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Give a conjecture describing the values of $n$ for which all of the nonzero elements of $Z_n = {0, 1, 2, . . . , n − 1}$ have multiplicative inverses.

I am guessing the point of not having $0$ included is so nonprime numbers of $n$ will now have inverses, but I want to make sure this is the case.

George
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  • The condition of being nonzero is because 0 never has a multiplicative inverse (in a nontrivial ring). I'm not sure what you mean by "nonprime numbers of $n$ now have inverses." – platty Nov 30 '18 at 01:18

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It is not necessarily the case that all nonprime numbers less than $n$ have inverses.

Hint: $r\in\{0,1,2,\dotsc, n-1\}$ has a multiplicative inverse if there is some $s$ such that $rs-1$ is divisible by $n$, i.e., such that $rs-1 = kn$, or $rs-kn = 1$. What does that tell you about $r$ and $n$?

rogerl
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