Definition
In general, let G be a finite cyclic group with n elements. We assume that the group is written multiplicatively. Let b be a generator of G; then every element g of G can be written in the form g = bk for some integer k. Furthermore, any two such integers k1 and k2 representing g will be congruent modulo n. We can thus define a function
(where Zn denotes the ring of integers modulo n) by assigning to each g the congruence class of k modulo n. This function is a group isomorphism, called the discrete logarithm to base b.
The familiar base change formula for ordinary logarithms remains valid: If c is another generator of G, then we have
Read more about this topic: Discrete Logarithm
Famous quotes containing the word definition:
“Although there is no universal agreement as to a definition of life, its biological manifestations are generally considered to be organization, metabolism, growth, irritability, adaptation, and reproduction.”
—The Columbia Encyclopedia, Fifth Edition, the first sentence of the article on life (based on wording in the First Edition, 1935)
“Mothers often are too easily intimidated by their childrens negative reactions...When the child cries or is unhappy, the mother reads this as meaning that she is a failure. This is why it is so important for a mother to know...that the process of growing up involves by definition things that her child is not going to like. Her job is not to create a bed of roses, but to help him learn how to pick his way through the thorns.”
—Elaine Heffner (20th century)
“... we all know the wags definition of a philanthropist: a man whose charity increases directly as the square of the distance.”
—George Eliot [Mary Ann (or Marian)