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$7^{-1} \bmod 120 = 103$

I would like to know how $7^{-1} \bmod 120$ results in $103$.

Luke Collins
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3 Answers3

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Using Carmichael Function, $$\lambda(120)=4$$

As $(7,120)=1, 7^4\equiv1\pmod{120}$

$$7^{-1}\equiv7^3\equiv343\equiv103$$

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How to convert a diophantine equation into parametric form? OR

Solving a Linear Congruence

$$\dfrac{120}7=17+\dfrac17$$

$$\implies120\cdot1-17\cdot7=1$$

$$\implies-17\cdot7\equiv1\pmod{120}$$

$$7^{-1}\equiv-17\equiv-17+120$$

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Imagine a clock that has a large enough dial so that one can write numbers 0 to 119 (totally 120 numbers).

Now start at 0. Move clockwise jumping in steps of seven, so the first step will land in 7, 2nd step will land in 14, .... 10th step at 70, ... 15th step at 105, 18th step at 6 .....etc

Now your statement $7^{-1}= 103 \pmod{120}$ means the number 1 will be reached in 103rd step (when jumping in steps of 7 starting from 0).

Similarly $37^{-1}=13\pmod{120}$ means when jumping by 37 at a time starting from 0 one will reach 1 in the 13th step.

How exactly to calculate this is a different matter: it is by using extended Euclidean algorithm