDomain.Itsunitsarethefourelements ±1, ±i.Itsprimesareasfollows(togetherwiththeirassociates):

(1) 1+ i,ofnorm 2;

(2) eachrationalprime p oftheform 4k +1 isasumoftwosquares, p = a2 + b2,and p factorizesin Z[i] as p = ππ where π = a + bi and π = a bi arenon-associate Gaussianprimesofnorm p;

(3) eachrationalprime q oftheform 4k +3 isalsoaGaussianprime.

Forexample,herearesomeGaussianfactorizations: 123+456i =3 · (1+2i) · (69+14i) (thelastfactorhasprimenorm 4957), 2000=(1+ i)8(1+2i)3(1 2i)3

sage:Qi.< i > =QQ.extension(xˆ2+1)

sage:2018.factor()

2 ∗ 1009

sage:Qi(2018).factor()

(i) ∗ (15 ∗ i 28) ∗ (i+1)ˆ2 ∗ (15 ∗ i+28)

sage:(123+456∗ i).norm().factor()

3ˆ2 ∗ 5 ∗ 4957

sage:(123+456∗ i).factor() ( 1) ∗ ( 14∗ i 69) ∗ (2 ∗ i+1) ∗ 3

Thereareother“numberrings”similarto Z[i],butnotmanywhichareknowntohave uniquefactorization.Acompletestudyrequiresmorealgebra,andisdoneinAlgebraic NumberTheory.Herearesomefurtherexamples.

Example: Thering R = Z[√ 2] isalsoEuclideanandhenceaUFD.Theproofisalmost identicaltotheonegivenabovefor Z[i],usingthenorm N (α)= αα,sothat N (a+b√ 2)= a2 +2b2.Thekeyfactwhichmakes R Euclideanviathenormisthateverypointinthe complexplaneisatdistancelessthan 1 fromthenearestelementof R,aswasthecasewith Z[i].Factorizationofprimes p nowdependson p (mod8)

Example: Thering R = Z[√ 3] is not Euclidean,andneitheraPIDnoraUFD.For example, 4=2 · 2=(1+ √ 3) · (1 √ 3) withallfactorsontherightirreduciblein R. Also:theideal (2, 1+√ 3) isnotprincipal;andtheelement 2 isirreduciblebutnotprime(as thepreviousequationshows,sinceneither 1 ± √ 3 aredivisibleby 2 in R).However,ifwe enlargetheringbyincludingnumbersoftheform (a + b√ 3)/2 where a and b arebothodd, weobtainthelargerring S = Z[ω],where ω =( 1+ √ 3)/2,satisfying ω2 + ω +1=0, whichisEuclideanandhenceaUFD.Thenormisagain N (α)= αα;with α = a + bω one computesthat N (α)= a2 ab + b2,and 4N (α)=(2a b)2 +3b2.Thisringturnsoutto beusefulinthesolutionoftheFermatequation x3 + y3 = z3

Example: Asinthepreviousexample,thering Z[√ 19] isnotEuclidean.Enlargingitto R = Z[ω],wherenow ω =( 1+ √ 19)/2,satisfying w2 + w +5=0,wefindaringwhich isstillnotEuclidean,butisaPIDandhenceaUFD.ThisexampleshowsthatnoteveryPID isEuclidean.Weomitthedetails.

2. Congruencesandmodulararithmetic

ThenotationforcongruenceisaninventionofGauss.Itsimplifiesmanycalculationsand argumentsinnumbertheory.

2.1. DefinitionandBasicProperties.

Definition2.1.1. Let m beapositiveinteger.For a,b ∈ Z wesaythat a iscongruentto b modulo m andwrite a ≡ b (mod m) iff a b isamultipleof m: a ≡ b (mod m) ⇐⇒ m|(a b).

Here m iscalledthe modulus.If m |(a b) thenwewrite a ≡ b (mod m)

Forexample, 3 ≡ 18(mod7) and 19 ≡ 1(mod4).Allevenintegersarecongruent to 0(mod2),whileoddintegersarecongruentto 1(mod2)

Congruencemaybeexpressedinalgebraicterms:tosay a ≡ b (mod m) isequivalentto sayingthatthecosets a + mZ and b + mZ of mZ in Z areequal. Thebasicpropertiesofcongruencearesummarizedinthefollowinglemmas.

Lemma2.1.2. Foreachfixedmodulus m,congruencemodulo m isanequivalencerelation:

(i) Reflexive: a ≡ a (mod m) forall a ∈ Z;

(ii) Symmetric: a ≡ b (mod m)=⇒ b ≡ a (mod m);

(iii) Transitive:If a ≡ b (mod m) and b ≡ c (mod m) then a ≡ c (mod m)

Proof. Allpartsareeasyexercises.Theyfollowfromthefactthatthesubgroup mZ of Z satisfies:(i) 0 ∈ mZ;(ii) x ∈ mZ =⇒−x ∈ mZ;(iii) x,y ∈ mZ =⇒ x + y ∈ mZ

Lemma2.1.3. If a ≡ b (mod m) and c ≡ d (mod m) then a + c ≡ b + d (mod m) and ac ≡ bd (mod m)

Proof. Anotherexercise.Thesecondpartfollowsfrom ac bd = a(c d)+ d(a b)

Theprecedingresulthasthefollowinginterpretation.Aswellas mZ beingasubgroupof theadditivegroup Z,itisalsoanidealofthering Z,andhencethereisawell-definedquotient ring Z/mZ.Thelemmasaysthatadditionandmultiplicationin Z/mZ arewell-defined.We willreturntothisviewpointinthenextsection.

Lemma2.1.4. (i) If a ≡ b (mod m) then ac ≡ bc (mod mc) forall c> 0; (ii) If a ≡ b (mod m) and n|m then a ≡ b (mod n)

Proof. ImmediatefromDefinition2.1.1.

Lemma2.1.5. If ax ≡ ay (mod m),then x ≡ y (mod m/ gcd(a,m))

Twoimportantspecialcases:

If ax ≡ ay (mod m) and gcd(a,m)=1,then x ≡ y (mod m)

If ax ≡ ay (mod m) and a|m,then x ≡ y (mod m/a).

Proof. Let g =gcd(a,m) andwrite m = gm1 and a = ga1 with gcd(a1,m1)=1.Then ax ≡ ay (mod m)=⇒ m|a(x y)=⇒ m1|a1(x y)=⇒ m1|(x y),thelaststep usingEuler’sLemma.Thespecialcasesarethecases g =1 and g = a respectively.

Proposition2.1.6. Let a,b ∈ Z.Thecongruence ax ≡ b (mod m) hasasolution x ∈ Z if andonlyif gcd(a,m)|b.Ifasolutionexistsitisuniquemodulo m/ gcd(a,m)

Inparticular,when gcd(a,m)=1 thecongruence ax ≡ b (mod m) hasasolutionfor every b,whichisuniquemodulo m

Proof. Solving ax ≡ b (mod m) for x ∈ Z isequivalenttosolving ax + my = b for x,y ∈ Z Sincethesetofallintegersoftheform ax+my istheideal (a,m)=(d) where d =gcd(a,m), thereisasolutioniff b ∈ (d),asstated.If x, x aretwosolutionsthen ax ≡ ax (mod m), whichimpliesthat x ≡ x (mod m/d) byLemma2.1.5.

Howtosolvethecongruence ax ≡ b (mod m):UsetheEEAtofind d,u,v with d = gcd(a,m)= au + mv.Checkthat d|b (otherwisetherearenosolutions).If b = dc then b = auc+mvc so x = uc isonesolution.Thegeneralsolutionis x = uc+tm/d =(ub+tm)/d forarbitrary t ∈ Z

Lemma2.1.7. Eachinteger a iscongruentmodulo m toexactlyoneintegerintheset {0, 1, 2,...,m 1}.Moregenerally,let k beafixedinteger.Theneveryintegeriscongruent modulo m toexactlyoneintegerintheset {k,k +1,k +2,...,k + m 1}

Proof. Thefirststatementisarestatementofthedivisionalgorithm:write a = mq + r with 0 ≤ r ≤ m 1;then a ≡ r (mod m),andthis r isunique.

Thegeneralstatementfollowssincenotwoofthe m integersinthesetarecongruent toeachothermodulo m,sincetheirdifferenceislessthan m;hencetheyhavedistinct remaindersondivisionby m,andsoarecongruentto 0, 1, 2,...,m 1 insomeorder.

Definition2.1.8. Taking k =0,weobtainthesystemof leastnon-negativeresiduesmodulo m: {0, 1, 2,...,m 1}.Taking k = [(m 1)/2] givesthesystemof leastresidues modulo m;when m isoddthisis {0, ±1, ±2,..., ±(m 1)/2},whilewhen m isevenweinclude m/2 butnot m/2.Anysetof m integersrepresentingall m residueclassesmodulo m iscalleda residuesystemmodulo m

Forexample,when m =7 theleastnon-negativeresiduesare {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6} andthe leastresiduesare {−3, 2, 1, 0, 1, 2, 3};for m =8 wehaveleastnonnegativeresidues {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7} andleastresidues {−3, 2, 1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4}

2.2. Thestructureof Z/mZ.

Definition2.2.1. The ringofintegersmodulo m isthequotientring Z/mZ.Wewilldenote thegroupofunitsof Z/mZ by Um,anditsorderby ϕ(m).Thefunction ϕ : N → N iscalled Euler’stotientfunction or Euler’sphifunction

Sometimes Z/mZ isdenoted Zm;howeverthereisaconflictofnotationhere,sincefor prime p thenotation Zp isusedtodenoteadifferentringimportantinnumbertheory,the ringof p-adicintegers. Wewillthereforenotusethisabbreviation!

Informallywemayidentify Z/mZ withtheset {0, 1, 2,...,m 1},thoughtheelements of Z/mZ arenotintegersbut“integersmodulo m”:elementsofthequotientring Z/mZ

Tobestrictlycorrect,oneshouldusethenotation a, b, ... forintegersand a, b, ... for theirresiduesin Z/mZ.Thenonehas a = b (in Z/mZ)iff a ≡ b (mod m) (in Z),and Z/mZ = {0, 1, 2,...,m 1}.Forsimplicitywewillnotdothisbutusethesamenotation foranintegeranditsresiduein Z/mZ

So Z/mZ isafiniteringwith m elements,anditsunitgroup Um isafinitegroupunder theoperationof“multiplicationmodulo m”.

Proposition2.2.2. Let a ∈ Z/mZ.Then a ∈ Um (thatis, a isinvertiblemodulo m)ifand onlyif gcd(a,m)=1

Remark: Notethatif a ≡ a (mod m) then gcd(a,m)=gcd(a,m),since a = a + km for some k.Hencethequantity gcd(a,m) onlydependsontheresidueof a modulo m

Proof. a isinvertiblein Z/mZ iffthecongruence ax ≡ 1(mod m) hasasolution,whichis iff gcd(a,m)=1

WemayusetheExtendedEuclideanAlgorithmtodetectwhetherornot a isinvertible modulo m,andalsotofinditsinverse a ifso,sinceif (x,y) isasolutionto ax + my =1 then ax ≡ 1(mod m) sowemaytake a = x.Forexample, gcd(4, 13)=1 with 4·10 13·3=1, sotheinverseof 4 modulo 13 is 10.Hereisacompletetableofinversesmodulo 13: a 0123456789101112 a -179108112534612

Itfollowsthat ϕ(m),theorderof Um,isequaltothenumberofresiduesmodulo m of integerswhicharecoprimeto m.Thisisoftengivenasthedefinitionof ϕ(m) Corollary2.2.3.

ϕ(m)= |{a | 0 ≤ a ≤ m 1 and gcd(a,m)=1}|

Definition2.2.4. A reducedresiduesystemmodulo m isasetof ϕ(m) integerscovering theresidueclassesin Um

Anysetof ϕ(m) integerswhichareallcoprimeto m,andnotwoofwhicharecongruent modulo m,formareducedresiduesystem.The“standard”oneis {a | 0 ≤ a ≤ m 1 and gcd(a,m)=1}.

Forexample, U6 = {1, 5}, U7 = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6} and U8 = {1, 3, 5, 7},sothat ϕ(6)=2, ϕ(7)=6 and ϕ(8)=4.Herearethefirstfewvaluesof ϕ(m):

Proposition2.2.5. (1) ϕ(m) isevenfor m ≥ 3; (2) ϕ(m)= m 1 ifandonlyif m isprime; (3) Let p beaprime;then ϕ(pe)= pe 1(p 1) for e ≥ 1.

Proof. (1) Um isagroupoforder ϕ(m) andtheelement 1 hasorder 2,unless m =1 or m =2 when 1 ≡ 1,so ϕ(m) mustbeevenbyLagrange’sTheoremforfinite groups.

(2) If m isprimethen gcd(a,m)=1 forall a with 1 ≤ a ≤ m 1,andconversely.

(3) Let m = pe where p isprime.Theonlyintegers a not coprimeto m arethe multiplesof p,whichintherange 0 ≤ a<pe are a = pb with 0 ≤ b<pe 1,so ϕ(pe)= pe pe 1

Wewillusethistoobtainageneralformulafor ϕ(m) aftertheChineseRemainderTheorem below,whichwillreducethedeterminationof ϕ(m) forgeneral m tothecaseofprimepowers. Arithmeticmodulo m ismuchsimplerwhen m isprime,asthefollowingresultindicates.

Theorem2.2.6. If p isaprimethen Z/pZ isafield.If m iscompositethen Z/mZ isnot afield,andnotevenanintegraldomain.

Proof. Let p beprime.Then Z/pZ isacommutativeringinwhicheverynonzeroelement isinvertible,i.e.afield.If m iscompositethen m = ab with 1 <a,b<m.Then ab ≡ 0 (mod m) while a,b ≡ 0(mod m),so Z/mZ isnotanintegraldomain.

Notation: Toemphasizeitsfieldstructure, Z/pZ isalsodenoted Fp,andthemultiplicative group Up isthendenoted F∗ p.Ithasorder p 1,andiscyclic(seeTheorem2.6.1below).

2.3. Euler’s,Fermat’sandWilson’sTheorems. Since Um isafinitemultiplicativegroup oforder ϕ(m) weimmediatelyhavethefollowingasaconsequenceofLagrange’sTheorem forfinitegroups.

Theorem2.3.1. (a) Euler’sTheorem: Let m beapositiveintegerand a aninteger coprimeto m.Then aϕ(m) ≡ 1(mod m)

(b) Fermat’sLittleTheorem: Let p beaprimeand a anintegernotdivisibleby p Then ap 1 ≡ 1(mod p); moreover,foreveryinteger a wehave ap ≡ a (mod p)

Proof. ThefirstfollowsdirectlyfromLagrange’sTheoremforfinitegroups,since a ∈ Um whichhasorder ϕ(m).Thesecondisaspecialcasesince ϕ(p)= p 1.Thelastfollows fromthis,sinceitisclearlytruewhen p|a asthenbothsidesare 0

Fermat’sLittleTheoremcanbeusedasaprimalitytest.Let n beanoddintegerwhich onesuspectstobeaprime;if 2n 1 ≡ 1(mod n) then n iscertainlynotprime.Notethat thishasbeenprovedwithoutexhibitingafactorizationof n.Ontheotherhand,if 2n 1 ≡ 1 (mod n) itdoesnotprovethat n isprime!Forexamplethisholdswith n =1729=7 · 13 · 19 Suchanumberiscalledapseudoprimetobase 2.Byusingacombinationofso-calledbases (ashereweusedthebase 2)onecandevelopmuchstronger“probabilisticprimalitytests”.

Corollary2.3.2. In Fp[X] thepolynomial X p X factorizesasaproductof p linearfactors: X p X = a

Fp (X a) in Fp[X].

Proof. ByFermat’sLittleTheorem,all p elements a ∈ Fp arerootsof X p X,fromwhich theresultfollowsbypolynomialalgebra.

Corollary2.3.3. [Wilson’sTheorem]Let p beaprime.Then (p 1)! ≡−1(mod p).

Proof. Comparetheconstanttermonbothsidesofthefactorization(in Fp[X]): X p 1 1= a

F

p (X a).Thisgives 1 ≡ ( 1)p 1(p 1)!(mod p), so (p 1)! ≡ ( 1)p ≡−1(mod p)

Remark: TheconversetoWilson’sTheoremalsoholds;infact,forcompositeintegers m greaterthan 4 wehave (m 1)! ≡ 0(mod m) (exercise).Butthisisnotusefulasaprimality test,sincethereisnowaytocomputetheresidueof (m 1)!(mod m) quickly.

Example:Take p =13.Then (p 1)!=12!=479001600=13 · 36846277 1.Abetter wayofseeingthisistowrite

12! ≡ 1 · 12 · (2

12 ≡−1(mod13).

Asimilartrick,pairingeachresidueapartfrom ±1 withitsinverse,maybeusedtoprove Wilson’sTheoremdirectly.Thisworksbecause ±1 aretheonlyresiduesmoduloaprime whicharetheirowninverse:

Proposition2.3.4. Let p beaprime.Thentheonlysolutionsto x2 ≡ 1(mod p) are x ≡±1

Proof. Clearly ±1 aresolutions.Since Fp isafield,thequadraticequation X 2 =1 hasat mosttwosolutionsin Fp,sotherearenomoresolutions. Alternatively,if x isasolutionthen p|x2 1=(x 1)(x +1),soeither p|(x 1) or p|(x +1),so x ≡±1(mod p)

Example: Let m = F5 =232 +1=4294967297.Checkthat x =1366885067 satisfies x2 ≡ 1(mod m).Thisprovesthat m isnotprime.Infact, m = ab where a =671= gcd(m,x 1) and b =6700417=gcd(m,x +1).Manymodernfactorizationmethodsare basedonthisidea.Ofcourse,oneneedsefficientwaystofindsolutionsotherthan ±1 to thecongruence x2 ≡ 1(mod m) where m isthe(odd)compositenumberbeingfactorized. Thereareseveralofthese,whichcollectivelygobythenameof“quadraticsieve”methods. 2.4. SomeApplications.

Proposition2.4.1. Let p beanoddprime.Thenthecongruence x2 ≡−1(mod p) hasa solutionifandonlyif p ≡ 1(mod4)

Proof. If x = a satisfies a2 ≡−1(mod p) then a4 ≡ 1(mod p),andso a hasorder exactly 4 inthemultiplicativegroup F∗ p oforder p 1,sobyLagrange’sTheorem 4|(p 1) If 4|(p 1) thenthepolynomial X p 1 1 isdivisibleby X 4 1 andhenceby X 2 +1.But X p 1 1 factorizesin Fp[X] asaproductofthe p 1 linearfactors X a for a ∈ F∗ p.Hence X 2 +1 isaproductoftwolinearfactors,so X 2 +1=(X a)(X + a) where a2 +1=0 (in Fp)sothecongruence x2 ≡−1(mod p) hassolutions ±a

TherearemanyotherwaysofprovingtheprecedingProposition.Oneistousethefact that F∗ p iscyclic(Theorem2.6.1),hencehaselementsoforder d forall d|(p 1),andan element a oforder 4 satisfies a4 =1, a2 =1,so a2 = 1.Alternatively,fromWilson’s Theoremonecanshowthatforallodd p, (((p 1)/2)!)2 ≡−( 1)(p 1)/2 (mod p), sowhen p ≡ 1(mod4) thenumber a =((p 1)/2)! satisfies a2 ≡−1(mod p)

Asacorollarywecanprovetheresultusedearlier,thataprimeoftheform 4k +1 may bewrittenasasumoftwosquares.

Theorem2.4.2. Let p beaprimesuchthat p ≡ 1(mod4).Thenthereexistintegers a and b suchthat p = a2 + b2

Proof. Wegivetwoproofshere.Thefirstusesthefactthatthering Z[i] ofGaussianIntegers isaUFD,whilethesecondismoreelementary.AthirdproofwillbegiveninChapter4(see Theorem4.2.2).Allstartfromtheexistenceofaninteger c suchthat c2 ≡−1(mod p)

Firstproof.In Z[i] wehave p|(c2 +1)=(c i)(c + i),but p doesnotdivideeitherfactor c ± i.Hence p isnotaprimein Z[i],so p = αβ with α, β ∈ Z[i] nonunits.Takingnorms gives p2 = N (α)N (β),so N (α)= N (β)= p.Writing α = a + bi with a,b ∈ Z wehave p = a2 + b2 asrequired.

Secondproof.Let k =[√p],so k2 <p< (k +1)2.Theset S = {(x,y) | 0 ≤ x ≤ k, 0 ≤ y ≤ k} contains (k +1)2 >p pairsofintegers,sotheremustexisttwodistinctpairswiththesame residueof x + cy (mod p),say x1 + y1c ≡ x2 + y2c with (x1,y1) =(x2,y2).Set a = |x1 x2| and b = |y1 y2|.Thenontheonehand, 0 <a2 + b2 ≤ 2k2 < 2p,andontheotherhand from x1 + y1c ≡ x2 + y2c (mod p) wehave a2 =(x1 x2)2 ≡ c2(y1 y

2 ≡−

2 (mod p),so a2 + b2 isamultipleof p.Hence a2 + b2 = p

Remarks Thefirstproofcanbemadeconstructive:given c satisfying c2 ≡−1(mod p),it isnothardtoshowthattheelement a + bi =gcd(c + i,p) in Z[i] satisfies a2 + b2 = p,soa singleapplicationoftheEuclideanalgorithmin Z[i] givesasolution. Thefirstproofalsoshowsthatthesolutionisessentiallyunique,uptopermuting a and b andchangingtheirsigns.Thisfollowsfromthefactthatthefactorizationof p in Z[i] as p = ππ with π = a + bi isuniqueuptopermutingthefactorsandmultiplyingthembyunits. Wefinishthissectionwithsomemoreapplicationstothedistributionofprimes.

Proposition2.4.3. (a) Thereareinfinitelymanyprimes p ≡ 1(mod4)

(b) Thereareinfinitelymanyprimes p ≡ 3(mod4).

Proof. Forpart(b)werefertotheexercises.

Weknowthatoddprimedivisors p ofnumbersoftheform n2 +1 satisfy p ≡ 1(mod4), sincethecongruence x2 ≡−1(mod p) hasthesolution x = n.(Ordirectly, n hasorder 4 inthegroup Up,sobyLagrange 4|(p 1).)Nowif p1, p2, ... , pk areprimes,everyprime divisorof (2p1p2 ...pk)2 +1 iscongruentto 1(mod4),andisdistinctfromallthe pi,so thenumberofprimes ≡ 1(mod4) cannotbefinite.

Similarly,oddprimedivisorsof n4 +1 are ≡ 1(mod8) andtherearethereforeinfinitely manyofthose;oddprimedivisorsof n8 +1 are ≡ 1(mod16) sothereareinfinitelymany ofthose;andsoon.Nextwehave Proposition2.4.4. Let q beanoddprime.

(a) Let p beaprimedivisorof f (n)= nq 1 + nq 2 + + n +1.Theneither p = q or p ≡ 1(mod q)

(b) Thereareinfinitelymanyprimes p ≡ 1(mod q)

Proof. (a)Since (n 1)f (n)= nq 1 wehave p|nq 1,so nq ≡ 1(mod p).Sotheorder of n in Up divides q,soiseither 1 or q

Iftheorderis 1 then n ≡ 1(mod p) so 0 ≡ f (n) ≡ 1+1+ +1 ≡ q (mod p) so p = q.

Iftheorderis q thenbyLagrange, q|(p 1) so p ≡ 1(mod q)

(b)Allprimedivisors p of f (qp1p2 ...pk) satisfy p ≡ 1(mod q) andaredistinctfromall the pi,sothenumberofprimes ≡ 1(mod q) cannotbefinite.

Using cyclotomicpolynomials (forexample, f (n) above)onecanshowthatthereare infinitelymanyprimes p ≡ 1(mod m) forany m.Moregenerally Dirichlet’sTheoremon primesinarithmeticprogressions statesthatthereareinfinitelymanyprimes p ≡ a (mod m) whenever a and m arecoprime:thegeneralproofusescomplexanalysis! 2.5. TheChineseRemainderTheoremorCRT.

Proposition2.5.1. [ChineseRemainderTheoremforsimultaneouscongruences]Let m,n ∈ N becoprime.Thenforeverypairofintegers a,b thesimultaneouscongruences

x ≡ a (mod m) (2.5.1)

x ≡ b (mod n)

haveasolutionwhichisuniquemodulo mn

Moregenerally,if d =gcd(m,n) thenthecongruences(2.5.1)haveasolutionifandonly if a ≡ b (mod d),andthesolution(whenitexists)isuniquemodulolcm(m,n)= mn/d

Proof. Write x = a+my tosatisfythefirstcongruence;thesecondthenbecomes a+my ≡ b (mod n) or my ≡ b a (mod n),whichbyProposition2.1.6hasasolutionifandonlyif d|(b a) where d =gcd(m,n).Uniqueness: y isuniquemodulo n/d,so x = a + my is uniquemodulo mn/d

Tofindthesolutioninthecoprimecase,write 1= mu + nv.Thenwehavethesolution x = mub + nva since nv ≡ 1(mod m), ≡ 0(mod n) while mu ≡ 0(mod m), ≡ 1 (mod n).

Example: Let m =13, n =17.Then 1=gcd(13, 17)=52 51 sothesolutionforgeneral a,b is x ≡ 52b 51a (mod221)

TheCRTsaysthatthereisabijectionbetweenpairs (a mod m,b mod n) andsingle residueclasses (c mod mn) when m,n arecoprime.Thisbijectionisinfactaringisomorphism:

Theorem2.5.2. [ChineseRemainderTheorem,algebraicform]Let m,n ∈ N becoprime. Thenwehavetheisomorphismofrings

Z/mnZ ∼ = Z/mZ × Z/nZ

Restrictingtounitsonbothsides,wehavetheisomorphismofgroups

Umn ∼ = Um × Un.

Proof. Map Z → Z/mZ × Z/nZ by c → (c mod m,c mod n).Thisisaringhomomorphism,whichissurjectivebythepreviousProposition,andhaskernel mZ ∩ nZ = mnZ (the lastequalitybecause gcd(m,n)=1).ThefirstresultfollowsbytheIsomorphismTheorem forringhomomorphisms.

Inthecorrespondence (a,b) ↔ c wehave a ≡ c (mod m) and b ≡ c (mod n),so gcd(c,mn)=1 ⇐⇒ gcd(c,m)=gcd(c,n)=1 ⇐⇒ gcd(a,m)=gcd(b,n)=1,which givesthelastbijection.Moreover,fromtheringisomorphismwegetanisomorphismofthe groupsofunits,so Umn = U (Z/mnZ) ∼ = U (Z/mZ × Z/nZ) ∼ = U (Z/mZ) × U (Z/nZ)= Um × Un.

BothformsoftheCRTextendtoseveralmoduli m1, m2, ... , mk providedthattheyare pairwise coprime.Thesecondpartofthepropositionhasthefollowingimportantcorollary: ϕ isa multiplicativefunction

Proposition2.5.3. Let m,n ∈ N becoprime.Then ϕ(mn)= ϕ(m)ϕ(n).

Proof. ϕ(mn)= |Umn| = |Um × Un| = |Um|·|Un| = ϕ(m)ϕ(n)

Corollary2.5.4. Let m ∈ N haveprimefactorization

wherethe pi aredistinctprimesand ei ≥ 1.Then

Proof. Bymultiplicativitywehave ϕ(m)= k i=1 ϕ(p ei i ),and ϕ(p

1) by Proposition2.2.5.Thelastpartisjustarearrangementoftheproduct;ithasthemeritthat theexponentsoftheprimedivisorsof m donotappearexplicitly.

Examples: (1). ϕ(168)= ϕ(8)ϕ(3)ϕ(7) (splitting 168 intoprimepowers) =(8 4)(3 1)(7 1)=4 · 2 · 6=48.Alternatively, ϕ(168)=168 · 1

·

= 168 · 1 2 · 2 3 · 6 7 =48. (2). ϕ(100)= ϕ(4)ϕ(25)=2 20=40

Onemorepropertyof ϕ(m) willbeusefullater.

Proposition2.5.5. Let m ∈ N.Then d|m ϕ(d)= m

Thesumhereisoverallpositivedivisorsof m.Forexample,when m =12 wehave 12=

Proof. Considerthe m fractions k/m for 0 ≤ k ≤ m 1.Reducedtolowesttermsthey become a/d where d|m, 0 ≤ a ≤ d 1,and gcd(a,d)=1.Sothereare ϕ(d) fractionswith denominator d foreachdivisor d of m,givingthetotalasstated.

ApplicationsofCRT: TheCRTsaysthatcongruencestotwocoprimemoduliare,ina sense,independent.Solvingageneralcongruencetoageneralmodulusreducestosolvingit moduloprimepowers,andthenusingCRTto“glue”theseparatesolutionstogether.

Forexample:solve x2 ≡ 1(mod91).Since 91=7 13 wefirstsolveseparatelymodulo 7 andmodulo 13,giving x ≡±1(mod7) and x ≡±1(mod13) byanearlierproposition since 7 and 13 areprime.Thisgivesfourpossibilitiesmodulo 91: (+1mod7, +1mod13) ↔ (+1mod91) (+1mod7, 1mod13) ↔ ( 27mod91) ( 1mod7, +1mod13) ↔ (+27mod91) ( 1mod7, 1mod13) ↔ ( 1mod91)

Sothesolutionsare x ≡±1(mod91) and x ≡±27(mod91).Tosolvethesecondand thirdweusethemethodgivenabove:write 1=7u +13v =14 13,then (a,b)=(1, 1) mapsto mub + nva =14b 13a =14( 1) 13(1) ≡−27(mod91)

Systematicstudyofvarioustypesofcongruencenowfollowsthefollowingpattern.First workmoduloprimes;thisiseasiestsince Z/pZ isafield.Thensomehowgofromprimes toprimepowers.Theprocesshere(called“Hensellifting”)isratherliketakingsuccessive decimalapproximationstoanordinaryequation,andwewillcomebacktothisattheendof themodule,inChapter5on p-adicnumbers.Finally,usetheCRTto“glue”togetherthe informationfromtheseparateprimepowers.

2.6. Thestructureof Um. Themostimportantresulthereisthatforprime p,themultiplicativegroup Up (= F∗ p)iscyclic.

Theorem2.6.1. Let p beaprime.Thenthegroup Up = F∗ p iscyclic.

Proof. Every a ∈ F∗ p hasmultiplicativeorder d forsome d|(p 1) andsoisarootof X d 1 modulo p.Converselyif d|(p 1) then X d 1|X p 1 1 (aspolynomials);sincethelatter factorsinto p 1 distinctlinearfactorsin Fp[X],sodoes X d 1 foreach d|(p 1).Sofor each d|(p 1) thereareexactly d rootsof X d 1 in F∗ p.

Foreach n|(p 1) therootsof X n 1 haveorder d forsome d|n,andconverselyevery elementoforder d whichdivides n isarootof X n 1.Let ψ(d) bethenumberofelements oforder d.Thepreviousstatementshowsthat d|n ψ(d)= n forall n|(p 1).Weprove that ψ(n)= ϕ(n) forall n|(p 1) byinduction,startingwith ψ(1)=1= ϕ(1) sinceonly a =1 hasorder 1.Iftrueforall d<n then ψ(n)= n d|n,d<n ψ(d)= n d|n,d<n ϕ(d)= ϕ(n)

Hence ψ(n)= ϕ(n) forall n|(p 1).Inparticular, ψ(p 1)= ϕ(p 1) > 0,soatleastone a ∈ F∗ p hasorder p 1,so F ∗ p iscyclic.

Definition2.6.2. Anintegerwhichgenerates Up = F∗ p iscalleda primitiverootmodulo p. If Um iscyclic,thenageneratorof Um iscalleda primitiverootmodulo m

When g isaprimitiverootmodulo m,thepowers 1,g,g2,...,gϕ(m) 1 areincongruent modulo m,andeveryintegerwhichiscoprimeto m iscongruenttoexactlyoneofthese. Theotherprimitiverootsarethe gk forwhich gcd(k,ϕ(m))=1.Sowehavethefollowing:

Corollary2.6.3. Let p beaprime.Then p hasaprimitiveroot,andthenumberofincongruentprimitiverootsmodulo p is ϕ(p 1).Moregenerally,forevery d|(p 1) thereare ϕ(d) integers(incongruentmodulo p)withorder d modulo p. If m hasaprimitiverootthenthereare ϕ(ϕ(m)) incongruentprimitiverootsmodulo m

Example: Let p =13.Since ϕ(p 1)= ϕ(12)=4 thereare 4 primitiverootsmodulo 13 Oneis 2,sincethesuccessivepowersof 2 modulo 13 are 1, 2, 4, 8, 3, 6, 1,... .Theothers arethepowers 2k where gcd(k, 12)=1:taking k =1, 5, 7, 11 givestheprimitiveroots 2, 25 ≡ 6, 27 ≡ 11, 211 ≡ 7(mod13)

Asanapplicationofprimitiveroots,wemaygiveasimpleproofofaresultprovedearlier, thatwhen p ≡ 1(mod4) thenthecongruence x2 ≡−1(mod p) hasasolution.Forlet g beaprimitiverootmodulo p,andset a = g(p 1)/4.Then a2 ≡ g(p 1)/2 ≡ 1(mod p),but a4 = gp 1 ≡ 1(mod p),fromwhichitfollowsthat a2 ≡−1(mod p)

Theorem2.6.4. Primitiverootsmodulo m existifandonlyif m =1, 2, 4, pe or 2pe where p isanoddprimeand e ≥ 1.

Proof. 1 isaprimitiverootmodulo 1 and 2 since ϕ(1)= ϕ(2)=1,and 3 (or 1)isa primitiverootmodulo 4

Theintegersexcludedfromtheabovelistarethehigherpowersof 2,and m = n1n2 with gcd(n1,n2)=1 and n1, n2 ≥ 3.Higherpowersof 2 donothaveprimitiverootssince ϕ(2e)=2e 1,butinductionshowsthatforalloddintegers a wehave a2e 2 ≡ 1(mod2e)

If m = n1n2 with gcd(n1,n2)=1 and n1, n2 ≥ 3 thenboth ϕ(ni) areeven;forall a ∈ Um wethenhave a 1 2 ϕ(m) ≡ a 1 2 ϕ(n1 )ϕ(n2 ) ≡ aϕ(n1 ) 1 2 ϕ(n2 ) ≡ 1(mod n1), since gcd(a,n1)=1,andsimilarly a 1 2 ϕ(m) ≡ 1(mod n2),sobytheChineseRemainder Theoremwehave a 1 2 ϕ(m) ≡ 1(mod m) forall a ∈ Um,sonoelementof Um hasorderas bigas ϕ(m)

Nowweshowthatprimitiverootsexistfor m = pe and m =2pe where p isanoddprime.

Let g beaprimitiverootmodulo p,andconsidertheorder d of g modulo p2.ByLagrange wehave d|ϕ(p2)= p(p 1),and gd ≡ 1(mod p2)=⇒ gd ≡ 1(mod p)=⇒ p 1|d,so either d = p 1 or d = p(p 1).If gp 1 ≡ 1(mod p2) thenreplace g by g1 = g + p,which isstillaprimitiverootmodulo p,andsatisfies gp 1 1 =(g + p)p 1 ≡ gp 1 + p(p 1)gp 2 ≡ 1 pgp 2 ≡ 1(mod p2).Sowemayassumethat gp 1 ≡ 1(mod p2),andthen g isa primitiverootmodulo p2 aswellasmodulo p.

Thissame g isnowaprimitiverootmodulo pe forall e ≥ 1.Proceedingbyinduction,the orderof g modulo pe divides ϕ(pe)= pe 1(p 1) andisamultipleof ϕ(pe 1)= pe 2(p 1) soeitherequals pe 2(p 1) or pe 1(p 1).However,from gp 1 =1+ kp with p |k itfollows byinductionthat (gp 1)pe 2 ≡ 1+ kpe 1 ≡ 1(mod pe) forall e ≥ 2,sotheorderof g modulo pe isinfact pe 1(p 1)= ϕ(pe)

Finallyif m =2pe with p anoddprime,notethat ϕ(2pe)= ϕ(2)ϕ(pe)= ϕ(pe).Let g be anyprimitiverootmodulo pe whichisalsoodd(replace g by g + pe ifnecessary).Then g is aprimitiverootmodulo 2pe

Nowif m isodd,withprimefactorization m = k i=1 p ei i ,itfollowsthatthegroup Um is isomorphictotheproductofcyclicgroupsoforder p ei 1 i (pi 1) for 1 ≤ i ≤ k

Wehavenotdeterminedthestructureof U2e for e ≥ 3;itturnsoutthatwhilenotcyclic, itisalmostso:for e ≥ 3, U2e isisomorphictotheproductofcyclicgroupsoforder 2 (generatedby 1)andorder 2e 2 (generatedby 5).

3. QuadraticReciprocity

Inthissectionwewillstudyquadraticcongruencestoprimemoduli.When p isanodd prime,thenanyquadraticcongruence ax2 + bx + c ≡ 0(mod p) (with p |a)maybereduced bycompletingthesquaretothesimplercongruence y2 ≡ d (mod p),where d = b2 4ac and y =2ax + b.Sosolvingquadraticcongruencesreducestotheproblemoftakingsquare roots.

3.1. QuadraticResiduesandNonresidues.

Definition3.1.1. Let p beanoddprimeand a anintegernotdivisibleby p.Wesaythat a isa quadraticresidue of p when x2 ≡ a (mod p) hasatleastonesolution,anda quadratic nonresidue otherwise.

Notethatwhen a isaquadraticresiduewith b2 ≡ a (mod p) thenthecongruence x2 ≡ a (mod p) hasexactlytwosolutions,namely x ≡±b.Forthesearebothsolutions;theyare incongruentmodulo p since b ≡−b =⇒ 2b ≡ 0=⇒ b ≡ 0=⇒ a ≡ 0.(Herewe usedthat p =2.)Lastly,therearenomoresolutionssince p|x2 a =⇒ p|x2 b2 =⇒ p|(x b)(x + b)=⇒ p|(x b) or p|(x + b)

Wecanfindthequadraticresiduesmodulo p byreducing b2 modulo p for 1 ≤ b ≤ (p 1)/2 Theothersquareswillrepeatthese(inreverseorder),since (p b)2 ≡ b2 (mod p).Itfollows thatexactlyhalfthenonzeroresiduesarequadraticresiduesandtheotherhalfquadratic nonresidues.

Examples: p =11:thequadraticresiduesmodulo 11 are:

,

,

,

,

,

,

whilethequadraticnonresiduesare

p =13:thequadraticresiduesmodulo 13 are:

whilethequadraticnonresiduesare ±2, ±5, ±6. Thereasonforthepatternsweseeherewillbecomeapparentlater.

Anotherwaytoseethatexactlyhalfthenonzeroresiduesarequadraticresiduesistouse primitiveroots.Let g beaprimitiverootmodulo p.Thenthenonzeroresiduesare gk for 0 ≤ k ≤ p 2 andeveryintegernotdivisibleby p iscongruentto gk forsome k inthis range.Thequadraticresiduesarethe gk foreven k:thatis,thepowersof g2

Forexamplewhen p =13 wemaytake g =2,so g2 =4 withsuccessivepowers 1, 4, 3, 12, 9, 10(mod13).Thesearethequadraticresidues;togetthequadraticnonresidues multiplythemby g =2 togettheoddpowers 2, 8, 6, 11, 5, 7(mod13)

3.2. LegendreSymbolsandEuler’sCriterion.

Definition3.2.1. The LegendreSymbol a p isdefinedasfollows:

+1 if p |a and x2 ≡

if p |a and x2 ≡

if p|a

(mod p) hasasolution

(mod p) doesnothaveasolution

Inallcases,thenumberof(incongruent)solutionsto x2 ≡ a (mod p) is 1+ a p .

Proposition3.2.2. Let p beanoddprime.

(a) a ≡ b (mod p)=⇒ a p = b p .

(b) Euler’sCriterion: a p ≡ a(p 1)/2 (mod p)

(c) 1 p =( 1)(p 1)/2 = +1 if p ≡ 1(mod4) 1 if p ≡ 3(mod4)

(d) ab p = a p b p

Proof. (a)isobviousfromDefinition3.2.1.

(b)Thisisclearwhen p|a sincethenbothsidesarecongruentto 0.Sosuppose p |a Firstweuseaprimitiveroot g.Notethat g(p 1)/2 ≡−1(mod p),since h = g(p 1)/2 satisfies h2 ≡ 1 but h ≡ 1(mod p),so h ≡−1(mod p).Writing a ≡ gk wehave a(p 1)/2 ≡ gk(p 1)/2 ≡ ( 1)k whichis +1 iff k isevenwhichisiff a isaquadraticresidue.

Hereisadirectproofnotusingprimitiveroots.If a p =1 then a ≡ b2 forsome b,and then a(p 1)/2 ≡ bp 1 ≡ 1(mod p) byFermat.If a p = 1 thenconsiderthestatement ofWilson’sTheorem,that (p 1)! ≡−1(mod p).Intheproductpairoff x1,x2 with 1 ≤ x1 <x2 ≤ p 1 when x1x2 ≡ a (mod p).No x ispairedwithitselfsince x2 ≡ a (mod p) hasnosolutions,soweget 1 ≡ a(p 1)/2 (mod p) asrequired.

(c)Thisisaspecialcaseof(b);wealsoproveditearlier(Proposition2.4.1).

(d)Firstwehave ab p ≡ (ab)(p 1)/2 ≡ a(p 1)/2b(p 1)/2 ≡ a p b p (mod p).Now bothsidesarein {−1, 0, 1} sobeingcongruentmodulo p theymustbeequal(since p> 2).

Corollary3.2.3. Let p beanoddprime.

If p ≡ 1(mod4) then a p = a p forall a

If p ≡ 3(mod4) then a p = a p forall a.

Proof. Thisfollowsfrom a p = 1 p a p andtheevaluationof 1 p

Ifwestarttoaskquestionssuchas“forwhichprimes p is 2 aquadraticresidue?”then weareledtooneofthemostfamousresultsinelementarynumbertheory.Experimental evidenceforsmallprimeseasilyconvincesonethattheansweris“primescongruentto ±1 (mod8)”: 2 p =+1 for p =7, 17, 23, 31, 41, 47, 71,... 2 p = 1 for p =3, 5, 11, 13, 19, 29, 37, 43,...

Moregenerally,thevalueof a p forfixed a andvariable p onlydependsontheresidueof p modulo 4a.ThisisoneformofGauss’sfamousLawofQuadraticReciprocity.

3.3. TheLawofQuadraticReciprocity.

Proposition3.3.1. [Gauss’sLemma]Let p beanoddprimeand a anintegernotdivisible by p.Then a p =( 1)s,where s isthenumberofintegers i with 0 <i<p/2 forwhich theleastresidueof ai isnegative.

Proof. Let λ(n) denotetheleastresidueof n modulo p;recallthatthismeansthat λ(n) ≡ n (mod p) and |λ(n)| <p/2.Weneedtocountthenumberof i forwhich λ(ai) < 0.Now {|λ(ai)|| 0 <i<p/2} = {i | 0 <i<p/2} sincetheleftsideisasubsetoftheright,andhasnorepeatssince λ(ai)= ±λ(aj)=⇒ ai ≡±aj =⇒ i ≡±j (mod p)=⇒ i = j, since p<i ∓ j<p.Hence ( 1)s i i ≡ i λ(ai) ≡ i ai ≡ a(p 1)/2P where P = ((p 1)/2)!.Cancellingthecommonfactor P gives a(p 1)/2 ≡ ( 1)s andhencetheresult byEuler’scriterion.

Example: Take p =13 and a =11;thenwereduce 11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66 modulo 13 to 2, 4, 6, 5, 3, 1.AsexpectedbytheproofoftheProposition,theseare,uptosign,the integersbetween 1 and 6.Thereare 3 minussigns,so 11 13 =( 1)3 = 1

If p =13 and a =10 thenwereduce 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 to 3, 6, 4, 1, 2, 5 with fournegativevalues,so 10 13 =( 1)4 =1.Indeed, 62 =36 ≡ 10(mod13)

Corollary3.3.2. Assumethat a> 0,andset a = a if a iseven, a = a 1 if a isodd. Then a p =( 1)s where s = a k=1 [(kp)/(2a)]

Proof. ByGauss’sLemma, a p =( 1)s where s isthetotalnumberofintegers i inallthe intervals (kp/2a, (k +1)p/2a) for odd k =1, 3, ··· <a.Butif x<y and x,y/ ∈ Z thenthe numberofintegersbetween x and y is [y] [x],soiscongruentto [x]+[y](mod2)

Example: Take p =13 and a =11,so a =10.Then 11 13 =( 1)s where s =[13/22]+ [26/22]+[39/22]+[52/22]+[65/22]+[78/22]+[91/22]+[104/22]+[117/22]+[130/22] ≡ 0+(1+1)+(2+2)+3+(4+4)+(5+5) ≡ 1(mod2),so 11 13 = 1

WecanuseCorollary3.3.2toGauss’sLemmatoevaluate 2 p for all oddprimes p

Proposition3.3.3. Let p beanoddprime.Then 2 p =( 1)(p2 1)/8 = +1 if p ≡±1(mod8); 1 if p ≡±3(mod8)

Proof. ByCorollary3.3.2wehave 2 p =( 1)s where s =[p/4]+[p/2],whoseparity dependson p (mod8)

If p =8r +1 then s ≡ 2r +4r ≡ 0

If p =8r +3 then s ≡ 2r +(4r +1) ≡ 1

If p =8r +5 then s ≡ (2r +1)+(4r +2) ≡ 1.

If p =8r +7 then s ≡ (2r +1)+(4r +3) ≡ 0

Theresultfollowsifwenotethat (p2 1)/8 isevenwhen p ≡±1(mod8) andisodd when p ≡±3(mod8)

Moregenerally,wecandeducethatingeneralthevalueof a p onlydependson p (mod4a),ourfirstformof quadraticreciprocity :althoughthedefinitionof a p isinterms of a (mod p),itisfarfromobviousthatitdependson p (mod4a)!

Proposition3.3.4. Let p and q beoddprimesand a a positive integernotdivisibleby either p or q.Then p ≡±q (mod4a)=⇒ a p = a q .

(For a< 0 aslightlymodifiedresultholds:exercise.)

Proof. Define s bythesuminCorollary3.3.2,sothat a p =( 1)s,andconsiderhowthe sumchangeswhen p isreplacedby q.Thenumberoftermsisthesame.

If q = p +4an,thenthe kthterminthisexpressionisincreasedby 2kn,soitsparitydoes notchange,andsoneitherdoestheparityof s;hence a p = a q

If q =4an p,the kthtermbecomes 2kn +[ kp/2a];thishasthe opposite parityto [kp/2a] sincefor x/ ∈ Z, [x] isevenifandonlyif [ x] isodd,andviceversa.Soeachtermin thesumchangesparity;butthenumberoftermsiseven,sotheparityof s isunchanged.

The LawofQuadraticReciprocity usesthisresultinthecasethat a isalsoprimetoget averysymmetricstatement.

Theorem3.3.5. [QuadraticReciprocity]Let p and q bedistinctoddprimes.Then p q q p =( 1)( p 1 2 )( q 1 2 )

So q p = p q if p ≡ 1 or q ≡ 1(mod4),while q p = p q if p ≡ q ≡ 3(mod4)

Proof. If p ≡ q (mod4),saywith p>q,thenwrite p q =4a with a> 0;thenwehave p q = q +4a q = 4a q = a q = a p = 4a p = p q p = q p ,which equals q p if p ≡ q ≡ 1(mod4) andequals q p if p ≡ q ≡ 3(mod4).

Similarly,if p ≡−q (mod4) thenwrite p+q =4a with a> 0;then p q = 4a q q = 4

SincetheLegendresymbol a p iscompletelymultiplicativein a forfixed p,toevaluate a p forall a weonlyneedtoknowthevaluesof 1 p , 2 p and q p ,foroddprimes q differentfrom p.TheLawofQuadraticReciprocitytellsushowtoevaluateeachofthese! SpecialcasesofthereciprocitylawwereconjecturedbyEuleronthebasisofsubstantial calculationsandknowledge,butGaussfirstprovedit,andinfactgaveseveralproofs.

SummaryofQuadraticReciprocity: If p and q aredistinctoddprimesthen:

• 1 p =( 1)(p 1)/2 = +1 if p ≡ 1(mod4); 1 if p ≡ 3(mod4);

• 2 p =( 1)(p2 1)/8 = +1 if p ≡±1(mod8); 1 if p ≡±3(mod8);

• q p =

+ p q if either p ≡ 1(mod4) or q ≡ 1(mod4); p q if both p ≡ 3(mod4) and q ≡ 3(mod4)

UsingQRwemayeasilyanswerquestionsoftheform:Given a,forwhich p is a p =1?

Forexample: 2 p = 1 p 2 p = +1 if p ≡ 1, 3(mod8); 1 if p ≡−1, 3(mod8) 3 p = 1 p 3 p = p 3 = +1 if p ≡ 1(mod3); 1 if p ≡−1(mod3) 3 p = 1 p p 3 = +1 if p ≡±1(mod12); 1 if p ≡±5(mod12).

(Noticehow a p sometimesdependsonlyon p modulo a ratherthanmodulo 4a.)

UsingProposition3.3.4givesanalternativemethodofevaluating a p forfixed a> 0

Take a =3,soweknowthat 3 p onlydependson ±p (mod12);when p =13 wehave

3 13 =+1 andwhen p =5 wehave 3 5 = 1;so 3 p =+1 forall p ≡±1(mod12) and 3 p = 1 forall p ≡±5(mod12).

When a< 0 itisalsotruethat p ≡ q (mod4a)=⇒ a p = a q ,butnow p ≡−q (mod4a)=⇒ a p = a q .(ApplyProp.3.3.4to a toseethis.)Hencewecan evaluate a p for a< 0

Forexample,take a = 5.Then 5 p dependson p modulo 20,giving ϕ(20)=8 cases. Taketheprimes p =61, 3, 7, 29 whicharecongruentrespectivelyto 1, 3, 7, 9(mod20); computingthefourLegendresymbols 5 p ,wefindthattheyareall +1.Hence

5 p = +1 if p ≡ 1, 3, 7, 9(mod20); 1 if p ≡ 11, 13, 17, 19(mod20) wherethesecondlinefollowsfromthefirstbythe“anti-symmetry”since 5 < 0

4. DiophantineEquations

A DiophantineEquation issimplyanequationinoneormorevariablesforwhich integer (orsometimesrational)solutionsaresought.Forexample:

• x2 + y2 = z2 hassolutions (x,y,z)=(3, 4, 5), (5, 12, 13),... ;

• x3 + y3 = z3 hasnosolutionswith x,y,z positiveintegers;

• x2 61y2 =1 hasinfinitelymanysolutionswith x,y> 0;thesmallesthas x = 1766319049 and y =226153980

Wewillusethetechniqueswehavedevelopedinearlierchapters,aswellasonenewone, tosolveanumberofDiophantineequationsallofwhichhavehadsomehistoricalinterest. Theirsolutionhasledtothedevelopmentofmuchofmodernalgebraandnumbertheory. Thenewtechniquewewilluseiscalledthe GeometryofNumbers.

4.1. GeometryofNumbersandMinkowski’sTheorem. Wewillusethegeometryof Rn andofcertainsubsetsofit:

Definition4.1.1. A lattice in Zn isasubgroup L ⊆ Zn offiniteindex.

Thelatticeswewillusearealldefinedusingcongruenceconditionsonthecoordinates ofvectorsin Zn,andtheindexofthelatticewillbedeterminedfromthemoduliofthese congruences(exampletofollowsoon).Therearemoregeneralsubsetsof Rn calledlattices, butwewillnotneedthem.

Ourgeneralstrategywillbetosetupalatticesothatthecoordinatesgivea“modular approximation”totheequationbeingsolved;thentogetanexactsolutionwerequireasecond condition,thatthevectorofcoefficientsis“small”insomesense.Minkowski’sTheoremwill showthat(undercertainconditions)thereareshortlatticevectors,andwewin.Itsstatement requiresthefollowingdefinitions.

Definition4.1.2. Asubset S ⊆ Rn is symmetric if x ∈ S ⇐⇒−x ∈ S,and convex if x,y ∈ S =⇒ tx +(1 t)y ∈ S forall t with 0 ≤ t ≤ 1

Hereistheresultfromthegeometryofnumberswewillusetodeducetheexistenceof solutionstoseveralDiophantineEquations:

Theorem4.1.3. [Minkowski]Let L ≤ Zn bealatticeofindex m,andlet S ⊆ Rn bea boundedconvexsymmetricdomain.If S hasvolume v(S) > 2nm,then S containsanonzero elementof L. Thesameconclusionholdswhen v(S)=2nm,providedthat S iscompact.

Proof. Seesection4.6below.

4.2. Sumsofsquares. Inthissectionwewillgiveananswertothequestions“whichpositive integerscanbeexpressedasasumof 2 squares(S2S),orasumof 3 squares(S3S),ora sumof 4 squares(S4S)”?Inthe 3-squarescasewewillonlygiveapartialproof,sincethe fullproofusesconceptswhichwewillnotcover.ThereasonfortheS3Scasebeingharder isthatthesetofS3Snumbersisnotclosedundermultiplication,whileforS2SandS4Sit is,whichthenessentiallyreducesthequestiontothecaseofprimes.

4.2.1. Sumsoftwosquares. Toaskwhetheraninteger n isasumoftwosquares, n = a2 +b2 , isthesameastoaskwhetheritisthenormofaGaussianInteger: n = a2 + b2 = N (α) where α = a + bi ∈ Z[i].UsingTheorem1.5.14onGaussianprimes,suchanintegermust beaproductofnormsofGaussianprimeswhichare: 2, p foranyprime p ≡ 1(mod4),and q2 foranyprime q ≡ 3(mod4).Thisprovesthefollowing:

Theorem4.2.1. Thepositiveinteger n maybeexpressedasasumoftwosquares, n = x2 + y2,ifandonlyifordq (n) isevenforallprimes q ≡ 3(mod4),orequivalentlyifand onlyif n = ab2 where a hasnoprimefactorscongruentto 3(mod4).

Remarks: Onecansimilarlycharacterizepositiveintegersoftheform n = x2 +2y2 asthose suchthatordq (n) isevenforallprimes q ≡ 5, 7(mod8).Eitheradirectprooforonebased onuniquefactorizationintheEuclideanDomain Z[√ 2] ispossible.Asimilarresultholds for n = x2 +3y2 (thoughisslightlyhardertoprovesince Z[√ 3] isnotEuclidean).But thepatterndoesnotcontinue,andforgeneral m itisaveryhardproblemtodetermine exactlywhichintegers n,orevenwhichprimes p,havetheform x2 + my2.Thestudyofthis questionleadsontoalgebraicnumbertheory,andinparticulartothestudyofthearithmetic propertiesofquadraticnumberfields.

RecallfromChapter1thatthekeytodeterminingtheGaussianprimeswasafactwhich weonlyprovedlater(Theorem2.4.2):thatif p isaprimesuchthat p ≡ 1(mod4) then p isasumoftwosquares.WeprovedthisinChapter2byusingfactsaboutGaussianIntegers, togetherwiththefactthatforsuchprimesthecongruence x2 ≡−1(mod p) hasasolution. Nowwegiveadifferentproofthat p ≡ 1(mod4)=⇒ p = a2 + b2,asafirstapplication oftheGeometryofNumbers.

Theorem4.2.2. [=Theorem2.4.2again]Let p beaprimesuchthat p ≡ 1(mod4).Then thereexistintegers a and b suchthat p = a2 + b2 .

Proof. Let r ∈ Z beasolutionto r2 ≡−1(mod p),whichexistsbyProposition2.4.1.Let L bethelattice

L = {(x,y) ∈ Z2 | x ≡ ry (mod p)}, whichhasindex p in Z2.(Incasethatisnotobvioustoyou,notethat L isthekernelofthe surjectivegrouphomomorphism Z2 → Z/pZ givenby (x,y) → x ry (mod p),andhence Z2/L ∼ = Z/pZ bygrouptheory.)Notethatfor (x,y) ∈ L wehave x2 + y2 ≡ (1+ r2)y2 ≡ 0 (mod p).Theideanowistofindalatticepointwhichisshortenoughthat x2 + y2 = p:let S ⊆ R2 bethesubset

S = {(x,y) ∈ R2 | x 2 + y 2 < 2p}, whichistheinteriorofacircleofradius √2p sohas“volume”(area) v(S)= π(√2p)2 = 2πp> 4p.Clearly S isconvexandsymmetric;hencebyMinkowski’sTheoremthereisa non-zeropoint (x,y) ∈ S ∩ L,forwhichwehave 0 <x2 + y2 < 2p and p | x2 + y2,hence p = x2 + y2

BeforeapplyingMinkowskiagaintoprovethefour-squaretheorembelow,wewillbriefly (andincompletely)lookatsumsofthreesquares.

4.2.2. Sumsofthreesquares.

Proposition4.2.3. Let n beapositiveintegerwith n ≡ 7(mod8).Then n isnotasum ofthreesquares,andnorisanyintegeroftheform 4kn with n ≡ 7(mod8)

Proof. Allsquaresareallcongruentto 0, 1 or 4(mod8),sothesumofthreesquaresis congruentto 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6(mod8).Thisgivesthefirstpart.

If m = x2 + y2 + z2 and 4|m,thenallof x,y,z mustbeevensinceotherwisetheirsum cannotbeamultipleof 4,sincesquaresare ≡ 0, 1(mod4).So m/4=(x/2)2 +(y/2)2 + (z/2)2 isalsoS3S.Continuingtodivideoutfactorsof 4,ifwereachanoddnumber n = m/4k thenbythefirstpart,since n isasumofthreesquares, n ≡ 7(mod8)

Theconverseofthisresultistrue:everypositiveintegernotoftheform 4kn with n ≡ 7 (mod8) canbewrittenasasumofthreesquares.Butthisishardertoproveandweomit it.Insteadweturntosumsoffoursquares.

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CHAPTER VI.

CARRYING THE NEWS.

“I can do it, and I will!”

The mixed train from the south was drawing slowly out of Wenham Junction, as Phil Hardy simultaneously uttered this speech and threw himself upon the back of old Jim, his father’s farm horse. It was in the early part of April, and the mud along the country roads was deep and soft, which fact was shown by the appearance of the horse and its boyish rider

Phil was the eldest son of ’Squire Hardy, one of the leading citizens of Basinburg. He was a harum-scarum youth of eighteen, who always seemed to be mixed up in every affair of a shady character taking place within a radius of twenty miles. Like boys of his ilk, he ever seemed to be present whenever anything of an unusual nature was taking place, and “to get his fingers into the pie,” using a common expression current at the time in the quiet, out-of-the-way hamlet of Basinburg. Not another boy in town would have ridden five miles through the mud that day to have been in Wenham at this time. But Phil had not missed it, and as he picked up Jim’s reins, heading the horse homeward, he added to what he had already said:

“They oughter know it just as quick as they can, and they shall! Won’t they stick out their eyes, though? Let me see. This train goes by the Bradford loop, makes four stops, and it will use up forty minutes in getting to Basinburg. Old Jim ought to take me there in half an hour. He can, and he shall! Go, you old veteran of the plow! we’re the bearer of the news to Ghent.”

Laughing, as he gave expression to this whimsical speech, Phil urged Jim ahead at the top of his speed, while the good people of Wenham had further occasion to comment upon the wild ways of ’Squire Hardy’s scapegrace son.

The road to Basinburg was sparsely settled, so Phil saw few people until he entered the quiet hamlet, which, as its name indicates, was shaped very much like a huge basin, with roads around the rim. Most of the population of the town lived on these circular roads, that met at the lower end, where was located the post office, church and store.

The sight of his mud-bespattered figure and the foaming condition of his horse called the more easily excited of the inhabitants from their houses, while he shouted at frequent intervals:

“Come and see the elephant! Nothing like it ever came to town!”

Utterly regardless of his grammar, or the comments he was calling upon himself, Phil repeated his rather incoherent speech, and by the time he had uttered it a dozen times, the boys began to follow him, wondering what new scheme their leader was carrying out. This aroused Phil to more earnest cries, while he prodded poor old Jim harder than before.

Small wonder if the older people began to rush after the crazy rider, until a mob of excited men and women, as well as boys, was at his heels.

“What is it, Philip?” asked the gray-headed parson, running out in his slippers, hatless and coatless.

“Deacon Cornhill—hoodlums of New York—a mob!” was all that the anxious crowd could distinguish in the medley of cries.

Still Phil showed no signs of stopping or checking his wild ride, his course now being toward the little way station about half a mile below the post office village. On account of the high grade this had been as near as the cars could come into the town.

At every house the trail of followers was increased by one or more members, every one believing that something terrible had happened or was about to take place.

Hardly looking back, Phil rode straight on toward the depot, old Jim covered with mud and panting for breath. As he came in sight of the

low, wooden building the whistle of the approaching train was heard a quarter of a mile away.

“I’m in season!” exclaimed Phil, triumphantly “Come on, you folks, if you want to see the sight of your life!”

The oncoming spectators needed no urging to do this, and scarcely had the boyish rider reined up his spent horse by the narrow platform before the foremost of his pursuers, regardless of the slush, ankle deep about the station, rushed upon the scene. Others rapidly added to their numbers.

“What is it, Phil?” asked Lon Wiggles, who had outrun all others in reaching the place. Phil and he were close friends. “What has brought you home from Wenham like this?”

“I know!” replied Phil, with a knowing toss of his head, as he sprang from old Jim’s back.

“I s’posed you did, but that needn’t make a crab of you.”

“Excuse me, Lon. I see Deacon Cornhill on the train down at Wenham.”

“Is that all?” and looks of disgust and disappointment settled on the features of those near enough to overhear this dialogue. It is needless to say that Phil was maintaining this air of mystery more for their sakes than Lon’s.

“Can’t you wait till a feller has time to think? No, it is not all. The deacon is coming home with a carload of New York cattle! But here comes the train; look for yourself. Ladies and gentlemen, Deacon Cornhill is coming home with all of the poor of New York at his heels. See for yourselves,” waving his hand in a tragical manner, as the long train came pounding along the iron rails.

With puffs and snorts, as of rage at being stopped in its wild career, the engine came to a standstill just beyond the upper end of the station, so as to bring the two passenger cars nearly opposite the building.

With a faint inkling of what they were to expect, the spectators stood looking on with gaping mouths and staring eyes, while the tall, stoop-

shouldered figure of Deacon Cornhill appeared on the rear platform. His benevolent features were lighted with an uncommon glow, as he gazed upon the crowd gathered thus unexpectedly about the station. Hesitating but a moment, he stepped down the steps, and then turned to look back.

The object of his gaze was soon apparent, for at that moment other passengers were following him from the car. In the lead of these came a tall, rather good-looking, but plainly dressed, boy of seventeen, with pinched features, but flashing eyes, none other than Ragged Rob, ex-bootblack of New York. Leaning on his arm was a middle-aged woman, beyond doubt in the minds of the onlookers his mother. Her countenance was thin and careworn, while her brown hair was thickly streaked with threads of silver.

No sooner had Rob assisted his mother down the steps than he turned to help others in lifting a pallid-faced woman, who was an invalid, from the car. Close behind her came a pale, frightened girl, who shrank near to Rob at sight of the wondering spectators. They were Mrs. Willet and Joey.

While the poor invalid was carried to a settee at one side of the station, a woman, with cadaverous countenance and wild eyes, and a man who had to be lifted down from the car, reached the platform, the latter being borne to a second bench. Then an elderly woman, with a strange-looking peaked cap and squat figure, followed, while close behind her came a girl of fourteen and five boys, ranging in ages from ten to fifteen years.

During this brief delay a small lot of baggage had been thrown upon the station floor, and as the last of the ill-favored passengers alighted, the conductor waved his hand, the bell rang, the engine puffed anew, the wheels began to revolve, and the train rolled away, leaving the little group of fifteen persons the center of observation for many pairs of eyes.

“For gracious’ sake, what have you been doing, deacon?” asked ’Squire Hardy, a short, thickset individual, who had been among the first to reach the place. He was troubled with asthma, and the

exertion in reaching the station had put him both out of breath and good humor.

Though amazed at this most unexpected greeting, Deacon Cornhill soon recovered his surprise enough to say:

“I have just brung home a leetle comp’ny, ’squire. I——”

“Huh!” was the rejoinder, “Comp’ny? I should say comp’ny! Where’d you pick that ’sortment of folks?”

“In the streets of New York,” replied the deacon. “Never see sich sights in my life, ’squire. Why, the ground is just running over with folks, and sin and wickedness is thicker’n the folks! I swan! it’s too bad; and so I persuaded these half-starved creeturs to come to Basinburg with me. I know you’ll lend a helping hand for ’em to have homes. Them empty houses’n deserted farms on the Hare road can be as well filled as not.”

All the time he was speaking the crowd pressed nearer and nearer, causing the newcomers to huddle close together, with half-frightened looks on their faces. Though used to seeing mobs, and having lived in crowded streets, there was something about these spectators which sent a feeling of terror to their hearts. Rob was the only exception, and as an over-anxious, burly individual pushed his way close to the helpless man and woman, he stepped brusquely forward, exclaiming:

“Stand back, sir! you’re crowding a sick man and woman. Seems to me there oughter be room out here for ’em.”

The man retreated, muttering:

“Be keerful how ye sass yer betters, ye insolent critter.”

At this a murmur went over the crowd, which it was plain to see were generally unfriendly to the new arrivals. They did form a motleylooking party

“They look like furrin truck!” declared some one, whereupon a general nod of assent was given.

“Please stand back all!” implored Deacon Cornhill.

“Want us to stand here ankle deep in the mud, I s’pose!” exclaimed one near the background.

“Yes; stand back, one and all!” ordered ’Squire Hardy, and at his command there was a slight moving back. It was plain he was the one to whom the majority looked for guidance. If he had said, “Be friendly to these unprepossessing strangers,” Deacon Cornhill would have had no cause for further worry over the matter. Unfortunately, though there was no evidence of it in their outward appearance, this couple entertained a bitter dislike for each other, owing to an old trouble. Of course the deacon had his friends present, if no one had spoken an encouraging word, but they were very much in the minority. But, as Mr. Hardy appeared disposed to be fair, he gathered new courage, saying:

“I will explain all as soon as I have made these poor sick ones more comfortable.”

No one had suggested that they be taken into the station, so their kindly protector did not offer to do it. But he removed his overcoat and placed it over Mrs. Willet, so as to keep her warm, while he arranged the man so that his position was more easy. Fortunately the day was mild, and as Deacon Cornhill turned to face the halfangry crowd, the setting sun threw a wide bar of golden splendor over the western sky, which halo was reflected on the distant hills, giving to the spring scene a hint of summer. A flaw of April wind stirred the long, thin locks of the gray-haired philanthropist, as he slowly raised his spare right hand to admonish silence.

If a calm had fallen on the scene it was the calm that usually precedes the storm. Deacon Cornhill dreaded it; ’Squire Hardy expected it; and the aroused spectators were anxious to show their willingness in sending out of the town this unexpected addition to their population.

CHAPTER VII.

THE DEACON’S STORY.

“Ahem!” began Deacon Cornhill, clearing his throat, and while he did so looking anxiously over the crowd, wondering still how so many came to be there. “Ahem! I—you see, fri’nds, this is sich a s’prise to me that I hardly know how to begin. You see I got to New York, and I never see sich sights, I swan, I never did! I hadn’t more’n got into town afore a spruce chap stepped up and slapped me on the shoulder, just same’s Sam Williams would, and you all know Sam’s terrible common. Wa’al, he claimed he knowed me up here in Basinburg—told a whopping story ’bout chasin’ a calf out of my garden seven or eight years ago. But all the time he was arter the church money, and ’tween him and ernother and a parcel of boys they eenamost got it, and——”

“Not got the church money, Elihu!” cried a shrill voice from the rear of the throng of spectators, and then Mrs. Cornhill, who had been attracted to the scene the same as the others, pushed her way frantically forward, until she stood on the station platform in front of the abashed deacon. “You don’t say you hev lost the church money, Elihu?”

Several among the spectators groaned.

“Don’t get ’scited, Mandy; don’t git ’scited. I didn’t lose the church money, thanks to this boy here. But if them dog——”

“Hush, deacon! It’s you who is getting ’scited.”

“Wa’al, if you had been where I have, Mandy, and seen what I did you’d get ’scited. But this boy here got my money all back, and then, when he tuk me round and showed me how folks live in that big, wicked city, I swan, I felt like giving ’em all homes right here in Basinburg!”

“I should think you had brought back a good part of the city,” said one of the bystanders.

“Pity the poorest if you call these good,” cried another

“I tuk a fancy to Rob, here,” continued the deacon, unheeding the interruption, ’arter the good turn he did me. But when I come to ax him to go home with me, he said he couldn’t leave his mother. I told him to take her right along, too. But he had fri’nds, and I told him to take ’em along, though I didn’t s’pose there were more’n a house full. Lordy me! when I come to see how they lived, I wouldn’t take no for an answer, with all the land, and fresh air, and room we have out here.

“Why, it nearly tuk away my breath to just look in their houses. If you will b’lieve it, Mr. Little,” pointing to the invalid man, “lived in a den right under the street, with teams driving overhead, and he a suffocating in a leetle room nine feet under ground. It was only six feet by eight, and he had no fire, only a part of an old bedstead to lie on, an old tick half full of musty hay and a dirty pillow. Mrs. Willet and her darter lived in a house only four feet wide, though the Lord only knows how high it was. Just think of that, and then of the houses that stand empty here the year round.

“These youngsters here were running round wild, like colts turned out to parster, only there weren’t no fences to keep ’em within bounds, and there was no halter on ’em to lead ’em to their stalls when it come night. I tell you, it made my blood bile just to see sich works right in this civilized land. I thought of ’em houses on Hare road standing empty, and says I to myself, ‘there’s room for ’em, and I know the good people of Basinburg will turn to and lend a helping hand.’”

He was perspiring freely, while he showed great excitement, but his animated speech was greeted with a profound silence. It is true some one started to cheer him, but he did not have the courage to give full expression to his feelings. The majority were waiting for ’Squire Hardy to speak, and the rest were too timid to venture an opinion, until he had spoken. Clearing his throat, he finally said:

“It might have been well enough, deacon, if you hadn’t brought a carload. It’s a mystery to me how they got money enough to pay their fares.”

Deacon Cornhill was modest enough not to mention the fact that it had cost him nearly fifteen dollars to make up for their deficit. Withholding this fact, he demanded:

“Am I to understand that you are opposed to treating these poor people like neighbors, ’squire?”

“I’m opposed to nothing that’s humane, but you know there is a limit to what we can endure. I never was in favor of foreign immigration. What do you say, good folks?” appealing to those around him. “No doubt the good old deacon meant all right, but look at the crowd he has brought among us, and say if you want them.”

“Paupers, every one of them!” cried a voice from the crowd.

“Perhaps worse’n that,” declared another. “They look to me like a parcel of thieves!”

“Paupers and thieves!” exclaimed a dozen in the same breath, until Deacon Cornhill turned pale, as he felt that ominous results were likely to come from his well-meant intentions.

The little party of strangers huddled together in great trepidation, excepting their leading spirit, Ragged Rob, who had so gladly yielded to the counsel of their protector and lent his influence toward getting them here. Something of the spirit of the stern man for whom he had been nicknamed flashed in Little Hickory’s eyes, and drawing his figure to its full height with a dignity felt all the more for the ragged suit in which he was clothed, he exclaimed, in a tone heard to the limit of the scene:

“Paupers and thieves, never! We are poor, but we are willing to earn an honest living. Deacon Cornhill, if we are not wanted here——”

“Tut, tut, lad!” said the other, in an undertone, “this will soon blow over,” though he had his misgivings.

“You see how it is, deacon, and how the people feel,” said the ’squire, with a ring of triumph in his voice. “This settling so many city hoodlums in our midst is a risky experiment. For my part, I had rather my house should burn down than to have such people in it.”

“It would be pretty sure to if they were in it,” cried a zealous friend.

“I do not believe there is a house on the Hare road they could get.”

“No, no, no!” came from every quarter.

’Squire Hardy looked exultant, while Deacon Cornhill was dumfounded. No one had dared to speak a word in his behalf.

“What have you done, Elihu?” asked his wife, who had but a vague understanding of the situation.

“Don’t get ’scited, Mandy; it’ll soon blow over. Fri’nds,” he continued; addressing the crowd, “don’t misjudge your neighbors. These poor folks are all honest, as I am willing to vouch. Why, if it hadn’t been for this boy I shouldn’t have been living to come home. He not only saved my money, but my life, and I’ll stand by him now!”

“Good for you, deacon!” some one was bold enough to cry out, when a faint cheer followed. This encouraged him to resume:

“But if you don’t want these poor folks in your houses, I’ll look ’em up some places. They can stop at my place to-night. But here we are, keeping this sick man and woman here, to say nothing of the rest. I wish I had my two-hoss jingle wagon here, I swan, I do!”

At first no reply was made to this, but finally a farmer from the upper part of the town said:

“If you want to go arter your wagon, deacon, you may have my team to go with, only if you’ll leave a barrel of flour that is in the wagon at Widder Short’s.”

Deacon Cornhill gladly accepted this offer, and he lost no time in starting, saying, as he clambered into the high-backed seat:

“You can go with me if you want to, Rob.”

“I thank you, sir, but I had rather remain with mother and the rest. I think it will be best for me to do so.”

“If you please, mister, I would like to go,” said Chick.

“So you can, my boy; and you, too,” nodding to another, a year older than Chick, and known as Ruddy.

The boys were happy, but Deacon Cornhill was too deeply engrossed over the situation to pay much heed to his young companions, as he gathered up the reins and drove away from the station. This reception was very different from the triumphal entry into town of which he had anticipated.

“The ’squire is still ag’in me, and he means to make trouble,” he said, giving expression to his thoughts. “If he won’t let ’em go on the Hare road, they shall go somewhere. I have it! I’ll put ’em up to Break o’ Day; that’s just what I’ll do. Git along, old Jim! that’s just what I’ll do.”

So absorbed was the good man in his plans that he did not notice he had already got the raw-boned horse into a smart gait, so that the old wagon was drawn through the mud and over the rocks at a tremendous rate, giving the boys about all they could do to hold upon the high-backed seat, while the barrel of flour rolled about at the imminent risk of being sent from the vehicle altogether.

“The Break o’ Day is their only hope,” repeated the deacon, as he rode on.

So absorbed was the good man in his plans and his anxiety to get back to the station, that he failed to heed the tremendous speed he had urged the horse to take until by the time they had reached the outskirts of the village the spirited animal was flying along the country road at the top of its speed. The way was rough, and the wagon jolting over the stony places kept the barrel of flour in constant motion. In fact, an uncommonly severe movement sent one head flying out into the mud, and the white, fluffy mass within, caught up by the wind, flew about like a perfect cloud over the occupants of the vehicle.

“Ginger and snap!” cried Chick, who was enjoying the situation, “ain’t we spinning, Ruddy?”

“You bet! this is better’n the circus. Get up, old nag! If this is country life, it jess knocks the spots off’n New York at her best.”

The boys were enjoying the affair if the deacon was not. Then, in the midst of this wild flight, when it seemed as if the sober member of Basinburg church had really lost his head, those inhabitants of the

village who had not gone to the station rushed out of their houses to see what was taking place.

Getting a vague outline of the deacon’s stalwart figure amid the cloud of flour, they began to cry out in dismay. This only served to arouse the deacon the more, and, swinging his long whip in the air, he shouted, louder than ever:

“Get erlong there, Jim Crow. It’s Break o’ Day or nothing!”

The old wagon, making a noise and confusion heard to the farthest section of the village, the half-crazed deacon and his young companions, who were shouting with laughter, were borne on at a wilder pace than ever. In the midst of this they passed the parsonage, when the horrified minister rushed out of the house, bareheaded and with outstretched arms, calling out to the horse to stop. Then, recognizing the form of his respected parishioner enveloped in the cloud of flour, he shouted, in amazement:

“Why, Deacon Cornhill! what has happened? Stop—stop—st——”

“It’s Break o’ Day or nothing, parson; snowstorm or no snowstorm! Get erlong, Jim!”

The old man barely saved himself from being run over, as the deacon and his companions were carried past, the latter crying out in the ears of the bewildered preacher:

“Did you ever get left on the pavements?”

CHAPTER VIII.

A PRINCE IN RAGS.

Meanwhile the crowd about the station had watched the departure of Deacon Cornhill in silence, but no sooner had he disappeared in the distance than Squire Hardy held a consultation of a few words with his nearest friends. Then he turned to address Rob, who, realizing that a crisis of some kind was at hand, calmly waited for him to speak.

“Youngster,” began the ’squire, “it must be plain to you by this time that you and your followers made a mistake in coming here as you have. In the first place, it can be of no advantage to you, and in the second place, you are not wanted by us.”

“I am sorry, sir, that it has happened as it has, but it does not seem to me that any one is to blame. We have come with honest intentions ——”

“It requires honest people to carry out honest intentions. It’s the doing that counts. Come, it is nearly night, and you have barely time in which to get out of town before dark. The walking is good on the railroad track.”

The tone, more than the words, nettled Ragged Rob, and he exclaimed:

“It will be better or worse before I or my friends go that way.”

“Don’t you throw any of your New York sass in my face, you ragged dog. You’ll either get out of town pretty lively of your own account, or we will get help for you in a way you may not like. I give you fair warning, and five minutes of time to get started in.”

A groan came from the suffering man on the settee, while the others of the forlorn little group turned pale with fright. But Little Hickory was made of sterner stuff, and, drawing his slender figure to its full

height, making him like a fairy prince in a disguise of rags, he replied, in a tone heard by the most distant of the spectators:

“Sir, you cannot drive us away without making trouble for yourself. We have come here peacefully, and we demand fair treatment. This poor man here”—pointing to the invalid Mr. Little—“cannot take a step to save his life. And this sick woman”—now pointing to Mrs. Willet—“deserves kind treatment at your hands.”

This fearless speech was received with varying effect by the onlookers. It won the respect, if not the admiration of some, while still others thought that perhaps the ’squire had been hasty in his denouncement. Others again looked askance toward the justice, while he, feeling that he had been openly and defiantly humiliated, shook with anger, and he exclaimed, in a voice husky with passion:

“Fool! if you think this high-handed piece of impudence is going through all right you’ll find yourself most —— mistaken.”

’Squire Hardy used a word where I have inserted the dash which I do not care to quote, while he advanced toward Ragged Rob with a look of intense hatred. He seemed about to seize the brave boy in his grasp of iron, when the latter said:

“Lay a hand on me if you dare, Mr. Hardy!”

“Be careful how you make yourself liable for striking the boy,” spoke up one of the spectators, who was standing at the corner of the station.

“If it wasn’t for the law I’d throw the young rapscallion into ——” using another word that may have fitted his feelings, but which grated harshly even on that exciting scene. “As it is I will make out a warrant for their arrest as quick as I can find pen and paper to do it, Johnson.”

“If you do you will have to get Sheriff Stanyan to serve it, ’squire.”

“I suppose you think I ought to let these hoodlums go where they wish, Johnson. I tell you the safety of the public demands that I stop them where they are.”

“You mistake my meaning, ’squire. While I may be sorry that they have come, I believe in fair treatment, and abiding by the law.”

“I should like to know who is breaking the law if it is not them,” snapped the justice, who was already inquiring for pen, ink and paper.

“I hardly know what charge you can bring against them, ’squire, but you are doubtless better posted than I.”

“If I weren’t I’d hold my mouth,” muttered the other, though being careful not to speak loud enough for Mr. Johnson to hear. In a louder tone he cried:

“I can arrest the whole crowd for vagrancy, and bring them up as suspicious characters. I calculate enough can be brought against them to put them in the lockup to-night, and to send them adrift tomorrow. At any rate, I propose to see what can be done. I want some one to go for Sheriff Stanyan. As Mr. Jones, the station agent, may wish to have his place cleared of such stock before night, I should advise that the messenger go for the officer with all speed possible.”

At the conclusion of this speech the ’squire turned to see what effect his words had upon the little group of homeless strangers. He was disappointed to find that they had not brought any visible show of trepidation to any of them.

“Look here, Trask,” addressing one of the spectators, continued the justice, “you have got a good horse. Go to Bradford and find Sheriff Stanyan. Tell him I will have the papers all made out by the time he gets here.”

“It’s awful traveling, ’squire, and my horse——”

“Don’t stop to consider the traveling, Trask, at a time like this. The safety of the public must be upheld. You shall lose nothing by the trip.”

Without further opposition the man called Trask started for his team, which was hitched nearby, and a minute later he rode away on his errand, while ’Squire Hardy went into the station agent’s office to make out the required paper.

Though there was little display of excitement on the surface, it was really an exciting situation. The onlookers began to gather in little knots to talk over the affair, a few blaming the ’squire, but the majority upholding him in his decisive action. As is usual under such conditions, the forlorn strangers, ragged and penniless, proved to be equally friendless.

Ragged Rob improved the opportunity to speak a few words of encouragement to his companions, trying to assure them that it would be all right as soon as Deacon Cornhill should return. But even he felt in his heart that the kindly deacon would be powerless to meet and overcome the increasing enmity of his townspeople.

CHAPTER IX.

A STARTLING SURPRISE.

To add to the uncomfortableness of the situation, threatenings of rain began to appear about this time, but the crowd of spectators showed no signs of dispersing, one and all waiting with curious interest to see what the end would be.

In the midst of the lull in the scene the ’squire reappeared, holding in his hand now the warrant for the arrest of the newcomers under the charge of Ragged Rob, who stood by the side of Joe and her mother at this time.

“I reckon I have made it strong enough to hold ’em,” declared the justice, referring to the paper in his hand. “I hope Stanyan will get here before dark. Ah, it’s going to rain soon. I wish Stanyan were here now.”

The same wish may have been in the minds of others, and ’Squire Hardy was not the only one who consulted his watch and calculated that it would be fully an hour later before the officer could be expected.

At this juncture the sound of a wagon approaching was heard, and all turned expectantly up the road, to discover a double team coming toward the station at a smart rate of speed. The seat contained one man and two boys. Covered from head to foot with the flour that had blown over him, it was no wonder the driver was not recognized until he was near at hand.

“It’s Deacon Cornhill!” cried one of the bystanders. “But what in the world has he been doing with himself?”

The deacon did present a singular appearance, but he was unmindful of this, as he drove his team alongside the station platform, calling out, in his cheery voice:

“I hope you ain’t got tired o’ waiting, but I went as spry as I could. Here, boys, help throw the things in, and then we’ll give the sick ones a boost. Jim, jess hold my hosses.”

“Don’t know as I care about mixing up in sich an affair,” muttered the man addressed, quickly retreating to the rear of the crowd to escape a second invitation of the kind.

“I should like to know what you are up to?” demanded ’Squire Hardy, advancing, while he flourished the document in his hand so the other might see it. “I have sent for Mr. Stanyan to attend to these folks. I reckon he’ll be in time to look after them,” pulling out his watch and consulting it.

“We won’t bother Mr. Stanyan, and there was no need for you to send for him, ’Squire Hardy.”

“I ain’t so sure about that, deacon. At any rate I have sent for him, and before I shall let these critters go, I want to know what you are going to do with them.”

“So long as they are peaceful you have no business to meddle. Won’t some of you lend a hand here to get this poor cripple into the wagon?” appealing to the bystanders.

“I asked you a civil question and you haven’t answered it, deacon,” said ’Squire Hardy, stepping in front of the other.

No one had volunteered to lend their assistance in reply to his request to help him and Rob lift Mr. Little into the wagon, while the horses were becoming restive each moment, and there was no one at the bit. The rain was beginning to fall in big drops, and altogether it was no wonder Deacon Cornhill began to grow nervous and discouraged.

“Why not let them go, ’squire?” asked Mr. Johnson, who seemed to be an honest man. “It’s going to rain hard in a few minutes, and the deacon needs every moment if he would get under cover before it strikes.”

With these words the speaker took hold to help, and in a few minutes the entire party were seated in the wagon, though by that time the

rain was falling fast.

Deacon Cornhill climbed up to the driver’s seat, taking the reins stoutly in his hands. It needed no urging on his part to start the animals, and with a series of yells and gibes ringing in his ears, the good man drove smartly away, glad to escape so easily.

’Squire Hardy stood silent, but his face was livid with rage as he saw the strange party leave the station. The crowd of spectators had now sought the cover of the building, and were exchanging comments with one another upon the singular conduct of the deacon.

“Let the old fool go in the rain,” declared the ’squire. “He ain’t heard the last of this, not by a long shot. I’ll set Stanyan after ’em, and if he can’t cook their goose I will, if it costs me all I’m worth. Deacon Cornhill needn’t think he is going to jeopardize the safety of the whole town by any such tomfoolery. I’ll give you a dollar, Joe Dollard, if you’ll foller ’em so as to tell where they go. If the deacon takes ’em home you will see lively times before morning.”

But Deacon Cornhill had no intention of taking his party home. He feared too much the sharp tongue of Mrs. Cornhill, whom he had already found was opposed to his scheme, to hazard such a venture. So he followed a road which led out of the village on the east, and drove ahead at a smart gallop through the rain, which was soon falling in a torrent. As there was no covering to the wagon, the entire party was exposed to the downpouring elements, though the two invalids had been so covered with a large rubber blanket in the wagon that they were partially sheltered from the rain.

The only ones who really enjoyed the ride were the three boys— Chick, Ruddy and Tony—though two others, known as Tom and Jerry, joined with them in the outbursts of merriment.

Rob, their leader, realized that the halo had fled from the picture, and that only the dark background was now revealed. He saw a bitter struggle ahead in order to meet the dangers likely to surround them in this new life. In this unexpected crisis his companions were not likely to prove of help, but he was the last boy to despair. His whole

life had been a battle against adverse circumstances, and he was not going to falter now.

Thus he spoke encouragingly to his low-spirited companions, and looked hopefully forward to their destination, trying to form an idea of the looks of the place, little dreaming in his youthful enthusiasm of its actual desolation.

The road to Break o’ Day, as the place to which they were going was known, wound up through a deep wood for over four miles, and not a dwelling was to be seen on the entire route. Though they were somewhat protected from the rain under the overhanging forest, it was a dismal ride, and every one hailed with joy the opening at the summit of the hill or mountain.

The deacon spoke encouragingly to the weary horses, which started into a smart trot now that the way was comparatively level.

The Break o’ Day tract of country really consisted of a thousand acres of wild land, for the most, which had been largely cleared of its first growth by charcoal burners a few years before, and had been allowed to send up a second growth of saplings now in that age termed “sprouts.”

Of course, the strangers to this isolated spot paid little heed to their surroundings, as one and all tried to escape as much as possible the drenching rain, which was falling faster than ever, if that were possible. But Rob looked in vain for any sign of a house until they had gone half a mile, when he discovered a solitary frame house of two stories, and which had once been painted red on the outside. This paint was now worn off so that the broad sides of the building looked brown and dilapidated in the storm. There was not a whole window in the house and the door at the front side hung from one hinge.

But the gaze of the approaching observers was suddenly attracted by the sight of a couple of horsemen riding up in front of the building from the opposite direction.

Deacon Cornhill had seen the two men and, pulling up the horses he was driving, he said, in a low but husky tone:

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