Quadratic Residues – Proving Solutions for x^2-34x+1 ? 0 Modulo p

elementary-number-theorymodular arithmeticquadratic-residues

Consider the quadratic congruence
\begin{equation}
x^2-34x+1 \equiv 0 \pmod{p},
\end{equation}

where $p \equiv 7 \pmod{8}$. There are two solutions, since we can write it as
\begin{equation}
(x-17)^2 \equiv 288 \pmod{p}
\end{equation}

and check that $288$ is a quadratic residue in this case. Since the product of solutions is congruent to $1 \pmod{p}$, then both of them are either quadratic residues or quadratic non-residues. I have checked multiple primes, and it appears that both solutions are always quadratic residues. I'm not sure how to prove it; I feel like I'm missing something obvious. Any hint would be much appreciated!

Best Answer

Easy way: $ $ applying my denesting formula we can compute $\color{#0a0}{\sqrt x}\,$ by completing a square

$\qquad \qquad\ 34x = x^2+1 \iff 36x = (x\!+\!1)^2\!\!\iff x = \left(\!\color{#0a0}{\dfrac{x\!+\!1}6}\!\right)^{\!2}$

Remark $ $ So $\:\!x\:\!$ has a $\:\!\rm\color{#0a0}{square\ root}\:\!$ in any ring where $\color{#0a0}{1/6}\,$ exists, e.g. $\:\!\Bbb Z_n\:\!$ for all $\:\!n\:\!$ coprime to $\:\!6,\,$ e.g. OP's $\,n=$ prime $p\equiv 7\pmod{\!8},\,$ where $\,p\neq 2,3\Rightarrow p\,$ coprime to $\:\!6$.

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