Modular multiplication/division (Clock arithmetic) Math Topics

Name _________________________

1. Here are the steps to multiplying numbers in a modular system.

Example: 5x4 in mod 12 (12 hour clock world)
a) Multiple the numbers as normal. 5x4 = 20
b) Divide the answer by number of hours on the clock (12), and find the remainder.
20/12 = 1 remainder 8.
c) The answer is the remainder. Answer = 8

2. Use the above steps to do the following multiplication problems:

a) (7x3) (mod 12) =

b) (4x9) (mod 12) =

c) (5x7) (mod 12) =

d) (6x8) (mod 9) =

e) (9x13) (mod 15) =

f) (9x13) (mod 11) =

3. You can use the same steps for addition/subtraction, just add/subtract on the first step instead
of multiplying.
a) (25 + 11) (mod 6) =

b) (326 – 34) (mod 21) =

c) (3 + 4) (mod 3) =

d) (32 -14) (mod 10) =

4. Now let’s do a few of just changing a number to a particular modular system as review.
a) 7 mod 5 =
b) 12 mod 4 =
c) 20 mod 6 =
d) 21 mod 5 =
5. To divide in a modular system, we can rearrange it to a multiplication with “x” as the answer,
and then solve by guess and check:
Example: 5 divided by 7 (mod 12) = ?
a) First we rewrite it with a division sign and an x: 5/7 (mod 12) = x
b) Now, multiply by 7 on both sides so we no longer have a fraction:
5 mod 12 = 7x
c) We know x has to be a mod 12 number, so it can be any integer from 0 to 11. We try them:
7x0 mod 12 = 0, not 5
7x1 mod 12 = 7, not 5
7x2 mod 12 = 2, not 5
7x3 mod 12 = 9, not 5
7x4 mod 12 = 4, not 5
7x5 mod 12 = 3, not 5
7x6 mod 12 = 6, not 5
7x7 mod 12 = 1, not 5
7x8 mod 12 = 6, not 5
7x9 mod 12 = 2, not 5
7x10 mod 12 = 10, not 5
7x11 mod 12 = 5 ----- finally found it!
d) So, our final answer is 11. 5/7 mod 12 = 11!

Some division problems might not have a solution, that is, none of the numbers might work
when we guess and check. It is also possible for there to be more than one solution, that is,
more than one of the numbers might work when we guess and check.

6. 4/2 mod 6 has two solutions. Use the above steps to find both.

7. 3/2 mod 6 has no solutions. Use the above steps to prove that there are no solutions.