[Math] Why do we use “congruent to” instead of equal to

congruencesmodular arithmeticnotation

I'm more familiar with the notation $a \equiv b \pmod c$, but I think this is equivalent to $a \bmod c = b \bmod c $, which makes it clear that we should put a $=$ instead of $\equiv$.

What's the reason for the change of sign? If it's to emphasize that modular equivalence is a congruence relation, why don't we use the $\equiv$ sign in both notations?

Best Answer

  • I am a human being.
  • You are a human being.

Therefore, I am you: right ? Well, as it turns out, the answer is no. It simply means that we belong to the same class. Likewise, $3\neq7$, but $3\equiv7\bmod4$.

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