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I already understand the divisibility rule for 12. $$10\equiv -2 \pmod{12} \implies 10^n\equiv (-2)^n \pmod{12}$$

Then for some number $n = abcd = 1000a + 100b + 10c + d,  abcd\equiv1000a + 100b + 10c + d \pmod{12}$
Then  $abcd\equiv (-2)^3a + (-2)^2b + (-2)c + d$
Example:  $7368\equiv -8*7 + 4*3 -2*6 + 8\equiv -48\equiv 0 \pmod{12}$

But why does it work for 21 as well?

If I switch the order that the power rises in, so that now it is $a + (-2)b + (-2)^2c + (-2)^3d$ now, all of a sudden, it works for mod 21

Example: $2331\equiv 2 + (-2)*3 + (-2)^2*3 + (-2)^3*1 \equiv 0 \pmod{21}$

It's obvious why this works for numbers like $48$ and $84$ since with both you are multiplying $4 * -2$ and $8 * 1$ and their sum is then $0$ for both.

But why does it still work for numbers like $105$.

$501$ is obviously not divisible by $12$ and yet: $105\equiv 1 + (-2)*0 + (-2)^2*5\equiv 21 \equiv 0 \pmod{21}$

I'm also fairly sure this is part of the reason that $f$ works in Proof of general divisibility rule

Bernard
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TSA
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  • Your first line should read $10^n\equiv (-2)^n\pmod {12}$. Which, for $n>1$, just works out to $10^n\equiv 4 \pmod {12}$. – lulu Jan 20 '21 at 20:11
  • it doesn't matter that it comes out to 4. This same general property holds for 13 as well. it holds for all the teens. – TSA Jan 20 '21 at 20:16

1 Answers1

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For $21$, the reason this works is that $10\times(-2)=1\pmod{21}$, so $10\equiv(-2)^{-1}\pmod{21}$. Hence $$1000a+100b+10c+d\equiv(-2)^{-3}a+(-2)^{-2}b+(-2)^{-1}c+(-2)^{0}d\pmod{21},$$ so multiplying the RHS by $(-2)^3$ implies the result.

You will observe a similar result for all teen numbers $\overline{1m}=10+m$, because $$10\times(-m)\equiv-\overline{m0}\equiv1\pmod{\overline{m1}}.$$

jlammy
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