• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 13:17
CEST 19:17
KST 02:17
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
[ASL22] Ro24 Preview: Summer's End6Serral wins HomeStory Cup 2915Serral wins Maestros of the Game 243ByuL, and the Limitations of Standard Play3Team Liquid Map Contest #22: Results and Winners7
Community News
GSTL Returns in 2026!43Weekly Cups (Aug 3-9): Protoss get shut out7RSL goes to London! 2026 Offline Finals Nov 21-2212Weekly Cups (July 27-Aug 2): SHIN's big week0SC4ALL II: Brood War - $2500 - Dec 5-611
StarCraft 2
General
GSTL Returns in 2026! Balance hotfix patch 5.0.16b (July 16) SC4ALL: II Talent Announcement! Protoss AoE skill expression Weekly Cups (Aug 3-9): Protoss get shut out
Tourneys
PIG STY FESTIVAL 8.0! (13 - 23 August) WardiTV Mondays 2026 KungFu Cup Announcement Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament 2026 GSTL Announcement
Strategy
[G] Having the right mentality to improve
Custom Maps
Nexus Wars 2021 GUIDE [M] (2) Industrial Park
External Content
The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 539 Thunder Dome Mutation # 538 Media Blackout Mutation # 537 Hostile Territory
Brood War
General
SC4ALL II: Brood War Player Announcement 3/4 - soO Rush's Odyssey Controversy [ASL22] Ro24 Preview: Summer's End BW General Discussion StarCraft 64 is coming to Philly at SC4ALL II
Tourneys
[ASL22] Ro24 Group A Small VOD Thread 2.0 CSLAN 4 is Coming! ASL Season 22 LIVESTREAM with English Commentary
Strategy
Odyssey Mineral Stack Saturation Fighting Spirit mining rates Any training maps people recommend? Simple Questions, Simple Answers
Other Games
General Games
Nintendo Switch Thread General RTS Discussion Thread Anyone here play Quakeworld back in the day? Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread EVE Corporation
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
[TL LoL EUW IHs] Teemo shall perish TSM pausing esports and CLG Dead
Heroes of the Storm
Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Power Rank TL Mafia Community Thread NeO.D_StephenKing vs This Guy From 1 Million Dance
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Artificial Intelligence Thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread European Politico-economics QA Mega-thread The Letting Off Steam Thread
Fan Clubs
MarineLorD Fan Club The ShoWTimE Fan Club The herO Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
Movie Discussion! Anime Discussion Thread Series you have seen recently...
Sports
MLB/Baseball 2023 Football (Soccer) Thread TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 NBA General Discussion Formula 1 Discussion
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread Simple Questions Simple Answers FPS when play League Of Legend on laptop
TL Community
The Automated Ban List Northern Ireland Global Starcraft
Blogs
LOCKPICKING NOOB
LUCKY_NOOB
Chinese Gen Z: Between Dream…
TrAiDoS
Cathedral Of CS And NY pizza a…
FuDDx
Please support my new stand…
Peanutsc
Hello guys!
LIN1s
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 7715 users

Math puzzle #2

Blogs > LastPrime
Post a Reply
1 2 Next All
LastPrime
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States109 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-09-10 01:42:33
September 09 2010 23:24 GMT
#1
Ok guys, the last puzzle was so easy my 7 year old sister could do it (it was her homework from her math class in kindergarten). Here's one for the grown ups:

Prove that for any positive integer d,there is an integer N for which d| 2^N+N. (means d divides 2^N+N evenly)


edit:
+ Show Spoiler +
Hint:
1) if gcd(2,n) = 1 then 2^(phi(n)) = 1 (mod n)
where phi(n) is the number of integers in {1,2,3,4,...n} that are relatively prime to n

2) Chinese remainder theorem


Hall of Fame
1. Steve496


Hidden_MotiveS
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
Canada2562 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-09-09 23:36:32
September 09 2010 23:29 GMT
#2
Spoilers+ Show Spoiler +
I give up


edit: working on it.
BottleAbuser
Profile Blog Joined December 2007
Korea (South)1888 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-09-10 00:11:28
September 09 2010 23:32 GMT
#3
Trivial solution: N = 0 works for all positive integers.

For powers of 2 (d = 2^k), d divides 2^k. It might not divide 2^k + k. However, we know that it divides all multiples of 2^k, including 2^(k+1), 2^(k+2), and so on, until we reach at most 2^(d). Then we know that d divides 2^d+d.


2^N % d = a.

Then 2^(N+1) % d = 2a % d
Then 2^(N+2) % d = 4a % d
And so on. If d is even, then eventually we'll find ka % d = 0, and multiples of that (N>k) can be used until the constant term +N comes around to a multiple of d.

time for classes... I'll give it another go later...
Compilers are like boyfriends, you miss a period and they go crazy on you.
Seth_
Profile Blog Joined July 2010
Belgium184 Posts
September 10 2010 00:38 GMT
#4
If d is even, then eventually we'll find ka % d = 0

d=6
start at N=2
2^2 % 6 = 4 = a
2^3 % 6 = 2
2^4 % 6 = 4
2^5 % 6 = 2
2^6 % 6 = 4
2^7 % 6 = 2
...
We'll never get to a 'k' for which ka%d=0
BottleAbuser
Profile Blog Joined December 2007
Korea (South)1888 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-09-10 01:03:21
September 10 2010 00:44 GMT
#5
I'm tempted to say that any loop is fine, because we're adding increments of 1 to the total modulus with each next term.

The point was that if 2^N % d = 0, then we can increment N until the remaining +N is also divisible by d.

If we can't increase 2^N to be divisible by d, then obviously we have entered a loop, over which we can keep increasing the remaining +N until the total is divisible by d.

If any loop is okay, then this should work for odd numbers as well.


====
to summarize

For any d, take an arbitrary N.

Let a = 2^N % d
Let b = N % d

If a + b = 0 or d, we are finished.

Now, we see if a * 2^k % d = 0 for any k. We need to increment k a maximum of d times before the modulus value begins looping or reaches 0.

In the case that it reaches 0, we only need to increment N a maximum of d more times before the value 2^N + N % d = 0.

In the case that it loops, we find the values of N where 2^(N+kb) % d = a. That is, the loop has a period of k numbers, and b is the number of total cycles. As long as k % d != 0, we can increment b until the constant added at the end matches up and the remainder becomes 0.

... I realize this still isn't proof to work for all numbers, just a lot of them...
Compilers are like boyfriends, you miss a period and they go crazy on you.
Exteray
Profile Blog Joined June 2007
United States1094 Posts
September 10 2010 01:32 GMT
#6
Need a hint... will Fermat's Little Theorem come in handy here?
BottleAbuser
Profile Blog Joined December 2007
Korea (South)1888 Posts
September 10 2010 01:39 GMT
#7
The proof for Fermat's Little Theorem looks like it could readily be adapted for this.
Compilers are like boyfriends, you miss a period and they go crazy on you.
LastPrime
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States109 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-09-10 01:42:47
September 10 2010 01:40 GMT
#8
Hint:
1) if gcd(2,n) = 1 then 2^(phi(n)) = 1 (mod n)
where phi(n) is the number of integers in {1,2,3,4,...n} that are relatively prime to n

2) Chinese remainder theorem

These are some of the standard tools for solving IMO-type problems.

Good luck!
Slithe
Profile Blog Joined February 2007
United States985 Posts
September 10 2010 01:59 GMT
#9
I kinda wanna take a crack at this problem, but it also kinda feels like I'm doing discrete math homework all over again.

I'll probably give it a bit of a shot and give up because I'm lame.
TanGeng
Profile Blog Joined January 2009
Sanya12364 Posts
September 10 2010 02:04 GMT
#10
I think we can start by looking when the modulus on 2^N repeats.

First start by expression d as
2^e * m where GCD(m, 2) = 1 and e is a non-negative integer
Candidate solutions will when N > e and is some multiple of 2^e. note GCD(m, 2^e) = 1

now when m = 1 we trivial solution
N = 2^e

by the Totient theorem will get repetitive modulo on phi(m)
because 2^phi(m) % m = 1
repetition is over values less than m and relatively prime to m (multiplied by 2^e)

Now for the totients:
for all primes t and positive integer n : phi(t^n) = t^(n-1)* (t-1)
for all positive integers p & q where GCD(p,q) = 1 : phi(p*q) = phi(p) * phi(q)

seems to get complicated from here on... hmmm
To be continued...
Moderator我们是个踏实的赞助商模式俱乐部
Slithe
Profile Blog Joined February 2007
United States985 Posts
September 10 2010 02:59 GMT
#11
I think I may have a solution for the odd numbers:

+ Show Spoiler +

for any odd d, N=d-1 will give us the desired result.

With the theorem that lastprime gave us, we see the following:
gcd(d,d-1) = 1
2^(d-1) = 1 mod d
2^(d-1) + d-1 = 0 mod d

I'm trying to use this to tackle the even numbers as well, with the idea that any even number d = c*(2^x). However, this is all pointless if my earlier conclusion is incorrect.
infinitestory
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
United States4053 Posts
September 10 2010 03:07 GMT
#12
I think this gets messy only because m could be even, which means we need to split into an odd case and an (even harder) even case, and phi(m) often shares factors with m, so looping by adding phi(m) isn't guaranteed to work.
Translator:3
Snuggles
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States1865 Posts
September 10 2010 03:11 GMT
#13
So are all of you guys math majors? This problem looks so intimidating I don't even want to touch it haha.
TanGeng
Profile Blog Joined January 2009
Sanya12364 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-09-10 03:24:49
September 10 2010 03:21 GMT
#14
On September 10 2010 11:59 Slithe wrote:
I think I may have a solution for the odd numbers:

+ Show Spoiler +

for any odd d, N=d-1 will give us the desired result.

With the theorem that lastprime gave us, we see the following:
gcd(d,d-1) = 1
2^(d-1) = 1 mod d
2^(d-1) + d-1 = 0 mod d

I'm trying to use this to tackle the even numbers as well, with the idea that any even number d = c*(2^x). However, this is all pointless if my earlier conclusion is incorrect.


Only true for prime numbers.

Even numbers aren't too bad. Just factor out the powers of 2 will be sufficient and that will reduce it to an odd number problem. Maybe I'm missing it but the non-prime odd values are the hardest part to solve.
Moderator我们是个踏实的赞助商模式俱乐部
Slithe
Profile Blog Joined February 2007
United States985 Posts
September 10 2010 03:37 GMT
#15
On September 10 2010 12:21 TanGeng wrote:
Show nested quote +
On September 10 2010 11:59 Slithe wrote:
I think I may have a solution for the odd numbers:

+ Show Spoiler +

for any odd d, N=d-1 will give us the desired result.

With the theorem that lastprime gave us, we see the following:
gcd(d,d-1) = 1
2^(d-1) = 1 mod d
2^(d-1) + d-1 = 0 mod d

I'm trying to use this to tackle the even numbers as well, with the idea that any even number d = c*(2^x). However, this is all pointless if my earlier conclusion is incorrect.


Only true for prime numbers.

Even numbers aren't too bad. Just factor out the powers of 2 will be sufficient and that will reduce it to an odd number problem. Maybe I'm missing it but the non-prime odd values are the hardest part to solve.


Oh I misread the theorem. Back to the drawing board...
mieda
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
United States85 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-09-10 19:18:27
September 10 2010 04:20 GMT
#16
If you need more hints let me know and I'll post some more hints here.

Edit: I suggested this problem to LastPrime for a little Math Puzzle Time in TL.net, so it'd defeat the purpose of me releasing my solution here. We'll post some harder ones once this is solved. Enjoy~

An easier version of this problem is the following: Every positive integer d divides 2^N - N for some N, in which case the idea of looking at cycles work, i.e. 2, 2^2, 2^(2^2), 2^(2^(2^2)), ... eventually becomes constant mod d for any positive integer d. In fact you can bound the cycle length, and get a rather nice expression for an explicit solution for N in terms of d.

Also, I'm on #math of efnet IRC and freenode, ID: hochs. If you want more lively math chat, I'm there and you can /msg me for some fun

Now back to preparing lecture notes for serre duality and its applications to riemann roch type theorems..
Steve496
Profile Joined July 2009
United States60 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-09-10 05:17:58
September 10 2010 05:17 GMT
#17
The solution is more or less obvious for powers of 2 and when d and phi(d) are relatively prime (which notably includes all primes). It's a little less clear to me how to extend the argument to deal with d and phi(d) having a common factor.

(As an aside, for those of you who like this sort of thing, I highly recommend Project Euler. Good times.)
Oracle
Profile Blog Joined May 2007
Canada411 Posts
September 10 2010 05:38 GMT
#18
Lol i had this EXACT problem in a Math 135 assignment at the university of waterloo last year
mieda
Profile Blog Joined February 2010
United States85 Posts
September 10 2010 05:40 GMT
#19
On September 10 2010 14:38 Oracle wrote:
Lol i had this EXACT problem in a Math 135 assignment at the university of waterloo last year


Oh, is that where it's from? ^^ It's a nice exercise in chinese remainder theorem
gondolin
Profile Blog Joined September 2007
France332 Posts
September 10 2010 06:30 GMT
#20
We may assume by the CRT that d=p^n, with p odd, the case p=2 being trivial.
Now by induction, there exist N such that 2^N+N=0 mod phi(d).
Write 2^N+N + k phi(d) =0.
Then 2^(N+k phi(d)) + (N + k phi(d)) = 2^N+N+k phi(d) = 0 mod p^n.
CQFD.


On September 10 2010 13:20 mieda wrote:
Now back to preparing lecture notes for serre duality and its applications to riemann roch type theorems..


Nice. Will you use it to prove the Hasse-Weil theorem on the zeta function of algebraic curve? From what I remember you can prove it without the classical proof from Weil with Jacobians by clever user of the Riemann-Roch (the hardest part being the Riemann hypothesis, with Jacobians you have the Rosati involution, here I don't remember how you do it).

By the way I infer from your signature that you are working on Complex Multiplication? That's one of the most beautiful area in Mathematics (according to Hilbert )!
1 2 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
The Patches Monday
16:15
#3
RotterdaM627
TaKeTV 302
TKL 295
IndyStarCraft 195
SteadfastSC126
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
RotterdaM 627
ByuN 357
TKL 295
IndyStarCraft 195
SteadfastSC 126
ProTech76
UpATreeSC 52
RushiSC 29
StarCraft: Brood War
Calm 4153
Shuttle 1049
BeSt 692
Stork 368
Mini 363
Soma 342
Larva 277
Soulkey 231
Mong 191
Dewaltoss 157
[ Show more ]
ggaemo 130
sSak 44
sorry 34
Bale 25
Terrorterran 13
ajuk12(nOOB) 13
Dota 2
qojqva4338
XaKoH 409
Counter-Strike
pashabiceps872
x6flipin792
ceh9384
Super Smash Bros
C9.Mang0238
Other Games
singsing1717
Liquid`RaSZi1601
FrodaN1037
Beastyqt710
B2W.Neo650
Hui .143
ToD143
ArmadaUGS128
Livibee103
KnowMe88
QueenE69
Mew2King42
Trikslyr42
BRAT_OK 18
MindelVK5
[ Show 17 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• StrangeGG 51
• Reevou 5
• IndyKCrew
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Migwel
• Kozan
StarCraft: Brood War
• HerbMon 23
• Pr0nogo 2
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
• BSLYoutube
Dota 2
• WagamamaTV1307
League of Legends
• Jankos3367
• TFBlade949
Other Games
• Shiphtur318
• imaqtpie134
Upcoming Events
Afreeca Starleague
16h 43m
Sharp vs Shinee
Action vs Shine
GSL
17h 43m
PiGosaur Cup
1d 6h
Replay Cast
1d 15h
Afreeca Starleague
1d 16h
BeSt vs Paralyze
Jaedong vs Speed
Kung Fu Cup
1d 17h
Replay Cast
2 days
The PondCast
2 days
KCM Race Survival
2 days
Replay Cast
3 days
[ Show More ]
PiG Sty Festival
3 days
CranKy Ducklings
4 days
PiG Sty Festival
4 days
Sparkling Tuna Cup
5 days
PiG Sty Festival
5 days
The Patches Monday
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

CSLAN 4
CranK Gathers Season 4: BW vs SC2 Team League
Eternal Conflict S2 Finale

Ongoing

KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 3
K-JUNGMAN
ASL Season 22
Super Anchor Qualifying S3
RSL Revival: Season 6
PiG Sty Festival 8.0
META DYMY #4
Esports World Cup 2026
Esports World Cup 2026: LCQ
BLAST Bounty Summer 2026
BLAST Bounty Summer Qual
Stake Ranked Episode 3
XSE Pro League 2026
IEM Cologne Major 2026

Upcoming

CSL Season 22: Qualifier 1
Escore Tournament S3: W8
CSL Season 22: Qualifier 2
CSL 2026 AUTUMN (S22)
Acropolis #5
Acropolis #5 - TRS
Blizzard Classic Cup 2026
HSC XXX
SC4ALL II: StarCraft II
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
RSL Offline Finals
Big Dog Cup 2026 Div 1
Stake Ranked Episode 5
PGL Masters Bucharest 2026
Thunderpick World Champ. '26
ESL Pro League Season 24
Stake Ranked Episode 4
1win Private Club #1
Logitech G Connect 2026
SL StarSeries Fall 2026
FISSURE Playground #5
BLAST Open Fall 2026
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.