Fermat primality test

E530310

The Fermat primality test is a probabilistic algorithm that checks whether a number is prime by verifying congruences derived from Fermat's little theorem.

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Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
Solovay–Strassen primality test 1

Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Monte Carlo algorithm
primality test
probabilistic algorithm
assumes Fermat's little theorem holds for primes
basedOn Fermat's little theorem NERFINISHED
canBeRepeatedWith multiple random bases
canMisclassify Carmichael numbers as probably prime
canUseBase small fixed bases for some ranges of n
coreCondition a^(n-1) ≡ 1 (mod n)
defines Fermat liar base
Fermat witness base
errorSide primality side
failsOn Carmichael numbers for many bases
falseNegativeMeaning prime reported as composite does not occur
falsePositiveMeaning composite reported as probably prime
guarantees if a^(n-1) ≢ 1 (mod n) then n is composite
hasAdvantage simple to implement
very fast for large integers
hasDisadvantage can be fooled by Carmichael numbers
error probability not easily bounded without base restrictions
hasErrorType false positive
hasInput integer base a with 1 < a < n
integer n > 2
hasProperty one-sided error
hasSpecialComposite Carmichael number
isDeterministicFor prime inputs
isExampleOf randomized primality test
isIntroducedInContextOf computational number theory
isLessReliableThan Miller–Rabin primality test
Solovay–Strassen primality test NERFINISHED
isPredecessorOf strong probable prime tests
isProbabilisticBecause some composite numbers pass the test
isRandomizedFor composite detection with random bases
isRelatedTo Fermat pseudoprime NERFINISHED
isSimplerThan AKS primality test NERFINISHED
Miller–Rabin primality test NERFINISHED
isTaughtIn algorithms courses
computational number theory courses
isUsedAs fast preliminary primality filter
isUsedIn cryptographic key generation heuristics
neverProduces false negative for primality
outputs composite or probably prime
repetitionEffect reduces probability of error
timeComplexity polynomial in log n
typicalBaseChoice random integer in [2, n−2]
usesConcept congruence
modular arithmetic
usesOperation modular exponentiation

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Fermat's little theorem usedIn Fermat primality test
Jacobi symbol usedIn Fermat primality test
this entity surface form: Solovay–Strassen primality test