# Gauss's lemma (number theory)

Gauss's lemma in number theory gives a condition for an integer to be a quadratic residue. Although it is not useful computationally, it has theoretical significance, being involved in some proofs of quadratic reciprocity.

It made its first appearance in Carl Friedrich Gauss's third proof (1808)[1]:458–462 of quadratic reciprocity and he proved it again in his fifth proof (1818).[1]:496–501

## Statement of the lemma

For any odd prime p let a be an integer that is coprime to p.

Consider the integers

${\displaystyle a,2a,3a,\dots ,{\frac {p-1}{2}}a}$

and their least positive residues modulo p. (These residues are all distinct, so there are (p − 1)/2 of them.)

Let n be the number of these residues that are greater than p/2. Then

${\displaystyle \left({\frac {a}{p}}\right)=(-1)^{n},}$

where ${\displaystyle \left({\frac {a}{p}}\right)}$ is the Legendre symbol.

### Example

Taking p = 11 and a = 7, the relevant sequence of integers is

7, 14, 21, 28, 35.

After reduction modulo 11, this sequence becomes

7, 3, 10, 6, 2.

Three of these integers are larger than 11/2 (namely 6, 7 and 10), so n = 3. Correspondingly Gauss's lemma predicts that

${\displaystyle \left({\frac {7}{11}}\right)=(-1)^{3}=-1.}$

This is indeed correct, because 7 is not a quadratic residue modulo 11.

The above sequence of residues

7, 3, 10, 6, 2

may also be written

−4, 3, −1, −5, 2.

In this form, the integers larger than 11/2 appear as negative numbers. It is also apparent that the absolute values of the residues are a permutation of the residues

1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

## Proof

A fairly simple proof,[1]:458–462 reminiscent of one of the simplest proofs of Fermat's little theorem, can be obtained by evaluating the product

${\displaystyle Z=a\cdot 2a\cdot 3a\cdot \cdots \cdot {\frac {p-1}{2}}a}$

modulo p in two different ways. On one hand it is equal to

${\displaystyle Z=a^{(p-1)/2}\left(1\cdot 2\cdot 3\cdot \cdots \cdot {\frac {p-1}{2}}\right)}$

The second evaluation takes more work. If x is a nonzero residue modulo p, let us define the "absolute value" of x to be

${\displaystyle |x|={\begin{cases}x&{\mbox{if }}1\leq x\leq {\frac {p-1}{2}},\\p-x&{\mbox{if }}{\frac {p+1}{2}}\leq x\leq p-1.\end{cases}}}$

Since n counts those multiples ka which are in the latter range, and since for those multiples, ka is in the first range, we have

${\displaystyle Z=(-1)^{n}\left(|a|\cdot |2a|\cdot |3a|\cdot \cdots \cdots \left|{\frac {p-1}{2}}a\right|\right).}$

Now observe that the values |ra| are distinct for r = 1, 2, …, (p − 1)/2. Indeed, we have

{\displaystyle {\begin{aligned}|ra|&\equiv |sa|&{\pmod {p}}\\ra&\equiv \pm sa&{\pmod {p}}\\r&\equiv \pm s&{\pmod {p}}\end{aligned}}}

because a is coprime to p.

This gives r = s, since r and s are positive least residues. But there are exactly (p − 1)/2 of them, so their values are a rearrangement of the integers 1, 2, …, (p − 1)/2. Therefore,

${\displaystyle Z=(-1)^{n}\left(1\cdot 2\cdot 3\cdot \cdots \cdot {\frac {p-1}{2}}\right).}$

Comparing with our first evaluation, we may cancel out the nonzero factor

${\displaystyle 1\cdot 2\cdot 3\cdot \cdots \cdot {\frac {p-1}{2}}}$

and we are left with

${\displaystyle a^{(p-1)/2}=(-1)^{n}.}$

This is the desired result, because by Euler's criterion the left hand side is just an alternative expression for the Legendre symbol ${\displaystyle \left({\frac {a}{p}}\right)}$.

## Applications

Gauss's lemma is used in many,[2]:Ch. 1[2]:9 but by no means all, of the known proofs of quadratic reciprocity.

For example, Gotthold Eisenstein[2]:236 used Gauss's lemma to prove that if p is an odd prime then

${\displaystyle \left({\frac {a}{p}}\right)=\prod _{n=1}^{(p-1)/2}{\frac {\sin {(2\pi an/p)}}{\sin {(2\pi n/p)}}},}$

and used this formula to prove quadratic reciprocity. By using elliptic rather than circular functions, he proved the cubic and quartic reciprocity laws.[2]:Ch. 8

Leopold Kronecker[2]:Ex. 1.34 used the lemma to show that

${\displaystyle \left({\frac {p}{q}}\right)=\operatorname {sgn} \prod _{i=1}^{\frac {q-1}{2}}\prod _{k=1}^{\frac {p-1}{2}}\left({\frac {k}{p}}-{\frac {i}{q}}\right).}$

Switching p and q immediately gives quadratic reciprocity.

It is also used in what are probably the simplest proofs of the "second supplementary law"

${\displaystyle \left({\frac {2}{p}}\right)=(-1)^{(p^{2}-1)/8}={\begin{cases}+1{\text{ if }}p\equiv \pm 1{\pmod {8}}\\-1{\text{ if }}p\equiv \pm 3{\pmod {8}}\end{cases}}}$

## Higher powers

Generalizations of Gauss's lemma can be used to compute higher power residue symbols. In his second monograph on biquadratic reciprocity,[3]:§§69–71 Gauss used a fourth-power lemma to derive the formula for the biquadratic character of 1 + i in Z[i], the ring of Gaussian integers. Subsequently, Eisenstein used third- and fourth-power versions to prove cubic and quartic reciprocity.[2]:Ch. 8

### nth power residue symbol

Let k be an algebraic number field with ring of integers ${\displaystyle {\mathcal {O}}_{k},}$ and let ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {p}}\subset {\mathcal {O}}_{k}}$ be a prime ideal. The ideal norm ${\displaystyle \mathrm {N} {\mathfrak {p}}}$ of ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {p}}}$ is defined as the cardinality of the residue class ring. Since ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {p}}}$ is prime this is a finite field ${\displaystyle {\mathcal {O}}_{k}/{\mathfrak {p}}}$, so the ideal norm is ${\displaystyle \mathrm {N} {\mathfrak {p}}=|{\mathcal {O}}_{k}/{\mathfrak {p}}|}$.

Assume that a primitive nth root of unity ${\displaystyle \zeta _{n}\in {\mathcal {O}}_{k},}$ and that n and ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {p}}}$ are coprime (i.e. ${\displaystyle n\not \in {\mathfrak {p}}}$). Then no two distinct nth roots of unity can be congruent modulo ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {p}}}$.

This can be proved by contradiction, beginning by assuming that ${\displaystyle \zeta _{n}^{r}\equiv \zeta _{n}^{s}}$ mod ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {p}}}$, 0 < r < sn. Let t = sr such that ${\displaystyle \zeta _{n}^{t}\equiv 1}$ mod ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {p}}}$, and 0 < t < n. From the definition of roots of unity,

${\displaystyle x^{n}-1=(x-1)(x-\zeta _{n})(x-\zeta _{n}^{2})\dots (x-\zeta _{n}^{n-1}),}$

and dividing by x − 1 gives

${\displaystyle x^{n-1}+x^{n-2}+\dots +x+1=(x-\zeta _{n})(x-\zeta _{n}^{2})\dots (x-\zeta _{n}^{n-1}).}$

Letting x = 1 and taking residues mod ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {p}}}$,

${\displaystyle n\equiv (1-\zeta _{n})(1-\zeta _{n}^{2})\dots (1-\zeta _{n}^{n-1}){\pmod {\mathfrak {p}}}.}$

Since n and ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {p}}}$ are coprime, ${\displaystyle n\not \equiv 0}$ mod ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {p}},}$ but under the assumption, one of the factors on the right must be zero. Therefore, the assumption that two distinct roots are congruent is false.

Thus the residue classes of ${\displaystyle {\mathcal {O}}_{k}/{\mathfrak {p}}}$ containing the powers of ζn are a subgroup of order n of its (multiplicative) group of units, ${\displaystyle ({\mathcal {O}}_{k}/{\mathfrak {p}})^{\times }={\mathcal {O}}_{k}/{\mathfrak {p}}-\{0\}.}$ Therefore, the order of ${\displaystyle ({\mathcal {O}}_{k}/{\mathfrak {p}})^{\times }}$ is a multiple of n, and

{\displaystyle {\begin{aligned}\mathrm {N} {\mathfrak {p}}&=|{\mathcal {O}}_{k}/{\mathfrak {p}}|\\&=\left|({\mathcal {O}}_{k}/{\mathfrak {p}})^{\times }\right|+1\\&\equiv 1{\pmod {n}}.\end{aligned}}}

There is an analogue of Fermat's theorem in ${\displaystyle {\mathcal {O}}_{k}}$. If ${\displaystyle \alpha \in {\mathcal {O}}_{k}}$ for ${\displaystyle \alpha \not \in {\mathfrak {p}}}$, then[2]:Ch. 4.1

${\displaystyle \alpha ^{\mathrm {N} {\mathfrak {p}}-1}\equiv 1{\pmod {\mathfrak {p}}},}$

and since ${\displaystyle \mathrm {N} {\mathfrak {p}}\equiv 1}$ mod n,

${\displaystyle \alpha ^{\frac {\mathrm {N} {\mathfrak {p}}-1}{n}}\equiv \zeta _{n}^{s}{\pmod {\mathfrak {p}}}}$

is well-defined and congruent to a unique nth root of unity ζns.

This root of unity is called the nth-power residue symbol for ${\displaystyle {\mathcal {O}}_{k},}$ and is denoted by

{\displaystyle {\begin{aligned}\left({\frac {\alpha }{\mathfrak {p}}}\right)_{n}&=\zeta _{n}^{s}\\&\equiv \alpha ^{\frac {\mathrm {N} {\mathfrak {p}}-1}{n}}{\pmod {\mathfrak {p}}}.\end{aligned}}}

It can be proven that[2]:Prop. 4.1

${\displaystyle \left({\frac {\alpha }{\mathfrak {p}}}\right)_{n}=1}$

if and only if there is an ${\displaystyle \eta \in {\mathcal {O}}_{k}}$ such that αηn mod ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {p}}}$.

### 1/n systems

Let ${\displaystyle \mu _{n}=\{1,\zeta _{n},\zeta _{n}^{2},\dots ,\zeta _{n}^{n-1}\}}$ be the multiplicative group of the nth roots of unity, and let ${\displaystyle A=\{a_{1},a_{2},\dots ,a_{m}\}}$ be representatives of the cosets of ${\displaystyle ({\mathcal {O}}_{k}/{\mathfrak {p}})^{\times }/\mu _{n}.}$ Then A is called a 1/n system mod ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {p}}.}$[2]:Ch. 4.2

In other words, there are ${\displaystyle mn=\mathrm {N} {\mathfrak {p}}-1}$ numbers in the set ${\displaystyle A\mu =\{a_{i}\zeta _{n}^{j}\;:\;1\leq i\leq m,\;\;\;0\leq j\leq n-1\},}$ and this set constitutes a representative set for ${\displaystyle ({\mathcal {O}}_{k}/{\mathfrak {p}})^{\times }.}$

The numbers 1, 2, … (p − 1)/2, used in the original version of the lemma, are a 1/2 system (mod p).

Constructing a 1/n system is straightforward: let M be a representative set for ${\displaystyle ({\mathcal {O}}_{k}/{\mathfrak {p}})^{\times }.}$ Pick any ${\displaystyle a_{1}\in M}$ and remove the numbers congruent to ${\displaystyle a_{1},a_{1}\zeta _{n},a_{1}\zeta _{n}^{2},\dots ,a_{1}\zeta _{n}^{n-1}}$ from M. Pick a2 from M and remove the numbers congruent to ${\displaystyle a_{2},a_{2}\zeta _{n},a_{2}\zeta _{n}^{2},\dots ,a_{2}\zeta _{n}^{n-1}}$ Repeat until M is exhausted. Then {a1, a2, … am} is a 1/n system mod ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {p}}.}$

### The lemma for nth powers

Gauss's lemma may be extended to the nth power residue symbol as follows.[2]:Prop. 4.3 Let ${\displaystyle \zeta _{n}\in {\mathcal {O}}_{k}}$ be a primitive nth root of unity, ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {p}}\subset {\mathcal {O}}_{k}}$ a prime ideal, ${\displaystyle \gamma \in {\mathcal {O}}_{k},\;\;n\gamma \not \in {\mathfrak {p}},}$ (i.e. ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {p}}}$ is coprime to both γ and n) and let A = {a1, a2, …, am} be a 1/n system mod ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {p}}.}$

Then for each i, 1 ≤ im, there are integers π(i), unique (mod m), and b(i), unique (mod n), such that

${\displaystyle \gamma a_{i}\equiv \zeta _{n}^{b(i)}a_{\pi (i)}{\pmod {\mathfrak {p}}},}$

and the nth-power residue symbol is given by the formula

${\displaystyle \left({\frac {\gamma }{\mathfrak {p}}}\right)_{n}=\zeta _{n}^{b(1)+b(2)+\dots +b(m)}.}$

The classical lemma for the quadratic Legendre symbol is the special case n = 2, ζ2 = −1, A = {1, 2, …, (p − 1)/2}, b(k) = 1 if ak > p/2, b(k) = 0 if ak < p/2.

#### Proof

The proof of the nth-power lemma uses the same ideas that were used in the proof of the quadratic lemma.

The existence of the integers π(i) and b(i), and their uniqueness (mod m) and (mod n), respectively, come from the fact that is a representative set.

Assume that π(i) = π(j) = p, i.e.

${\displaystyle \gamma a_{i}\equiv \zeta _{n}^{r}a_{p}{\pmod {\mathfrak {p}}}}$

and

${\displaystyle \gamma a_{j}\equiv \zeta _{n}^{s}a_{p}{\pmod {\mathfrak {p}}}.}$

Then

${\displaystyle \zeta _{n}^{s-r}\gamma a_{i}\equiv \zeta _{n}^{s}a_{p}\equiv \gamma a_{j}{\pmod {\mathfrak {p}}}}$

Because γ and ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {p}}}$ are coprime both sides can be divided by γ, giving

${\displaystyle \zeta _{n}^{s-r}a_{i}\equiv a_{j}{\pmod {\mathfrak {p}}},}$

which, since A is a 1/n system, implies s = r and i = j, showing that π is a permutation of the set {1, 2, …, m}.

Then on the one hand, by the definition of the power residue symbol,

{\displaystyle {\begin{aligned}(\gamma a_{1})(\gamma a_{2})\dots (\gamma a_{m})&=\gamma ^{\frac {\mathrm {N} {\mathfrak {p}}-1}{n}}a_{1}a_{2}\dots a_{m}\\&\equiv \left({\frac {\gamma }{\mathfrak {p}}}\right)_{n}a_{1}a_{2}\dots a_{m}{\pmod {\mathfrak {p}}},\end{aligned}}}

and on the other hand, since π is a permutation,

{\displaystyle {\begin{aligned}(\gamma a_{1})(\gamma a_{2})\dots (\gamma a_{m})&\equiv {\zeta _{n}^{b(1)}a_{\pi (1)}}{\zeta _{n}^{b(2)}a_{\pi (2)}}\dots {\zeta _{n}^{b(m)}a_{\pi (m)}}&{\pmod {\mathfrak {p}}}\\&\equiv \zeta _{n}^{b(1)+b(2)+\dots +b(m)}a_{\pi (1)}a_{\pi (2)}\dots a_{\pi (m)}&{\pmod {\mathfrak {p}}}\\&\equiv \zeta _{n}^{b(1)+b(2)+\dots +b(m)}a_{1}a_{2}\dots a_{m}&{\pmod {\mathfrak {p}}},\end{aligned}}}

so

${\displaystyle \left({\frac {\gamma }{\mathfrak {p}}}\right)_{n}a_{1}a_{2}\dots a_{m}\equiv \zeta _{n}^{b(1)+b(2)+\dots +b(m)}a_{1}a_{2}\dots a_{m}{\pmod {\mathfrak {p}}},}$

and since for all 1 ≤ im, ai and ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {p}}}$ are coprime, a1a2am can be cancelled from both sides of the congruence,

${\displaystyle \left({\frac {\gamma }{\mathfrak {p}}}\right)_{n}\equiv \zeta _{n}^{b(1)+b(2)+\dots +b(m)}{\pmod {\mathfrak {p}}},}$

and the theorem follows from the fact that no two distinct nth roots of unity can be congruent (mod ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {p}}}$).

## Relation to the transfer in group theory

Let G be the multiplicative group of nonzero residue classes in Z/pZ, and let H be the subgroup {+1, −1}. Consider the following coset representatives of H in G,

${\displaystyle 1,2,3,\dots ,{\frac {p-1}{2}}.}$

Applying the machinery of the transfer to this collection of coset representatives, we obtain the transfer homomorphism

${\displaystyle \phi :G\to H,}$

which turns out to be the map that sends a to (−1)n, where a and n are as in the statement of the lemma. Gauss's lemma may then be viewed as a computation that explicitly identifies this homomorphism as being the quadratic residue character.