0
$\begingroup$

If we consider mod 7, then $2\equiv y^3$ (mod 7). How do I conclude that this is not possible?

1 Answers 1

4

If you explicitly cube all seven possible values $\pmod 7$ you get $\{0,1,1,6,1,6,6\}$ (actually, you need only cube $2$ and $3$ because obviously neither $\pm 1^3$ nor $0^3$ will equal $2$, and $(-a)^3 = -a^3 \pmod 7$.

By inspection, non of those values is $2$.