# Why are there $736$ matrices $M\in \mathcal M_2(\mathbb{Z}_{26})$ for which it holds that $M=M^{-1}$?

I'm currently trying to introduce myself to cryptography.

I'm reading about the Hill Cipher currently in the book Applied Abstract Algebra. The Hill Cipher uses an invertible matrix $M$ for encryption and the inverse matrix $M^{-1}$ for decryption. The book recommends to use a matrix $M$ for which it holds that $M=M^{-1}$, since we then have the same key for encryption and decryption.

In the book, they use a $2 \times 2$ matrix $M$ over $\mathbb{Z}_{26}$ as example, and state that for there are 736 $2 \times 2$ matrices for which it hold that $M=M^{-1}$.

I'm trying to pick up on as much as possible when reading things, since I find it counter-productive for learning to skip something, when you don't get the theory behind it. Can someone enlighten to me, as to why it is that there are 736 possible $2 \times 2$ $M=M^{-1}$ matrices and how to find them?

Indeed there turns out to be a more systematic answer. Computing the number $a_n$ of self-inverse matrices over $\mathbb Z_n$ for some $n$ leads to OEIS sequences A066907 and A066947. It turns out that $a_n$ is multiplicative and given by

$$a_n=c_m\prod_i\left(2+p_i^{2k_i-1}(p_i+1)\right)$$

for $n=2^m\prod_ip_i^{k_i}$, where the $p_i$ are the odd prime factors of $n$ and

$$c_m= \begin{cases} 1&m=0\;,\\ 4&m=1\;,\\ 28&m=2\;,\\ 9\cdot4^{m-1}+32&m\gt2\;. \end{cases}$$

In the present case $26=2^1\cdot13^1$, so $a_{26}=4(2+13\cdot14)=736$.

Unfortunately the links in the entry are all broken and the author's email address is obsolete, so the question remains how to derive this.

There may be a more systematic way of doing this; here's a semi-systematic way.

Your condition is equivalent to $M^2=I$. For $\displaystyle M=\pmatrix{a&b\\c&d}$ that yields four equations:

\begin{align} a^2+bc&\equiv1\;,\\ ab+bd&\equiv0\;,\\ ca+dc&\equiv0\;,\\ cb+d^2&\equiv1\;. \end{align}

The first and last of these have solutions for $a$ and $d$, respectively, if and only if $1-bc$ is a quadratic residue. If so, $a^2\equiv d^2$, and thus $a\equiv\pm d$.

The second and third equation are $(a+d)b\equiv0$ and $(a+d)c\equiv0$. These are fulfilled for $a\equiv-d$, so we have one solution for every pair $b,c$ with $1-bc\equiv0$ or $1-bc\equiv13$ and two solutions for every pair $b,c$ with $1-bc$ a quadratic residue other than $0$ and $13$. I don't know a systematic way of counting these; this code counts $728$.

That leaves the alternative $a\equiv+d$, excluding $a=d=0$ and $a=d=13$ since these have already been counted under $a\equiv-d$. In this case $a+d$ is even and not divisble by $13$, so $(a+d)b\equiv0$ and $(a+d)c\equiv0$ if and only if $b$ and $c$ are both $0$ or $13$. That's $4$ combinations, and for each of them there are two square roots of $1-bc$ that $a=d$ can be, so that makes $8$ additional possibilities, for a total of $728+8=736$.

• Sorry, how does it yield those four equations? Also thanks for the answer to my post. :) – Buster Fjelströmp Mar 8 '13 at 10:47
• @Buster: Just multiply out $\pmatrix{a&b\\c&d}\pmatrix{a&b\\c&d}$. – joriki Mar 8 '13 at 10:48
• Aaaah, how could I miss that. That really cleared it up. Thanks. – Buster Fjelströmp Mar 8 '13 at 11:04

Let $A,B,C$ range over the nonzero elements of ${\mathbb Z}/13$.

Then over ${\mathbb Z}/13$ I get the following self-inverse matrices:

$$\hbox{12 of type} \pmatrix{0&B\cr 1/B&0\cr}$$ $$\hbox{144 of type} \pmatrix{A&B\cr{1-A^2\over B}&-A\cr}$$ $$\hbox{4 of type} \pmatrix{\pm 1&0\cr 0&\pm 1\cr}$$ $$\hbox{12 each of types} \pmatrix{1&0\cr C&-1\cr}, \pmatrix{-1&0\cr C&1\cr},\pmatrix{1&B\cr 0&-1\cr},\pmatrix{-1&B\cr 0&1\cr}$$

That's a total of 208 over ${\mathbb Z}/13$. If I multiply this by 4 (the number of self-inverse matrices over ${\mathbb Z}/2$), I get 832, not 736. Where's my mistake?

• The last two types of size $12$ were already counted among the second type of size $144$. – Erick Wong Mar 9 '13 at 20:21
• Erick Wong: Yup, that's the mistake alright. Thanks very much. – WillO Mar 9 '13 at 22:20
• Might I ask, how/why did you decide to split it up into 2 and 13? – Buster Fjelströmp Mar 9 '13 at 23:43
• Buster: ${\mathbb Z}_{26}$ is the direct product of ${\mathbb Z}_{13}$ and ${\mathbb Z}_2$. That is, you can think of an element of ${\mathbb Z}_{26}$ as an ordered pair, with the first component coming from ${\mathbb Z}_{13}$ and the second from ${\mathbb Z}_2$. Thus you can also think of a matrix over ${\mathbb Z}_{26}$ as an ordered pair of matrices, one over ${\mathbb Z}_{13}$ and one over ${\mathbb Z}_2$. To count all these ordered pairs, it's enough to count all the possible left-hand components and all the possible right-hand components separately, then multiply. – WillO Mar 10 '13 at 3:07
• Ah makes sense. Thanks. :) Just one last question. How did you end up with those different matrices that multiplied with themselves yields the identity matrix, I? I verified them and all matrices of that shape, does indeed yield I. Did you calculate them yourselves, or do you have a source? – Buster Fjelströmp Mar 10 '13 at 12:03

For a $2\times2$ matrix, $M=\begin{pmatrix}a&b\\c&d\end{pmatrix}$, the inverse is given by $M^{-1}=\frac1{ad-bc}\begin{pmatrix}d&-b\\-c&a\end{pmatrix}$. Hence, in order for $M=M^{-1}$, there are two options:
(1) $b=c=0$, then $a=\frac{1}{ad}d=\frac1a$ and $d=\frac1{ad}a=\frac1d$, hence $a^2=d^2=1$, i.e. $a=\pm1$, $b=\pm1$ - so there are $4$ such matrices.
(2) At least one of $b,c$ is non-zero. Then $ad-bc=-1$ and $d=-a$. Two options from here:
(i) If $bc=0$ then $ad=-a^2=-1$, so $a=\pm1$. So there are $25$ options to choose $b\neq0$ and two options to choose $a$. So a total of $50$ matrices with $c=0$. Hence a total of $100$ such matrices with $bc=0$.
(ii) $bc\neq0$. We have $a^2+bc=1$, so $1-bc$ has to be a square $\mod 26$, hence $1-bc\in\{0,1,4,9,16,25,10,23,12,3,22,17,14,13\}$. Since $bc\neq0$, we have $bc\in\{1,23,18,11,2,17,4,15,24,5,10,13,14\}$. There are $26(1-\frac12)(1-\frac1{13})=12$ (Euler's phi) invertible elements in $\mathbb{Z}_{26}$. For any choice of invertible $b$, there are $13$ options for $bc$, each gives one option for $c$, each, in turn gives $2$ options for $a$, except $bc=14$ (since $a^2=13$ implies $a=13$). Hence a total of $12\cdot12\cdot2+12\cdot1\cdot1=300$ such matrices with $b$ invertible.
For $bc\in\{18,2,4,24,10,13,14\}$ there are solutions with $b$ not invertible: each of those has to be checked manually. For example:
$bc=18$ then $b\in\{2,6,9,18,-2=24,-6=20,-9=17,-18=8\}$ (all non-invertible divisors of $18$). Hence there are $8\cdot 2=16$ ($2$ options for $a$) such matrices.
And so on

Interesting, this question is very similar (but not completely) to an assignment I have due monday, and which I have tried some of friday and all of saturday to solve (and nearly given up on by now), with no luck.

I am to answer the exact same question as you, but I am tasked of doing it by "splitting the problem into two cases. First a case where it is modulo 2, then modulo 13".

I figure that after finding the amount modulo 2 and 13, I should use the Chinese Remainder Theorem to make the result mod 26 again. I cannot figure out though, how I should go about doing it. What I have done so far, is actually something that seems most similar to what joriki suggested (but I have no idea, whether it was the right approach to do in my case).

What I do to try to solve it, is that i, as instructed, split $det(A) \equiv \pm 1$ mod 26 into: $det(A) \equiv \pm 1$ mod $13$ and $det(A) \equiv \pm 1$ mod $2$.

Then I have been thinking (and this is the part I think reminded me of joriki's solution) that since $A=A^{-1}$ means that $A^2=I$, I should find all cases where:

$\pmatrix{a&b\\c&d}^2=\pmatrix{1&0\\0&1}$

Which means I have the congruences: \begin{align} a^2+bc&\equiv1\\ ab+bd&\equiv0\\ ca+dc&\equiv0\\ cb+d^2&\equiv1\ \end{align}

But that is where the fun ends. I have no clue where to go from this point.... Or if what I have been doing so far, is the correct way of doing it, if I want to show it using the hint given... I hope someone can (and also will help out), and are willing to shed some light on this.

The course in which I have this assignment is an introductory cryptology course, so I am not familar (yet, I find math compelling, especially in a cryptology setting) with Euler's phi, OEIS sequences and quadratic residue terms, so I haven't been able to turn them around and give me enough inspiration to solve my own subproblem here.

Sorry if I am hijacking your question. I made a separate question at first, but it was considered a duplicate to this. And I agree with that. This is a subquestion about how to solve your question in a specific way. I hope the answer (I hope I get one) might be interesting to you too, since you seem to be introducing yourself to cryptography as well. :)