# If $x^4 \equiv -1 \mod p$ then $p \equiv 1 \mod 8$

While learning about the Legendre symbol I came across this fact:

If $x^ 4 \equiv -1 \mod p$ then $p \equiv 1 \mod 8$.

Provided '$p$' is a prime greater than $2$.

I could not prove it. Can someone help me to prove the same?

Thanks.

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$p$ is a prime.? –  Inceptio Mar 18 '13 at 8:07
I guess so..... –  i707107 Mar 18 '13 at 8:09
It is a prime. Else the $p\equiv 2 / 1 \mod 8$ –  Inceptio Mar 18 '13 at 8:09
$p$ prime must be given as assumption. Since $3^4 \equiv -1 \textrm{ mod} 82$, and 82 is not a prime. –  i707107 Mar 18 '13 at 8:17
You need to specify that $p$ is odd. Note that $1^4 \equiv -1 \pmod{2}$. –  Ivan Loh Mar 18 '13 at 9:07

Let $p$ be a prime. Suppose that $x^4+1\equiv 0 \textrm{ mod }p$ is solvable.
Then $x$ has order 8 in the multiplicative group of $\mathbb{F}_p$.
Since an order of subgroup must divide the group order, and the cyclic group generated by $x$ has order $8$, we have $8\mid p-1$.
And since the multiplicative group of $\Bbb F_p$ is itself always cyclic, one has $x^4\equiv1\pmod p$ solvable for an odd prime $p$ if and only if $p\equiv1\pmod8$. (But of course that was not the question.) –  Marc van Leeuwen Mar 18 '13 at 8:31