Math 2.0

Number theory Proof

Proof of quadratic reciprocity for the Jacobi symbol

Builds on Jacobi symbolLegendre symbolLaw of quadratic reciprocityMultiplicativity of the Legendre symbolFundamental theorem of arithmetic

Proof

  1. Let mm and nn be coprime positive odd integers. For an odd integer rr, put δ(r)=(r−1)/2\delta(r) = (r - 1)/2, an integer.
  2. Claim: for odd rr and ss, δ(rs)≡δ(r)+δ(s)(mod2)\delta(rs) \equiv \delta(r) + \delta(s) \pmod 2. Indeed (rs−1)−(r−1)−(s−1)=(r−1)(s−1)(rs - 1) - (r - 1) - (s - 1) = (r-1)(s-1). Both factors are even, so this is divisible by 44, and δ(rs)−δ(r)−δ(s)\delta(rs) - \delta(r) - \delta(s) is even.
  3. By induction on tt, δ(r1⋯rt)≡∑i=1tδ(ri)(mod2)\delta(r_1 \cdots r_t) \equiv \sum_{i=1}^{t} \delta(r_i) \pmod 2 for odd r1,…,rtr_1, \dots, r_t. For t=0t = 0, both sides are δ(1)=0\delta(1) = 0.
  4. By the fundamental theorem of arithmetic, write m=p1⋯psm = p_1 \cdots p_s and n=q1⋯qtn = q_1 \cdots q_t as products of primes, listed with repetition. All of them are odd, and pi≠qjp_i \ne q_j for all i,ji, j because gcd⁡(m,n)=1\gcd(m, n) = 1.
  5. By the definition of the Jacobi symbol, (mn)=∏j=1t(mqj)\left(\frac{m}{n}\right) = \prod_{j=1}^{t} \left(\frac{m}{q_j}\right), with Legendre symbols on the right.
  6. By the multiplicativity of the Legendre symbol, (mqj)=∏i=1s(piqj)\left(\frac{m}{q_j}\right) = \prod_{i=1}^{s} \left(\frac{p_i}{q_j}\right). So (mn)=∏i,j(piqj)\left(\frac{m}{n}\right) = \prod_{i, j} \left(\frac{p_i}{q_j}\right).
  7. In the same way, (nm)=∏i,j(qjpi)\left(\frac{n}{m}\right) = \prod_{i, j} \left(\frac{q_j}{p_i}\right).
  8. For each pair (i,j)(i, j), the law of quadratic reciprocity gives (piqj)(qjpi)=(−1)δ(pi)δ(qj)\left(\frac{p_i}{q_j}\right) \left(\frac{q_j}{p_i}\right) = (-1)^{\delta(p_i) \delta(q_j)}.
  9. Multiplying over all pairs, (mn)(nm)=(−1)∑i,jδ(pi)δ(qj)=(−1)AB\left(\frac{m}{n}\right) \left(\frac{n}{m}\right) = (-1)^{\sum_{i,j} \delta(p_i) \delta(q_j)} = (-1)^{A B}, where A=∑iδ(pi)A = \sum_i \delta(p_i) and B=∑jδ(qj)B = \sum_j \delta(q_j).
  10. By step 3, A≡δ(m)A \equiv \delta(m) and B≡δ(n)(mod2)B \equiv \delta(n) \pmod 2. So AB≡δ(m)δ(n)(mod2)AB \equiv \delta(m) \delta(n) \pmod 2.
  11. Hence (mn)(nm)=(−1)m−12⋅n−12\left(\frac{m}{n}\right) \left(\frac{n}{m}\right) = (-1)^{\frac{m-1}{2} \cdot \frac{n-1}{2}}.

Idea

Both Jacobi symbols break into Legendre symbols over pairs of prime factors, one from mm and one from nn. Quadratic reciprocity handles each pair. The signs combine correctly because (r−1)/2(r-1)/2 is additive modulo 22 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.

  1. Construction of the reals from Cauchy sequences concept
  2. Definition by recursion concept
  3. Divisibility definition
  4. Element definition
  5. Group concept
  6. Integers object
  7. Mathematical induction concept
  8. Natural numbers object
  9. Ordered field definition
  10. Peano axioms concept
  11. Proposition concept
  12. Rational numbers object
  13. Real numbers object
  14. Set bounded above definition
  15. Congruence modulo n definition
  16. Greatest common divisor definition
  17. Prime number definition
  18. Set definition
  19. Ring definition
  20. Ring of integers statement
  21. Archimedean ordered field definition
  22. Successor function definition
  23. Implication definition
  24. Predicate definition
  25. The reals form a field statement
  26. Supremum definition
  27. Quadratic residue definition
  28. Residue class definition
  29. Coprime integers definition
  30. Proof that congruence is compatible with addition proof
  31. Proof that congruence is compatible with multiplication proof
  32. Prime factorization definition
  33. Ordered pair definition
  34. Commutative ring definition
  35. Polynomial ring definition
  36. Ring homomorphism definition
  37. Unit of a ring definition
  38. Zero divisor definition
  39. Addition of natural numbers definition
  40. The rationals form a field statement
  41. The successor function is injective statement
  42. Zero is not a successor statement
  43. Universal quantifier definition
  44. Completeness axiom statement
  45. Legendre symbol definition
  46. Congruence is compatible with addition statement
  47. Congruence is compatible with multiplication statement
  48. Cartesian product definition
  49. Divisibility in a commutative ring definition
  50. Subset definition
  51. Degree of a polynomial definition
  52. Polynomial evaluation definition
  53. Proof of the commutativity of addition by induction proof
  54. Field definition
  55. Integral domain definition
  56. Order on the natural numbers definition
  57. The rationals form an ordered field statement
  58. Integers modulo n definition
  59. Proof that congruence is compatible with powers proof
  60. Jacobi symbol definition
  61. Binary relation definition
  62. Leading coefficient definition
  63. Order on the reals definition
  64. Proof of cancellation in an integral domain proof
  65. Root of a polynomial definition
  66. Evaluation homomorphism definition
  67. Commutativity of addition statement
  68. Proof of strong induction from ordinary induction proof
  69. Congruence is compatible with powers statement
  70. Antisymmetric relation definition
  71. Reflexive relation definition
  72. Transitive relation definition
  73. Monic polynomial definition
  74. Multiplicity of a root definition
  75. Proof of the degree of a product over an integral domain proof
  76. Proof of the remainder theorem proof
  77. Cancellation in an integral domain statement
  78. Strong induction statement
  79. Preorder definition
  80. Division algorithm for polynomials statement
  81. Degree of a product statement
  82. Proof of the well-ordering principle from strong induction proof
  83. Partial order definition
  84. Remainder theorem statement
  85. Proof that R[x] is an integral domain iff R is proof
  86. Well-ordering principle statement
  87. Total order definition
  88. Proof of the existence of a prime divisor proof
  89. Proof of the division algorithm proof
  90. Proof of the factor theorem proof
  91. R[x] is an integral domain iff R is statement
  92. Existence of a prime divisor statement
  93. Division algorithm statement
  94. Factor theorem statement
  95. Proof that the reals form an ordered field, with the Cauchy sequence construction proof
  96. Proof of Bézout's identity proof
  97. Proof of the existence of prime factorization proof
  98. Proof that a polynomial over a field has at most as many roots as its degree proof
  99. The reals form an ordered field statement
  100. Bézout's identity statement
  101. Existence of prime factorization statement
  102. A polynomial over a field has at most as many roots as its degree statement
  103. Proof of the approximation property of the supremum proof
  104. Proof of the generalized Euclid's lemma proof
  105. Proof that the integers modulo a prime form a field proof
  106. Approximation property of the supremum statement
  107. Integers modulo a prime form a field statement
  108. Generalized Euclid's lemma statement
  109. Proof that the reals are Archimedean from the completeness axiom proof
  110. Proof of Euclid's lemma proof
  111. The reals are Archimedean statement
  112. Euclid's lemma statement
  113. Floor function definition
  114. Proof of Fermat's little theorem by rearrangement proof
  115. Proof of the fundamental theorem of arithmetic proof
  116. Fermat's little theorem statement
  117. Fundamental theorem of arithmetic statement
  118. Proof of Euler's criterion by counting quadratic residues proof
  119. Euler's criterion statement
  120. Proof of the first supplement to quadratic reciprocity from Euler's criterion proof
  121. Proof of Gauss's lemma on quadratic residues proof
  122. Proof of the multiplicativity of the Legendre symbol from Euler's criterion proof
  123. Proof of Eisenstein's lemma proof
  124. First supplement to quadratic reciprocity statement
  125. Gauss's lemma on quadratic residues statement
  126. Multiplicativity of the Legendre symbol statement
  127. Proof of the second supplement to quadratic reciprocity from Gauss's lemma proof
  128. Eisenstein's lemma statement
  129. Second supplement to quadratic reciprocity statement
  130. Proof of the law of quadratic reciprocity by counting lattice points proof
  131. Law of quadratic reciprocity statement
  132. Proof of quadratic reciprocity for the Jacobi symbol proof

Where this leads

1 page builds on this one.

Further reading

  1. Web https://math.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Combinatorics_and_Discrete_Mathematics/Elementary_Number_Theory_(Raji)/05%3A_Primitive_Roots_and_Quadratic_Residues/5.07%3A_Jacobi_Symbol
About this page
TagHWSPS1M53G
URIm2://HWSPS1M53G
Kindproof
WritingW0 stub
MSC11A15
ProvesQuadratic reciprocity for the Jacobi symbol
UsesJacobi symbol, Legendre symbol, Law of quadratic reciprocity, Multiplicativity of the Legendre symbol, Fundamental theorem of arithmetic
Changed4 November 2026

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