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Euler's Totient Function

Age 16 to 18
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Question 1

$15$ has factors $3$ and $5$ (and $1$ and $15$).  Write out all the numbers between $1$ and $14$ inclusive and then cross out everything which is a multiple of $3$, or $5$.  You should be left with $8$ numbers which are co-prime with $15$.

 

Question 2

For example, $\phi(7)=6$ as $1, 2, 3, 4, 5$ and $6$ share no common factors with $7$.  If one of the first $6$ numbers did share a factor with $7$, then $7$ would not be prime.

 

Question 3

For example $\phi(3^2)= 6$ since $1, 2,$ _ $, 4, 5,$ _ $, 7, 8$ are coprime with $9$. 
Try a few more examples for different prime numbers and different powers before trying to generalise.

 

Question 4

$24$ can be written as $3 \times 8$.  Is it true that $\phi(24) = \phi(3) \times \phi(8)$?
Alternatively $24$ can be written as $4 \times 6$.  Is it true that $\phi(24) = \phi(4) \times \phi(6)$?

 

Question 5

It might be helpful to write $n$ as a product of prime factors, e.g. $n=p_1^{a_1} \times p_2^{a_2} \times \cdots \times p_k^{a_k}$.

 

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The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

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