Topic 5: Modular Numbers and

Magic Squares
Week 10: Lecture 1 Hour (Synchronous) – Part 1

Tutorial 1 Hour

Lecture 1 Hour (Asynchronous)

Conceptual Framework

Modular
Numbers &
Magic Squares

Modular Solve non-

Magic Squares
Numbers routine problems
Sub-Topic:
 Modular Numbers up to mod 12; Formulae to determine the
sum, difference and product involving modular numbers

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this module, students will be able to:

1. Carry out basic operations on various types of numbers by applying related theorems
and formulae. (C3, P2, PLO1, PLO3, CTPS3)

Introduction:
Modular Arithmetic is one of the foundations of Number Theory, developed by Carl Friedrich
Gauss in his book Disquisitiones Arithmeticae (1801). Modular Arithmetic is used extensively in
computer algebra, computer science, cryptography, chemistry, visual and musical arts. For
example International Standard Book Number (ISBN) uses modulo 10 or 11 for error detection,
International Bank Account Numbers (IBANs) uses modulo 97 arithmetic to spot user input error
in banking account numbers, public key systems Rivest–Shamir–Adleman (RSA) and Diffie-
Hellman use modular exponentiation to safely exchange key over insecure channel. In this
topic, we are going to unwrap what exactly is modular number and its arithmetic rules.

Lecture 1 Hour (Synchronous)

1. Week 10 Slide (40 minutes)
2. Enrichment: Modular Arithmetic Visually (20 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ3CD9M3nEQ

Tutorial 1 Hour
Complete the Tutorial Worksheet in GC.

Lecture 1 Hour (Asynchronous)

Explore further about the interesting applications of modular numbers in the real world

(a) How to figure out the day of the week for any date ever
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=714LTMNJy5M&list=WL&index=17
(b) ISBN, UPC, Credit Card number, Zeller’s congruence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BDB7D2Us_c

(c) Cryptography
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNzaMrcuTM0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmwxDHX6xUc

Suggested Reading:
Smith, K. J. (2016). Nature of Mathematics. Cengage Learning.

Levin, O. (2021). Discrete mathematics: An open introduction.(page 310-319)

http://discrete.openmathbooks.org/pdfs/dmoi-tablet.pdf