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The law of [[quadratic reciprocity]] says that if ''p'' and ''q'' are distinct odd primes, at least one of which is Pythagorean, then
The law of [[quadratic reciprocity]] says that if ''p'' and ''q'' are distinct odd primes, at least one of which is Pythagorean, then
''p'' is a [[quadratic residue]] mod ''q'' [[if and only if]] ''q'' is a quadratic residue mod ''p''; by contrast, if neither ''p'' nor ''q'' is Pythagorean, then ''p'' is a quadratic residue mod ''q'' if and only if ''q'' is '''not''' a quadratic residue mod ''p''.
''p'' is a [[quadratic residue]] mod ''q'' [[if and only if]] ''q'' is a quadratic residue mod ''p''; by contrast, if neither ''p'' nor ''q'' is Pythagorean, then ''p'' is a quadratic residue mod ''q'' if and only if ''q'' is '''not''' a quadratic residue mod ''p''.


In the field Z/p with p a Pythagorean prime, the polynomial x^2 = -1 has two solutions.
In the field Z/p with p a Pythagorean prime, the polynomial x^2 = -1 has two solutions.

Revision as of 04:59, 2 April 2013

A Pythagorean prime is a prime number of the form 4n + 1. Pythagorean primes are exactly the odd prime numbers that are the sum of two squares (and from this derives the name in reference to the famous pythagorean theorem.)

The first few Pythagorean primes are

5, 13, 17, 29, 37, 41, 53, 61, 73, 89, 97, 101, 109, 113, … (sequence A002144 in the OEIS).

Fermat's theorem on sums of two squares states that these primes can be represented as sums of two squares uniquely (up to order), and that no other primes can be represented this way, aside from 2=12+12. Thus these primes (and 2) occur as norms of Gaussian integers, while other primes do not.

The law of quadratic reciprocity says that if p and q are distinct odd primes, at least one of which is Pythagorean, then p is a quadratic residue mod q if and only if q is a quadratic residue mod p; by contrast, if neither p nor q is Pythagorean, then p is a quadratic residue mod q if and only if q is not a quadratic residue mod p.

In the field Z/p with p a Pythagorean prime, the polynomial x^2 = -1 has two solutions.

  • Eaves, Laurence. "Pythagorean Primes: including 5, 13 and 137". Numberphile. Brady Haran.