Problem #PRU-5009

Problems Cryptography Number theory

Problem

After mastering the Caesar shift cypher one may wonder how to generalize it. One possible way is to use Affine cypher. The difference between these two methods can be described as follows:

  • In case of Caesar cypher we took a letter with position \(n\) from \(1\) to \(26\) and added to its position a number \(d\) obtaining the number \(n+d\), then we compute its residue modulo \(26\).

  • In case of affine cypher we take a letter with position \(n\) and consider a number \(nx + d\) modulo \(26\).

To decipher such code we need to know values \(x\) and \(d\), then if we have a letter in the code with position \(m\), we can find \(n\) as \(n= (m-d)x^{-1}\) modulo \(26\). Here we have to explain what is \(x^{-1}\): for a number \(x < 26\) we are looking for such a number \(y\), that \(26\) divides \(xy-1\).

  • Does there always exist a number \(x^{-1}\) modulo \(26\) for any \(x\)?

  • Using data \(x=3\), \(d=8\) encrypt the word "SOLUTION".