Proof of quadratic reciprocity for the Jacobi symbol
Builds on Jacobi symbolLegendre symbolLaw of quadratic reciprocityMultiplicativity of the Legendre symbolFundamental theorem of arithmetic
Proof
- Let and be coprime positive odd integers. For an odd integer , put , an integer.
- Claim: for odd and , . Indeed . Both factors are even, so this is divisible by , and is even.
- By induction on , for odd . For , both sides are .
- By the fundamental theorem of arithmetic, write and as products of primes, listed with repetition. All of them are odd, and for all because .
- By the definition of the Jacobi symbol, , with Legendre symbols on the right.
- By the multiplicativity of the Legendre symbol, . So .
- In the same way, .
- For each pair , the law of quadratic reciprocity gives .
- Multiplying over all pairs, , where and .
- By step 3, and . So .
- Hence .
Idea
Both Jacobi symbols break into Legendre symbols over pairs of prime factors, one from and one from . Quadratic reciprocity handles each pair. The signs combine correctly because is additive modulo under multiplication of odd numbers.
Reading path
To understand this page from the ground up, read these 132 pages in order. The foundations come first. The path takes the proofs Proof of Bézout's identity, Proof of cancellation in an integral domain, Proof of the approximation property of the supremum, Proof of Gauss's lemma on quadratic residues, Proof of the generalized Euclid's lemma, Proof of Eisenstein's lemma, Proof of the commutativity of addition by induction, Proof of Fermat's little theorem by rearrangement, Proof of Euclid's lemma, Proof that R[x] is an integral domain iff R is, Proof that the reals form an ordered field, with the Cauchy sequence construction, Proof of the law of quadratic reciprocity by counting lattice points, Proof of the degree of a product over an integral domain, Proof of strong induction from ordinary induction, Proof of the fundamental theorem of arithmetic, Proof that the integers modulo a prime form a field, Proof of the multiplicativity of the Legendre symbol from Euler's criterion, Proof that congruence is compatible with addition, Proof of Euler's criterion by counting quadratic residues, Proof of the existence of prime factorization, Proof of the second supplement to quadratic reciprocity from Gauss's lemma, Proof that a polynomial over a field has at most as many roots as its degree, Proof of the remainder theorem, Proof that congruence is compatible with multiplication, Proof of the well-ordering principle from strong induction, Proof of the division algorithm, Proof of the first supplement to quadratic reciprocity from Euler's criterion, Proof that the reals are Archimedean from the completeness axiom, Proof of the factor theorem, Proof of the existence of a prime divisor, Proof that congruence is compatible with powers.
- Construction of the reals from Cauchy sequences concept
- Definition by recursion concept
- Divisibility definition
- Element definition
- Group concept
- Integers object
- Mathematical induction concept
- Natural numbers object
- Ordered field definition
- Peano axioms concept
- Proposition concept
- Rational numbers object
- Real numbers object
- Set bounded above definition
- Congruence modulo n definition
- Greatest common divisor definition
- Prime number definition
- Set definition
- Ring definition
- Ring of integers statement
- Archimedean ordered field definition
- Successor function definition
- Implication definition
- Predicate definition
- The reals form a field statement
- Supremum definition
- Quadratic residue definition
- Residue class definition
- Coprime integers definition
- Proof that congruence is compatible with addition proof
- Proof that congruence is compatible with multiplication proof
- Prime factorization definition
- Ordered pair definition
- Commutative ring definition
- Polynomial ring definition
- Ring homomorphism definition
- Unit of a ring definition
- Zero divisor definition
- Addition of natural numbers definition
- The rationals form a field statement
- The successor function is injective statement
- Zero is not a successor statement
- Universal quantifier definition
- Completeness axiom statement
- Legendre symbol definition
- Congruence is compatible with addition statement
- Congruence is compatible with multiplication statement
- Cartesian product definition
- Divisibility in a commutative ring definition
- Subset definition
- Degree of a polynomial definition
- Polynomial evaluation definition
- Proof of the commutativity of addition by induction proof
- Field definition
- Integral domain definition
- Order on the natural numbers definition
- The rationals form an ordered field statement
- Integers modulo n definition
- Proof that congruence is compatible with powers proof
- Jacobi symbol definition
- Binary relation definition
- Leading coefficient definition
- Order on the reals definition
- Proof of cancellation in an integral domain proof
- Root of a polynomial definition
- Evaluation homomorphism definition
- Commutativity of addition statement
- Proof of strong induction from ordinary induction proof
- Congruence is compatible with powers statement
- Antisymmetric relation definition
- Reflexive relation definition
- Transitive relation definition
- Monic polynomial definition
- Multiplicity of a root definition
- Proof of the degree of a product over an integral domain proof
- Proof of the remainder theorem proof
- Cancellation in an integral domain statement
- Strong induction statement
- Preorder definition
- Division algorithm for polynomials statement
- Degree of a product statement
- Proof of the well-ordering principle from strong induction proof
- Partial order definition
- Remainder theorem statement
- Proof that R[x] is an integral domain iff R is proof
- Well-ordering principle statement
- Total order definition
- Proof of the existence of a prime divisor proof
- Proof of the division algorithm proof
- Proof of the factor theorem proof
- R[x] is an integral domain iff R is statement
- Existence of a prime divisor statement
- Division algorithm statement
- Factor theorem statement
- Proof that the reals form an ordered field, with the Cauchy sequence construction proof
- Proof of Bézout's identity proof
- Proof of the existence of prime factorization proof
- Proof that a polynomial over a field has at most as many roots as its degree proof
- The reals form an ordered field statement
- Bézout's identity statement
- Existence of prime factorization statement
- A polynomial over a field has at most as many roots as its degree statement
- Proof of the approximation property of the supremum proof
- Proof of the generalized Euclid's lemma proof
- Proof that the integers modulo a prime form a field proof
- Approximation property of the supremum statement
- Integers modulo a prime form a field statement
- Generalized Euclid's lemma statement
- Proof that the reals are Archimedean from the completeness axiom proof
- Proof of Euclid's lemma proof
- The reals are Archimedean statement
- Euclid's lemma statement
- Floor function definition
- Proof of Fermat's little theorem by rearrangement proof
- Proof of the fundamental theorem of arithmetic proof
- Fermat's little theorem statement
- Fundamental theorem of arithmetic statement
- Proof of Euler's criterion by counting quadratic residues proof
- Euler's criterion statement
- Proof of the first supplement to quadratic reciprocity from Euler's criterion proof
- Proof of Gauss's lemma on quadratic residues proof
- Proof of the multiplicativity of the Legendre symbol from Euler's criterion proof
- Proof of Eisenstein's lemma proof
- First supplement to quadratic reciprocity statement
- Gauss's lemma on quadratic residues statement
- Multiplicativity of the Legendre symbol statement
- Proof of the second supplement to quadratic reciprocity from Gauss's lemma proof
- Eisenstein's lemma statement
- Second supplement to quadratic reciprocity statement
- Proof of the law of quadratic reciprocity by counting lattice points proof
- Law of quadratic reciprocity statement
- Proof of quadratic reciprocity for the Jacobi symbol proof
Where this leads
1 page builds on this one.
Further reading
About this page
| Tag | HWSPS1M53G |
|---|---|
| URI | m2://HWSPS1M53G |
| Kind | proof |
| Writing | W0 stub |
| MSC | 11A15 |
| Proves | Quadratic reciprocity for the Jacobi symbol |
| Uses | Jacobi symbol, Legendre symbol, Law of quadratic reciprocity, Multiplicativity of the Legendre symbol, Fundamental theorem of arithmetic |
| Changed | 4 November 2026 |
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