For an arbitrary positive integer m, not divisible by 3, consider the permutation x↦3x(modm) on the set {1,2,…,m−1}. This permutation can be decomposed into disjointed cycles; for instance, for m=10 the cycles are (1↦3→9,↦7,↦1), (2↦6↦8↦4↦2) and (5↦5). For which integers m is the number of cycles odd? combinatoricsnumber theory