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SOME $\mathbb{Z}_{n-1}$ TERRACES FROM $\mathbb{Z}_{n}$ POWER-SEQUENCES, $n$ BEING AN ODD PRIME POWER

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 January 2008

Ian Anderson
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics, University of Glasgow, University Gardens, Glasgow G12 8QW, UK ([email protected])
D. A. Preece
Affiliation:
School of Mathematical Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK ([email protected]) Institute of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science, Cornwallis Building, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NF, UK
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Abstract

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A terrace for $\mathbb{Z}_m$ is a particular type of sequence formed from the $m$ elements of $\mathbb{Z}_m$. For $m$ odd, many procedures are available for constructing power-sequence terraces for $\mathbb{Z}_m$; each terrace of this sort may be partitioned into segments, of which one contains merely the zero element of $\mathbb{Z}_m$, whereas every other segment is either a sequence of successive powers of an element of $\mathbb{Z}_m$ or such a sequence multiplied throughout by a constant. We now refine this idea to show that, for $m=n-1$, where $n$ is an odd prime power, there are many ways in which power-sequences in $\mathbb{Z}_n$ can be used to arrange the elements of $\mathbb{Z}_n\setminus\{0\}$ in a sequence of distinct entries $i$, $1\le i\le m$, usually in two or more segments, which becomes a terrace for $\mathbb{Z}_m$ when interpreted modulo $m$ instead of modulo $n$. Our constructions provide terraces for $\mathbb{Z}_{n-1}$ for all prime powers $n$ satisfying $0\ltn\lt300$ except for $n=125$, $127$ and $257$.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Edinburgh Mathematical Society 2007