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Printjmc
number theory senior
Problem
Let be a positive integer, and suppose that is its own inverse , but is its own inverse .
How many possible values for are there?
How many possible values for are there?
Solution
If is its own inverse , then , or in other words, is a divisor of .
But if is its own inverse , then , so is not a divisor of .
Thus, we wish to count divisors of which are not divisors of . There are ten divisors of : Of these, six are not divisors of : Therefore, there are possible values of .
But if is its own inverse , then , so is not a divisor of .
Thus, we wish to count divisors of which are not divisors of . There are ten divisors of : Of these, six are not divisors of : Therefore, there are possible values of .
Final answer
6