Definition:Pseudoprime (Number Theory)

Definition

A pseudoprime is a composite number which exhibit behaviour which in some way is more characteristic of a prime number.

Fermat Pseudoprime

Let $q$ be a composite number such that $\exists n \in N: n^q \equiv n \pmod q$.

Then $q$ is a Fermat pseudoprime to base $n$.

Also see

• Results about pseudoprimes in the context of number theory can be found here.

Sources

• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): pseudoprime
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): pseudoprime