[seqfan] Re: number-theoretic notation

[Olivier Gerard]

Ed,

Just a warning

p || m    is not equivalent   to m == 0 (mod p).
but to the conjunction  (m == 0 (mod p)  AND m =!= 0 (mod p^2))

like wise

p^(alpha) || m   is equivalent to
                  (m == 0 (mod p^(alpha)) AND m =!= (mod p^(alpha+1)))


Olivier

On Tue, Sep 11, 2012 at 7:42 AM, Ed Jeffery <lejeffery7 at gmail.com> wrote:
> JP,
>
> Or what should be the same thing: m == 0 (mod p) or (mod p^{alpha}), but
> the authors did not write an exponent. In either case, the notation should
> mean "divides exactly." The problem is that they used both versions in the
> same sentence. Thanks very much for your quick reply.
>