2.1: Problem 02: Exhibit a complete residue system module 17 composed entirely of multiples of 3.

Solution

Observe that multiples of 3 leave the following remainders

$$ \begin{align*} 3 \bmod 17 &= 3 \\ 6 \bmod 17 &= 6 \\ 9 \bmod 17 &= 9 \\ 12 \bmod 17 &= 12 \\ 15 \bmod 17 &= 15 \\ 18 \bmod 17 &= 1 \\ 21 \bmod 17 &= 4 \\ 24 \bmod 17 &= 7 \\ 27 \bmod 17 &= 10 \\ 30 \bmod 17 &= 13 \\ \cdots \end{align*} $$

In fact, we can construct a complete system of 17 from the first 17 multiples. This is also because \((3,17) = 1\).


References