Math 2.0

Number theory Proof

Proof that the order of the group of units of Z/nZ is Euler's totient

Builds on Integers modulo nResidue classGroup of units of Z/nZUnits of Z/nZ are the residues coprime to nDivision algorithmOrder of a group

Proof

We count the units of ℤ/nℤ\Z/n\Z through a bijection.

  1. Let n≥1n \geq 1. Write [b]=b+nℤ[b] = b + n\Z for the residue class of an integer bb modulo nn.
  2. Let SS be the set of integers aa with 0≤a≤n−10 \leq a \leq n - 1 and gcd⁡(a,n)=1\gcd(a, n) = 1. By definition, SS has φ(n)\varphi(n) elements.
  3. Each class of ℤ/nℤ\Z/n\Z is [b][b] for an integer bb. By the division algorithm, b=nq+rb = nq + r with integers qq and 0≤r≤n−10 \leq r \leq n - 1.
  4. Then b+nℤ=r+nℤb + n\Z = r + n\Z, so [b]=[r][b] = [r]. Thus each class is [r][r] for some rr with 0≤r≤n−10 \leq r \leq n - 1.
  5. Let 0≤r<s≤n−10 \leq r < s \leq n - 1. If [r]=[s][r] = [s], then s∈[s]=r+nℤs \in [s] = r + n\Z, so nn divides s−rs - r.
  6. But 0<s−r<n0 < s - r < n, so nn does not divide s−rs - r. Hence the classes [0],[1],…,[n−1][0], [1], \ldots, [n-1] are pairwise distinct.
  7. The group (ℤ/nℤ)×(\Z/n\Z)^\times is the set of the units of ℤ/nℤ\Z/n\Z. By the characterisation of units, [a][a] is a unit if and only if gcd⁡(a,n)=1\gcd(a, n) = 1.
  8. Define f ⁣:S→(ℤ/nℤ)×f \colon S \to (\Z/n\Z)^\times by f(a)=[a]f(a) = [a]. By step 7, f(a)f(a) is a unit for each a∈Sa \in S.
  9. The map ff is injective by step 6.
  10. Let uu be a unit. By step 4, u=[r]u = [r] with 0≤r≤n−10 \leq r \leq n - 1. By step 7, gcd⁡(r,n)=1\gcd(r, n) = 1. So r∈Sr \in S and f(r)=uf(r) = u, and ff is surjective.
  11. So ff is a bijection, and the order of (ℤ/nℤ)×(\Z/n\Z)^\times is the number of elements of SS, which is φ(n)\varphi(n).

Idea

Each residue class modulo nn has exactly one representative between 00 and n−1n - 1. A class is a unit exactly when its representative is coprime to nn. So counting units is the same as counting these representatives, and φ(n)\varphi(n) counts them.

Reading path

To understand this page from the ground up, read these 43 pages in order. The foundations come first. The path takes the proofs Proof of Bézout's identity, Proof of the commutativity of addition by induction, Proof of strong induction from ordinary induction, Proof that congruence is compatible with addition, Proof that congruence is compatible with multiplication, Proof of the well-ordering principle from strong induction, Proof of the division algorithm, Proof that the units of Z/nZ are the residues coprime to n.

  1. Binary operation definition
  2. Definition by recursion concept
  3. Divisibility definition
  4. Group concept
  5. Group of units of Z/nZ object
  6. Mathematical induction concept
  7. Natural numbers object
  8. Peano axioms concept
  9. Associativity definition
  10. Identity element definition
  11. Congruence modulo n definition
  12. Greatest common divisor definition
  13. Order of a group definition
  14. Ring definition
  15. Successor function definition
  16. Semigroup definition
  17. Inverse element definition
  18. Proof that congruence is compatible with addition proof
  19. Proof that congruence is compatible with multiplication proof
  20. Residue class definition
  21. Addition of natural numbers definition
  22. Unit of a ring definition
  23. The successor function is injective statement
  24. Zero is not a successor statement
  25. Monoid definition
  26. Congruence is compatible with addition statement
  27. Congruence is compatible with multiplication statement
  28. Proof of the commutativity of addition by induction proof
  29. Order on the natural numbers definition
  30. Group of units of a monoid definition
  31. Integers modulo n definition
  32. Commutativity of addition statement
  33. Proof of strong induction from ordinary induction proof
  34. Strong induction statement
  35. Proof of the well-ordering principle from strong induction proof
  36. Well-ordering principle statement
  37. Proof of the division algorithm proof
  38. Division algorithm statement
  39. Proof of Bézout's identity proof
  40. Bézout's identity statement
  41. Proof that the units of Z/nZ are the residues coprime to n proof
  42. Units of Z/nZ are the residues coprime to n statement
  43. Proof that the order of the group of units of Z/nZ is Euler's totient proof

Where this leads

8 pages build on this one.

Further reading

  1. Web https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiplicative_group_of_integers_modulo_n, Group axioms
About this page
TagA9SEXWS278
URIm2://A9SEXWS278
Kindproof
WritingW0 stub
MSC11A07, 11A25
ProvesOrder of the group of units of Z/nZ is Euler's totient
UsesIntegers modulo n, Residue class, Group of units of Z/nZ, Units of Z/nZ are the residues coprime to n, Division algorithm, Order of a group
Changed4 November 2026

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