Let p be an odd prime. How would I prove that the congruence xp−2+⋯+x2+x+1≡0(modp) has exactly p−2 incongruent solutions, and they are the integers 2,3,...,p−1?
I found this question posted, but the answer doesn't quite make sense to me.
Here is my attempt:
Proof
As p is an odd prime, by Fermat's Theorem,
xp−1≡1(modp)⟹xp−1−1≡0(modp)
and by Lagrange's Corollary, with d=p−1,p−1∣p−1, this congruence has exactly p−1 solutions.
xp−1−1(modp)≡0(modp)≡(x−1)(xp−2+⋯+x2+x+1)(modp)
Assume xp−2+⋯+x2+x+1≡0(modp)...
And then I get stuck.
The proof I linked above used:
Now, xp−1−1≡0(modp) has exactly p−1 incongruent solutions modulo p by Lagrange's Theorem.
Note that g(1)=(1−1)f(1)=0≡0(modp), so 1 is a root of g(x) modulo p. Hence, the incongruent roots of g(x) modulo p are 1,2,3,…,p−1.
But every root of g(x) other than 1 is also a root of f(x) (This is the part I'm concerned about. Is it clear that this is the case?), hence f(x) has exactly p−2 incongruent roots modulo p, which are 2,3,…,p−1. ◼
But I don't understand the part about roots. Nor do I quite get the use of creating g(x) and f(x). Could someone explain the proof using a different method?
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