Carmichael function

The Carmichael function, denoted as λ(n), is a mathematical concept used in number theory. It provides the smallest positive integer m such that for every integer a that is coprime to n (meaning a does not share any factors with n), raising a to the mth power gives a remainder of 1 when divided by n. In simpler terms, it helps determine how many times you need to multiply a number by itself before the result cycles back to one, considering specific numbers. It’s important in fields like cryptography, where understanding these cycles ensures secure communication.